Architectural movement - Neo-Modernism

Neomodernism, as both a philosophical and an architectural movement, evolved as a critical response to postmodernism, the movement described by Agnes Heller as "neither conservative, nor revolutionary, nor progressive"[1]. Neomodern architecture seeks greater simplicity, which shares many of the basic characteristic of modernism, it rejects classical decoration, classical ornament and a conscious drive to pre-modernist traditions. Buildings of this style, focus only on neomodernist facade which are contrast to modernist buildings that focus much on the treatment of building as a whole.

 

How it started?

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Victor A. Grauer has described neo-modernism as a return to the formalistic doctrine of modernism [2]. Neomodern architecture was first proposed by Richard Meier's work in 1979. New Harmony Atheneum, Indiana, USA shows the characteristics of neomodern style with its critical refinement of modernity, having duality of design, transformed from modernist and post-modernist style. Neomodern architecture emphasizes on horizontal lines, cool colors, smooth texture, asymmetrical, vertical balance, rhythm which in overall are simple yet sometimes abnormal. Commonly used neomodern building materials are glass, concrete, steel, wood, etc. Buildings, created in this style, uses simplicity that is a mean of expression for the present time and often constructed according to the principles of additive or subtractive. Their solids are based on cubic elements or rotating forms. Neomodernists are Rem Koolhaas, Richard Meier, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, Ingenhoven, Overdiek und Partner, MVRDV, Jong Soung Kimm, Mathias Klotz.