Post Modernism / Deconstruction

 Modernism was the first design trend. After it came Postmodernism and Deconstruction.  They were against Modernism's simple and strict style, and they brought back decoration, history, and fun into design.  Postmodern design is known for combining different styles, using bold colors, and making rooms that feel unique and have a lot of meaning.

  

                                   Public Library                                    Modern Public Library

 The Memphis Movement was a group that made this very clear.  This group began in Italy in the 1980s and used bright colors, odd forms, and fun patterns.  Their furniture looked more like art than something you'd use every day.

 Robert Venturi was one of the first people to say that Modernism was bad.  He thought buildings should be more interesting and complicated.  Because "Less is more" was a Modernist idea, he said the famous phrase "Less is a bore."

 

                        University Campus Interior                        Modern University Campus Interior
 

 Michael Graves also built buildings that were bright and fun.  He used columns and arches and other shapes and details from the past a lot, but he did it in new and interesting ways.

 The "New York Five" was made up of Charles Gwathmey and Richard Meier. They were builders who took some modern ideas and gave them a new spin.  It's hard to tell what Meier's buildings are because they are very white and clean.

 

                                        Home Office                                            Modern Home Office 

 John Hejduk and Peter Eisenman had more ideas about how things work.  Hejduk was interested in how building makes people feel, while Eisenman didn't follow the rules of design and made shapes that were strange and unexpected.

 These designers worked together to make buildings and rooms more creative, fun, and open to new ideas.  Both postmodernism and deconstruction gave designers room to be creative and give their work personal meaning.

One Step Further

It's well known that Frank Gehry makes buildings that are one of a kind.  He was affected by postmodernism and deconstruction.  Postmodernism gave him the idea to use simple materials like metal and wood and make shapes that are fun.  He wished that every building would feel special and one-of-a-kind.  He broke the rules of standard design because of deconstruction.  The way his houses look makes them seem like they are alive and can change.  These ideas are shown by some of his most well-known buildings, such as the Gehry House and the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao.  Gehry helped bring movement, emotion, and fantasy into building in the same way that art does.