Minimalist Architecture Embraces Simplicity in Design

Minimalist architecture is an aesthetic that embraces simplicity and clean lines. This type of structure often uses natural materials and muted neutral hues that produce an unobtrusive visual effect. Furthermore, minimalism eschews extraneous decorations in favor of emphasizing architectural structure itself.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Tadao Ando have had a profound effect on modern design since their arrival on the scene in the 20th century, leaving behind an indelible imprint in modern architecture that continues to resonate today. These contemporary architects carry on this legacy of minimalism through their buildings.

De Stijl

De Stijl was a Dutch art movement founded in 1917, also referred to as Neoplasticism. Artists and architects in this movement sought to use simple formal means to convey a universal aesthetic; their philosophy was heavily influenced by Theosophy and an aim at spiritual harmony; De Stijl advocatesd for creating visual language of simple geometric shapes, lines, and primary colors as visual aids for communicating its philosophy.

While De Stijl may have only lasted briefly, its impact was substantial on modern art and architecture. Many of its leaders went on to teach at Bauhaus where their ideas about form following function became influential. Additionally, architects like Gerrit Rietveld and Frank Lloyd Wright adopted De Stijl principles, experimented with simplifying form, adopted bold horizontal and vertical lines along with limited palette of red, yellow and blue to symbolize nature and humanity – these qualities continue to influence minimalists today.

Shigeru Ban

Shigeru Ban has set the bar when it comes to elegant minimalism. Awarded the Pritzker Prize, this Belgian-Japanese architect has transformed buildings and spaces using restrained material palettes, refined detailing, and an eye for light. His designs bring old and new together in harmony, improving functionality while celebrating construction details.

Ban has worked with various materials ranging from paper and plywood to shipping containers. His iconic ‘Wall-Less House’ shows how minimalism can be used to achieve radical spatial freedom; his innovative use of moveable walls made from repurposed cardboard earned him the Thomas Jefferson Medal as well.

More recently, Ban has designed a compact mews home in London and a chapel in Belgium – perfect for small families or multi-use cultural buildings – and his elegant yet minimalist designs bring comfort and serenity into these environments. In fact, his work deserves wider public exposure – he even designed emergency DIY refugee shelters for earthquake victims and war-ravaged Rwanda!

Dupli Casa

Designed by local architects Atelier Data, this striking family home is the result of a painstaking minimalist transformation. Their goal was to design a home that embraced its natural surroundings while remaining minimal in terms of impact on site – so they used open-air patios, smart circulation plans and plenty of natural lighting in their design.

The Arbor House in Nanterre is a low-energy, crafts-inspired home designed with minimal energy usage that combines aesthetic and functionality in perfect balance. To reduce construction times to an absolute minimum, architect Saba Ghorbanalinejad integrated her new addition seamlessly into an existing three-story building without doing any structural modifications; and made use of limited space by using clever joinery to hide wiring and pipes within.

Dupli Casa, situated near the Neckar River in Germany, is an exquisite private residence which utilises seamless forms to connect inside with out. Designed by German architect Jurgen Mayer, this modern luxury dwelling exudes both elegance and minimalism.

Sin Nombre Casa Y Galeria

Associates Architecture’s minimalist dwelling and gallery in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico embodies tranquillity among its pastel colored homes. Created for an Italian-American designer couple living abroad, its design responds directly to its site and context: an irregular trapezoidal plot with only access by pedestrian road had an uphill pedestrian road which ran along one edge; on its base was a slightly demolished local stone plinth which served as its foundation; this allowed Associates Architecture’s firm Nicolo Galeazzi and Martina Salvaneschi explained “that the house dived into this base like an airtight body, creating an introverted inhabited enclosure”.

Architects at this two-bedroom abode in Ealing, London used a simple exterior palette of brick and timber to frame urban vistas. Inside, brick walls, ash joinery and terrazzo tiles all contribute to its minimalist aesthetic while natural light streaming through glazed facades further emphasize muted colours and clean shapes – creating an elegant but serene retreat that offers quiet contemplation and privacy for its inhabitants.