The influence of information singularity on the vision of an ideal architectural form on the example of the neo-modernist trend in Lviv

The article examines the relationship between the information and visual oversaturation that defines the phenomenon of information singularity and the trend of radical modernism (defined as neomodernism) in the architecture of Lviv in the 2010s and 2020s, including in the context of its integration into a rich historical context. The contradictions surrounding radical modernist form-making, within which opposing and often conflicting views and assessments emerged, indicate the need for a more profound theoretical generalization of the neo-modernist wave in general, and its implementation in the Lviv context in particular. A range of analytical methods were employed to obtain the results, including a survey of two target groups and a morphological comparison. Subsequent to this, the data obtained were compared with two contexts: firstly, the historical specifics of the development of Lviv architecture, and secondly, with parallel processes in the global architecture world. Consequently, the factors that influenced the propagation of the neo-modernist trend in the architecture of Lviv were identified, and their knowledge can be valuable for a broader generalization about the philosophical and socio-cultural foundations of the modernist wave that began to develop in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, replacing postmodernism. In particular, the concept of information singularity is worthy of note in terms of its impact on the understanding of the ideal architectural form. The present study's novelty lies in its analysis of the nature and consequences of the aforementioned relationship, which forms the main content of the conclusion. Based on the method of comparing the preferences of three age groups, it was determined that the attitude towards modernist aesthetics in Lviv is wavy and depends on associative experience. For the age group 45+, the modernist trend often has a negative association with Soviet “neoconstructivism” and, consequently, the era of authoritarianism, lack of freedom of speech, human rights, national humiliation, etc. For the age group from 20 to 45 years, modernist aesthetics is associated with liberal and democratic society, as well as with the material culture of developed countries, especially European ones; for the age group from 17 to 20 years, modernist aesthetics has no clear value associations and is inferior in terms of positive reaction to more decorated styles such as historicism. An additional study of the group of 17 to 20 year olds revealed that the information singularity is not significant, and the excessive amount of visual and informational data (for other age groups) is rather a normal state for them. In this regard, neo-modern aesthetics may not be a relevant consideration for generations whose experience is initially associated with being in an information-saturated environment, as a means of avoiding the consequences of the information singularity. The author's analysis of electoral preferences and their comparison with neighbouring large local centres provides a framework for understanding the ideological underpinnings of the urban collective during this period. This ideological framework is characterised by a distinctive amalgamation of conservative and religious values with liberal and egalitarian ones. It is proposed that this factor be considered as a parallel one, along with the information singularity, among those that influenced the ideological foundations of the neomodernism trend in Lviv architecture of the 2010s and 2020s. In future research, it is recommended that such reservations be given due consideration when assessing the historical and social value of architectural objects constructed during this period.