Twenty-Six Design Concepts, Illustrated

irony Much like in literature or visual art, irony in architecture fundamentally addresses a subversion of expectations. While often thought of as playful, architetcural irony can also express a serious tone or message, calling upon and rejecting collective understanding in order to deepen a design's significance. As such, it is one of the most powerful tools in an architetc's arsenal for crafting an engaging diologue surrounding a building and its significance.

Some of the most telling examples of this trope can be found in postmodern architeture, where architects frequently used irony to underscore their commentary on formal traditions and their historical significance. One such example is Atlanta's 191 Peachtree Tower, where architects John Burgee and Philip Johnson place neoclassical elements atop 55 stories of modern, repetitive skyscraper forms.