This blog post explores the meaning and background of postmodern architecture, which pursued sensory freedom beyond the rationality of modern architecture.
Architecture Questioning Truth
What is truth? This may seem like an abrupt, out-of-place question, but to understand the spirit of ‘postmodern architecture,’ we must trace back to this brief question that deeply permeates human history. This is because postmodern architecture is not merely a change in architectural style but is linked to a shift in the way we think about truth.
The Attributes of Truth
Before delving into the question, we must understand the attributes of truth. Truth must satisfy the attributes of ‘absoluteness’, ‘universality’, and ‘immutability’. Whatever we consider truth must possess absoluteness, free from any constraints or conditions. That is, something whose validity changes depending on the situation cannot be truth. Furthermore, truth must possess universality. It can only function as truth if it is a concept that everyone can acknowledge, not just specific individuals or groups. Finally, truth must possess immutability, remaining unchanged over time. It must persist as truth in and of itself, regardless of the passage of time.
So, let us explore humanity’s historical thoughts on the question ‘What is truth?’ while examining the emergence of postmodern architecture and its significance.
The Evolution of Truth Concepts Through History
Throughout human history, the concept of ‘truth’ has constantly changed with the times. In primitive times, truth was ‘nature-god.’ Humans were infinitely weak before nature, and since nature determined human life and death, they worshipped nature as a god. Entering antiquity, truth transformed into ‘myth.’ A prime example is Greek and Roman mythology. People at the time believed gods like Zeus or Athena were real, and these deities profoundly influenced every aspect of their daily lives.
By the Middle Ages, the ‘monotheistic God’ became established as truth. Religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam flourished, and they believed one God ruled over all things in the world. This absolute divine presence was also used as a tool to legitimize royal authority in medieval Europe. However, as modernity dawned, the concept of truth underwent another major transformation.
Modern truth was no longer absolute faith in God. With industrialization and scientific advancement giving rise to the bourgeoisie, humans began to regard ‘reason’ as truth, rather than God. As reason established itself as truth, rationality, efficiency, order, and rules began to be emphasized. The influence of reason was also profound in the field of architecture.
The Development and Characteristics of Modern Architecture
Modern architecture reflected the spirit of reason and rationality. Architects strove to design buildings as efficiently and rationally as possible. Le Corbusier’s Domino System exemplifies this modern architectural approach. His developed Domino System clearly demonstrates an effort to design space economically and efficiently using the newly emerging strong building materials of the time.
Such architectural attempts held not only technical innovation but also social and cultural significance. The rational and efficient characteristics of modern architecture were closely linked to the values of modern society. People of the modern era believed that technological progress would improve human life. Architecture similarly aimed to maximize the efficiency of human living.
A prime example was the prioritization of functionality and economy over classical beauty. Many buildings were constructed to increase urban density and allow more people to use space efficiently. This was accepted as a given in a modern society experiencing capitalist revival and pursuing material development.
The Limits and Shock of Modern Architecture
However, this modern belief in rationality and efficiency suffered a major shock due to two world wars. The belief that advances in science and technology would lead humanity to a better place was shattered by war. War demonstrated that technology could lead humanity to ruin, and this sparked widespread doubt about modern values.
People began to rethink the modern mindset upon realizing that blind trust in reason and industrial progress had driven humanity into crisis. Consequently, people sought to escape the tragedies of modernity, ushering in the postmodern era. Postmodernism emerged precisely from this reaction against modern values.
The Emergence of Postmodern Architecture
Postmodern architecture sought to break free from the efficiency, rationality, and regular order of modern architecture. It moved away from the strict formalism of modernism, favoring free, asymmetrical, and seemingly inefficient designs. This was not merely a formal change; it was an attempt to restore beauty lost to humanity and provide modern people with new visual stimulation and a sense of leisure.
A prime example is Frank Gehry’s ‘Dancing House’. From a modernist perspective, this building might appear inefficient and useless. Its unnecessarily complex form makes construction costly, and its spatial utilization is far from efficient. Yet, it is precisely these qualities that elevate this structure to a masterpiece of postmodern architecture. It represents a challenge to the economy and efficiency pursued by modern architecture, a bold symbol shattering that framework.
Postmodern architecture no longer prioritized practicality alone. Moving beyond the functional and economical, its goal was to provide people with aesthetic sensibility and new experiences through architecture. Through this very inefficiency, they sought to reclaim the beauty and freedom lost in modern society.
The Meaning of Postmodern Architecture
Postmodern architecture was an attempt to restore lost aesthetic values and emotional richness to humanity through architecture, going beyond merely technical and complex design. These buildings may appear inefficient, asymmetrical, and sometimes unstable, yet within them, we can experience art through architecture. The goals of this architecture can be summarized in two points. First, it seeks to reclaim the architectural beauty lost by modern architecture. Second, it aims to provide modern people with new inspiration through free and sensory architecture that breaks away from rules and efficiency.
