POSTMODERNISM AS A HISTORICAL PERIOD

THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT

 The New Order – Green revolution, computerization, Electronic information

 Late capitalism, multinational capitalism, consumer society

Student activism for civil rights
Student activism for civil rights
Protection of the environment
Protection of the environment
Anti-war movements
Space exploration began in 1960s and crashed in 1980s
• Peace for 50 years
• Population exploded
• Collapse of communism

Demolition of berlin wall in 1989

POSTMODERNISM AS A HISTORICAL PERIOD
CHALLENGES TO THE MODERN MOVEMENT IN ARCHITECTURE

“ There is little doubt that by the mid-sixties , we were increasingly

Bereft of a realistic theoretical basis on which to work” – Kenneth Frampton
Pruitt-Igoe housing complex demolition 1972
• Modern architecture was stripped off its social program
• Became a style of reiteration in the commercial sector
• It was clear by 1960s that Europeans only had limited success in the social agenda
of modern movement

• THEORY INSTITUTIONS
• PUBLICATIONS
• EXHIBITIONS
THEORY INSTITUTIONS

1. Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies – 1967 , New York

2. Venice - 1968
THEORY INSTITUTIONS

School of Venice

Architecture Institute at the University of Venice

Institute of Architecture History – 1968 Manfrdo Tafuri

Aldo Rossi & Gregotti

PUBLICATIONS

1. Venice Institute – Lotus (1963), Casbella(1928) , Domus(1928)

2. Denmark – Skala (1985-95)

3. Japan (1971)– The Japanese Architecture and Urbanism (A+U)

4. London – AD

5. Perpecta: The Yale Architectural Journal (1952)

6. University of Pensylvania’s VIA (1968)

7. Architectural Association’s Quarteraly (AAQ) – 1968

8. University of Virginia –Modulus

9. Columbia University’s - Precis

• Oil Crisis - 1973
Books

1. Complexity and Contradiction – Robert Venturi (1966)

2. Intentions in Architecture – Norberg –Schultz (1965)

3. Notes on the Synthesis of Form – Christopher Alexander (1964)

4. Territory of Architecture – Gregotti (1966)

5. The Architecture of the City – Aldo Rossi (

6. The language of Post-Modern Architecture – Charles Jencks (1977)

CASE (The Conference of Architecture to Study the Environment) – held

a meeting at MoMA in 1969

Publication of Five Architects in 1972

Exhibition

1. The Beaux Arts Exhibition – 1975

2. Transformations – 1979

3. Deconstructivist Architecture -1988

Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, Tscumi, Peter Esienman, Frank Ghery, Steven Holl, Coop
Himmelblau
5. Houses for Sale - Leo Castelli Gallery in New York – 1980

6. The Max Protech Gallery in New York – 1980s

7. The Presence of the Past (By Paolo Portoghesi) Venice Biennale - 1980
POSTMODERNISMS DEFINING THEORETICAL PARADIGMS

PARADIGM 1: PHENOMENOLOGY

PARADIGM 2: AESTHETIC OF SUBLIME

PARADIGM 3: LINGUISTIC THEORY

Semiotics
Structuralism
Post structuralism
Deconstruction

PARADIGM 4: MARXISM

PARADIGM 5: FEMINISM
POSTMODERNISM ARCHITECTURAL THEMES

THEME 1: HISTORY AND HISTORICISM

THEME 2 : MEANING

THEME 3: PLACE

THEME 4: URBAN THEORY

THEME 5: POLITICAL AND ETHICAL AGENDAS

THEME 6: BODY