
New Classical architecture, also known as New Classicism or Contemporary Classical architecture, is a
contemporary movement that builds upon the principles of
Classical architecture
Classical architecture typically refers to architecture consciously derived from the principles of Ancient Greek architecture, Greek and Ancient Roman architecture, Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or more specifically, from ''De archit ...
. It is sometimes considered the modern continuation of
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture, sometimes referred to as Classical Revival architecture, is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy, France and Germany. It became one of t ...
, even though other styles might be cited as well, such as
Gothic,
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
,
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
or even non-
Western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
styles – often referenced and recreated from a
postmodern
Postmodernism encompasses a variety of artistic, cultural, and philosophical movements that claim to mark a break from modernism. They have in common the conviction that it is no longer possible to rely upon previous ways of depicting the wo ...
perspective rather than as strict
revivals.
The design and construction of buildings in evolving classical styles continued throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, even as
modernist
Modernism was an early 20th-century movement in literature, visual arts, and music that emphasized experimentation, abstraction, and Subjectivity and objectivity (philosophy), subjective experience. Philosophy, politics, architecture, and soc ...
and other non-classical theories broke with the classical language of architecture. The New Classical movement is also tied to a resurgence in new
traditional architecture, which emphasizes craftsmanship rooted in local building traditions and materials.
Development

During the 1950s and 1960s, a small group of architects in Europe continued designing classical buildings contrary to the prevailing fashion for
Modernist architecture
Modern architecture, also called modernist architecture, or the modern movement, is an architectural architectural movement, movement and architectural style, style that was prominent in the 20th century, between the earlier Art Deco Architectu ...
. British architects
Donald McMorran
Donald Hanks McMorran Royal Academy, RA Royal Institute of British Architects, FRIBA Society of Antiquaries of London, FSA (3 May 1904 – 6 August 1965) was an English architect who is known today for his sensitive continuation of the Georgian a ...
, who designed several noteworthy neoclassical buildings such as the
Cripps Hall at the University of Nottingham and described the Modernist movement as "a dictatorship of taste",
and
Raymond Erith, who mentored New Classical architect
Quinlan Terry – Erith's pupil, employee, partner, and ultimately successor – were notable for their neoclassical works, including numerous civic buildings and housing estates. In mainland Europe,
François Spoerry contributed to the
European Urban Renaissance with his classical designs and by the late 1970s, architects like
Leon Krier and began challenging modernist planning through publications and counter-projects, a movement further bolstered by the support of
King Charles III
Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms.
Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...
(then Prince of Wales) and initiatives such as
The Prince's Foundation for Building Community.

During the same period,
postmodern architecture
Postmodern architecture is a style or movement which emerged in the 1960s as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture, particularly in the International Style (architecture), international style adv ...
emerged as a critique to modernist architectural aesthetics.
Influential architects inside this movement, such as
Charles Moore,
Robert Venturi
Robert Charles Venturi Jr. (June 25, 1925 – September 18, 2018) was an American architect, founding principal of the firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates.
Together with his wife and partner, Denise Scott Brown, he helped shape the way that ...
, and
Michael Graves
Michael Graves (July 9, 1934 – March 12, 2015) was an American architect, designer, and educator, and principal of Michael Graves and Associates and Michael Graves Design Group. He was a member of The New York Five and the Memphis Group and ...
used classical elements as ironic motifs to criticize modernism's sterility. A broad spectrum of more than two dozen architects, theorists, and historians also presented alternatives to modernism and among them were several serious New Classical architects who viewed classicism as a legitimate mode of architectural expression, some of whom would later become
Driehaus Prize Laureates, including figures like
Thomas Beeby and
Robert A.M. Stern, who practiced both postmodern and classical styles. Some postmodernist firms, such as Stern and Albert, Righter, & Tittman, outright transitioned from postmodern design to new interpretations of traditional architecture.
On the education front, Thomas Gordon Smith, a Rome Prize laureate from the
American Academy in Rome, published ''Classical Architecture: Rule and Invention'' in 1988 and was appointed to chair the
University of Notre Dame's Department of Architecture a year later, structuring the curriculum around classical and traditional building practices. Today, programs that teach New Classical Architecture are offered at the
University of Miami
The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private university, private research university in Coral Gables, Florida, United States. , the university enrolled 19,852 students in two colleges and ten schools across over ...
,
Judson University,
Andrews University
Andrews University (Andrews) is a private Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists and is the flag ...
and th
Center for Advanced Research in Traditional Architecturein Traditional Architecture at the
University of Colorado Denver.
The New Classical movement continues to develop at the professional and popular level, gaining momentum after the 1963 demolition of
McKim, Mead & White
McKim, Mead & White was an American architectural firm based in New York City. The firm came to define architectural practice, urbanism, and the ideals of the American Renaissance in ''fin de siècle'' New York.
The firm's founding partners, Cha ...
's
Pennsylvania Railroad Station in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, which led to the formation of
Classical America. Led by
Henry Hope Reed, Jr., which advocated for the appreciation of classical architecture by teaching architects the classical orders and hosting various events and conferences. In 2002, the Institute of Classical Architecture merged with Classical America to form
The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, which supports regional chapters in the United States that host awards programs, publishes the peer-reviewed journal ''The Classicist'', and offers educational programs for professionals and the public. The international expansion of the movement was catalyzed by the creation of the
International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism in 2001, a global organization under the patronage of King Charles III, focused on supporting traditional architecture and preserving local character.
In 2003, philanthropist
Richard H. Driehaus established the
Driehaus Architecture Prize, awarded by the
University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, to honor architects whose work embodies classical and traditional principles in architecture and urbanism, seen as the alternative to the modernist
Pritzker Prize, but with double the cash prize. It is awarded alongside the
Reed Award which recognizes individuals outside architecture who support traditional city design through writing, planning, or promotion. Other notable classical architecture awards include the American
Palladio Award, the
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
an , the Iberian
Rafael Manzano Prize, the
Edmund N. Bacon Prize, and the
Rieger Graham Prize of
The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art for architecture graduates.
Since 2014, the "Arkitekturupprororet" (Architectural Uprising) movement in Sweden has advocated for traditional designs in new developments.
Originally a Facebook group, it has expanded to other Nordic countries and the rest of the world, achieving moderate success in promoting traditional architecture.
The movement's main goal is to "make architecture available to everyone"
through social media and annual awards recognizing the best and worst new buildings in Sweden.
In 2021, efforts to reintroduce New Classical architecture into urban planning were furthered in the U.S. by architect
Nir Buras, who founded the Classic Planning Institute (CPI). Based in
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, the CPI focuses on research, practice, and education to incorporate New Classical principles into contemporary urban planning. The CPI also hosts the Traditional Architecture Gathering (TAG), an international conference that attracts hundred of architects and enthusiasts to discuss New Classical Architecture worldwide.
Philosophy

New Classical professionals tend to work under the assumption that there is no such thing as purely original creation, and that innovation unavoidably occurs in an environment laden with suggestions, influences, a precedent of problems solved and, perhaps more importantly, mistakes to be avoided.
Many New Classical architects believe in the importance of
sustainability
Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time. Definitions of this term are disputed and have varied with literature, context, and time. Sustainability usually has three dimensions (or pillars): env ...
, and aim to create long-lasting, well-crafted buildings of great quality, adapted to the context and with an efficient use of
natural resources
Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest, and cultural value. ...
.
Educational institutions
While most universities worldwide teach modernist design principles, some institutions teach (solely, mainly, or partly) the principles of traditional and classical architecture and urban planning. Some of these are:
;Brazil
* (UNIEURO), in
Brasília
Brasília ( ; ) is the capital city, capital of Brazil and Federal District (Brazil), Federal District. Located in the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region, it was founded by President Juscelino ...
.
;India
*Tirumala S.V. Institute of Traditional Sculpture and Architecture (SVITSA), in
Tirupati
Tirupati () is a city in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Andhra Pradesh and serves as the administrative headquarters of Tirupati district. It is known for its significant religious and cultural heritage, being home to th ...
, Andhra Pradesh.
;Italy
*
Polytechnic University of Bari, in
Bari
Bari ( ; ; ; ) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia Regions of Italy, region, on the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy. It is the first most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. It is a port and ...
.
;New Zealand
*
UNITEC Institute of Technology, in
Auckland
Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
.
;United Kingdom
*National Design Academy, in
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
(heritage interior design).
*
The Prince's Foundation for Building Community, in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
.
*
The Prince's School of Traditional Arts, in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
.
*Unit 6 of the
Kingston School of Art's
Master of Architecture program, the only postgraduate unit in the United Kingdom to teach classical design. Previously, this was taught in the undergraduate program.
*
University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth (UoP) is a public university in Portsmouth, England. Comprising five Faculty (division), faculties, the university offers a wide range of academic disciplines. in 2022, with around 28,280 students enrolled in Unde ...
, in
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...
, School of Architecture.
*
PRASADA – Practice, Research, and Advancement in South Asian Design and Architecture at
Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, in Cardiff, Wales.
;United States
*
Andrews University
Andrews University (Andrews) is a private Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists and is the flag ...
, in
Berrien Springs, Michigan
Berrien Springs is a village in Berrien County, Michigan, Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,910 at the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The village is located within Oronoko Charter Township, Mi ...
.
*
American College of the Building Arts. and School of the Arts at
College of Charleston, in
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...
.
*The Center for Advanced Research in Traditional Architecture at the
University of Colorado
The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado Denver, and the U ...
, in
Denver
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
, Colorado.
*
University of Miami
The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private university, private research university in Coral Gables, Florida, United States. , the university enrolled 19,852 students in two colleges and ten schools across over ...
, in
Coral Gables, Florida.
*
Yale School of Architecture, in
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is List ...
.
*
Grand Central Academy of Art formerly hosted at the
Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, New York.
*
Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, New York.
*
University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, in
Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame is a census-designated place and unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. It includes the campuses of three colleges: the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's Co ...
.
*
Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University (UVU) is a public university in Orem, Utah, United States. UVU offers master's, bachelor's, associate degrees, and certificates. Previously called Utah Valley State College, the school attained university status in July ...
, in
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the northern part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Utah, Provo, Lindon, Utah, Lindon, and Vineyard, Utah, Vineyard and is approximately south of Salt Lake City.
Orem is one of the pri ...
.
*Beaux-Arts Academy, in
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake Ci ...
, Utah.
*
Academy of Classical Design, in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
*The Classic Planning Institute,
Washington D.C.
Examples
File:Brentwood Cathedral2.jpg, Brentwood Cathedral, Brentwood, England, 1991, by Quinlan Terry
File:Downing College in bright daylight.jpg, Maitland Robinson Library, Cambridge, England, 1992, by Quinlan Terry
File:Queen Mother SQUARE, Poundbury, Dorset.jpg, Poundbury, England, 1993, by Léon Krier
File:Edgewater Guesthouse by Micheal Middleton Dwyer.jpg, Garden Pavilion at Edgewater, 1997, by Michael Dwyer
File:Basshall.JPG, Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth, Texas, USA, 1998, by David M. Schwarz
File:Entrance of Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace (cropped).jpg, Queen's Gallery (currently known as the King's Gallery), London, England
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, 2002, by John Simpson
File:Cité judiciaire, Luxembourg - Plateau St. Esprit.jpg, Judiciary City, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, 2008, by Rob Krier
File:2013-05-12 London RAF Bomber Command Memorial.jpg, Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial, London, England, 2012, by Liam O'Connor
File:Christ Chapel, Hillsdale College 10.jpg, Christ Chapel, Hillsdale, Michigan, 2019, by Duncan G. Stroik
File:Thomas Aquinas Chapel Facade 2.jpg, Chapel at Thomas Aquinas College by Duncan Stroik (completed in 2009)
See also
*
Complementary architecture
Complementary architecture is a movement in contemporary architecture promoting architectural . Indispensable features of complementary architecture include sustainability, altruism, contextualism, endemism and continuity of specific regional ...
*
Revivalism (architecture)
Architectural revivalism is the use of elements that echo the style of a Architectural style, previous architectural era that have or had fallen into disuse or abeyance between their heyday and period of revival. Revivalism, in a narrower sense, ...
*
Classical Realism
*
Driehaus Architecture Prize
*
Traditional architecture
*
Outline of classical architecture
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
''Illustrated Glossary of Classical Architecture''Institute of Classical Architecture and ArtTraditional Architecture GroupINTBAU – Universities / institutions offering traditional architecture courses by countryOpenSource Classicism– project for free educational content about (new) classical architecture
''The architectural traditions are back – we should celebrate'' The Spectator
''The Spectator'' is a weekly British political and cultural news magazine. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving magazine in the world. ''The Spectator'' is politically conservative, and its principal subject a ...
, Hugh Pearman, 28 October 2017
;Examples
Neohistorism Photo Group - New Classic Architecture
{{Architecture in the United States
*
Revival architectural styles
20th-century architectural styles
21st-century architectural styles