According to the Deconstructivism style, a building is designed in parts. The architecture seems as if it is done in bits and pieces, in a haphazard manner, without any importance given to logic or architecture norms. A building constructed by deconstructivism style reflects discordant pieces joined together to form unrelated abstract forms. Deconstructivism focuses on changing the conventional rectilinear lines of a normal architectural building into non-rectilinear lines, transforming the external features of the building into distorted shapes and fragmented features.

1. Mohammad Syedur Rahman
120116
3rd Year, Term II
DCONSTRUCTIVISM
IN ARCHITECTURE

2. 1 | P a g e
DECONSTRUCTIVISM
Deconstructivism is a type of architectural style, which unlike conventional
architecture, breaks all the rules of construction theory. Developed in late
1980‟s, Deconstructivism was started by a group of architects known as the
deconstructivists, who were impressed and influenced by the thinking and
principles of French Philosopher Jacques Derrida.
According to the Deconstructivism style, a building is designed in parts. The
architecture seems as if it is done in bits and pieces, in a haphazard manner,
without any importance given to logic or architecture norms. A building
constructed by deconstructivism style reflects discordant pieces joined
together to form unrelated abstract forms.
Deconstructivism focuses on changing
the conventional rectilinear lines of a
normal architectural building into non-
rectilinear lines, transforming the external
features of the building into distorted
shapes and fragmented features.
PHILOSOPHY
Deconstruction, as the name suggests, intends to disarrange the architectural
styles, refuting modernism and post-modernism references.
For e.g. in post-modern style, ornamentation of the building was to decorate
the architectural structures in regards to functional characteristics and using
appropriate geometrical shapes and lines. However, deconstructivism works
exactly opposite to this. It believes in removing the ornamentation of the
building from the functional aspects and instead using irregular geometrical
shapes, complicating the exterior features and yet attaining the functional
and structural characteristics needed by a building.
Tate Modern art gallery in
London, Herzog & de Meuron's
Deconstructive
House,Michael
Yanttsel
Parc de la Villettes,
Bernard Tschumi
Yanttsel

3. 2 | P a g e
The Philosophy behind this architectural school of thought comes from the
French Philosopher Jacques Derrida, who believed that architecture is a kind
of language for communication using the linguistic philosophy. According to
Derrida, the contradicting ideas such as presence and absence, solid matter
and void etc. also occurs in architecture; and just as a building can be
constructed using the conventional laws of architecture, non-conventional
methods or deconstruction can also be used in a building a functional
structure.
Deconstructivism is also affected by the architectural style of the Russian
constructivism movement that started in the 20th century. Constructivism at
this time also followed the same pattern of deconstructivism, which involved
assembling abstract forms of irregular and disjointed geometrical shapes.
However, constructivism did follow the ornamentation of buildings up to
certain extent whereas deconstructivism loyally contradicted it.
EXAMPLES
Buildings such as Turning Torso in Malmo, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao,
Spain, Mit‟s Stata Center, and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil-am-Rhein, Chin
Crystal by Daniel Libeskind, Performing Art Centre by Zaha Hadid are a few
structures made from deconstructive architectural style.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain,
Frank Owen Gehry
Vitra Design Museum,
Gehry Partners
Mit‟s Stata Center,
Frank Owen Gehry
Performing Art Centre,
Zaha Hadid
Chin Crystal, Daniel
Libeskind
Turning Torso,
Santiago Calatrava

4. 3 | P a g e
Major Architects
Frank Owen Gehry
Daniel Libeskind
Rem Koolhaas
Peter Eisenman (Lecture 6)
Zaha Hadid
Coop Himmelb(l)au
Bernard Tschumi
Many modern buildings are also being built by deconstructivism. Also, with the
advancement in computer aided designing systems, planning and designing
such buildings have become easy. 3-D designs and simulating the post
construction effects have helped deconstructivism greatly. The present
technological advancement has made designing buildings with such complex
shapes extremely easy.
Thus, though unconventional is style and odd in looks, deconstructivism has
found its own place in the world of architecture by building structures that are
not only functionally and structurally stable but also unique and attractive.