Boston Power Station And Portland Building Essay Examples

When considering postmodern examples of architecture, many things must be taken into account. Primarily, the melding of old and new, and the abstract forms in which the architecture takes on often elude postmodernism. At times, these attempts are made so desperately, the building exceeds professionalism, and even any semblance of sanity. It catapults itself past modernism and into the throes of flamboyant, artistic agony, as we see with the Boston Power Station, and the Portland Building.
The Boston Power Station is an excellent example of postmodernism, as it has attempted to climb out of the realm of realistic architecture, and onto a film set. Abstract even in color, it has all the trappings of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. All that remains of a power plant is its basic, box-like shape. Even the dark magenta rectangles that trace the building appear to be chasing one another, giving it an almost whimsical look. We do not often see buildings appear in this form today, and when we do, it is not with an air of professionalism. The Boston Power Station has then abandoned all sense of professionalism in an effort to, essentially, be a part of both a consumer nation, and a nation of want-to-be idealists. It is a power plant, and while we are a population of consumers and there was no reason for this building to follow the way of postmodern architecture, it has bled so deeply into our culture even the providers of electricity felt the need to make the experience of purchasing power appear exciting and otherworldly. The color combinations are lighthearted and abstract in comparison to the function of the building. They give no reference to locality. The building’s shape and color make the onlooker’s senses quake, allowing for the necessary disintegration for the building to be considered postmodern. Arguably, the similarity between a candy factory and the likelihood that the building is polluting the atmosphere could be stated as a combination between and older, kinder world, and a newer, harsher world.
The Portland Building is another example of postmodernism in today’s modern age. Strangely, the Portland Building has been standing for many decades, since before the advent of postmodernism, but somehow, due to its gaudy nature, has been dubbed a postmodern masterpiece. Staring at the Portland Building from the front will hardly give one the idea that they are staring at a building at all, but rather a fragmented piece of art. The outward décor and structural integrity show the telltale signs of postmodernism. The building exhibits a globalization in its art form. There is something almost Aztecan about the decoration. However, it could also be derived from Mayans, or arguably any ancient society. However, the straight lines leading up to these stark, triangular shapes give the building a sense of modernity, combining the old world with the new. Combining the past and present is also an essential part of postmodernism. The Portland Building achieves the combination, however brashly.
Postmodernism appears to be an easy form of architecture to achieve. Stated plainly, the Boston Power Station and Portland Building are eyesores. They are eyesores due to their postmodern architecture. Postmodern architecture creates ugly buildings because it is trying too desperately to break away from modernism. Like a petulant child breaking away from its supportive parent, postmodernism still does not seem to know what it is, and we suffer because of it.