The cultural upheaval that took place in the second half of the 20th century is demonstrated by postmodern architecture, which features striking patterns, vivid colors, and comical forms. It’s a style that defies modern architecture’s strict rules and favors a more diverse, individualized approach.
It’s an intriguing era of architectural history that still influences modern design. Whether you like postmodern architecture’s bold, diversified designs or disapprove of its occasionally cheesy appearance, it’s an interesting topic that keeps generating new ideas and discussions in the architectural community.
So buckle up, for the world of postmodern architecture is a colorful and chaotic journey. Join us as we discover more about postmodern architecture, including its traits and examples.
What is Postmodern Architecture?
Postmodern architecture promotes color, individuality, artistry, and adornment in a fun, varied way. It can be thought of as the modern version of old techniques, which includes using the same materials in an unconventional way.
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Postmodernism architects viewed modernism as too serious and harsh since it was constructed from sleek contemporary materials such as steel and glass, which made the buildings feel lifeless and soulless. It is characterized by irony and symbolism and also reintroduces arbitrary ornamentation from past architectural movements.
Postmodern architecture is vibrant and sculptural, removes the architect from having a functional role, and aims to create a dialogue between architectural styles, ideas, history, and culture.
History of Postmodern Architecture
Remarkably, postmodernism began as a critique. In the 1960s, postmodern architecture emerged as a response to the “less is more” philosophy of modernist architects. The movement is a mix of contradictions and complexity, according to renowned postmodern architect Robert Venturi.
At its foundation, postmodernism was an effort to break free from the practical, understated, and often impersonal style of modern design. Instead, it is among the types of architecture that embrace the unconventional, the flashy, and the strange.
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The postmodern movement, which was driven by the idea that design did not have to adhere to rules, mirrored the changing societal views of the era. The employment of mismatched parts created whimsically lavish designs, and the definitions of an object’s purpose became more flexible.
Today, postmodern design enjoys a renaissance, with a return to handmade objects, bright patterns, and out-of-the-box approaches to décor.
Characteristics of Postmodern Architecture
Since postmodern structures come in so many different varieties, you might not be able to recognize them. The features of postmodern architecture, however, will facilitate the process. Among them are:
1. Contradiction
By drawing inspiration from other cultures and design components to produce original art, postmodernism was a contradiction of all the movements that came before it. It was a direct reaction to the constricting methods of contemporary design, such as geometric shapes and simple designs. Contradictory aspects of classicism are combined with new characteristics and forms in postmodern architecture.
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In the instance of the Humana Building in Louisville, Kentucky, designer Michael Graves combined techniques from several styles to make a statement about preserving history while supporting a progressive approach to design.
2. Asymmetry
While postmodern buildings feature flowing shapes, postmodern architecture is typically curvilinear and rarely symmetrical, ordered, or balanced. Because of its capacity to draw attention and produce distinctive structures that stood out, asymmetry is a cornerstone of the postmodern movement.
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Sloping pillars, walls, and contrasting structures were popular in post-modern architecture, and they provided a fresh view of what it meant to be a functional building. The juxtaposition of these angles and lines intrigued audiences and helped postmodernism establish itself as an architectural trend to look out for. The Groninger Museum highlights this asymmetry through the use of different shapes, colors, and mediums in each of its three main pavilions.
3. Humour
Throughout the postmodern era, especially in the United States, both humor and camp, an ironic style of flashy art that was considered beautiful, were employed interchangeably. While the postmodern movement began as a resistance to modernism’s rigidity, camp postmodern work took the rebellion to new heights.
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Theatrical structures, such as Hotel Dolphin (1987) in the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, were known for their use of humor and exaggeration. Camp architects defied formality and encouraged innovation in new construction and design by pushing the boundaries of what a building may look like.
4. Fragmentation
Fragmentation is another postmodern architectural characteristic where large buildings are broken down into several structures and forms. Sometimes, the different structures will have different functions, and using these different architectural styles and materials, a building can look like a small village or town.
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Postmodern architects were known for designing fragmented buildings that, while still linked as one, appeared to be several independent buildings serving different functions. This helps to bring new life into the structure depending on the time of day it is viewed, providing a completely distinct appearance in daylight than in the evening.
5. Complexity
Complexity can be used to define all postmodern works since integrating a wide range of colors, textures, shapes, and themes create the framework for these one-of-a-kind post-modernist buildings.
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To escape the monotony of modernism and create a new design aesthetic, complexity was put to use. Frank Gehry’s Dancing House, which combines multiple media and lines to produce a fantastical framework, is among the most notable instances of complexity.
Postmodern Architecture Examples
You must examine some postmodern buildings and structures that truly adhere to this architectural style in order to gain a deeper understanding of it. The following are a few noteworthy examples of postmodern architecture:
1. Vanna Venturi House, Pennsylvania, USA
Year Built: Between 1962 and 1964
Architect: Robert Venturi
Robert Venturi’s house, constructed for his mother Vanna Venturi, is the first example of postmodernist architecture. Between 1962 and 1964, Venturi designed and built the house.
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Venturi has gone through six versions of the design before they settled on the current design of the house. Vanna Venturi’s house lies on a flat site and is surrounded by trees.
Some of its postmodern architectural characteristics include a pitched roof instead of a flat roof, an ornamental arch on top of the front door, and a closed ground floor instead of an open floor plan.
2. Piazza d’Italia, New Orleans
Year Built: 1978
Architect: Charles Willard Moore
Charles Moore created the Piazza d’Italia, a public plaza in the heart of New Orleans that was finished in 1978. With a series of arches, colonnades, and a bell tower centered around a central fountain, the building is reminiscent of the Italian style.
The vibrant colors of this structure are what make it interesting. This is one of the postmodern buildings with numerous colors, and it’s what makes it elegant.
This structure is popularly known as the postmodern ruin since it is the only building among all the tall modern buildings. There was a period when people forgot about this building, but now people find peace in this location.
3. The Portland Building, Portland, USA
Year Built: 1982
Architect: Michael Graves
The Portland Building was architecturally revolutionary when it initially opened in 1982 and it was designed by Michael Graves, a member of the Memphis Group. It was one of the earliest postmodern buildings to use more traditional materials like reinforced concrete and fiberglass.
It included various surface materials and colors, with small windows and decorative flourishes, that sharply contrasted the style of most large office buildings of the time. It was the first major postmodern building, at 15 stories tall, and while it has its critics, it is viewed as classical architecture.
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While many modernist-style buildings of the time used glass to evoke a sense of mysticism, Graves’ work used a range of unique design methods on each side of the building. Graves helped to establish postmodern design as a long-term movement by demonstrating a fresh way to express the same characteristics.
4. Bank of America Center, Houston Texas
Year Built: 1984
Architect: Philip Johnson, John Burgee
Johnson-Burgee Architects created the Bank of America Center (previously known as the NationsBank Center) in Houston, Texas, in 1983, drawing on both gothic architecture and postmodern elements.
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To create a medieval feel and deter birds from congregating on the building’s numerous ledges, the structure is divided into three towers, each of which is topped with gable roofing and spires. This structure acts as a reminder of the diverse influences that postmodern design is influenced by by fusing purpose with ostentatious form.
5. M2 Building, Tokyo Japan
Year Built: 1991
Architect: Kengo Kuma
This is one of the postmodern structures that incorporate a variety of stylistic elements. It is made of reinforced concrete and contains a variety of classical characteristics such as dentils, corbels, triglyphs, and various scale arches.
The iconic column in the center divides the façade into two parts. It also functions as an atrium with a glass elevator shaft. Few people have criticized the architect’s decision to elevate the structure, while some applauded it.
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The structure, which was originally constructed as a Matsuda automotive showroom, is currently used as a funeral home.
6. The Neue Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, Germany
Year Built: Between 1979 and 1984
Architect: James Stirling
One of the numerous postmodern structures that perfectly blends contemporary design and architecture with rustic aesthetics is this one.
This post-modernist architecture combines the modernist movement elements with classicism such as travertine and sandstone juxtaposed with industrial green steel framing.
Warm colors and natural textures were used to keep the design in line with its environment. Industrial and neon are the post-modern architecture characteristics of Neue Staatsgalerie. This combination resulted in a novel skyscraper that could stand alongside historical elements and structures.
7. A House for Essex, Wrabness, United Kingdom
Year Built: 2014
Architect: FAT Architecture and Grayson Perry
A House for Essex is the result of a collaboration between Greyson Perry and FAT Architecture.
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The plan was to create something that was both a work of art in its own right and a setting for an artwork by Perry.
The house, completed in 2015, is new to the list of postmodern works, but it embodies the movement’s principles.
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The structure was designed to evoke the tradition of wayside and pilgrimage chapels and is rich in skill and character.
8. Swan and Dolphin Hotels at Walt Disney Resort, Florida, USA
Year Built: 1990
Architect: Michael Graves
Michael Graves created the Dolphin and Swan Hotels, which stand out due to their exteriors with vibrant animal themes.
The two hotels are linked by a palm tree-lined corridor and have a total of 22,000 rooms. The complex construction features a big and spacious area with elegant design elements.
9. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
Year Built: Between October 1993 and October 1997
Architect: Frank Gehry
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a modern and contemporary art museum in the Basque province of Spain, has gained popularity among academics, critics, and the general public.
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It has a sculpture-like look because of its stunning curves. It blends well with its surroundings since it stands alongside the Nervion River.
10. MI6 building, London, United Kingdom
Year Built: 1994-1995
Architect: Terry Farrell
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On the Thames River, close to Vauxhall Bridge, sits the SIS Building, home of the British Secret Intelligence Service.
The edifice was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and was inspired by Mayan and Aztec temples as well as architecture from the 1930s.
Conclusion on Postmodern Architecture
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The field of architecture has been impacted by a number of movements that have pushed the limits of design and challenged established conventions. The postmodern architectural movement, which is renowned for its vivid colors and lively, whimsical shapes, is a prime example. It has had a significant impact on the architectural landscape and continues to spark discussions and new ideas within the field.
Take a moment to appreciate the postmodern architects who dared to be different and made their mark on the world the next time you see a building with a unique, memorable design.
