Opinion

Post-modernism: It might be listed, but it’s not over

By 2018-05-24T06:00:00

Ben Flatman

Po-mo spawned the era of post-truth but it also ushered in a freedom to explore ideas that we’re still enjoying today

If official recognition by the state tends to indicate that a cultural phenomenon is over, then the listing of 17 “po-mo” buildings this month would appear to draw another line under the long, drawn-out death of architectural post-modernism.

Historic England’s chief executive described the buildings, like rarities from a distant era, as the “scarce survivals of a really influential period of British architecture”. But can post-modernism ever really die?

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