Mid-Century Modern vs Streamline Moderne

ミッドセンチュリー・モダン / ストリームライン・モダン

Mid-Century Modern comes from Retro and Streamline Moderne from Modern Architecture. Both are read here as style. They are reached for with different intent, which is the fastest way to tell them apart.

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern — Charles and Ray Eames《Lounge Chair》1956 — Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0Mid-Century Modern — Charles and Ray Eames《LCW》1945, ホノルル美術館 — Wikimedia Commons / CC0Mid-Century Modern — Case Study House #21（Pierre Koenig）— Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Adds hand-felt curves and warmth to rational geometry.

Streamline Moderne

Streamline Moderne — グレイハウンド・バスターミナル 1938（CC BY 4.0）Streamline Moderne — コード810 1936 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domainStreamline Moderne — エアストリーム・トレーラー 1956（CC BY 2.0）

Gives even stationary things speed and machine-age optimism through streamlines, horizontals, rounded corners and metal.

Mid-Century ModernStreamline Moderne
Era1940s–1960s1930s–1940s
FamilyRetroModern Architecture
KindStyleStyle
CuesOrganic shapes / Calm warm colors / Succinct illustration / Diagonal movementStreamlined forms / Horizontal bands / Rounded corners / Chrome
Best used forBalancing friendliness with intelligence · Building contexts of living, furniture and cultureGiving stationary buildings or equipment an impression of speed · Shaping appliances or vehicle bodies as one mass with fewer joints
TypeA rounded sans-serifWide horizontal letterforms carried sideways by speed lines
CompositionAsymmetric yet stable balanceRun horizontal bands, round every corner, align openings wide
MaterialMustard, teal, textures of wood and paperChrome, opal glass, curved metal panels with the joints hidden
CautionDon't pile up retro props. Fit the forms to today's information structure.Curves and horizontals added without any functional reason become a pattern that merely looks fast, no different from the ornament they replaced.

Put these two together

Retro ／ Modern Architecture

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