International Style vs Postmodern Architecture
Postmodern Architecture arose as a reaction against International Style — rebelled against austere modernism; reintroduced ornament, color, and historical quotation.
International Style
The austere, functional modernism of glass curtain walls and unornamented volumes — 'form follows function' built in steel and glass.
- Rectilinear, volumetric forms with flat roofs
- Glass curtain walls and ribbon windows
- No applied ornament — 'form follows function'
- Exposed structural grid; steel and reinforced concrete
- Open, flexible floor plans raised on pilotis in some works
Postmodern Architecture
A playful rebellion against modernist austerity — color, ornament, historical quotation, and wit brought back into architecture.
- Historical references and ornament used freely, often ironically
- Bold color and varied materials
- Exaggerated or fragmented classical elements (pediments, columns)
- Eclectic mixing of styles and scales
- Wit, symbolism, and contextual gestures
At a glance
| International Style | Postmodern Architecture | |
|---|---|---|
| Era | 1920s–1970s | 1970s–1990s |
| Discipline | Architecture | Architecture |
| Region | Germany, Worldwide | United States, Worldwide |
| Family | Modernism | Postmodernism |
| Formal traits | geometric, minimal, functional, unornamented | eclectic, ornamental, colorful, ironic |
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