User:Horst-schlaemma/Neo-Historism

Neo-Historism is a new architectural movement, that emerged from Postmodern architecture in the late 1980s. Buildings of this style feature many elements of classical or traditional, pre-modern architecture, often resulting in a Neoclassical approach. It is also referred to as Neo-Classicism, Traditionalist Architecture or Neoclassical Revival.



Neoclassicism today
An especially popular form of Neo-Historism is New Neoclassicism that draws its inspiration from Neoclassical architecture.

As of the first decade of the 21st century, neoclassical architecture is usually classed under the umbrella term of "traditional architecture", "neo-historist architecture" or "regionalist architecture". Also, a number of pieces of postmodern architecture draw inspiration from and include explicit references to neoclassicism, the National Theatre of Catalonia in Barcelona among them. Postmodern architectural taste includes, in fact, historical elements, like column, capital or tympanum. Two of the most "classical" Postmodernism outgrowths are neo-eclectic architecture and neo-historist architecture.

After a lull during the period of modern architectural dominance (roughly post-WWII until the mid-1980s), neoclassicism has seen somewhat of a resurgence. This rebirth is mainly due to postmodern architecture, whose decorative tastes includes columns, capitals and tympana. In particular, neo-eclectic architecture and neo historicist architecture are Postmodernism outgrowth that deals with an increasing demand in contemporary classical architecture. Buildings, such as the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, are again being built in neoclassical style today.

In Britain a number of architects are active in the neoclassical style. Two new university Libraries, Quinlan Terry's Maitland Robinson Library at Downing College and ADAM Architecture's Sackler Library illustrate that the approach taken can range from the traditional, in the former case, to the unconventional, in the latter case. Many of the new neoclassical buildings in Britain are privately owned houses.

Recently, Prince Charles came under controversy for promoting a classically designed development on the land of the former Chelsea Barracks in London. Writing to the Qatari Royal family (who were funding the development through the property development company Qatari Diar) he condemned the accepted modernist plans, instead advocating a classical approach. His appeal was met with success and the plans were withdrawn. A new design by architecture house Dixon Jones is currently being drafted.

Academic teaching
The University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA offers the Notre Dame School of Architecture, a faculty that teaches traditional (pre-modern) architecture and urban planning (e.g. following the principles of New Urbanism) and thus supports the development of Neo-Historism. Also some architecture offices teach their trainees in traditional and neo-historist architecture, with examples listed under Notable neo-historist architects.



Examples for buildings and ensembles of Neo-Historism

 * Brandevoort
 * Brentwood Cathedral
 * Jakriborg
 * Poundbury
 * Richmond Riverside
 * Schermerhorn Symphony Center
 * Seaside, Florida

Notable neo-historist architects

 * ADAM Architecture
 * Christoph Kohl
 * Quinlan Terry
 * Patzschke Architekten, Berlin
 * Hans Kollhoff
 * Rob Krier & Leon Krier
 * Lucien Lagrange Architects
 * David M. Schwarz Architects
 * Robertson Partners