Charles Jencks

About the Author

Charles Jencks is a renowned architectural theorist, critic, and landscape designer whose influential writings have reshaped the discourse on modern and postmodern architecture. Born in Baltimore in 1939, he studied English literature at Harvard and architecture at the Architectural Association in London, blending his passions for design, culture, and philosophy throughout his career. Jencks coined the term 'Post-Modernism' in architecture, challenging the rigid dogmas of modernism and advocating for a more eclectic, symbolic approach that incorporates historical references and human scale. His seminal work, Critical Modernism: Where is Post-Modernism Going? What is Post-Modernism?, explores the evolution of these movements, questioning their trajectories and implications for contemporary design. Beyond theory, Jencks has designed iconic gardens like the Garden of Cosmic Speculation in Scotland, embodying his vision of architecture as a narrative art form that engages with science, mythology, and the cosmos. A prolific author and lecturer, Jencks continues to provoke thought on the intersections of built environments and cultural evolution.