Tendenza

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Tendenza. Italian Neo-Rationalist architectural movement of the 1960s that rose to eminence in the 1970s, led by Aymonino, Botta, Grassi, Reichlin, Reinhart, and Aldo Rossi, and associated with the Canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It recognized the social and cultural significance of established urban fabric, the importance of historical forms and elements as a resource, and the need for architecture to be redefined in terms of rules and types. Opposed to the inflated pretensions of Functionalism, the vulgar popularism of High Tech, and increasing commercialization by those seen as having betrayed architecture, a return to academic theories propounded by Quatremère de Quincy and others was proposed. A good example of realized works is Grassi's student residences, Chieti (1976), which drew on proposals by Weinbrenner (1808). See also rational architecture; ticinese school.

Bibliography

Bonfanti et al. (1973);
Brown-Manrique (1989);
G. Grassi (1982, 1989);
Pizzi (ed.) (1994–8, 1997);
A.Ro (1982);
A.Ro et al. (1973);
S&B (1975);
Jane Turner (1996)