Contemporary architecture between fundamentalism and neoliberalism: from modernity to sustainability

Abstract

: The most common approaches to contemporary architecture are described as 'modern', yet the terms 'modern' and 'contemporary' possess different contextual weight resulting in a difference of terminological synonymy. This research examines the phenomenon that emerged in the late twentieth century, processes its conflicts, and describes several interrelated implications that are drawn for understanding modernity and contemporariness. This research discusses the confusion between contemporary and modernist architectural representation, comparatively, by analyzing Western and Arab visions. The research also aims to analyze the impact of modernism, the semantic evolution of 'modernity' and, our arrival to the contemporary; in light of neoliberalism and globalism.