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Deconstructivism

Picture Dictionary of Modern Architecture: Deconstructivism

The Seattle Public Library by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas is an example of Deconstructivist architecture.
Seattle Public Library by Rem Koolhaas

The new main central branch of the Seattle Public Library was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and opened in 2004.

Photo ©2005 Niko Vujevic / iStockphoto
Deconstructivism, or Deconstruction, is an approach to building design that attempts to view architecture in bits and pieces. The basic elements of architecture are dismantled. Deconstructivist buildings may seem to have no visual logic. They may appear to be made up of unrelated, disharmonious abstract forms. Deconstructive ideas are borrowed from the French philosopher Jacques Derrida.

For examples of Deconstructivism in architecture, look at works by:

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