To understand postmodernism, one must understand why it had emerged in the first place. Post-Modernist architecture is a movement which emerged in the 1970s as a reaction against the constraints and formalities of Modernism and the lack of variety in modern architecture.
I will be looking into one of the most important buildings that emerged in the postmodern movement which is the Vanna Venturi House by Robert Venturi. As I mentioned before, the movement was reaction to the constraints of modernism such consistency, but in the Villa Venturi the architect went against the norm by combining different styles and not conforming to rules such as symmetry as can be seen in the main facade of the house where the windows don’t match. For example there are modernist ribbon windows for the kitchen and square windows for the bedrooms since these windows are placed based on their function in the interior, creating an imbalance on two different sides of the front facade.
Another way Venturi creates contradiction and rebels against the norms of modernism is his experimentation with scale. The architects draws attention to key pieces that where defining elements in his design, and since the interior is centered around the fireplace the architect exaggerates and enlarges the fireplace to draw attention to it. Doors are also wide and distinctly low in height especially when contrasted with the high ceilings and the grandness of the main entrance. Venturi also minimized the circulation in the space so it consisted with large rooms with little to no subdivisions or transition areas between them.
The Vanna Venturi is a house that combines rectangular, curvilinear, and diagonal elements coming together or going against each other which creates complexity goes against the formalities of modernism, it was a way to excitement in time where there was a lack of variety.
