Contemporary Architecture: Features, Iconic Designs, and Famous Architects

Contemporary architecture, as the term suggests, belongs to today’s building styles. It covers structures constructed from the late 20th century to the present day. The standout characteristics of contemporary structures are their asymmetrical or non-linear forms, undecorated facades, and large volumes, rather than a uniform style.

The buildings from this era look different from each other and the old structures. It is a testament to the abundance of innovations in construction techniques and materials available today.

Contemporary architecture has reached its pinnacle thanks to modern genius architects such as Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, Santiago Calatrava, Zaha Hadid, Shigeru Ban, and Tadao Ando. Their remarkable work features unconventional and often gravity-defying shapes, even in large-scale buildings. Let’s do a deep dive and discover various topics that provide enlightenment on it.

Contemporary Architecture – History

Although the exact time of contemporary style is often debated, this type of architecture dates back to the second half of the 20th century. This style differs from the modern architecture of the early 20th century.

International cooperation witnessed enormous growth after World War II. It significantly impacted all forms of art across the world. Thus, transcontinentalism marks contemporary architecture style, which strives to build environment-friendly structures and offers a sense of placelessness.

Easy access to leading-edge methods and materials facilitates modern architects to go beyond creating linear forms. For example, technologies such as 3D printing and BIM aid in creating more challenging and intriguing forms with more precision. Hence, they can build environment-friendly and safer structures that can often seem to defy logic.

Contemporary Architecture – Characteristics

Unconventional Materials

Innovation, transformation, and novelty are at the core of contemporary architecture. The novelty empowers the architects to try new things, breaking the barriers of old architectural styles. It can be in terms of form, space, materials, and experience. Hence, it raises the requirement for using unconventional building materials or incorporating industrial materials to build a house.

Today’s architecture offers the shades of nature and is inventive as well as unexceptional. The professionals leverage natural and organic materials such as wood, concrete, metal, stone, and brick to build such structures, which foster sustainability.

Form

Straight lines have been an integral feature of the architecture. Contemporary architecture diverts from this path and promotes the use of curved lines. Structures having curved lines completely in some cases and having both curved and straight lines are a common practice today.

This concept of architecture has distanced itself from older practices through the incorporation of rounded edges and curved lines instead of straight lines.

Composition of Volumes

The incorporation of curved lines has enabled architects to imagine structures that are not just cube-shaped, which happens while using straight lines. Hence, this type of architecture encourages the construction of buildings with rounded spaces.

However, when architects use straight lines to create cubes in contemporary architecture, they assemble these cubes creatively to create a never-seen-before composition of volumes. This composition helps architects explore unusual layouts to make the interiors of a building interesting, just like the rounded shapes do.

Windows

This brand of architecture also features large windows. These designs are characterized by panoramic windows, unusual positioning of multiple windows, window walls, and skylights.

This type of arrangement of windows focuses on creating spectacular views and maximizing sunlight to illuminate the interiors. Access to more sunlight offers more natural lighting and passive solar heating.

Animated Architecture

Modern architects have invented futuristic concepts to make a building feel alive and interactive with the users. Animated architecture is part of it. In contemporary architecture, designers incorporate projections of facades that can interact with the building users. Additionally, exquisite exterior building lighting and fountains, waterfalls, and water jets may even be colored.

Environmental Considerations

Building eco-friendly structures is easy as most of the traditional buildings have at least one sustainable element like energy efficiency. Contemporary architecture requires these elements. Architects strive to produce heat in new ways and conserve it using photovoltaic cells, heat pumps, thermal collectors, geothermal heating, and heat exchangers. For example, in the case of a housing project, designers have the motto of integrating the home into its natural surroundings.

This type of architecture safeguards the surroundings from disturbance and also tries to give a unique feel to the home. For example, if an owner is passionate about reducing greenhouse gas and fulfilling environmental responsibility, then they can choose this method of architecture.

Open and Bright Interiors

A stand-out feature of contemporary architecture is that it has large glass windows and skylights to ensure abundant natural light. Similarly, architects use an open floor plan, which minimizes or eliminates many interior walls. Thus, a bright and comfortable home can be realized with the integration of these two elements.

For homeowners who want to add an entertaining vibe and leave a free flow into the whole house, open floor plans are ideal.

Flat Roofs

Flat, often overhanging roofs are an integral part of contemporary architecture. Although it seems to place more emphasis on aesthetics, it serves a particular purpose as well.

Overhanging roofs do the dual jobs of shielding the space from elements and offering extra shade. Moreover, the architecture does not stay indoors only and expands outdoors, which ensures a more cohesive look.

Geometric Simplicity

Beaming and clean aesthetics free from messy exterior details are the finest features of contemporary architecture. As mentioned above, this method leverages unique materials, however, it does not promote the addition of decorative trim or molding. It encourages simplicity, which leads to tranquility in design and luxuriousness in the atmosphere.

Harmony with Nature

Contemporary architecture style aims to create structures that harmonize with nature. Indoors and outdoors seem to gel well with the use of large glass walls, and overhanging roofs inculcate the feel of architecture to the outdoors.

Furthermore, architects consider landscaping while designing contemporary spaces. They design balconies, decks, and terraces from the beginning to complement the natural surroundings.

Examples of Contemporary Architecture

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain

It is one of the most remarkable examples of contemporary architecture. The brilliant use of intricate swirling forms and captivating materiality leaves the visitors awestruck at first sight. The rustic and unique aesthetic aura this structure emits through its titanium swirls sets it apart in the industrial urban context.

Looking at this structure from the eye level makes it resemble a boat, which is the symbol of the past industrial life of Bilbao. Reflection of the weather and sun occurs due to its seemingly random curves. Additionally, its titanium tiles have shallow central dents to make the surface ripple as the light changes.

Central Library, Seattle, USA

The world has seen only a few innovative and unique libraries like the Seattle Central Library. This building’s distinctive faceted shape is created by the different sections, which are organized into five platforms and four planes. All of the sections are vital for various functions.

OMA’s dream, which consisted of celebrated architects such as Joshua Prince-Ramus, Rem Koolhaas, and Bjarke Ingels, designed this library. The doubled number of visitors in the first year of its opening is a testament to the popularity of this structure. The Central Library won multiple awards, which included the AIA National Architecture Award 2005.

Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, Baku, Azerbaijan

The Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center is considered one of the most extraordinary creations of Zaha Hadid. It is an iconic design that leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

The fluid and free-flowing design of this 619,000-square-foot structure blend well organically with the surrounding space. It won the London Design Museum award in 2014.

Taiwan Solar Powered Station/Kaohsiung Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

The surface of the dragon-shaped Kaohsiung stadium is covered by numerous solar panels. This stadium runs on photovoltaic energy, which solar panels generate. Feng Shui inspired the conceptualization of this dragon-shaped stadium.

In Feng Shui, natural cooling through wind direction and structural design stimulation was emphasized by Toyo Ito. Hence, the stadium’s roof and sides create a tunnel for the smooth passage of wind as it does not form a complete circle.

Lotus Temple, Delhi, India

The Lotus Temple is the premier example of how contemporary architecture and biomimicry can lead to the creation of iconic structures. The design is characterized by the lotus leaves. It has nine entrances, which are demarcated by leaves. The roof for the ancillary spaces is created by the outer leaves, and the main worship arena is covered by the inner leaves.

Architects intentionally left a space between the inner leaves, which formed a steel skylight and dramatic glass as they approached the middle. Inside, visitors can see a concrete-made precast ribbed roof and Grecian marble covers the white exterior.

Iconic Contemporary Architects

Norman Foster (1935 – Present)

Norman Foster was born in Manchester, England, and is one of the most famous names in contemporary architecture. He studied at Manchester and Yale Universities. His design philosophy showcases the blend of innovation, sustainability, and technology, and his approach has inspired generations.

He has developed numerous noteworthy projects. ‘The Gherkin‘, also known as 30 St Mary Axe in London, is one of his exceptional works. This project has a curvaceous form and an energy-efficient design that improves natural ventilation. It is a trailblazing example of sustainable architecture. Millau Viaduct in France, which is the world’s tallest bridge, is also one of his exemplary works. It perfectly combines with the surrounding landscape, proving Foster’s engineering prowess.

Frank Gehry (1929 – Present)

Frank Gehry is another prominent name on this list. He reached the pinnacle of his career due to postmodern and deconstructionist architectural styles. He started rising to fame in the 1960s and 1970s as his corrugated cardboard furniture line took off. Frank reached the 1990s as a renowned name for building structures that felt flowing, organic, and undulating.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, is one of his finest works. It was inaugurated in 1997 and resembles a ship and a living entity. He added another gem to his list of architectural marvels by designing the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Premiered in 2003, this building attracts visitors with its awe-inspiring architecture and fabulous acoustics.

The Louis Vuitton Foundation Building in Paris is also one of his most fascinating works. It is an art museum as well as a cultural hub. The distinctiveness and daring in his contemporary architecture have made him a force in this field.

Tadao Ando (1941 – Present)

Japanese architect Tadao Ando had established himself as a professional boxer before discovering his passion for architecture. Tadao’s story sets him apart from others as he learned architecture without formal education. He became ambitious about the buildings after traveling.

He incorporates Japanese traditions of harmony with nature and simplicity in his architecture. Tadao’s excellent work can be recognized through natural light, raw concrete, and spatial emptiness.

Church of Light is one of his stand-out projects. Its design exudes simplicity and depth. This church’s back concrete wall has a cruciform cut, which allows natural light and signifies how light and faith are interconnected. Naoshima Art Museum, located on a small Japanese island, also showcases the brilliance of Tadao. He has mastered the art of fusing nature and minimalism in this masterpiece. This structure’s concrete forms rise from the earth and make it hard for one to distinguish if it is man-made or natural.

Zaha Hadid (1950 – 2016)

Zaha Hadid, born in Baghdad, Iraq, has revolutionized contemporary architecture with her radical yet fluid designs. At the start, she studied mathematics at the American University of Beirut. It paved the way for developing her distinctive design approach as later she went to the Architectural Association in London to learn architecture.

Hadid broke the barriers of conventional architectural norms by using dynamic forms, fragmentation, and fluidity. She won the Pritzker Prize in 2004 due to the massive impact of her work on architecture. Hadid was the first woman to win this award, which depicts the contribution she has made to the architecture field.

MAXXI Museum in Rome is one of her extraordinary works. It offers a dynamic visitor experience with its spatial flow. The Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, is one of the most aesthetically striking structures in the world. This building dares to blur the line between architecture and sculpture with its wave-like form. An organic space is created by this building, which overlooks traditional geometry.

Bjarke Ingels (1974 – Present)

Bjarke Ingels is an architect who has redefined contemporary architecture. Native to Denmark, he mastered the nuances of architecture at the Technica Superior de Arquitectura in Barcelona. Bjarke grabbed the attention of the architecture fraternity when he won design competitions with PLOT Architects. In 2005, he founded Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) when PLOT Architects was disbanded.

He shot to fame due to seamlessly blending form and function, using nontraditional shapes, and creating structures that leave occupants in awe of their aesthetics and functionality. Innovation, sustainability, and social impact are an integral part of Ingels’s design philosophy, which he describes as ‘pragmatic utopianism.’

8 House in Copenhagen is an outstanding project that helped establish him among the iconic architects of the modern era. It is a contemporary residential architecture project combining urban and communal living. This building has an 8-shaped design to ensure the uninterrupted flow of bike and pedestrian paths. One of Bjarke’s most recent projects, which showcases his architectural prowess, is the Audemars Piguet Museum in Switzerland. This building decorates Vallee De Joux’s rolling hills. A blend of nature and watchmaking artistry is showcased by flowing design and glass walls.

Conclusion

Contemporary architecture has transformed the way architecture was seen and done in the past. It is a fresh wave of change that has given some of the classic structures to the world and promises to offer the same in the future.

Gaining an understanding of this type of architecture is essential for architects to survive in the fiercely competitive design realm. Seize this opportunity and grow as an architect.

FAQs

Q1. How to identify contemporary architecture?

Ans: Some of the characteristics of contemporary architecture are mentioned below:

• Use of angles and curves.
• Combined styles.
• Elements of asymmetry.
• Free-form composition.
• Open floor plans.
• Large glass windows.
• Mixed materials.
• Emphasis on nature.
• Sustainable design.

Q2. What are the shapes of contemporary architecture?

Ans: Sharp edges are replaced by round, curved, free-form shapes and clean, geometric lines in this concept of architecture. Some architects use slanted ceilings and walls. Architects give much importance to the outdoors while designing contemporary structures. They strive to ensure there is an innate connection between exteriors and interiors.

Q3. How many stories does a contemporary house have?

Ans. Some of the main features of contemporary homes are listed below:

• 1 or 2 floors.
• An open floor plan.
• Natural elements.
• A flexible layout.
• Energy-efficient appliances.
• Neutral color schemes.

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