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