Multiform Architecture in an Age of Transition

Guest-edited by Owen Hopkins and Erin McKellar

Our current moment is one of profound political and economic change. Historically, these moments of transition have seen a parallel period of cultural – and notably architectural – flux. In the late-1970s this was manifested in Postmodernism. Today, a number of architects are looking again at this movement and redeploying a range of its tactics and approaches using contemporary methods and techniques. These include different modes of collage, formal reference and quotation, stylistic eclecticism, symbolism in form, material and ornament, and the bold, expressive use of colour, both natural and synthetic.

While the design that results from these ‘multiform’ tactics and approaches has been seen as a kind of neo-Postmodernism, this issue argues that this is a simplistic and superficial reading. Instead, it posits this phenomenon as the architectural attempt – both conscious and unconscious – to reflect, grapple with and make sense of the current political and economic transition and the backdrop of the climate emergency. Rather than responding to this situation by attempting to marshal architecture around a single unifying narrative, this issue makes the case for the transformative possibilities offered by an approach that is ad hoc, eclectic and pluralist.

Contributors: Mat Barnes, Jennifer Bonner, Graham Burn, James Crawford and Alexander Turner, Mario Carpo, David Knight and Cristina Monteiro, David Kohn, Stephen Parnell, Lera Samovich, Geoff Shearcroft, Dirk Somers, Catrina Stewart and Hugh McEwen, Léa-Catherine Szacka, and Amin Taha.

Featured architects: AOC Architecture, Bovenbouw Architectuur, CAN, Groupwork, David Kohn Architects, DK-CM, Fala Atelier, MALL, Studio MUTT, Office S+M, Walala Studio, Yinka Ilori Studio 

About the Guest-Editors 05
Owen Hopkins
Erin McKellar

Introduction What is Multiform? 06
Owen Hopkins

Aiming for Personality An Exercise of Continuous Improvisation 12
Lera Samovich

PoMo, Collage and Citation Notes Towards an Etiology of Chunkiness 18
Mario Carpo

Nothing New Referencing, Remixing and Sampling 26
Graham Burn, James Crawford and Alexander Turner

Marni Sweaters and Rugby Shirts Colour Blocking in Architecture 32
Jennifer Bonner

More With Less Responding to Austerity 40
Catrina Stewart and Hugh McEwen

The Birth and Rebirth of a Movement Charles Jencks’s Postmodern Odyssey in 2 48
Stephen Parnell

Pluralism and the Urban Landscape Towards a Strategic Eclecticism 56
Dirk Somers

#Architecturez Rackz, Shackz and the Opportunities In Between 64
Mat Barnes

Exploring, Building, Completing Context and Craft 70
Amin Taha

Screen’s Domesticity From the Postmodern House to Our House 76
Léa-Catherine Szacka

Taking Joy Seriously An Interview with Artist and Designer Camille Walala 84
Owen Hopkins

Perceiving Postmodernism Learning from London’s Marshlands 92
David Kohn

Working in Public Political and Design Inheritances in the Work of DK-CM 100
David Knight and Cristina Monteiro

The Joy of Architecture Evoking Emotions Through Building 108
Geoff Shearcroft

Remembering in Colour In Conversation with Artist / Designer Yinka Ilori 118
Erin McKellar

From Another Perspective Iconic Iconoclasm: David Connor 128
Neil Spiller

Contributors 134

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