Cover of the Journal Architektúra & Urbanizmus No. 3 – 4 / 1995 that was Completely Devoted to Slovak Architecture of that Time

Small Histories, Available Theories and Unsystematic Critique Contemporary Architecture in the Journal Architektúra & Urbanizmus

The study outlines the form, contents and course of discussions on contemporary architecture in the journal throughout its half-century of publication. Using a basic art-historical categorisation of texts as historiographic, theoretical and critical, the study situates the main themes of each period’s architectonic discussion. It shows that an interest in summary historical texts, which were characteristic for writing on contemporary architecture in the 1970s, gradually shifted towards a preference for more critical texts addressing changes in the architectonic paradigm and the confrontation of modernist and postmodern standpoints. In particular, attention focuses on the period from the 1970s through the 1990s, and on the topic of reflection of contemporary architecture, reacting directly to changes in architectural thought and often assuming a polarising stance. The study outlines the form, contents and course of discussions on contemporary architecture in the journal throughout its half-century of publication. Using a basic art-historical categorisation of texts as historiographic, theoretical and critical, the study situates the main themes of each period’s architectonic discussion. It shows that an interest in summary historical texts, which were characteristic for writing on contemporary architecture in the 1970s, gradually shifted towards a preference for more critical texts addressing changes in the architectonic paradigm and the confrontation of modernist and postmodern standpoints. In particular, attention focuses on the period from the 1970s through the 1990s, and on the topic of reflection of contemporary architecture, reacting directly to changes in architectural thought and often assuming a polarising stance.

small-histories-available-theories-and-unsystematic-critique-contemporary-architecture-in-the-journal-architektura-urbanizmus

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