A Guide to Postmodern Architecture: How Complexity and Contradiction Shaped a Style

Postmodern architecture is a style or movement that started in the late 20th century as a response to the limitations, strictness, and monotony of modern architecture, especially the international style that was popularized by some influential architects. Postmodern architects questioned the modernist rule of "form follows function" and adopted complexity, contradiction, ambiguity, and diversity in their buildings. They also experimented with different materials, colours, shapes, symbols, and references to historical and cultural contexts. Postmodern architecture was dominant from the 1980s to the 1990s, and influenced contemporary architecture until today.

The Origins of Postmodern Architecture

The term "postmodern" was first used by an American architect in 1975 to describe the new architectural trends that emerged after the fall of modernism. He argued that modernism had become a "dead end" and that a new pluralism was needed to revitalize architecture. He also identified the date of the "death of modern architecture" as the day when a housing project in St. Louis, Missouri, a symbol of modernist urban planning, was demolished due to social and structural problems.

One of the pioneers of postmodern architecture was an architect who, along with his wife and partner, wrote the influential book Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture in 1966. In this book, he criticized the simplicity and rigidity of modern architecture and advocated for an architecture of "complexity and contradiction" that would accommodate the richness and diversity of human experience. He also coined the famous slogan "less is a bore" as a counterpoint to the modernist motto "less is more". His buildings, such as a house for his mother and a residential building, exemplified his ideas of complexity, contradiction, and contextualism.

Another influential figure in postmodern architecture was an architect who was initially a promoter of modernism and the international style, but later changed his stance and became a leading postmodern architect. His buildings, such as a skyscraper for a telecommunications company and an office complex, featured elements of historical revival, ornamentation, and playful geometry. He also collaborated with other postmodern architects, such as his partner, another architect who designed colorful buildings, and a British architect who combined different styles and periods.

Features of Postmodern Architecture

Postmodern architecture is characterized by a number of features that distinguish it from modern architecture. Some of these features are:

- Mixture of architectural styles and periods: Postmodern architects often mixed and matched different styles and periods, such as classical, medieval, baroque, rococo, art deco, and pop art, in their buildings. They also borrowed elements from different cultures and regions, such as Islamic, Asian, African, and Latin American. This created a sense of collage, hybridity, and irony in their buildings.

- Sculptural forms: Postmodern architects experimented with different forms and shapes, such as curves, arches, domes, pyramids, cones, cylinders, and cubes, in their buildings. They also used unconventional materials, such as metal, glass, ceramic, and plastic, to create sculptural effects. Some examples of sculptural postmodern buildings are a museum in Spain, a house in Prague, and a music museum in Seattle, all designed by the same architect.

- Use of bright color: Postmodern architects often used bright colors, sometimes in the form of ceramic tiles or colored glass, to add visual interest and contrast to their buildings. They also used color to express emotions, moods, and meanings. Some examples of colorful postmodern buildings are a building for a media company in California, a public square in New Orleans, and a residential building in Vienna, all designed by different architects.

- Use of classical ornamental details: Postmodern architects often used classical ornamental details, such as columns, pediments, cornices, pilasters, and arches, in their buildings. However, they often used them in unconventional ways, such as exaggerating, distorting, fragmenting, or inverting them. They also used them to create irony, parody, or humor. Some examples of postmodern buildings that use classical ornamental details are a municipal building in Oregon, an art gallery in Germany, and a skyscraper in Texas, all designed by different architects.

- Use of abstraction: Postmodern architects often used abstraction to create geometric, symbolic, or expressive forms in their buildings. They also used abstraction to refer to other art forms, such as painting, sculpture, or literature. Some examples of postmodern buildings that use abstraction are an art center in Ohio, a museum in Berlin, and a library in Seattle, all designed by different architects.

- Playfulness, whimsy, humor, irony: Postmodern architects often used playfulness, whimsy, humor, and irony to create unique and memorable buildings that challenged the conventions and expectations of architecture. They also used these elements to communicate with the public and to comment on social and cultural issues. Some examples of postmodern buildings that use playfulness, whimsy, humor, and irony are a building shaped like a duck in New York, a building shaped like a basket in Ohio, and a building shaped like a loop in China, all designed by different architects.

Examples of Postmodern Architecture

Some of the most famous and influential examples of postmodern architecture are:

- A house for a mother (1964): This house, located in Philadelphia, is considered one of the first postmodern buildings. It was designed by a pioneer of postmodern architecture for his mother, and features a complex and contradictory design that challenges the modernist principles of clarity, simplicity, and functionality. The house has a gabled roof, a broken pediment, a round window, and a chimney that are all distorted or exaggerated. The house also has a non-functional arch that frames the entrance, a staircase that leads nowhere, and a number of asymmetrical and irregular elements. The house is a playful and ironic commentary on the history and meaning of domestic architecture.

- A skyscraper for a telecommunications company (1984): This skyscraper, located in New York City, is one of the most iconic postmodern buildings. It was designed by a leading postmodern architect for a telecommunications company, and features a distinctive design that resembles a furniture piece. The building has a granite facade, a large arched entrance, and a pedimented top that are all references to classical architecture. The building also has a cylindrical lobby that is inspired by a famous temple in Rome. The building is a controversial and provocative statement that challenges the modernist aesthetics of the surrounding skyscrapers.

- A museum in Spain (1997): This museum, located in Spain, is one of the most celebrated postmodern buildings. It was designed by a renowned architect for an art foundation, and features a spectacular design that resembles a ship or a fish. The building has a titanium-clad facade, a series of curved and twisted volumes, and a glass atrium that are all examples of sculptural and organic forms. The building also has a dynamic and fluid relationship with the surrounding landscape, the river, and the city. The building is a masterpiece of artistic and architectural expression that has transformed the image and identity of the city.

Conclusion

Postmodern architecture is a style or movement that started in the late 20th century as a response to the limitations, strictness, and monotony of modern architecture. Postmodern architects questioned the modernist rule of "form follows function" and adopted complexity, contradiction, ambiguity, and diversity in their buildings. They also experimented with different materials, colors, shapes, symbols, and references to historical and cultural contexts. Postmodern architecture was dominant from the 1980s to the 1990s, and influenced contemporary architecture until today. Postmodern architecture is characterized by a number of features, such as mixture of architectural styles and periods, sculptural forms, use of bright color, use of classical ornamental details, use of abstraction, and playfulness, whimsy, humor, and irony. Some of the most famous and influential examples of postmodern architecture are a house for a mother, a skyscraper for a telecommunications company, and a museum in Spain, all designed by different architects