You are on page 1of 1

Deconstructivism 

is a movement of postmodern architecture which appeared in the


1980s. It gives the impression of the fragmentation of the constructed building,
commonly characterised by an absence of obvious harmony, continuity, or symmetry.
[1]
 Its name is a portmanteau of Constructivism and "Deconstruction", a form
of semiotic analysis developed by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida. Architects
whose work is often described as deconstructivist (though in many cases the architects
themselves reject the label) include Zaha Hadid, Peter Eisenman, Frank Gehry, Rem
Koolhaas, Daniel Libeskind, Bernard Tschumi, and Coop Himmelb(l)au.[1]
The term does not inherently refer to the style's deconstructed visuals as the English
adjective suggests, but instead derives from the movement's foundations in contrast to
the Russian Constructivist movement during the First World War that "broke the rules" of
classical architecture through the French language.[2]
Besides fragmentation, deconstructivism often manipulates the structure's surface skin
and deploys non-rectilinear shapes which appear to distort and dislocate established
elements of architecture. The finished visual appearance is characterized by
unpredictability and controlled chaos.

You might also like