Programmatic architecture
Introduction
Novel architecture, also called programmatic architecture or mimetic architecture, is a type of architecture in which buildings and other structures have unusual shapes for purposes such as advertising or copying famous monuments without any intention of authenticity. Their size and novelty mean that they often serve as tourist attractions. It is distinguished from architectural whims "Caprice (architecture)") in that novel architecture is essentially usable buildings with eccentric shapes, while whims are non-usable, purely ornamental buildings, also often with eccentric shapes.
Description
Although earlier examples exist, such as the never-built Elephant Bastille in Paris, the style became popular in the United States, and later in other countries, as automobile travel increased in the 1930s.[1] The Statue of Liberty in New York is a statue that is part sculpture and part monument, which, like many later examples of novel architecture, has an accessible interior and has become a tourist attraction.
Building novel architecture alongside roads became a way to attract motorists to a diner, cafe or roadside attraction, so these buildings were designed in unusual shapes, often in the shape of the things sold inside. This “mimetic” architecture became a trend, and many roadside cafes were built in the shape of giant coffee pots, hot dog stands in the shape of giant hot dogs, and fruit stands in the shape of oranges or other fruits. Tail o' the Pup is a Los Angeles hot dog stand shaped like a hot dog, the Brown Derby is a restaurant shaped like a bowler hat, Bondurant's Pharmacy is a pharmacy shaped like a mortar, the Big Apple Restaurant is a 10.7-meter-high block, and the Big Duck is a poultry store shaped like a duck. a souvenir shop). In Montreal is the Gibeau Orange Julep restaurant, a 12-meter-high truncated orange sphere built in 1966 (replacing a smaller sphere from 1945), which still operates today.[1].
Novel, programmatic, or mimetic architecture can take the form of objects not normally associated with buildings, such as characters, animals, people, or household objects. Two examples of this are Lucy the Elephant, a giant elephant, and the basket-shaped headquarters of the Longaberger Company. There may also be a cartoon element associated with this type of architecture. These animals, giant fruits and vegetables, or replicas of famous monuments often serve as attractions in their own right. Some of them simply have unusual shapes or are built with unusual materials.[1].