POST MODERNISM

• Idea emerged in early 1950’s

• Amalgamation of many styles that borrowed from
history,reacted to urban context and embraced decorative
tradition
• As said by historian MARY MCLEOD ,”a desire to make
architecture a vehicle of cultural expression
• Derived from a previous movement called modern
functionalism,where in the designs are centered on the
usability.
• uplifts the architecture as both functional and artistic in
nature.
• Diverse asthetic with unique forms
• Used curved forms, decorative elements, assymetry, bright
colors, and features often borrowed from earlier periods
• Principle of “anything goes”applied
• Diversity of expression defining the core philosophy of post
modern ideals
• Buildings designed not only to deliver conventional function
but also combined with characteristics of meaning such as
pluralism,irony,paradox,and contextualism
• Highly decorative and somewhat whimsical, focusing on
desidn over function.
 ASTHETIC THREADS OF POSTMODERNIST
STYLES
• Metaphor lotus temple of new delhi, india,structural designs
based on non architectural forms
• QUOTATION Involve the direct use of elements from other
buildings in a new structure,eg harold washington library of
chicago
• ASSYMMETRY AND OBLIQUE FORMS
• COLOR
• FRAGMENTATION
Post modern architecture often breaks large buildings
into several different structures and forms,sometimes
representing different functions of those parts of the
building .With the use of different materials and style, a single
building can appear like a small town or village.
Eg STADITSCHES MUSEUM BY HANS HOLLEIN IN MUNICH
 ROBERT VENTURI
• American architect featured in 20th century
• Considered a counterrevolutionary
• Published his “gentle menifesto”,”COMPLEXITY AND
CONTRADICTION IN ARCHITECTURE” in 1966
argued for richness of meaning , rather than clarity of
meaning in buildings
“less is bore” in response to Mies Van Der Rohe’s famous “less
is more”
• GUGGENHEIM,BILBAO- Sweeping design whose iconic status has
eclipsed the modern original by Frank Gehry
• LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL- One of Gehry's few works containing sharp
geometric shapes, including simple unornamented columns Lloyd
WrightI.M. Pei
• LOUVRE PYRAMID- Iconic addition the Louvre that sits in stark contrast
to its traditional surroundings

• SEATTLE ART MUSEUM- Constructed from a wide array of materials and

features the dynamic outdoor sculpture: "The Hammering Man"

• GUILD HOUSE- Retirement home that ornaments mundane brick

housing with elegant features
By reintroducing elements
traditionally associated with
houses – from a gabled roof to an
arch-framed entrance – but
stripping them of their original
functions, he laid the foundations
for the entire Postmodern
movement.