(New) Modern: Survival or Revival?
What is Neo/new Modern?
Neo-modern emerged as one of the reactions to Modern architecture. Neo-modern is part of Postmodern. After modernism, the style line was broken into two central -isms (s), Post-Modernism and Neo Modernism. Neo-modernism has been introduced since Peter Eisenman wrote an editorial entitled “post Functionalism’’ in the Journal of Oppositions in Spring (1977). Eisenman postulates a new modern architecture that displaces ‘man away from the center of his world’ and anti-humanism.
Neo-modern shares many of the essential characteristics of modernism. From this, we can see that neomodern is very different from Post-modern. If post-moderns ‘completely disagree’ with modernism, Neo modern can still be in line with modernism. It also rejects classical ornamentation and decoration. Like modern buildings, neo-modern are essentially monolithic and functional. Not literally continuing what modernists did but simultaneously criticizing and improving the monotony and obsoleteness of the modernist style.
Unlike neo-classical architecture, a revival of classical architecture that took about 15 years to be born again, neo-modern architecture is a form of survival of modern architecture. Neo-modern architecture still maintains some principles, such as simplicity and high tech. but neo-modern architecture adds more aesthetic elements and meaning to the building. Neo-modern architecture is no longer utopians who wish to change society but rather aesthetes who play with Modernist forms: their essential message is not ethical but stylistic.
Further about the Difference
Post-modern architecture is a form of protest and criticism of modern architecture. Post-modern architectural styles try to mix neo-classical architectural styles with modern architectural styles. Meanwhile, Neo-modern likely continues Modernism but adds more value to the architecture.
Postmodernism is synonymous with semiotics (signified — marker), but in Neo-modern, it is characterized by the term fragmentation.
In Neo-modern, there is hermetic coding, where we can not translate the meaning of a building without being told by the architect. This is in stark contrast to Post-modern, which uses double coding, where the meaning that the architect wants to convey can be seen clearly in the building.
In addition, according to Charles Jencks, four groups of Neo-modern architecture have different characteristics and are represented by each architect. Frank Gehry with the concept of fragmentation and discontinuity, Rem Koolhaas and OMA with Neo Constructivists, Bernard Tschumi with the concept of follies was developed from the French Deconstruction philosophers Jacqueas Derrida and Fooucault, and of course, Peter Eisenman with the positive concept of nihilism.
Neo-Modern for Me
In my opinion, neo-modern architecture is a moment of return of humanism, cultural, and historical value into a building where this value was once lost in the modern architectural style. Modern architects who adhere to the principle of simplicity, ‘less is more’, and ‘form follow function’, have removed that value from their design. Neo-modern architecture is indeed a form of protest against the style of modern architecture. But this architectural style does not totally reject the principles of modern architectural style.
If Postmodern takes classical elements and is displayed through the façade, Neo-modern moves deeper by presenting values not only for the façade but also on systems, patterns, circulation, and others. Neo-modern architecture still adheres to the existing values in modern architecture and combines with the value of humanism, culture, and history so that the building does not have aesthetic value, clear building function, and robustness of the building, but also has meaning or character.
References
Bianco, L. (2014, December 10). LECTURE 10: NEOMODERN AND NEOFUTURIST ARCHITECTURE. Retrieved from Academia.edu: https://www.academia.edu/9796744/LECTURE_10_NEOMODERN_AND_NEOFUTURIST_ARCHITECTURE
Jencks, C. (1990). The New Moderns from LAte to Neo-modernism. New York: Rizzoli International Publications Inc.
Press Profile Homify. (2016, April 12). Everything you need to know about neomodern architecture. Retrieved from Homify: https://www.homify.co.uk/ideabooks/670928/everything-you-need-to-know-about-neomodern-architecture
