Gerald D.
Hines College of Architecture represents neoclassical and postmodernist style
architecture. Neoclassical, or also known as the “new classical” architecture,
depicts buildings that are influenced by classical architecture of ancient
Greece and Rome. Similar to neoclassicism we can see how postmodernism pertains
to architecture of the late 20th century and appears in the
1960’s. The postmodernist movement uses
complex forms, and references historic styles, contrasting the rigid forms and
accentuating on the use of standard architecture.
Philip Johnson was an architect that celebrated
modern architecture but joined the postmodern dialogue by adding his own bold
and caustic statement. His architecture represents
the modern building but is topped with a classical monumental ornament. Buildings such as the AT&T Building,
which is ornamented with a top that resembles a Chippendale
highboy or 190 S. LaSalle building that is topped with a classical allusion of
a gothic peaked roof are some examples of Philip Johnson’s postmodernist
movements. Phillip Johnson won the first
Pritzker Prize in 1979; his work exhibited a vision and commitment that formed
significant contributions to humanity and the environment. As a critic and a historian, Phillip Johnson
was one of the most influential figures in American design and architecture. His importance in the architecture world brought
significance attention to this iconic movement of postmodernism. The functionality of the buildings, which
defined the modern city and the aesthetic and complexity, were design concepts
that architects like Philip Johnson were tying to move away from. In the early 1960’s architects shifted from
implementing new technology to their buildings to combining history, context,
and culture in an ironic way to the architecture.
Gerald D. Hines
College of Architecture is an architectural building that is topped with a
classical piece that represents Greek architecture with its Doric columns. The idea behind this building was replicated
from past architecture; which imitates the French building by Nicolas Ledoux,
House of Education. We can see how
Philip Johnson uses new material in the exterior and interior of the building
to represent the modern aspect of the building but keeps the concept of a classical
building by integrating past material such as marble and using the classical
architecture of an atrium but covers it with a glass structure.
The
crown on top of the building can be seen from all across the campus, allowing
for those who see it to identify with the structure. The monumentality of the building was created
for that same reason; the large scale of the building and the geometry represents
the postmodern movement that Philip Johnson and his partner Burgee were trying
to create. A building of this scale was created to
express greatness and act as a threshold for the university. The placement and style of the windows is
influenced by the roman culture. The
arch is a curved structure that is made of stone or brick and in the ancient
times this curve served a support or strengthener of the building. Although these arches are not a support to
the building, Philip Johnson and John Burgee apply this illusion to represent
the classical icon of the Roman and Greek culture.
The
volumes of the building also represent classical architecture. The large ceilings create an enjoyable open
space. The atrium allows for light to
enter to the building and filter through each floor allowing the building to be
naturally illuminated. The building uses a variation of shapes and
sizes on the windows, creating a different effect of lighting within each
floor. This classical style of an
atrium allows for an open space where people gather and allows the enclosed
building to experience the exterior through a variation of opening on the sides
and top of the building. The use of new materials in the building
allows the architect to create false columns in the building that only serve as
an aesthetic illusion of support.
Philip Johnson was concern on creating an essence of the classical
architecture and reinterpreting the building with the modern use of material.
The organization of the building pushes
the private section to the short sides of the building, which allows for a flow
of people through the center of the building.
The vertical circulation is visible as you enter the building with a
monumental set of stairs on each side of the buildings. The stairs are composed of marble steps and a
steel rail that were custom made with simple geometric shapes. The entire building is constructed out of
simple geometric shape that accentuates the postmodern ideal of geometry.
Gerald D. Hines
College of Architectures represents a postmodern movement that accentuates the
classical style of the past. Philip
Johnson’s vision of postmodern architecture was a new direction that brought
great success to his career as an architect.
Even thought the style is not currently in use, the spaces created by
this architect are enjoyed by the people who work and pass through these
caustic classic building. Hines College of Architecture is an architectural
piece that represents simplicity and function of a communal space with a hint
of the postmodern movement.
References
Britannica
(2014). Neoclassical architecture. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1383512/Neoclassical-architecture
Varnelis
(2015). Kazys Varnelis. Philip
Johnson’s Empire. Network Architecture Lab at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and
Preservation. http://varnelis.net/architecture/philip_johnsons_empire
Bjone, C. (2014). The End to the
End of History. In Philip Johnson and His Mischief: Appropriation in Art and
Architecture (p. 96). Australia: The Image Publishing Group Pty.
University of Houston Digital
Library: University of Houston Buildings: Architects of the Gerald D. Hines
College of Architecture building, John Burgee and Philip Johnson, pose with the
building model. (2015, January 1). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/p15195coll3/item/211
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