Introduction
Deconstructivism is a type of architectural style, which unlike conventional architecture, breaks all the rules of construction theory. Developed in late 1980’s, deconstructivism was started by a group of architects known as the deconstructivists, who were impressed and influenced by the thinking and principles of French Philosopher Jacques Derrida.
According to the deconstructivism style, a building is designed in parts. The architecture seems as if it is done in bits and pieces, in a haphazard manner, without any importance given to logic or architecture norms. A building constructed by deconstructivism style reflects discordant pieces joined together to form unrelated abstract forms.
Deconstructivism focuses on changing the conventional rectilinear lines of a normal architectural building into non-rectilinear lines, transforming the external features of the building into distorted shapes and fragmented features.
Deconstructivism Philosophy
Initially architecture had two main facets – modernism and post-modernism. These two schools of architectural thoughts ruled almost all form of architectural styles. However, deconstruction, which came later, followed an approach that held the conventional architecture norms upside-down.
Deconstruction, as the name suggests, intends to disarrange the architectural styles, refuting modernism and post-modernism references. For e.g. in post modern style, ornamentation of the building was to decorate the architectural structures in regards to functional characteristics and using appropriate geometrical shapes and lines. However, deconstructivism works exactly opposite to this. It believes in removing the ornamentation of the building from the functional aspects and instead using irregular geometrical shapes, complicating the exterior features and yet attaining the functional and structural characteristics needed by a building.
The Philosophy behind this architectural school of thought comes from the French Philosopher Jacques Derrida, who believed that architecture is a kind of language for communication using the linguistic philosophy. According to Derrida, the contradicting ideas such as presence and absence, solid matter and void etc. also occurs in architecture; and just as a building can be constructed using the conventional laws of architecture, non-conventional methods or deconstruction can also be used in a building a functional structure.
Deconstructivism is also affected by the architectural style of the Russian constructivism movement that started in the 20th century. Constructivism at this time also followed the same pattern of deconstructivism, which involved assembling abstract forms of irregular and disjointed geometrical shapes. However, constructivism did follow the ornamentation of buildings up to certain extent whereas deconstructivism staunchly refuted it.
Application
Many buildings in the past and present have been affected by the destructive architectural style. Buildings such as Turning Torso in Malmo, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain, Mit’s Stata Center, and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil-am-Rhein are a few structures made from deconstructive architectural style.
Many modern buildings are also being build by deconstructivism. Also, with the advancement in computer aided designing systems, planning and designing such buildings have become easy. 3-D designs and simulating the post construction effects have helped deconstructivism greatly. The present technological advancement has made designing buildings with such complex shapes extremely easy.
Thus, though unconventional is style and odd in looks, deconstructivism has found its own place in the world of architecture by building structures that are not only functionally and structurally stable but also unique and attractive.
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