Postmodernism
Postmodernism is a collective term for very diverse styles in architecture after 1980. Common sources of inspiration are architecture from other eras and contemporary society with its fast visual culture, artificiality and permanent changes. In Zoetermeer, the cinema on the Duitslandlaan and the Forum-Fontanum in Rokkeveen are examples of postmodern architecture.
Postmodernism was a late adopter in the Netherlands, with a half-hearted variation on the postmodernist architecture that was so popular abroad and that used many elements from classical antiquity. In the mid-eighties, this translated into neo-rationalist buildings with a temple front, columns and a symmetrical layout in the Netherlands. In the nineties, this classicist variation developed into a mature style.
Building in historical styles from our own country has also taken off since the 1990s. Rokkeveen, with its Amsterdam and Haagsche School neighbourhoods, was one of the earliest examples, but now 1930s houses are being built all over the country, as are houses in historical styles from before the 1930s, such as in the Dorpsstraat or, just outside Zoetermeer, the new shopping centre in Nootdorp.
Consumerism
Consumerism has a completely different postmodern slant. Consumerism is not so much for a style with fixed characteristics, but rather a design attitude that has similarities with deconstructivism, which resulted in the Floriade in Zoetermeer in the early 1990s. Just like with neomodernism, a building is designed as a powerful and original image that expresses its own atmosphere or lifestyle. In this, architectural elements from other eras or countries are freely used. Several contrasting styles, materials and colours can be combined in one building. Consumerism is strongly associative.
Examples
