New Classical architecture explained

New Classical architecture, also known as New Classicism or Contemporary Classical architecture,^[1] is a contemporary movement that builds upon the principles of Classical architecture. It is sometimes considered the modern continuation of Neoclassical architecture,^{[2] [3] [4]} even though other styles might be cited as well, such as Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance or even non-Western styles^[5] – often referenced and recreated from a postmodern perspective rather than as strict revivals.^[6]

The design and construction of buildings in evolving classical styles continued throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, even as modernist and other non-classical theories broke with the classical language of architecture. The New Classical movement is also tied to a resurgence in new traditional architecture, which emphasizes craftsmanship rooted in local building traditions and materials.^[7]

Development

During the 1950s and 1960s, a small group of architects in Europe continued designing classical buildings contrary to the prevailing fashion for Modernist architecture. British architects Donald McMorran, who designed several noteworthy neoclassical buildings such as the Cripps Hall at the University of Nottingham and described the Modernist movement as "a dictatorship of taste",^{[8] [9]} and Raymond Erith, who mentored New Classical architect Quinlan Terry – Erith's pupil, employee, partner, and ultimately successor – were notable for their neoclassical works, including numerous civic buildings and housing estates. In mainland Europe, François Spoerry contributed to the European Urban Renaissance with his classical designs and by the late 1970s, architects like Leon Krier and began challenging modernist planning through publications and counter-projects,^[10] a movement further bolstered by the support of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and initiatives such as The Prince's Foundation for Building Community.^[11]

During the same period, postmodern architecture emerged as a critique tp modernist architectural aesthetics.^[12] Influential architects inside this movement, such as Charles Moore, Robert Venturi,^[13] and Michael Graves used classical elements as ironic motifs to criticize modernism's sterility. A broad spectrum of more than two dozen architects, theorists, and historians also presented alternatives to modernism^[14] and among them were several serious New Classical architects who viewed classicism as a legitimate mode of architectural expression, some of whom would later become Driehaus Prize Laureates, including figures like Thomas Beeby and Robert A.M. Stern, who practiced both postmodern and classical styles. Some postmodernist firms, such as Stern and Albert, Righter, & Tittman, outright transitioned from postmodern design to new interpretations of traditional architecture.

On the education front, Thomas Gordon Smith, a Rome Prize laureate from the American Academy in Rome, published Classical Architecture: Rule and Invention in 1988 and was appointed to chair the University of Notre Dame's Department of Architecture a year later, structuring the curriculum around classical and traditional building practices.^{[15] [16]} Today, programs that teach New Classical Architecture are offered at the University of Miami, Judson University, Andrews University and the Center for Advanced Research in Traditional Architecture in Traditional Architecture at the University of Colorado Denver.^[17]

The New Classical movement continues to develop at the professional and popular level, gaining momentum after the 1963 demolition of McKim, Mead & White's Pennsylvania Railroad Station in New York City, which led to the formation of Classical America. Led by Henry Hope Reed, Jr.,^[18] which advocated for the appreciation of classical architecture by teaching architects the classical orders and hosting various events and conferences.^[19] In 2002, the Institute of Classical Architecture merged with Classical America to form the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), which supports regional chapters in the United States that host awards programs,^[20] publishes the peer-reviewed journal The Classicist,^[21] and offers educational programs for professionals and the public.^[22] The international expansion of the movement was catalyzed by the creation of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU) in 2001^[23], a global organization under the patronage of King Charles III,^[24] focused on supporting traditional architecture and preserving local character.^[25]

In 2003, philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus established the Driehaus Architecture Prize, awarded by the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, to honor architects whose work embodies classical and traditional principles in architecture and urbanism, seen as the alternative to the modernist Pritzker Prize, but with double the cash prize.^[26] It is awarded alongside the Reed Award which recognizes individuals outside architecture who support traditional city design through writing, planning, or promotion.^[27] Other notable classical architecture awards include the American Palladio Award,^[28] the European,^[29] the Iberian Rafael Manzano Prize,^[30] the Edmund N. Bacon Prize,^[31] and the Rieger Graham Prize^[32] of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) for architecture graduates.

Since 2014, the "Arkitekturupprororet" (Architectural Uprising) movement in Sweden has advocated for traditional designs in new developments.^[33] Originally a Facebook group, it has expanded to other Nordic countries and the rest of the world,^[34] achieving moderate success in promoting traditional architecture. The movement's main goal is to "make architecture available to everyone" through social media and annual awards recognizing the best and worst new buildings in Sweden.

In 2021, efforts to reintroduce New Classical architecture into urban planning were furthered in the U.S. by architect Nir Buras,^[35] who founded the Classic Planning Institute (CPI). Based in Washington, D.C., the CPI focuses on research, practice, and education to incorporate New Classical principles into contemporary urban planning. The CPI also hosts the Traditional Architecture Gathering (TAG),^[36] an international conference that attracts hundred of architects and enthusiasts to discuss New Classical Architecture worldwide.

Philosophy

See also: Sustainable architecture. New Classical professionals tend to work under the assumption that there is no such thing as purely original creation, and that innovation unavoidably occurs in an environment laden with suggestions, influences, a precedent of problems solved and, perhaps more importantly, mistakes to be avoided.^[37]

Many New Classical architects believe in the importance of sustainability, and aim to create long-lasting, well-crafted buildings of great quality, adapted to the context and with an efficient use of natural resources.^[38]

Educational institutions

While most universities worldwide teach modernist design principles, some institutions teach (solely, mainly, or partly) the principles of traditional and classical architecture and urban planning. Some of these are:^[39]

Brazil

• (UNIEURO), in Brasília.^[40]

India

• Tirumala S.V. Institute of Traditional Sculpture and Architecture (SVITSA), in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.^[41]

Italy

• Polytechnic University of Bari, in Bari.^[42]

New Zealand

• UNITEC Institute of Technology, in Auckland.^[42]

United Kingdom

• National Design Academy, in Nottingham (heritage interior design).^[43]
• The Prince's Foundation for Building Community, in London.
• The Prince's School of Traditional Arts, in London.
• Unit 6 of the Kingston School of Art's Master of Architecture program,^[44] the only postgraduate unit in the United Kingdom to teach classical design. Previously, this was taught in the undergraduate program.
• University of Portsmouth, in Portsmouth, School of Architecture.^[45]
• PRASADA  - Practice, Research, and Advancement in South Asian Design and Architecture at Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, in Cardiff, Wales.

United States

• Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan.^[46]
• American College of the Building Arts.^[47] and School of the Arts at College of Charleston, in Charleston, South Carolina.
• The Center for Advanced Research in Traditional Architecture at the University of Colorado, in Denver, Colorado.
• University of Miami, in Coral Gables, Florida.^[48]
• Yale School of Architecture, in New Haven, Connecticut.^[49]
• Grand Central Academy of Art formerly hosted at the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), in New York City, New York.
• Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), in New York City, New York.
• University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, in Notre Dame, Indiana.
• Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah.^[50]
• Beaux-Arts Academy, in Salt Lake City, Utah.^[51]
• Academy of Classical Design, in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
• The Classic Planning Institute, Washington D.C.

See also

• Complementary architecture
• Revivalism (architecture)
• Classical Realism
• Driehaus Architecture Prize
• Traditional architecture
• Outline of classical architecture

Bibliography

• Book: Alexander, Christopher. The Timeless Way of Building. 1979. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-502402-9.
• Book: Charles, Prince of Wales. A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture. 1989. Doubleday. 978-0-385-26903-2.
• Book: Coles, William A.. Architecture in America: A Battle of Styles. 1961. Ardent Media.
• Book: Curl, James Stevens. Classical Architecture: An Introduction to Its Vocabulary and Essentials, with a Select Glossary of Terms. 2003. Norton. 978-0-393-73119-4.
• Book: Dodd, Phillip James. The Art of Classical Details: Theory, Design and Craftsmanship. 2013. Images Publishing. 978-1-86470-203-3.
• Book: Dowling, Elizabeth Meredith. New Classicism: The Rebirth of Traditional Architecture. 2004. Random House Incorporated. 978-0-8478-2660-5.
• Book: Gabriel, J. François. Classical Architecture for the Twenty-first Century: An Introduction to Design. registration. 2004. W.W. Norton & Company. 978-0-393-73076-0.
• Book: Gromort, Georges. The Elements of Classical Architecture. 2001. W.W. Norton. 978-0-393-73051-7.
• Book: Krier, Léon. Albert Speer: architecture, 1932-1942. 1985. Archives d'architecture moderne. 978-2-87143-006-3 .
• Book: Matrana, Marc R.. Lost Plantations of the South. 2009. Univ. Press of Mississippi. 978-1-60473-469-0.
• Book: Reed, Henry Hope. The Golden City. 1971. W.W. Norton. 978-0-393-00547-9.
• Book: Scully, Vincent Joseph. The shingle style today: or, The historian's revenge. 1974. G. Braziller. 978-0-8076-0759-6.
• Book: Stroik, Duncan. The Church Building as a Sacred Place: Beauty, Transcendence, and the Eternal. 2012. Liturgy Training Publications. 978-1-59525-037-7.
• Book: Summerson, John. The Classical Language of Architecture. 1963. MIT Press. 978-0-262-69012-6.
• Book: Watkin, David. Morality and Architecture. registration. 1977. Clarendon Press. 978-0-19-817350-2.

External links

• • Illustrated Glossary of Classical Architecture
• Institute of Classical Architecture and Art
• Traditional Architecture Group
• INTBAU – Universities / institutions offering traditional architecture courses by country
• OpenSource Classicism – project for free educational content about (new) classical architecture
• The architectural traditions are back – we should celebrate, The Spectator, Hugh Pearman, 28 October 2017

Examples

• Neohistorism Photo Group - New Classic Architecture

Notes and References

1. Book: Putting tradition into practice: heritage, place and design: proceedings of 5th INTBAU International Annual Event . 2018 . Giuseppe Amoruso . 978-3-319-57937-5 . Cham . Springer . 1000578629.
2. Web site: Machalinski. Anne. Classical Contemporary Meets the Future. 2021-01-12. www.mansionglobal.com. 16 March 2020 . en-US.
3. Book: Curl, James Stevens . A dictionary of architecture and landscape architecture. 2006. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-280630-7. 2nd. Oxford [England]. 64585874.
4. Book: Curl. James Stevens. James Stevens Curl. New Classicism. https://books.google.com/books?id=4Lu6BwAAQBAJ. The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Wilson. Susan. 2015. 520–522. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-967498-5. en.
5. Web site: 2015-04-19. 6 Classical Buildings That Are Younger Than You Think. 2021-02-18. ArchDaily. en-US.
6. Book: Jencks, Charles. Charles Jencks. Post Modernism: The New Classicism in Art and Architecture. 1987. 7–8. New York. Rizzoli. 0-85670-867-4. en.
7. Web site: Inside Architecture's New Classicism Boom . Quigley . Kathleen . . 7 August 2018 . en . 2019-02-16.
8. Web site: Central Criminal Court Extension, London – The Twentieth Century Society . 9 December 2021 . c20society.org.uk.
9. Book: Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture . 2006 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-860678-9 . Curl . James Stevens . 466–7 . en . 3 December 2021.
10. Leon Krier and Maurice Culot, "Counterprojets: Prefaces," (Brussels: Archives d'Architecture Moderne, 1980).
11. Charles, Prince of Wales, "A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture," (New York: Doubleday, 1989).
12. Book: McAlester, Virginia Savage . A Field Guide to American Houses . Alfred A. Knopf . 2013 . 978-1-4000-4359-0 . 664–665, 668–669.
13. Robert Venturi, "Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture," (New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1966).
14. Andreas Papadakis and Harriet Watson, eds., "New Classicism: Omnibus Volume," (London: Academy Editions, 1990).
15. Web site: Many Canons, Many Conversions - . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184453/http://blogs.nd.edu/classicalarch/2012/09/28/many-canons-many-conversions/ . 29 October 2013 . 3 May 2018 . blogs.nd.edu.
16. Web site: Gunts . Edward . 2021-07-01 . Notre Dame’s Thomas Gordon Smith, who led a revival in classical architecture, dies at 73 . 2024-12-26 . The Architect’s Newspaper . en-US.
17. Web site: College of Architecture and Planning at CU Denver . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191200/http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/ArchitecturePlanning/Documents/Christine%20Franck%20appointment.pdf . 2013-10-29 . 2013-10-26.
18. Web site: How Henry Hope Reed Saved Architecture . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171020164252/http://www.nysun.com/on-the-town/how-henry-hope-reed-saved-architecture/17877 . 20 October 2017 . 3 May 2018 . The New York Sun.
19. Web site: Books - Institute of Classical Architecture & Art . https://web.archive.org/web/20170620084212/http://www.classicist.org/publications-and-bookshop/classical-america-series-in-art-and-architecture/ . 20 June 2017 . 3 May 2018 . www.classicist.org.
20. Web site: Articles - Institute of Classical Architecture & Art . https://web.archive.org/web/20101114024717/http://blog.classicist.org/?cat=49 . 14 November 2010 . 3 May 2018 . blog.classicist.org.
21. Web site: Books - Institute of Classical Architecture & Art . https://web.archive.org/web/20171010011101/http://www.classicist.org/publications-and-bookshop/the-classicist/ . 10 October 2017 . 3 May 2018 . www.classicist.org.
22. Web site: Calendar . https://web.archive.org/web/20171013011308/http://www.classicist.org/programs/ . 13 October 2017 . 3 May 2018 . www.classicist.org.
23. News: Guardian Staff . 2002-02-11 . Hooked on classics: in praise of traditional architecture . 2020-02-27 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
24. Web site: Alexander . Michael . October 16, 2018 . United Kingdom: New crown coin celebrates the 70th birthday of HRH Charles, Prince of Wales . Coin Update.
25. Web site: About Us INTBAU . 2020-02-27 . en-US.
26. Web site: Thai Architect Wins Driehaus Prize - . 2024-12-26 . World-Architects . en.
27. Web site: Driehaus Prize Nomination Process . https://web.archive.org/web/20130329102201/http://architecture.nd.edu/about/driehaus-prize/nomination-process/ . 29 March 2013 . 11 February 2013 . University of Notre Dame School of Architecture.
28. Web site: Palladio Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20140406230208/http://palladioawards.com/ . 6 April 2014 . 10 April 2014 . Active Interest Media.
29. Web site: Home . 2022-01-05 . www.rotthierprize.be.
30. Web site: 28 February 2018 . Premio Rafael Manzano de Nueva Arquitectura Tradicional . 2020-02-11 . en-US.
31. Web site: Edmund N. Bacon Prize . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413172007/http://philadelphiacfa.org/lecture-bacon.php . 13 April 2014 . 10 April 2014 . Philadelphia Center for Architecture.
32. Web site: The Rieger Graham Prize . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141627/http://www.classicist.org/awards-and-prizes/rieger-graham-prize/ . 13 April 2014 . 10 April 2014 . Institute of Classical Architecture & Art in New York.
33. News: 2023-08-01 . A Nordic Revolt Against 'Ugly' Modern Architecture . 2023-12-25 . Bloomberg.com . en.
34. Web site: About (English) – Arkitekturupproret . 2023-12-25 . sv-SE.
35. News: Flanagan . Neil . October 14, 2009 . McMillan Two envisions a classical Anacostia . 2024-01-09 . Greater Greater Washington . en.
36. Web site: Brussat . David . 2021-03-02 . TAG 4: Classical gears up . 2024-01-09 . Architecture Here and There . en.
37. Book: Callender, Jassen . 2017-07-28 . Architecture History and Theory in Reverse . 10.4324/9781315661315. 978-1-315-66131-5 .
38. Book: Sagharchi. Alireza. New Palladians: Modernity and Sustainability for 21st Century Architecture. Steil. Lucien. 2010. Artmedia. 978-1-902889-12-2. en.
39. http://www.intbau.org/archive/academic.htm INTBAU
40. Web site: Institutions INTBAU. 2020-10-08. en-US.
41. http://www.tirumala.org Tirumala S.V. Institute of Traditional Sculpture and Architecture (SVITSA) in Tirupati
42. Web site: Institutions INTBAU. en-US. 2020-02-18.
43. http://www.nda.ac.uk/courses/Foundation-Degree-in-Heritage-Interior-Design.aspx National Design Academy Nottingham
44. Web site: MArch Architecture – Unit 6 – 2015/16. We will engage with the fundamental architectural considerations of scale and language, and the application of the order of classicism at the scale of the town, building, room and fitting.. 13 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170213165817/http://fada.kingston.ac.uk/al/march-architecture-unit-6-201516/. 13 February 2017.
45. http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/arch/project-office/ARCH---Project-Office---CPD---Design-Classical.pdf Portsmouth School of Architecture: Design Classical
46. Web site: Andrews University School of Architecture, Art & Design. https://web.archive.org/web/20120616090857/http://www.andrews.edu/saad/architecture/about/. 16 June 2012. Throughout the educational process, students are challenged to base architectural decisions on thoughtful and learned criteria, including the body of knowledge found within vernacular and classical traditions.. 4 April 2014.
47. Web site: Welcome!. Chad. Urban. buildingartscollege.us. 3 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20150315025645/http://buildingartscollege.us/. 15 March 2015.
48. Web site: Certificates School of Architecture University of Miami. arc.miami.edu. en. 2020-04-13.
49. Book: Salingaros, Nikos Angelos.. Anti-architecture and deconstruction. 2004. Umbau-Verlag. Alexander, Christopher, 1936-. 3-937954-01-5. Solingen, Germany. 57139148.
50. Web site: UVU Bachelor of Architecture Bachelor of Architecture Architecture and Engineering Design. www.uvu.edu. 2020-03-24.
51. Web site: Beaux-Arts Academy in Salt Lake City, classical architecture study programs. baa-utah.com. 3 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314163529/http://www.baa-utah.com/about/. 14 March 2016.