Postmodernism vs Modernism Architecture: A Comparative Study

Modernism architecture emerged in the late 19th century, characterized by clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and an emphasis on function over form.

The Bauhaus school, a prominent modernist institution, was founded in 1919 in Germany and played a significant role in shaping modernist principles.

In contrast, postmodernism architecture rejected the rigid rules of modernism, embracing complexity and playfulness in design.

Postmodernist architects like Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown challenged traditional notions of beauty and functionality, incorporating historical references and irony into their work.

Postmodernism emerged as a reaction to the limitations of modernism, particularly in architecture. The postmodernist movement started in the US around the 1960s-1970s and spread to Europe and the rest of the world.

The roots of postmodernism can be traced back to 1966, when architectural historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner spoke of a revived Expressionism as a "post-modern style". He included examples of buildings by Le Corbusier, Denys Lasdun, and James Stirling, among others.

Pevsner saw these buildings as a legitimate style of the 1950s and 1960s, characterized by self-expression and irrationalism. However, a younger generation of architects, including Robert Venturi, welcomed and contributed to this new style.

Postmodernism aimed to address the limitations of modernism by communicating ideas with the public in a humorous or witty way. This was often achieved by quoting extensively from past architectural styles, often many at once.

Postmodernist architects sought to reintroduce ornament, color, decoration, and human scale to buildings, which modernism had done away with. The goal was to create buildings that were sensitive to their context and history, and met the human need for comfort and beauty.

The postmodernist movement was a response to the perceived failure of modern architecture, which had prioritized functionalism and economical building over aesthetics. This led to buildings that were monotonous and lacked beauty, often degenerating into slums.

Here's a brief timeline of the development of postmodernism:

Postmodernist architects, such as Frank Gehry, considered the context and history of a building's surroundings during its design. For example, Gehry's Venice Beach House was designed to blend in with the neighboring houses, which had a similar bright flat color.

Postmodernism's playful approach to architecture is reflected in notable buildings like the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, which features a stainless steel exterior that appears to shift and change color in the light.

The building's design, led by Frank Gehry, was influenced by the Deconstructivist movement, a key aspect of postmodernism. This movement rejected the clean lines and minimalism of modernist architecture in favor of a more playful and expressive style.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall's unique design has made it a beloved landmark in Los Angeles, attracting millions of visitors each year.

The Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, 1971, is a great example of postmodern architecture.

Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers designed this iconic building, which was a departure from traditional form-focused design.

The building's exposed piping is a notable feature, creating complex textures that are both visually striking and functional.

A diagonal escalator adds movement to the exterior, making the building even more unique.

The Pompidou Center required a $110-million restoration in 2017, highlighting the need for maintenance in high-concept buildings.

This type of creative risk-taking is exactly what should be celebrated in architecture.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles is a masterpiece of modern architecture. Designed by Frank Gehry, it's a prime example of his unique style.

The building's curvilinear form is a defining feature, drawing the eye from blocks away and showcasing creativity. It's made of titanium, a rare architectural material due to its expense, but one that offers great characteristics for exterior use, including lightness, strength, and resistance to environmental degradation.

Gehry's approach to architecture is abstract, meaning there's no direct representation or meaning in his forms. I think this approach is brilliant, allowing us to find meaning in the sculptural form of the building.

The exterior of the building is a marvel to behold, with a texture that's hard to capture in digital art. The movement it captures for a building is uncanny, making it a truly one-of-a-kind structure.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall has strong parallels with Zaha Hadid's Hong Kong Polytechnic University, but I'll save that for another time.

Humor and camp were key features of many postmodern buildings, particularly in the United States. The Binoculars Building in Los Angeles, designed by Frank Gehry and Claes Oldenburg, is a great example of this.

The Binoculars Building's gateway is shaped like an enormous pair of binoculars, with cars entering the garage passing under them. The building's design is a perfect representation of camp humor, which was popular during the postmodern period. Camp humor is based on the idea that something can appear so bad, yet be good.

Susan Sontag, an American critic, defined camp as a style that emphasizes texture, surface, and style over content, and often involves exaggeration and things that aren't what they seem. This definition perfectly captures the essence of postmodern architecture, which often uses theatricality, absurdity, and exaggerated forms.

Modernism in Architecture emerged as a philosophical movement in the late 19th to early 20th century, aiming to reconcile architectural design with technological advancement.

Its emphasis on simplicity and clarity led to the design philosophy of "form follows function", which prioritized functionality over aesthetics.

Notable modernist architects, such as Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, were at the forefront of this movement.

Their designs often featured clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and an emphasis on functionality.

Postmodernism emerged as a reaction against modernism, replacing functional forms with diverse aesthetics through pluralism, irony, and contextual references. This movement was influenced by contextualism, a trend in thinking that emphasizes the importance of considering the context in which knowledge is understood.

Contextualism is centered on the idea that all knowledge is "context-sensitive" and cannot be understood without considering its context. This idea is reflected in postmodern architecture, which often addressed the context in terms of the materials, forms, and details of the buildings around it.

Some of the key characteristics of postmodern architecture include the revival of classical elements, such as columns, and the use of ornate decorations, like terra cotta and bronze embellishments. These elements were often used in a way that was playful and ironic, challenging the modernist emphasis on simplicity and functionality.

Here are some notable postmodern architects who exemplified these characteristics:

Postmodern architecture is known for its playful and eclectic approach to design. One of the defining characteristics of postmodern architecture is the use of irony, as seen in the Headquarter of The Longaberger Company in Newark, Ohio, designed by NBBJ in 1997.

Postmodern buildings often feature complex and ambiguous structures, like the Groninger Museum in Groningen, the Netherlands, designed by Alessandro Mendini with Michele de Lucci, Philippe Starck, and Coop Himmelb(l)au in 1994.

Quotations, or the use of elements and ornaments from pre-Modernist styles, are also a hallmark of postmodern architecture. For example, the Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Florida, features tops reminiscent of urns and roof railings inspired by Classical buildings and furniture, designed by Michael Graves in 1989.

Stripes on facades are another characteristic of postmodern architecture, as seen in No 1 Poultry in London, designed by James Stirling in 1988 but built in 1997.

Postmodern buildings often combine different styles and elements in a way that's both playful and thought-provoking. Consider the Neue Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart, Germany, designed by James Stirling in 1984, which mixes monumental columns and Classical elements with curving forms and High-Tech glazing.

Here are some key characteristics of postmodern architecture:

Postmodern architecture emerged as a reaction against modernist architecture, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. It offered complexity and contradiction, with buildings featuring curved forms, decorative elements, asymmetry, and bright colors.

Robert Venturi, a prominent postmodern architect, described the style as "representation and abstraction, monumental and informal, traditional and high-tech." He argued that postmodern architecture should be a "gentle manifesto for a nonstraightforward architecture."

Postmodern architects often combined elements from different styles and periods, creating a unique and eclectic look. For example, Michael Graves' Portland Building features a mix of classical and playful elements, while Philip Johnson's AT&T Building incorporates historical references and ornamentation.

The postmodern movement also emphasized the importance of context, with buildings responding to their physical and cultural surroundings. This is evident in Aldo Rossi's San Cataldo Cemetery, which incorporates a variety of architectural elements and symbolic imagery to create a unique and meaningful space.

Some of the key characteristics of postmodern architecture include:

These characteristics, among others, define the postmodern architectural style and its rejection of modernist principles.

Fragmentation is a key concept in postmodern architecture. It involves breaking down large buildings into smaller, separate structures that often serve different functions.

This technique can create a unique and visually interesting effect, as seen in the Abteiberg Museum in Mönchengladbach. The building's design by Hans Hollein features different materials and styles, making it appear like a small town or village.

The use of fragmentation can also reflect the changing needs and purposes of a building over time. By separating different functions into distinct structures, architects can create a more flexible and adaptable design.