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Postmodernism
DESIGN STYLES & MOVEMENTSintermediate
Definition
An architectural movement emerging in the 1970s as a reaction against the perceived austerity and universalism of Modernism. Postmodernism embraced historical reference, ornament, colour, and wit, often mixing styles ironically. It argued that architecture should communicate with a broader public, not just architectural specialists.
Example
The AT&T Building in New York by Philip Johnson (1984) — now 550 Madison Avenue — topped a conventional skyscraper with a Chippendale-style broken pediment, a provocation that made Postmodernism internationally visible.
Key Figures
- — Robert Venturi — Guild House Philadelphia
- — Philip Johnson — AT&T Building
- — Michael Graves — Portland Building