Postmodern architecture emerged in the 1960s as a rejection of the strict functionalism of modern architecture. It sought to reintroduce ornamentation, color, and references to historical styles. Key characteristics included drawing from multiple sources rather than pure forms, moving away from neutral colors, and taking elements from different styles and combining them in new ways. Notable postmodern architects included Robert Venturi, Philip Johnson, and Michael Graves.

1. POST-MODERN ARCHITECTURE
History of Architecture-
III
Class - 1
Prepared By-Alemayehu W.
WOLLO UNIVERSITY
Department Of Architecture

2. Postmodernism – international architectural movement that
emerged in the 1960s, became prominent in the late 1970s and
80s, and remained a dominant force in the 1990s.
Rejection of strict rules set by the early modernists and seeks
high spirits in the use of building techniques, angles, and
stylistic references
Postmodernist movement is often seen as an American
movement, starting in USA around the 1960s–1970s and then
spreading to Europe and the rest of the world
The movement largely has been a reaction against the
austerity, simplicity and functional design approach of the
modern architecture/international style
Portland Public Services Building, 1982.
Michael Graves,

3. The aims of Postmodernism or Late-modernism begin with its
reaction to Modernism; it tries to address the limitations of its
predecessor. The list of aims is extended to include
communicating ideas with the public often in a witty way. The
communication is done by quoting extensively from past
architectural styles, often many at once. In breaking away from
modernism, it also strives to produce buildings that are sensitive
to the context within which they are built.
Postmodernism has its origins in the perceived failure of Modern
Architecture; its preoccupation with functionalism and
economical building which failed to meet the human need for
comfort both for body and for the eye. In response, postmodern
architects sought to reintroduce ornament, color, decoration
and human scale to buildings. Form was no longer to be defined
solely by its functional requirements or minimal appearance.
Portland Public Services Building, 1982.

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERNISM
Postmodern Architecture rejects the notion of “pure” or
“perfect” form, instead it draws from: all methods,
materials, forms, & colours available to architects.
Moves away from the neutral white colours seen in
modernism
the return of "wit, ornament and reference" to architecture
Team Disney –The Eisner Building,
1991 Michael Graves,
Took past components of different styles and melded them
together to create new means of design. It is known for the
re-emergence of surface ornament, reference to its
surrounding buildings, and historical references.

5. revival of traditional elements and techniques. Post
modernists looked into past architecture in order to
learn from it. Classical designs such as pillars, arches,
and domes used in new, almost humorous ways, just
to send a message to the modernist people. It
favoured personal preferences and variety over
objective truths and principles!
Piazza d’Italia, New Orleans, 1976-1980.
CHARLES MOORE,
CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERNISM
sensitivity to the building’s context, history and the
client’s requirements
physical characteristics- the use of sculptural forms,
ornaments and anthropomorphism
conceptual characteristics - pluralism, double
coding, high ceilings, irony, paradox & contextualism

6. Used classical styles in new combinations: pillars, arches, domes,
curtain wall facades, sculptures and roman conventions
Bank of America Center in Houston, by John Burgee and Philip Johnson,
completed 1983

7. Used classical styles in new combinations: pillars, arches, domes,
curtain wall facades, sculptures and roman conventions

8. Used classical styles in new combinations: pillars, arches, domes,
curtain wall facades, sculptures and roman conventions

9. Similar to old cathedrals, draws the eye upwards toward the sky

10. Reconciled differences between old and new generations (culture wars)
Postmodern architecture takes old styles and updates them

11. Reconciled differences between old and new generations (culture wars)
Postmodern architecture takes old styles and updates them
VannaVenturi House, RobertVenturi

13. RobertVenturi
Philip Johnson
Michael Graves
VannaVenturi House
Team Disney –
The Eisner Building
AT &T Building
( Sony building)

14. Phillip Johnson in 1978 with
model of AT&T building
AT & T Building
Phillip Johnson
Phillip Johnson helped Mies van
der Rohe design the Seagram
Building in the 1950s, but in the
’70s he did the opposite with the
AT&T Building (now called the
Sony Building)

15. Instead of a building made of sleek glass
and metal, this building is predominantly
masonry (only 30% of the outside is glass)
and revives a classical architectural
vocabulary…
Johnson & his associates divided the
building into three parts, reminiscent of the
three elevations of a Greek temple – base,
column and pediment.
Phillip Johnson, the AT&T Building
(New York), 1984. POSTMODERN

16. The top slopes down like a
pediment, including a space
in the middle known as an
orbiculum (similar to the
look of 18th century dressers)
Phillip Johnson, the AT&T
Building (New York), 1984.
POSTMODERN
Thin strips of masonry that
make up the center
resembles the fluting of
columns

17. The entrance includes a massive round arch,
similar to a triumphal arch or a Romanesque
portal.

18. Modernist architects may regard postmodern
buildings as vulgar
Postmodern architects may regard many
modern buildings as soulless and bland
Le Corbusier. Villa Savoye
1928-1929. Poissy, France

19. Flat Roofs Gable Roofs

20. No colors used Colors come back to the facade
Le Corbusier, Chapel of NôtreDame du
Haut, 1955

21. Postmodernist building
were a stack of varied
design elements for a
single vocabulary from
ground level to the top, (
"wedding cake" design).
Modernist high-rise buildings had
become monolithic.
Seagram Building,NewYork,Ludwig
Mies van Der Rohe, 1957

22. Double Coding SingleCoding

23. Pre-modern
Architecture
Modern Architecture Post-modern
Architecture