Moussavi builds her case on several interconnected theoretical pillars that challenge architectural orthodoxy:
Like its predecessor volumes, The Function of Style operates as a graphic and analytical manual. Moussavi uses a highly systematic approach to break down how style functions in practice.
The Function of Style represents the logical and necessary conclusion of this inquiry. Having established new ways of thinking about ornament and form, Moussavi turns her attention to the question that ties them together: how do we characterize the architecture of the present moment? If the 1970s were defined by Postmodernism and the 1980s by Deconstruction, Moussavi asks, how do we understand the immense formal diversity of architecture from the 1990s to today? the function of style farshid moussavi pdf
For over a century, architectural discourse has been trapped in a binary opposition. On one side, formalism treated style as a system of pure visual consistency—a set of repeatable formal elements that defined an era or a movement. On the other, functionalism insisted that form must follow use, leaving little room for expressive or aesthetic considerations. "During the 19th and most of the 20th century, discussions of style revolved around pure formalism or pure functionalism," Moussavi argues. "Style, as the way of assembling forms, was trapped in producing consistency and sameness across architectural forms".
Moussavi argues that style is not just an external, superficial addition to a building. Instead, she posits that style—when understood as a consistent set of principles applied to a building’s assembly—is a functional entity. It is the aesthetic expression of a building’s organizational ideas. Key Concepts: Having established new ways of thinking about ornament
"The Function of Style" grew out of Moussavi’s research and teaching at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). It reflects a broader shift in 21st-century architectural education away from the ideological debates of Postmodernism and Deconstructivism, and toward a new pragmatism.
Whether you are seeking to understand the history of modernism or looking for a new design methodology, The Function of Style is an essential resource in the contemporary architectural library. On one side, formalism treated style as a
: Technical aspects like lighting, acoustics, and traffic.
The publication serves as both a theoretical treatise and a massive catalog of contemporary architectural projects. Case Study Analysis
In the digital age, where advanced software allows architects to generate almost any shape or pattern imaginable, the discipline faces a crisis of choice. Without the constraints of historical canons, how do architects decide which form or style to pursue?
Moussavi uses her own projects to illustrate how "style" functions to solve real-world problems: