CHARACTERISTICS

MODERN VS POSTMODERN ARCHITECTURE

EXAMPLES

SUMMARY

Roots of Postmodernism
y The postmodernist movement began in America around the 1960s - 1970s and

then it spread to Europe and the rest of the world, to remain right through to the present. The aims of postmodernism or Late-modernism begin with its reaction to Modernism, it tries to address the limitations of its predecessor. The list of aims is extended to include communicating ideas with the public often in a then humorous or witty way. Often, the communication is done by quoting extensively from past architectural styles, often many at once. In breaking away from modernism. y Postmodernism has its origins in the perceived failure of Modern Architecture. Postmodernists felt the buildings failed to meet the human need for comfort both for body and for the eye. Modernism did not account for the desire for beauty. The problem worsened when some already monotonous apartment blocks degenerated into slums. Post Modernism sought to cure this by reintroducing ornament and decoration for its own sake. Form was no longer to be defined solely by its functional requirements; it could be anything the architect pleased.

Deliberate opposition to Modernist Architecture Returning to tradition. Abstracts of Classical Architecture Elements Interesting lines and curves. Sometimes elaborate ornamentation Aesthetics played a VERY important role hence, ornamentation Attempt to have unique exteriors and in-turn interiors too.

Aims and Characteristics

y The aims of post-modernism, including solving the problems of Modernism,

communicating meanings with ambiguity, and sensitivity for the buildings context. y The characteristics of Postmodernism allow its aim to be expressed in diverse ways. These characteristics include the use of sculptural forms, ornaments, anthropomorphism. These physical characteristics are combined with conceptual characteristics of meaning. These characteristics of meaning include pluralism, double coding, flying buttresses and high ceilings. y The sculptural forms, not necessarily 0rganic, were created with much ardor. These can be seen in Hans Holleins Abteiberg Museum (1972-1982). The building is made up of several building units, all very different. Each buildings forms are nothing like the conforming rigid ones of Modernism. These forms are sculptural and are somewhat playful. These forms are not reduced to an absolute minimum; they are built and shaped for their own sake. The building units all fit together in a very organic way, which enhances the effect of the forms.

y The characteristics of Postmodernism were rather unified given their diverse

appearances. The most notable among their characteristics is their playfully extravagant forms and the humour of the meanings the buildings conveyed. y Double coding meant the buildings convey many meanings simultaneously. y Postmodernism saw the comeback of pillars and other elements of pre-modern designs, sometimes adapting classical Greek and Roman examples (but not simply recreating them, as was done in neoclassical architecture.
y One popular building style of postmodernist style architecture is the use of pent

roofing in buildings, where roofs are slanted at an even angle from one wall to the other. Peaked roofing however, as seen on most traditional single-family homes, is an example of Modernist Architecture.

y Practitioners of postmodern architecture have tended to reemphasize elements

of metaphor, symbol, and content in their credos and their work. They share an interest in mass, surface colors, and textures and frequently use unorthodox building materials.

y Modernist architects regard post-modern buildings as vulgar. y Postmodern architects often regard modern spaces as soulless and bland. The

divergence in opinions comes down to a difference in goals: modernism is rooted in minimal and true use of material as well as absence of ornament, while postmodernism is a rejection of strict rules set by the early modernists and seeks exuberance in the use of building techniques, angles, and stylistic references.

Abstract forms Lack of decoration No association to social culture or tradition Form Follows Function Less is more -Mies van der

Inspired by Classical Architectural styles Represented Classical elements symbolically Playful mix of styles function follows

Less is a bore" -Robert Venturi

y Some of the best-known

and influential architects in the postmodern style are:

y Aldo Rossi y Ricardo Bofill y John Burgee y Santiago Calatrava y Terry Farrell y Michael Graves y Helmut Jahn y James Stirling y Robert Venturi y Peter Eisenman

y Jon Jerde y Philip Johnson y Ricardo Legorreta y Frank Gehry y Charles Moore y William Pereira y Boris Podrecca y Cesar Pelli y Paolo Portoghesi y Antoine Predock y Toms Taveira y Robert A.M. Stern

The house has a sense of symmetry, yet the symmetry is often distorted. The faade is balanced with five window squares on each side. The way the windows are arranged, however, is not symmetrical. The viewer is consequently startled and disoriented.

Robert Venturi: The Vanna Venturi House

Humana Building in Louisville, Kentucky

Michael Graves: Portland Public Services Building (1982), Oregon

Large cubic office block Small unmolded windows a Modernist building element Classical features: pair of pilasters, a multi storied keystone

Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers: The Pompidou Center, Paris

outdoor, commercial space - aimed to mimic Italian architecture. Many different facades of Italian buildings combined and compressed together in a limited space. Many angles, shapes, colours and most importantly representation of classical elements make it a perfect example of Post Modern Architecture

Charles Moore: Piazza dItalia, New Orleans, Louisiana

Neo-Classical broken pediment that tops the building - "Chippendale" pediment.

Philip Johnson: At&T Headquarters

Esplanade of Europe by Ricardo Bofill,Montpellier(1978-2000)

Bank of America Center in Houston by John Burgee and Philip Johnson

1000 de La Gauchetire, inMontral, with ornamented and strongly defined top, middle and bottom. Contrast with the modernist Seagram Building

Philip Johnson: Lipstick Building

The building receives its name from its shape and colour, which resemble a tube of lipstick. The oval shape and surrounding colonnade is reminiscent of Italian baroque architecture.

Postmodern Buildings

Milwaukee art museum

Berlin Reichstag

Postmodern architecture evolved from the modernist movement But contradicts many of the modernist ideas Combining new ideas with traditional forms Familiar shapes and details are used in unexpected ways Buildings may have symbols to make a statement or simply for aesthetics Postmodern architecture has also been described as "neo-eclectic As the Postmodernist theorist Charles Jencks has put it, Postmodernism is both the continuation of Modernism and its transcendence.

www.wikipedia.com www.twentyfirststarch.com

Kester Fernandes Aaron D Souza Eureka Khong