Postmodern and Contemporary Architecture
Murinsel in Graz, Austria, is an artificial floating "island" in the middle of the Mur river. It was designed by New York City artist Vito Acconci on the occasion of Graz becoming the 2003 European Capital of Culture.
(1950s-1990s, still influencing today's architecture)
Startle, Surprise, Question, Confront, Entertain, Amuse
Startle, Surprise, Question, Confront, Entertain, Amuse
Rasin Building. Prague, Czech Republic. Nationale-Nederlanden Insurance Company. Frank Gehry, architect. 1996.
Postmodern architecture styles first emerged in the early 1950s and the term is used by commentators for a wide range of ideas and practices that were loosely defined as reactions to traditional philosophies.
Postmodern designers generally combine artistic statement and the function of the structure, with some additional considerations of sustainability beginning in the 1990s.
Postmodern designers generally combine artistic statement and the function of the structure, with some additional considerations of sustainability beginning in the 1990s.
Team Disney Building, Orlando, Florida. Architect Arata Isozaki, 1989.
It is difficult to create a hard and fast (unchanging) list of the features of postmodern architecture because so much of it is about reaching out to achieve one-of-a-kind unique forms. Postmodern features react to traditional architecture and all its preceding movements, to the point that some frustrated commentators define it as "anything goes!"
Diversity of expression defines the core philosophy of postmodern ideals. Buildings are designed not only to deliver conventional function but also combined with characteristics of meaning such as pluralism, irony, paradox, and contextualism. For example, postmodern skyscrapers may be fitted with non-conventional ledges or classical columns. The effect can strike observers as surreal or jarring when disparate elements are combined, and may be described as chaotic or startling.
An important aspect of postmodern architecture is that the goal is that the building be both functional (gets the job done) and artistic (expressing psychological states of mind or cultural values). One value in particular increasingly addressed in later designs is sustainability. The quality and origin of the materials are intended to be sustainable or present the appearance of making use of recyclable, reusable, or repurposed materials.
An important aspect of postmodern architecture is that the goal is that the building be both functional (gets the job done) and artistic (expressing psychological states of mind or cultural values). One value in particular increasingly addressed in later designs is sustainability. The quality and origin of the materials are intended to be sustainable or present the appearance of making use of recyclable, reusable, or repurposed materials.
Architect Zaha Hadid, Stone Towers
Cairo, Egypt, 2008
http://en.paperblog.com/stone-towers-in-cairo-by-zaha-hadid-architects-architecture
Due to the scale and additional costs of postmodern designs, many examples will be structures erected by institutions, such as colleges and universities, city governments for art or science museums, or industries or businesses with nationwide or worldwide profiles. Some residential homes are specifically commissioned by an owner who engages a postmodern architect to make a statement or enjoy a one-of-a-kind design for their personal space.
Bruce Alonzo Goff
When studying postmodern architecture it's helpful to consider the typology of the building. Until postmodernism, there were cultural or historical assumptions that were generally followed to make a church a Church, or a capital building a Capital. Postmodernism questions these typologies.
Architect Dries Kreijkamp, Bolwoning "Globe House" community,
s'Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, 1974
http://www.archdaily.com/593390/ad-classics-bolwoning-dries-kreijkamp
Architect Moshe Safdi, Habitat 67
Built for 1967 World's Fair, Montreal, Canada
http://www.habitat67.com/
Famous Architects (check out their work):
- Frank Gehry
- Terry Farrel
- Michael Graves
- Helmut Jahn
Related Vocabulary:
- Asymmetrical
- Non-orthogonal angles
- Unusual surfaces
- Neo-eclectic
Bibliography:
Winters, Nathan B. Architecture Is Elementary: Visual Thinking through Architectural Concepts. Salt Lake City: Gibbs M. Smith, 1986. 75-131. Print.
Harris, Cyril M. Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture. New York: Dover Publications, 1983. Print.
Walker, Les. American Shelter: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Home. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 1981. Pg.304-307. Print.
Massey, James C., and Shirley Maxwell. House Styles in America: The Old-house Journal Guide to the Architecture of American Homes. New York, NY: Penguin Studio, 1996. Print.
Winters, Nathan B. Architecture Is Elementary: Visual Thinking through Architectural Concepts. Salt Lake City: Gibbs M. Smith, 1986. 75-131. Print.
Harris, Cyril M. Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture. New York: Dover Publications, 1983. Print.
Walker, Les. American Shelter: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Home. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 1981. Pg.304-307. Print.
Massey, James C., and Shirley Maxwell. House Styles in America: The Old-house Journal Guide to the Architecture of American Homes. New York, NY: Penguin Studio, 1996. Print.
Related Websites:
About.com
http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ig/House-Styles/Postmodern-Style.htm
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_architecture
Slate Magazine:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/architecture/2011/11/postmodern_architecture_its_most_important_legacy_.html
Essential Architecture:
http://www.essential-architecture.com/STYLE/STY-M12.htm
About.com
http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ig/House-Styles/Postmodern-Style.htm
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_architecture
Slate Magazine:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/architecture/2011/11/postmodern_architecture_its_most_important_legacy_.html
Essential Architecture:
http://www.essential-architecture.com/STYLE/STY-M12.htm
Postmodern and Contemporary Period:
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/timelines/timelines.cfm
http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html
http://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/s.nl/it.I/id.15/.f
http://timelineindex.com/content/home.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Western_fashion
Hair - http://www.costumegallery.com/hairstyles.htm
Fashion - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Western_fashion
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/timelines/timelines.cfm
http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html
http://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/s.nl/it.I/id.15/.f
http://timelineindex.com/content/home.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Western_fashion
Hair - http://www.costumegallery.com/hairstyles.htm
Fashion - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Western_fashion