Marrying Utility & Beauty
Utility and its relationship with design is one that I consider often. Philosophers and Artists have varying opinions on what role utility has in art, and whether or not it should be included in the conversation at all. The philosopher Kant hypothesized that Utility cheapened the beauty of art, and that art should be made simply for art’s sake.
Initially that mindset is appealing to me. I think of the visual crimes committed by the repetitive grey office buildings that litter my hometown and even the apartment complex I live in at school. In many instances I agree with Kant that utility can often detract from design, however it seems unfair to say that this is always the case.
Within Dutch architecture and design there seems to be a heightened ability to achieve usefulness without draining the beauty. Homes in Amsterdam needed to be tall and thin in order to be affordable, and yet unlike the repetitive townhouse apartments that look nearly identical across Harrisonburg, these Dutch homes are incredibly interesting visually.
The height becomes an opportunity to involve utility in the design, with homes that include hoists once used to haul goods up the flat, leaning face of the house.
These drawers designed by Tejo Remy are a more illusive instance of utility and design being married, as the drawers do seem slightly ridiculous, however there is still a presence of it. The drawers are still operable and the pieces were clearly designed with utility in mind yet I don’t feel the involvement of utility dampens the piece, but rather enhances it.