INT 232 History of Interiors, Art, Furnishing II

 

INT 232
Ruth Hernandez

Deconstruction 

Deconstructivism in design was an era that evolved at the end of the twentieth century due to the structured nature of modernism and even postmodernism. While the former movements were adherent to some principles of balance and harmony, deconstructivism consciously rejected them. The movement involved elements of fragmentation, irregular forms, and designs that seem unstable or incomplete.

One of the most important principles of Deconstructivism is that the architectural design does not need to be logical and coherent. The buildings themselves and their interior decorations may appear to be constructed from pieces which do not go together. This results in highly dynamic and dramatic spaces, which break the rules of conventional architectural design. In particular, the lines are not straight but diagonal and curved; the forms may conflict instead of being in harmony.

Another architect who is one of the prominent pioneers of this architectural design philosophy is Frank Gehry. His creations have sculptural elements and unique materials, including his iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao with its fluid forms and distinctive titanium skin that creates an effect of reflecting different colors at varying angles. His structures do not conform to conventional geometric forms; rather, they are organic and ever-evolving according to the observer’s point of view.

In general, the Deconstructivism age has defied the conventional concepts of design through rule-breaking and discovery of novel forms. It presented opportunities for architects and designers to explore new territories as far as the structure, spatial qualities, and materiality are concerned.

The subject enabled me to appreciate the idea that design does not necessarily have to be confined by convention in order to be effective. It is fascinating how Deconstructivism involves deconstruction and unconventional spaces that appear surprising. The exploration of the work of Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid has revealed that design can combine utility and artistry. Ultimately, it seems that this design movement has revealed the possibilities for creative freedom in architectural and interior design.

Current Applications:

One Step-Further: Zaha Hadid 

An important personality of the Deconstructivism movement is Zaha Hadid, who added a futuristic and unique element to the movement. In her early architectural designs, she incorporated many Deconstructivism elements by making use of sharp angles and fragmentations and also giving an impression of movement. With the passage of time, her work became more fluid with curved designs; however, she continued challenging the existing norms of architecture.

Zaha Hadid can be considered a prominent personality of Deconstructivism due to her unique approach to designing buildings and interior spaces. She managed to combine a complex design process with elegant designs. Her designs give an impression of movement and dynamism. She was one of the first female architects to receive global recognition for her talent in architecture, which is a male-dominated profession.

References

• Pile, J. F. (2014). A history of interior design (4th ed.). Wiley.
• Jencks, C. (2011). The story of post-modernism: Five decades of the ironic, iconic and critical in architecture. Wiley.
• Sudjic, D. (2017). The language of cities. Penguin Books.