"The movement was introduced by the architect and urban planner Denise Scott Brown and architectural theorist Robert Venturi in their 1972 book Learning from Las Vegas."
A hallmark of Postmodern Architecture, with designers employing humor, satire, and whimsy to subvert the seriousness and rigidity of Modernist architecture.
Postmodernism: An architectural movement that emerged in the late 20th century as a reaction to the cold, modernist approach of the International Style.
Deconstruction: A philosophical and literary movement that influenced postmodernism, aiming to challenge the underlying assumptions of language, reality, and traditional systems of thought.
Irony and satire: Key techniques used in postmodern architecture to subvert conventional expectations and highlight the absurdity of traditional forms and values.
Playful forms and shapes: Playfulness often involves unconventional or irregular shapes and forms that break with the rigid geometries of modernism.
Historical references and quotations: Postmodernism is marked by a willingness to quote and reinterpret elements from past architectural styles and cultural traditions.
Pop culture references: Playfulness can also involve the use of references to popular culture, such as cartoons or other forms of mass media.
Materiality and texture: Many postmodern architects employ a diverse range of materials, textures, and colors to create a visually stimulating environment.
Contextualism: A focus on the specific context and site of a building, as well as the social and cultural context in which it is built.
Spatial exploration: Playfulness often involves a sense of exploration and experimentation with space, creating unexpected or unconventional spatial arrangements.
Humor: A sense of humor is often present in postmodern architecture, allowing architects to connect with their audience and create an enjoyable or memorable experience.
Irony: The use of language or architecture to convey the opposite of what is meant, often done for comic effect.
Parody: The imitation of a particular style, genre or motif, typically in a humorous or exaggerated manner.
Appropriation: Borrowing, repurposing or using existing design elements or ideas in a new and unexpected way.
Reference: Making a nod or acknowledgement to other cultures, styles or architecture through visual cues or symbols.
Deconstruction: Breaking down traditional design conventions or forms and reassembling them in a new way.
Exaggeration: Amplifying design elements or features beyond their expected proportions or scales.
Kitsch: Deliberately tacky or gaudy designs, often associated with consumer culture and nostalgia.
Sarcasm: Using humor and wit to criticize or mock an aspect of culture or design.
Absurdity: Creating designs that defy logic or common sense, often with the intention of being humorous.
Wit: Cleverly finding ways to hide jokes or double meanings within the design itself.
"Postmodern architecture is a style or movement which emerged in the late 1950s..."
"...as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture, particularly in the international style advocated by Philip Johnson and Henry-Russell Hitchcock."
"The style flourished from the 1980s through the 1990s, particularly in the work of Scott Brown & Venturi, Philip Johnson, Charles Moore, and Michael Graves."
"The movement was introduced by the architect and urban planner Denise Scott Brown and architectural theorist Robert Venturi in their 1972 book Learning from Las Vegas."
"...a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture..."
"In the late 1990s, it divided into a multitude of new tendencies, including high-tech architecture, neo-futurism, new classical architecture, and deconstructivism."
"However, some buildings built after this period are still considered postmodern."
"...the international style advocated by Philip Johnson and Henry-Russell Hitchcock."
"The style flourished from the 1980s through the 1990s..."
"...particularly in the work of Scott Brown & Venturi, Philip Johnson, Charles Moore, and Michael Graves."
"The style flourished from the 1980s through the 1990s..."
"...in their 1972 book Learning from Las Vegas."
"...a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture..."
"The movement was introduced by the architect and urban planner Denise Scott Brown and architectural theorist Robert Venturi..."
"The style flourished from the 1980s through the 1990s, particularly in the work of Scott Brown & Venturi, Philip Johnson, Charles Moore, and Michael Graves."
"...including high-tech architecture..."
"...it divided into a multitude of new tendencies, including high-tech architecture, neo-futurism, new classical architecture, and deconstructivism."
"...as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture..."
"However, some buildings built after this period are still considered postmodern."