Postmodernist paradigm shift
Let's be honest - postmodernist architecture is hard on the eyes. 550 Madison, The Guild House, The Gehry Residence - These buildings are objectively ugly - there is no other way to put it. That being said - this doesn't mean they should be disregarded as "jokes" when it comes to architectural history. They mark a critical paradigm shift that eventually would lead to movements including high-tech architecture, new urbanism, and deconstructivism. These movements involve structures that are far easier on the eyes than their postmodern predecessors. So, let's just appreciate postmodernism for what it is - an unsightly albeit major stepping stone in loosening the bind of "form follows function" of the modernist movement, a crucial launching pad for other architectural movements, and a playful injection of eclectic structures into the meandering course of architectural history.
550 Madison looks like a giant armoire.
Come on. Really?
Postmodernism is like your teenage years. Important for your development but thank god it's over.
ReplyDeleteWhile your comments about the outward appearances of postmodern buildings aren't really wrong,, the movement was not about the exteriors of buildings but more so about the spontaneity of people and programs
ReplyDeleteThe movement absolutely included the exteriors of buildings. One of the key points of the movement was the reintroduction of ornament through referencing previous architectural styles (beaux arts, art deco, etc...)
DeleteYeah, well, you know, that just, like, your opinion, man.
ReplyDelete,
I think it is important to note the post-modernists pushed theoretical concepts in a way that had never been seen in architecture before. And, in my opinion, the presence of modern technology and building materials helped in this evolution.
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