Postmodern Architecture: 4 Elements of Postmodern Architecture

Postmodern architecture was conceived as a critical response to modernist architecture. In the 1960s and ’70s, postmodern architects became disillusioned by the austere minimalism of modernism, also known then as the International Style. Whereas modern architects rejected the ornamentation of earlier architectural styles, postmodern architects embraced classical architecture and blended it with modern elements to create wholly unique structures. Postmodern buildings are characterized by irreverent playfulness, complexity, and whimsy.

Postmodernism came into fashion in the 1960s and ’70s as architects grew disenchanted by modernism. In 1966, American architect and architectural theorist Robert Venturi published a book called Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture. The book presents a rebellious manifesto against the prevailing modernist approach to architecture. It presented a compelling vision for postmodernist architects, one that celebrated classicism, color, and pop-cultural references in building design. The views he expressed would lay the groundwork for an upswell in the postmodern movement.

In 1972, Venturi, along with architects Denise Scott Brown and Steven Izenour, released a book called Learning from Las Vegas. The book explored the architecture of the Vegas strip and purported that its use of whimsy and fantasy should be a guide for future architectural styles.
The postmodern movement quickly became a significant architectural style of the late twentieth century. Several prominent modernists adopted the postmodern style including Philip Johnson, Aldo Rossi, and James Stirling. Postmodernism continues to influence contemporary architecture today.

When trying to spot a postmodern building, look for the following elements.

1. 1. Color: Postmodern design embraces the use of color, often in contrast to the natural hues of building materials like sandstone or marble. Postmodern architects were not shy in their use of pastels and bright neon color palettes.
2. 2. Playfulness: Postmodern design takes itself seriously but not too seriously. Elements of humor, irony, whimsy, and kitsch are often featured in postmodern buildings. Trompe-l'œil, a type of optical illusion designed to make flat surfaces look multidimensional, also added an element of whimsy to postmodernism.
3. 3. Classical motifs: Postmodern design mixes various classical architectural features—like arches and pillars—with modern materials like steel and glass.
4. 4. Variety of materials and shapes: Postmodern architects valued sculptural forms over rigid, clean lines. Many postmodern buildings feature curves and asymmetrical angles.

The effects of postmodernism spread far and wide, and today, iconic postmodern buildings can be found all over the world.

1. 1. Portland Building: Built by American architect Michael Graves, the Portland Building opened its doors in downtown Portland, Oregon, in 1982. Designed to evoke the image of a Greek pedestal, the four-sided, tan stucco facade rises from a tiled green base, stretching 15 stories tall and crowned with a sky blue rooftop.
2. 2. Vanna Venturi House: American architect Robert Venturi built this house for his mother in the 1950s. It is credited with being the first postmodern residence in history. The home has many modern architectural influences, like horizontal ribbon windows and a minimalist facade. However, its monochromatic blue exterior, framed archway, and gabled roof mark the architect's departure from modernism to postmodern architecture.
3. 3. M2 Building: The M2 Building in Tokyo, Japan, was built by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma in 1991. Its design features a massive pillar surrounded by a mishmash of modern and classical architecture elements including arches, dentils, and triglyphs.

Many architects incorporated elements of postmodern architecture into their work, but these architects helped define the style.

1. 1. Philip Johnson (1906–2005): Philip Johnson was a prominent figure of the modern architectural movement, but his style ventured into postmodernism in the 1980s and ’90s. His most notable postmodern building is 550 Madison Avenue. Built in partnership with fellow architect John Burgee, this former AT&T Building is a prominent New York City skyscraper.
2. 2. Charles Moore (1925–1993): Charles Moore is best known for his work called "Piazza d'Italia," a postmodern plaza located behind the American Italian Cultural Center in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. At the time of its conception, the square was considered a postmodern masterpiece, but it quickly fell to ruin. It was preserved in 2004 with a full restoration.
3. 3. Terry Farrell (1938–present): British architect Terry Farrell is best known for designing the SIS Building. Also called the MI6 building, this postmodern office building houses branches of British secret intelligence services in the heart of London, England. The building’s aesthetic blends elements of industrial modernist architecture with the styles of Mayan and Aztec religious temples. It is considered one of the purest expressions of the architectural tastes of the 1980s.
4. 4. James Stirling (1926–1992): British architect James Stirling completed Neue Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1984. The building brings together classical and modern design, juxtaposing natural elements and classical forms with industrial steel framing and brightly colored decorative features.
5. 5. Helmut Jahn (1940–2021): German-born architect Helmut Jahn is known for building the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago, Illinois. The atrium-style, 17-story building has a glass top that allows natural light to flood the space. The glass and metal exterior consists of juxtaposing angles and curves.
6. 6. Robert Venturi (1925–2018): American architect Robert Venturi is best known for his works located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Guild House, a residential apartment building, was his first major work and one of the earliest expressions of postmodern architecture. Another notable Venturi building is the Vanna Venturi House. Built for his mother in 1964, the home reflects many of the sentiments Venturi expresses in his book on postmodern design.
7. 7. Frank Gehry (1929–present): Los Angeles-based architect Frank Gehry is known for having built many postmodern structures in the state of California, including the Norton Residence in Venice Beach and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. He also designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Dancing House in Prague, both of which feature mind-bending shapes that seem to defy the laws of physics.
8. 8. Michael Graves (1934–2015): American architect Michael Graves is best known for creating the Team Disney Building in Burbank California. The building's roofline appears to be supported by statues of Disney's Seven Dwarfs characters. Graves is also known for designing the Portland Building, a municipal services office in downtown Portland, Oregon. The office building opened its doors in 1982 sporting a combination of colors and surface materials, small windows, and dramatic visual flourishes.

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