HISTORY TIMELINE

POST MODERN ARCHITECTURE

Began as international style in 1950 (overlapping)

Post Modern architecture is said to be a response to Formalism of International style
of modernism. The functional and formal shapes and spaces were replaced by
diverse aesthetics. This style is also described as Neo Eclectic- Where reference and
ornament have returned to the faade, replacing unornamented modern style. Post
modern skyscrapers are adorned with non-conventional ledges or classical columns.
An important aspect of post modern architecture is that it is both functional and
artistic in nature. There is no room for structural ideas and conventional design.
DIVERSITY OF EXPRESSION defines the core philosophy of post modern ideals.
Buildings were designed combining function with pluralism, contextualism and
paradox.
The colours did not follow colour wheel law but there is a certain harmony. Colours
are irregular but follow a theme.
Movements:
1969 THE NEW YORK FIVE
Micheal Graus
Peter Eisenman
Richard Meier
Charles Gurathmey
John Hjduk

1973

THE WHITES v/s THE GREYS

In reaction to the New York Five, a critical essay titled Five on Five
appeared in May 1973.
It rejected the black and white world view of the New York Five and
Modernist Principles.

EVENTS
Robert Venturis book- Learning from Las Vegas.
1978 The Proust Chair by Medini (the purest Post Modernist) cobbled together from
mismatched elements

DE CONSTRUCTIVISM- disassemble architecture

The theme of de constructivism was manipulating a structures surface, skin and
non rectilinear shapes which appear to distort and dislocate elements of
architecture- structure and envelope.
It is characterized by unpredictability and chaos.
It opposed the ordered rationality of Modernism and Post Modernism.
Bernard Tschumi said deconstructivism was a move against Post Modern-which was
making doric temple forms out of ply wood. It opposed ordered rationality of
modernism and Post Moderism.

Over lapping with

Russian Constructivism and Futurism
Expressionism
Cubism
Minimalism
Contemporary Art
Post war museums were built of trace and erasure
Jewish Berlin Museum
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Memorial to murdered Jews of Europe.

1966 Robet Venturis Complexity and Contradiction in architecture argued against

purity and clarity of Post Modernism.
1978 Frank Gehry drastically changed the boring Suburban Santa Monica House into
groundwork for a new architectural movement.
1982 Parc de la Villete architectural design competition showed entry by Jacques
Derrida and Peter Eisenman
1988 Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), NYC hosts a Deconstructivist architecture
exhibition which featured works by Philip Johnson, Libskind, Rem Koolhas, Gehry,
Peter Eisenman, Zaha Hadid, Bernard Tschumi etc.

1989 THE WEXNER CENTER, COLOUMBUS, USA

BY PETER EISENMAN
The Wexner Center was built to accommodate a multidisciplinary space for the
exploration and exhibition of contemporary art. As in much of Eisenmans work,
strong grid systems dominate the formal language of the building. Running through
the core of the building is the Wexner Centers most recognizable feature: a 540foot long scaffolding structure that extrudes the planar grid systems into a threedimensional matrix. Exposed and partially unenclosed, it is meant to look
deliberately incomplete, repudiating preconceptions of solid and void as fixed
properties of architecture. While this seam in the building functions as an axis of
circulation, it plays a more important spatial role by delineating and projecting
organization throughout the site. Also prominent on the museum are a set of red
brick turrets that dramatically clash with the hyper-modern aesthetic of the
scaffolding. They are allusions to a medieval-style armory that was bulldozed to
make room for the museum, an eerie tribute to constructions destructive side.

1997 GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, BILBAO, SPAIN,

BY FRANK GEHRY
While Gehry himself shrinks the Deconstructivist label, his work- particularly the
Guggenheim- has been strongly associated with the architectural style that has
been carried forth by a number of other architects around the world. Luminous and
shape-shifting, Guggenheim seems to undulate in sunlight and dappled reflection of
Nevron river upon which it sits. The wildly original design and construction was
aided by the use of CATIA (Computer Aided Three Dimensional Interactive
Application). The many organic volumes that make up the whole are covered in
titanium panels that resemble fish scales, a tribute to the museums location.