Googie architecture

Googie architecture is a form of modern architecture, a subdivision of futurist architecture influenced by car culture, jets, the Space Age, and the Atomic Age. Originating in Southern California during the late 1940s and continuing approximately into the mid-1960s, Googie-themed architecture was popular among motels, coffee houses and gas stations. The style later became widely known as part of the mid-century modern style, elements of which represent the populuxe aesthetic.

Origins

The term "Googie" comes from a now-defunct coffee shop and café built in West Hollywood designed by John Lautner. Similar architectural styles are also referred to as Doo Wop. The Googie style is a modern take on Futurism with its bold use of glass, steel and neon, and it symbolizes motion, such as boomerangs, flying saucers, atoms and parabolas, and free-form designs such as "soft" parallelograms.

Characteristics

Googie architecture is characterized by design elements such as upswept roofs, curvaceous, geometric shapes, and bold use of glass, steel and neon. Googie was also characterized by space-age designs that depict motion, such as boomerangs, flying saucers, atoms and parabolas. These stylistic conventions reflected American society's fascination with Space Age themes and marketing trends.

Influence

Googie architecture influenced the design of buildings such as the Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport. Beyond the United States, it was influential in Canada, Australia and the Philippines. The style remains popular in some circles of modernist architecture.

Preservation

Despite its significance in architectural history, many Googie-style buildings face demolition because of the increasing value of the land they occupy. Preservation efforts are being made in areas such as Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and parts of Florida.

See also

• Populuxe
• Raygun Gothic
• Futurist architecture
• Mid-century modern
• Doo Wop (architecture)