MODERN FLORIDA HOMES
  • Home
  • Modern Homes for sale
  • Selling a Home
  • Inquiries
  • Why Tobias Kaiser?
  • Contact
  • "Modernist Angle" Blog
  • Services we offer
  • History of Modernism
  • Elements of Modern Architecture
  • Preservation
  • Real Estate FAQ
  • Facebook >
  • Deutsche Seite >
  • Net-Leased Investments >
  • Bio Tobias Kaiser

BLOG "THE MODERNIST ANGLE"

“Modern” or “Modernist”? And: Who cares?

30/3/2022

0 Comments

 
Modern Home or Modernist Home, on ModernSouthFlorida.com
Modern Home versus Modernist Home, on ModernSouthFlorida.com
Two newly built homes. Both are Modern (or “recently built”), but only one is Modernist.
Many years ago when I was to start my blog “The Modernist Angle”, my ex-wife and I – we worked together then – discussed those two terms at length. What sounds like a First World Problem is in reality a bit like cooking: if you’re sloppy in the details, it comes back to bite you later.

And even though folks frown upon a native German (that would be me), throwing around English words he barely understands and can hardly pronounce in his native language, not to speak of English, there is a reason I prefer “Modernist” over “Modern”.

Back then, we found an interesting forum where the pros differentiated between those two terms carefully, the former referring to a style or aesthetic, while the latter – modern – meaning “something current”.

“Takeaway lesson: There's an important difference between 'modern' and 'modernist'. Modern means nothing more than 'current' or 'recent'. Modernist means... the ideology of modernism... an aesthetic movement that emerged in Europe during the interwar period”. (–Ray Sawhill, on the Visual Resources Association Forum)

Adding to the point:

“Modernist is ultimately a more valuable and specific term for us than the more generic Modern. Modernist is our stylistic term of choice, whereas Modern seems more like a state of mind.” (–Dane A. Johnson, Visual Resource Coordinator, College of Architecture and Design, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI, on the Visual Resources Association Forum)

Thus, a mid-century design by Richard Breuer or Ludwig Mies as an example should really be referred to as Mid-Century Modernist.

Though nobody does that, as a client reminded me when he snubbed all homes older than five years, disregarding their modernist styles.

With my own firm’s residential arm being named “Modern Florida Homes”, and its mission being “Brokering, Promoting and Preserving Modern Homes and Architecture”, an important step for me was to check the prevalence of either term in colloquial usage. “Modern” was the clear favourite.

So I use “Modern” in the website name and mission statement, but on social media and especially in a verbal context where one can discuss, explain and elaborate, I prefer “Modernist” as the correct and more precise term.

Fun question to ask your favourite architect, isn’t it? – You do have one, don't you?
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Tobias Kaiser is an independent real estate consultant and licensed Realtor in Florida since 1990. He specializes in modern architecture and net leased investments.
    Email Tobias

    Call (+1) 954 834 3088

    Tobias Kaiser, lic. Florida real estate broker and modern home specialist

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    February 2018
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    Categories

    All
    April 2011
    August 2011
    Best Market
    Data
    December 2010
    December 2011
    December Statistics
    Demolition
    February 2011
    February 2012
    Florida
    Florida Home Sales
    Florida Housing Market
    Fort Lauderdale
    Home Sales
    Housing
    Housing Market
    January 2012
    July 2011 Market Statistics
    June 2011
    Lasssiter
    Market
    Market Data
    Market Data March 2012
    May 2011
    Miami
    Modern Homes
    Modern Homes Data
    Modern Market
    Nc
    North Carolina
    November
    November 2011
    October 2011
    Odell
    Real Estate Market
    Sales
    Se Florida Housing Market
    Single Family Home Market
    Single Family Homes
    Southeast Florida
    South Florida
    South Florida Housing
    South Florida Housing Market
    Statistics
    Voorhees

    RSS Feed

Home
Why Tobias Kaiser
Contact

MODERN FLORIDA HOMES • 370 CAMINO GARDENS BLVD • BOCA RATON, FLORIDA 33432
TOBIAS KAISER, MSc, CIPS • REALTOR/BROKER • MODERN ARCHITECTURE SPECIALIST
KAISER ASSOC, INC • LIC FLORIDA REAL ESTATE BROKERS & CONSULTANTS
MEMBER NAR, RCA, DOCOMOMO, NCMH • EMAIL • (+1) 954 834 3088


ZERO DISCRIMINATION: Kaiser Assoc. and its agents will not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin in the sale or rental of housing or lots, in advertising the same, in the financing of housing in the provision of real estate brokerage services, in the appraisal of housing, or engage in blockbusting.
Kaiser Assoc. strictly adheres to the National Association of Realtors© Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice in accordance with Federal Fair Housing Laws.


“Silence is Consent...”  As a multi-cultural office neither do we silently consent nor do we tolerate any type of discrimination, racism or prejudice. We want to listen and to learn what needs to be done to implement permanent change.

Site design + contents ©T.C. Kaiser 2022.  PUBLICATION, USE OR REPRODUCTION incl. parts ONLY WITH WRITTEN PERMISSION.

  • Home
  • Modern Homes for sale
  • Selling a Home
  • Inquiries
  • Why Tobias Kaiser?
  • Contact
  • "Modernist Angle" Blog
  • Services we offer
  • History of Modernism
  • Elements of Modern Architecture
  • Preservation
  • Real Estate FAQ
  • Facebook >
  • Deutsche Seite >
  • Net-Leased Investments >
  • Bio Tobias Kaiser