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Textbook Definition: Postmodern architecture is a contemporary style of architecture that arose as a reaction to Modernism and that returned to ornamentation drawn from Classical and historical sources.

Postmodernism still used steel-cage structures but implemented previous styles of ornamentation which included many Greco-Roman architecture techniques. Some common techniques used were classical columns, pediments, and friezes. The purpose of these changes was to "warm up" the city through the construction of these Postmodern buildings.

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Textbook Definition: Deconstructivism is a Postmodern approach to the design of buildings that disassembles and reassembles the basic elements of architecture, challenging the view that there is one correct way to approach architecture; the focus is on the creative forms that may appear abstract, disharmonious, and disconnected from the functions of the building.

Although a subset of Postmodernism, Deconstructivism is unique. Deconstructivism architecture "deconstructs" the buildings into their fundamental pieces and either discarded or reassembled in a way that makes the building appear to be randomly assembled. The main reason of this subset appearing is because of the belief that there is no limit to the number of interpretations to both literature and architectural design.

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The Modernist style of architecture became so popular that this style of buildings gradually took over cities with their "curtain walls" and skyscrapers that were very box-like in shape. People began to grow sick of this boring and overly simplistic approach to architectural design. These monotonous buildings are what sparked the Postmodern Architectural Movement.

There was a desire to "warm up" and link the buildings to the heart and minds of viewers. In other words, people wanted to feel connected to the buildings that were erected around them. This desire for connection resulted in the rejection of box-like and simplistic design and replaced it with whimsical shapes, colors, and patterns. Architects began to once again decorate their designs and create unique designs that connect to the observer.

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The book Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966) by American architect Robert Venturi, was a powerful influence on the development of Postmodernism and drastically changed how we look, think, and talk about architecture. Venturi explains the limitations of Modern architecture due to its oversimplification and blandness of buildings. He instead advocates for diversity and architecture in which truth is derived from the complexity of the shapes. While Venturi explains the beauty of complexity, he does not reject all simplification in architecture. He argues that true simplicity is achieved through the inner complexity of the architect.

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The Humana Building by Michael Graves is from the Postmodern movement of architecture. The main things that characterize this building as a part of this movement are the references to ancient architectural design along with the deviation from the Modern design for buildings. The biggest reference to ancient architecture is the tall and closely spaced columns. This was a common style in Egyptian temples where many columns span the circumference of the building to support the roof. There also seems to be the shape of an Egyptian hieroglyphic person shown in this building's shape. Not only is the combination of the base and offices similar to that of an Egyptian positioning but the uppermost section of the offices is similar to the shape of an Egyptian headdress. This building is also anything but a standard skyscraper with no decoration. It has a skylight, variation in the shape of windows, and the office section of the building is thinner but significantly taller than the base. These are all new characteristics that challenge the firm rules of those during the Modernist movement of architecture.

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Georges Pompidou National Center for Arts and Culture - Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers

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Georges Pompidou National Center for Arts and Culture - Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers

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This building is part of the Postmodern movement because it challenges Modernism through the unique design of its skeleton and because it prefers form over function. During the Modernist movement, the outside of the building appeared uniform and clean, albeit a bit boring, but this building by Piano and Rogers has its skeleton on the outside. You can see the electricity, water, elevator shaft, and air-conditioning ducts all externally which is very much against the Modernist style of obscuring where these tubes and pipes are coming from. Piano and Rogers decided to use this exoskeleton to further challenge Modernism by using colorful tubing and other mechanical elements to "warm up" the building which is one of the main features of Postmodern buildings, using whimsical colors that aren't essential to the functionality of the building.

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Ray and Maria Stata Center for Computer, Information, and Intelligence Sciences

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Gehry designed and constructed this building as part of the Deconstructivist movement. A major feature of Deconstructivism is that buildings are seen as bits and pieces instead of as a complete whole. The Stata Center visually appears to be parts of a building taken apart into their components and then reassembled in a unique way. Through the design of this building, you can see the semblance of a skyscraper but the windows and sides of the building are a little contorted to create a new interpretation of what architecture can look like.

Fun fact: The Stata Center is a green building, meaning it has measures for environmental conservation. It recirculates stormwater and utilizes airflow to reduce the need for air conditioning and heating which reduces the need for fossil fuels.

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World Trade Center Transportation Hub - Santiago Calatrava

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World Trade Center Transportation Hub - Santiago Calatrava

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The World Trade Center Transportation Hub by Santiago Calatrava is another amazing example of Deconstructivist Architecture. Located in New York, Calatrava created a beautiful structure that invites visitors to remember both the loss that came on September 11, 2001, as well as all those who selflessly served and sacrificed their own safety to save others. Through this work, Calatrava combines the art of architecture and sculpture to bless the lives of commuters throughout the city. In line with the Deconstructivist style, the construction of the building is disconnected from the function but provides value in other ways as it beautifies the city.

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One of the great architects of the Postmodern era of architecture is Frank Gehry. The beauty and ingenuity of his Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is clearly evident to the viewer. In this historic international seaport, Gehry has used the combination of many complex shapes to create what many views as a ship that celebrates the greatness of the port. The way he unites the many pieces exemplifies the idea of Deconstructivism in the abstract and disharmonious nature of the building.