Postmodern architecture
Introduction
Postmodern architecture is a style or movement which emerged in the 1960s as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture, particularly in the international style advocated by Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The movement was introduced by the architect and urban planner Denise Scott Brown and architectural theorist Robert Venturi in their book Learning from Las Vegas.
Characteristics
Postmodern architecture is characterized by a return to ornamentation, reference to surrounding buildings in urban settings, historical reference in decorative forms, and non-orthogonal angles. It includes aspects of high-tech architecture, neo-futurism, and deconstructivism. The style often combines new ideas with traditional forms, with the aim of creating buildings that are visually striking and harmonious with the surrounding environment.
History
The term "postmodern" first entered the architectural lexicon in the late 1960s, to describe a new movement that sought to break free from the perceived blandness and impersonality of the modernist movement. The first notable works of the postmodern architecture occurred in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when architects began to resist the technological and social changes associated with modernism.
Notable Architects and Buildings
Notable postmodern architects include Michael Graves, Robert A.M. Stern, Charles Moore, and Arata Isozaki. Some of the most iconic examples of postmodern architecture are the Portland Building by Michael Graves, the Piazza d'Italia by Charles Moore, and the AT&T Building by Philip Johnson.
Influence and Legacy
Postmodern architecture has had a significant influence on contemporary architecture and design. It has also been the subject of much criticism, particularly from modernist architects who view it as a rejection of the principles of simplicity and functionality that they championed.