It is a contemporary style that primarily counters the ordered rationality of Modern Architecture. The underpinnings of this movement include ideas of fragmentation, non-linear processes of design, non-Euclidean geometry, negating polarities such as structure and envelope, and so on. The final visual appearance of buildings in this style are characterised by a stimulating unpredictability and a controlled chaos. However, critics of Deconstruction see it as a purely formal exercise with little social significance.

Some important architects in the deconstructive movement
Gehry
hadid
eiserman
calatrava
koolhaas
libeskind

examples of deconstructivism
libeskind
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/a/ac/300px-ImperialWarMuseumNorth01.jpg
gehry
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/98/Gehry-tower-hanover.jpg/250px-Gehry-tower-hanover.jpg
calatrava
http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/2a/06/Calatrva_s_Quadracci_Pavilion-resized200.jpg
koolhaas
http://www.pps.org/graphics/upo-pages/seattle_public_library_outside_large
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/61/Koolhaas.cctv.jpg/300px-Koolhaas.cctv.jpg

I like Deconstructivism. There is an exuberance of 3-dimensional form - almost like they're trying to defy the laws of gravity. And the sculptural quality and movement expressed in the work is quite compelling as well. I also enjoy the use of non-traditional building materials. I guess that's what I like best about the style: Deconstructivism is full of surprises.

Having said that, I find it unfortunate how the Deconstructivist style gets "value-engineered" and diluted in projects designed by less talented individuals (and, to be fair, by projects with more modest budgets). Although the whole high-style vs. low-style conflict has existed for quite some time, it's a shame to see uninspired boxes adorned with a cantilever or two trying to pass themselves off as Deconstructivist.

The examples that you show above are the "Mercedes" of the movement; while most people only see the Volkswagen Bugs. It is a shame that more people aren't exposed to the really good examples, but I guess that's the nature of the beast.

Kent

I find it to be very disturbing achitecture.

theres more of gehry...love it!

I'm a fan of deconstructivism, in particular Koolhaas, Eisenman, and Libeskind not the biggest fan of Gehry though.

Federation Square by Lab and Bates Smart, in Melbourne's a fine example.

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/7193/fedsquare7ym.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/6092/fedsquareiii8uj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I like Deconstructivism. There is an exuberance of 3-dimensional form - almost like they're trying to defy the laws of gravity. And the sculptural quality and movement expressed in the work is quite compelling as well. I also enjoy the use of non-traditional building materials. I guess that's what I like best about the style: Deconstructivism is full of surprises.

Having said that, I find it unfortunate how the Deconstructivist style gets "value-engineered" and diluted in projects designed by less talented individuals (and, to be fair, by projects with more modest budgets). Although the whole high-style vs. low-style conflict has existed for quite some time, it's a shame to see uninspired boxes adorned with a cantilever or two trying to pass themselves off as Deconstructivist.

The examples that you show above are the "Mercedes" of the movement; while most people only see the Volkswagen Bugs. It is a shame that more people aren't exposed to the really good examples, but I guess that's the nature of the beast.

Kent


very good point....theres always a problem when up in coming architects decide to use deconstructivism on projects that dont have the budget to use such a high cost,in which they start chipping away on the projects details in order to make the budget.giving you CRAP

I find it to be very disturbing achitecture.
TalB -

That's an interesting reaction - could you write more about why you feel this way? What is it specifically that about the style that you find disturbing?

Thanks - Kent

Since you asked Quente, I find deconstructivism to be unispiring. Some of these architects seem as if they are building something that is totally unrealistic. The worst architects out of this bunch are Daniel Libeskind and Frank Gehry, who build the worse styles ever and tend to repeat them in almost every style. I will never forget the Music Ctr in Seattle that looks like nothing but a blob when I walked by it, which shows how ugly Gehry is. Libeskind's architecture tends to represent death too much wheather it's the Jewish Museum in Berlin or even with the hated Freedom Tower. When I saw a rendering for the expansion of the Denver Museum of Art, I thought that Al Qadea was there.

A couple of interesting projects by Coop Himmelblau.

Attice conversion, Vienna.

http://www.kmtspace.com/kmt/coop6.jpg http://www.kmtspace.com/kmt/ecs-cp-rooftop.jpg

http://www.kmtspace.com/kmt/coop6-rec_01c.jpg

UFA Cinema Centre, Dresden

http://www.kmtspace.com/kmt/coop1.jpg http://www.kmtspace.com/kmt/coop-icon_03g.jpg http://www.kmtspace.com/kmt/ecs-cp-ufa3.jpg

I like some of Calatrava's work but in general I dislike this style.

It depends. I really like the Koolhaas buildings. But the rest ranks somwhere between "alright" and "purely disgusting".

I like Calatrava's work. He makes large buildings and structures look "airy" (I guess would be the word).

However, the rest of this style -especially Libeskind and Gehry- I find to look literally like garbage. I usually compare seeing a deconstructivist building to looking at a scrapheap. For example:

http://www.shorecrest.org/Gx2001/scrapheap.jpg

http://www.pcmoldovann.com/photos/images/Gehry/Gehry_9.jpg

I like it. It's not so boring.

Ghery's InterActiveCorp HQ doesn't have its exterior yet, but it's already feeling out of place with the rest of Chelsea, in Manhattan.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6331/interactive06c0lr.jpg

Of course it is all in the eye of the beholder, but, there should be a difference between a scrapheap and an architectural design--- the architecture should convey an easily observable intelligent design rather than the randomness of a scrapheap. If we look at a pile of stones, it may be difficult to tell if is is in this configuration by accident or if they were placed this way on purpose. If we look at a heap of stones forming a perfect pyramid, we immediately conclude that is was DESIGNED that way. Like the Golden Rectangle of the greek temples, it is immediately obvious thought lay behind the design.
I agree some Gehry projects push the scrapheap appearance and I do not care for them, but others, such as Calatrava are very beautiful.

It really depends. I like some of the deconstructive styled buildings that don't scream "attention whore" as much as some of the others.

We don't really need to see the rendering for the InterActiveCorp HQ b/c it will look similar to Concert Hall, which was done in LA.

I love deconstructivism because it creates a great contrast in it's surrounding area. As if something's wrong with the building (there isn't of course) in comparison to the normal, straight and visibly structurally sound buildings around.

To make a long story short; Cool.

Even if the Atlantic Yards complex doesn't go through, Ghery still has the InterActiveCorp HQ, so it's not a total loss.

I'm looking forward to the first deconstructive skyscraper !