Postmodernism: Decoration and appropriation, the return of the narrative and content |
Deconstructivism From the literary philosophy of "Deconstruction" comes the architectural and design school of "Deconstructivism". Inspired by Russian Constructivism, Deconstructivists believe in challenging the basic assumptions of Modernist design (for example, that rooms should be rectangular in shape, or at least that walls should be straight). There is also the influence of Italian Futurist architects such as Antonio Sant'Elia, particularly the striving for dynamic forms.
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Peter Eisenman (1932-still living) - sometimes spelled Eisenmann Eisenman was at one stage in his career very influenced by Postmodernist theory, as evidenced by his collaboration with philosopher Derrida and architect Bernard Tschumi on a garden for La Villette. As demonstrated in the recent interview for FloorNature linked below, he has now become disillusioned by Postmodern theories such as Semiotics and is aiming for a more 'sensual' style to his designs. Eisenman paid homage to Gerrit Rietveld by designing his own version of the Zigzag chair, and by using De Stijl colours on many of his works during one period. prelectur.stanford.edu/lecturers/eisenman/ Rem Koolhaas (1944-still
living): Founder of the Office of Metropolitan Architecture, author
of the significant architectural books such as S,M,L,XL (1997), Mutations
(2001) and Colours (2001) |
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Bernard Tschumi
(1944-still living): Swiss-born architect of the "Parc
de la Villette". Zaha
Hadid (1950-still
living) Iraqi-born British architect, first female winner of the Pritzker
Architecture Prize (2004). Her work is very much influenced by Supremetism,
an offshoot of Russian Constructivism whose emphasis was on the spiritual
and cosmic possibilities of design. Painting and drawing is an important
part of the exploration of her designs. Quotable quote: "Would
they call me a diva if I were a guy?"
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Daniel Libeskind:
Libeskind shot to international noteriety by winning the competition
for a building for New York's World Trade Centre site, the "Freedom
Tower". I wonder if his buildings are as aggravating and unsettling
to live and work in as his website is to navigate? daniel-libeskind.com
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Just as the Deconstructivist Architects designed buildings that broke the rules, so too did Industrial Designers. Ettore Sottsass (1917-still living) "Ettore
Sottsass was one of the leading members of the Memphis Group
founded in 1981 with a group of recently graduated designers and journalist
Barbara Radice as public relations/art director. The group's main aim
was to revive Radical Design. The products created by the Memphis group
included limited production creations of unusual objects and functional
designs. Most products featured plastic laminate surfaces, bright colours
and bold patterns". jahsonic.com/EttoreSottsass.html
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Ron Arad - creator of the Rover Chair. Have you ever noticed that some car seats are far more comfortable that your chairs at home? Well, why not rip some seats out of an old car, stick them on legs and create an exclusive Designer Original? designmatcher.com/nl/gallery_detail.php?galleryID=1150 |
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Populist Architecture and Design Populism is giving the people what they want (or, it could be argued, what they think they want because they just haven't seen anything better yet...). Usually, populism is fairly conservative, in favour of the status quo. As linked above, there is a grass-roots movement in NY against building a new design built on the WTC site. Petitions are being written and rallies organised with the goal to have the WTC rebuilt exactly as it was before 9/11. As a designer, there is always the dilemma between giving people what they want and telling them what they want. After all, you don't want to keep rehashing the same-old same-old as it would make for a pretty boring job as a designer. Or in fact, no job at all.
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Gender and Design How does the issue of gender affect design? Do 'women designers' design in an intrinsically different way to male designers?
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