Classical Styles in Modern Architecture: From the Colonnade to Disjunctured Space

Classical Styles in Modern Architecture From the Colonnade toDisjunctured Space Thomas L. Doremus The rise of Post-modernism inlate twentieth century architecture has kindled a new, intensedebate about the viability of classical styles in the modern city,a debate fueled by the Preservation movement, with many argumentsheard on both sides. Unfortunately, too often these arguments havebeen couched in dense, theoretical terms and illustrated withhighly technical documentation. Now, in Classical Styles inArchitecture, acclaimed architectural theorist Thomas L. Doremushas avoided jargon and arcane language to provide a clearexamination of the ways in which modernism is different fromclassicism. At the same time he demonstrates how each can beaccommodated in contemporary life. In brilliant, lucid prose, heshows that the development of modern architecture was a much moregradual process in the United States than it was in Europe, andexpounds the theory that modernism is not a rejection but rather ademocratization of classical architecture, with elements from eachgiven equal value rather than subordinated in a hierarchicalsystem. Within this inclusionary view, he writes, it is possible toadapt modernist tenets to the information age and develop a viableapproach to future design. Lavishly illustrated and impeccablycredentialed, this book includes:
* Photographs that show and reference ordinary, everyday buildingsand civic structures along with some of the more familiar monumentsof architecture
* A historical section that identifies the growth of democraticgovernments as one of the foundations of modernism. Focusing on theUnited States rather than on the socialist societies of Europe, itis thus more relevant to the contemporary political situation
* Discussions of leading theorists such as Giedion, Pevsner, andVenturi, as well as of key buildings and architects drawn from thepast one hundred years
* Technological, cultural, and formal analyses of both classicismand modernism
* A discursive rather than scholarly review of why buildings lookthe way they do
Classical Styles in Modern Architecture is certain to expand thedebate on the subject and possibly even provoke controversy. Giventhe impact that many post-modern projects have had on the fabric ofmost American cities, however, it is bound to be of interest to anyreader concerned about the future of ture in the United States--inthe ways our cities will look and, consequently, how we will livein them