Postmodernism

Postmodernism is the architectural movement that grew in the second half of the 20th century in reaction to a modernism many found monotonous, devoid of symbolism and indifferent to place. It made room again for ornament, colour, historical forms and humour. Robert Venturi’s “less is a bore”, a reply to Mies’s famous line, is the most quoted summary of the attitude.

Features of postmodern architecture

Pediments, columns and arches borrowed from classical architecture appear often, but usually detached from their original role: enlarged, brightly coloured or used with a knowing wink. The facade is treated less as an honest skin reflecting the interior and more as a face that speaks to the city. Context, local tradition and the way ordinary people read a building all gain importance. Some works by Michael Graves, Charles Moore and Philip Johnson are well-known examples of the period. The movement was later criticised as superficial, yet it powerfully restored the idea that architecture can carry meaning and communicate.

Visualizing postmodern buildings

Colour and material contrast define these buildings. In a render, white balance and tone mapping need careful settings so that colours stay true; an oversaturated or washed-out image can easily undermine their character.