The Complexity and Contradiction

“Form follows function” is one of the core ideas, the highlighted quote of the modernism era.  The belief in honest structure, expressing everything inside and each component’s functions, promotes the building of ‘glass boxes’ everywhere.  After some time, a revolution strikes architecture again.  If modernism is “starting from zero”, post-modernism is the opposite.  Taking inspirations from the masters of the past, forms and shapes that buried in our genes were born.

We can say that the revolution starts from the book called “Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture” by Robert Venturi.  He offered that, rather than being something but not the other thing (either…or…), why not be both of them (both…and…)?  Post-modernism believes in the concept of ‘mixture’ rather than ‘pure’, ’compromise’ rather than ‘clean’, ‘ambiguous’ rather than ‘clear’.  Modernist would choose black or white, while post-modernist would choose both black and white.  They would even go with grey.  Venturi explained his theory about “Duck and Decorated Shed” that the duck house is obvious of its function.  It took a form of a duck, and guess what, it sold duck eggs.  What you see is what you get, and you get what you expected.  On the other hand, the decorated shed is a building that you would not be able to tell its function if there’s no signage.  This is the ambiguity.  This is the post-modernism.

One of the famous examples of the post-modern architecture is the Sony Tower in New York City.  The style of the building can clearly be seen taken from the classical: the pediment on top with upright concrete strips that look like a colonnade.  But the pediment is broken, without any particular reason or purpose.  Another example is the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.  The form of the building looks very ambiguous, and it depend on each person’s interpretation whether what they see.

In my opinion, I like how post-modernism plays with each person’s imagination.  Although its concept lacks the strong point like modernism, it has its own way to attract attentions of people.  It does not stick to one specific shape or form so it gives more identity to each building.

In terms of erotic architecture, I think post modernism has advantage over modernism.  Sometimes post-modernism plays with expectations, the façade gives out one feeling but the interior gives out another.