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Week 12 | Postmodernism

A world energy crisis, and consequently a global recession, took great tolls during the 1970’s. This in turn, crushed the modernist design movement and caused a consumerism attitude among most people. In the 1980’s, the economics improved, but the culture generally stayed the same; self-oriented and consumeristic. Modernism was replaced with a new movement that lacked the same rationality that was held at such high regard. Irony and distortion of scale were now valued, and bright colors were often used in both interiors and exteriors. Ornamentation and historical precedents also made a comeback. Groups like The New York Five formed,  the Memphis Movement took place, and the idea of “Deconstructivism” emerged.  

Memphis Movement Chairs

Venturi House
Robert Venturi

Current Applications:

Guggenheim Musuem Today
Frank Gehry

Post Modernism Inspired Interior Today


One step further…
Frank Gehry is a famous architect, best known for the Guggenheim Musuem in Bilbao, Spain. He was known as an experimental designer. He was heavily inspired by modernism, but his designs were more free flowing, fun, and interesting, than the standard functionality of modernism. His “Dancing House” in Prague is a good example of that. Another fun and interesting design done by Gehry is the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. 






Comments

  1. Olivia, I found it interesting how something like an oil embargo indirectly affected design so greatly to the point it created new styles and movements. I really liked the example of the chairs and the interior setting. I think they portray the style well without being too overwhelming. I think another thing I found interesting was that this style made it possible for designers to imagine far and wide and be very creative. The products of this era are almost always a wow factor.

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  2. Olivia, I really liked the examples you showed of Post Modernism I found them interesting and great examples of the Post Modernism movement.

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  3. Nice summary and excellent images and examples. Frank Gehry has been called the "most Important Architect of our age" by the 2010 World Architecture Survey. The examples you shared are some of his best.

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