P()iNT [R3FLeCTi0NS]

when things get reflected, 

sometimes the image that we see 

is what we think we see or

 what we want to see...
we miss things,
leave them out or
change it to our desires just like design.

   In design, time is the fighting force which moves us forward in a way where we must accept + grasp the past, reflecting the lifestyle, principles and ideas on to the architecture.  Not only does design reflect on past foundations but it also looks to other countries for inspiration.

In the 19th century trade became increasingly popular and was vastly growing. This formed opportunities of insight to international design. 

Things that belonged to other countries were beginning to appear in show rooms, dinning halls and bedrooms that were not classified as their traditional context. People were beginning to collect things from other design cultures in order to reflect the ideas of worldliness, education and wealth to their guests. 

Baroque was only the beginning of design revolution and rebellion.  After the American Revolution between the new Americas and England, America began searching for their own independent voice in the language of design to solidify their separation from their homeland.

As hard as they tried to differentiate them selves, their buildings and designs showed hints of where their ideas originated.  States such as Virginia, North Carolina and Washington began to reflect the work of Palladio and Neoclassical England.  Many non-religious establishments such as the Strawberry Hill’s Pink Room, where beginning to be built in the image of churches, carrying the characteristics of axial plans, coffered ceilings, vaults and domes.

While America was focused on creating a design language that differed from England, England began to focus on creating a design language that reflected the ideas of east meets west. Things from another world where exhilarating and exciting to people, + the architecture in England was beginning to reflect the new epidemic at the time. Whether it was an entire building, such as The Royal Pavilion or just a single room with in a house, like The Peacock Room, both defy the rules of stylized design...pushing the limits of how many different styles can fit into the same space 

During the 19^th century there was a constant struggle to define one solid design identity. The Industrial revolution made this even more difficult due to the introduction of the new materials Iron and Glass. New ideas and structures began to form therefore changing the face of design. In the 19th century there was a constant battle between the worlds of hand crafted design and machine. Personally I feel that the battle has continued on to this present day. I am one to speak quickly when I say that I am all for hand rendering and crafted design until I stumbled across the wise words of Charles Ashbee, who once said "we do not reject the machine we welcome it, [and] desire to see it mastered"

Ironic to say, but the crystal palace reflects both literally and metaphorically, ideas of the past and present bringing all forms of design language into one place.

The crystal palace was like a looking glass...a mirror...  that depicted designs of previous times helping designers to reflect in its image and create their own.

In the 19^th century I have observed that design is formed through the hands of time and operates like the gears that move inside a clock... working and fighting against each other in order for it to tell the right story in and of that specific time.