POSTMODERN DESIGN.

Postmodernism is a late-20th-century movement in the arts,

architecture, and criticism that was a departure from modernism. Postmodernism includes
skeptical interpretations of culture, literature, art, philosophy, history, economics,
architecture, fiction, and literary criticism.

Postmodernist Architecture
You may assume that we live in the modern world. There are those who would agree with you.
There are also some who would disagree. Some prefer to say we live in the postmodern
world. Postmodernism is an academic and artistic description of things that have happened in
the second half of the 20th century, and which largely exist as reactions against the goals of the
early 20th century. It's a broad category, one that resists definition in many ways, but which has
had a profound impact on many forms of art, including architecture.

Modern vs. Postmodern Architecture

Postmodernism is a reaction against modernism, so the first thing we need to do is understand
architecture in the first half of the 20th century. Modernism was an international style of
architecture that was formal, austere, and serious. It emphasized function over form and was
deeply connected to several philosophical ideas, notably that good architecture could improve
people's lives. It was optimistic and idealistic. Postmodernism, however, says that's all a bunch of
baloney. Postmodernist architecture, emerging in the 1950s and 1960s, rejected the formal
and functional designs of modernism, as well as any idealist crusade to change the principles of
human society through the arts.
So what does that actually look like in terms of architecture and design? Postmodernist
architecture tends to be highly decorative and somewhat whimsical, focusing on design over
function. Perhaps its most defining feature, however, is the refusal to draw inspiration from a
single source. Postmodern architects incorporate design elements from several different
architectural styles into a single structure, breaking down the boundaries between styles. Thus,
it's one of the most eclectic forms of architecture, focused on the joy of design and rejecting
formal rules of style.
That's a broad definition for a hard-to-classify style of architecture, but it serves to illustrate the
general goals of postmodernism. In trying to further define postmodernism, the Victoria and
Albert Museum of London held an exhibit in 2011 in which the curators were able to define four
common aesthetic threads of postmodernist style: metaphor, quotation, pluralism, and
parody. Let's take a look at these and see what postmodernism really looks like.

Modernism in Architecure: Le Corbusier

Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris, or Le Corbusier (1887-1965), was the pioneer of modern commercial
architecture. As the world was transitioning to urban living, Le Corbusier and the modernists sought to
maximize the utility of limited spaces. While many commercial structures were made with an eye towards
a given aesthetic (such as how they fit into the neighborhood, or paid homage to European fashion), Le
Corbusier focused on how to make a structure whose design stemmed entirely from its use. This
philosophy in architecture was summed up as 'form follows function'. If we look at one of Le Corbusier's
designs, we can see this philosophy at work. Look at Gustavo Capanema Palace in Rio de Janeiro.
 Gustavo Capanema Palace

Does this remind you of apartments in your neighborhood? The design uses material efficiently to create
uniform living spaces that are functional. There is no façade or extraneous material used to decorate the
structure, rather its elegance stems from its symmetrical and functional design.

Postmodernism in Architecture: Michael Graves

Other architects, like Michael Graves (1934-2015), who was a former follower of Le Corbusier, found this
look to be stifling and soulless. By the end of Le Cobusier's life, skyscrapers and apartment buildings like
Gustavo Capanema Palace were everywhere and often stood out like eyesores against the local flavor of
the cities that surrounded them. Graves rejected the idea of function's centrality in design and set about
incorporating whimsy and style into his structures. He employed the use of façades, asymmetry, and
decorative finishes in commercial architecture and made buildings that were unique and different from the
'soulless' look of modern architecture. His designs were not without controversy, as many found them
jarring or ugly, but he sought to make structures that were unique and made reference to local culture,
rather than universal and cosmopolitan.
Consider his Steigenberger Hotel in Egypt. This unusual building has modern amenities, but it pays
homage to the architecture of the region with the shape of its windows, and its concrete façade gives the
structure an asymmetrical and anti-modern feel.
 Steigenberger Hotel in Egypt

WHY IT CAME INTO USE :