The New Materials and Methods of Architecture - Term Paper Example

Tectonics of Architecture Introduction The design of a construction by an architect is largely guided by the nature of materials that they choose for the construction of the building. Often, the appeal to the building after its completion is as a result of the outer appeal to human senses that the building presents after it has been completed. However, the preference for the materials to be used in a building is also dependent on the preference of individual architects who often prefer to handle their matters differently. This points to the imaginative power of the architects to apply the same in the designing of buildings, irrespective of the materials that they choose to use. In this, the architects are perceived as artists who will be quick to sense the effect of the buildings they intend to create before actually settling on the materials to use for the same.1 Therefore, based on the assigned readings for this study, I would choose to use the new materials and methods of architecture considering the rapid evolving of the world into a more technological oriented form. Reasons for choosing new materials and methods According to the presented readings, the sense of a building as presented by an architect will have a great effect on the spectator of the building given that the reactions to the building will be made based on the nature and form of material that has been used to construct the building.2 For instance, as noted by Loos, the materials used by an architect will have the capability to produce effects for its spectators as both form and materials used are used to create these effects. Therefore, the use of new materials in current architectural designs over the old materials would be more preferred on the basis that the targeted spectators for the designs live in the current technological world that is defined by the language communicated by a design owing to differences in taste and preferences amongst spectators. The selection of the new materials for the architectural designs and constructions would also be done taking into consideration the fact that the uniqueness of language as presented by different materials provides an opportunity to constitute the applicability of each of the designs. In this regard, the use of the new materials and methods of design in architecture will be essential in the preservation of the encroachment rights of the respective circles of forms adopted by different materials. Modern materials will be more applicable on the basis that they would not attribute to the architect or artist being regarded as a counterfeiter for having encroached on the space of another form of art. Subsequently, preference for the use of new materials and methods in designing building as an architect in this current age would also be driven by the desire to preserve the art. Past architectural artifacts by olden artists are still being studied in the current world for the reason that their materials and methods used in their design and construction were used to preserve the uniqueness of the art. This is largely supported by the idea that St. Stefan’s Tower, for instance if cast in cement that is a modern material and erected elsewhere would lose its artistic value. In the same regard, the choice of new materials and methods is aimed at preserving the old materials and methods that had been used so that sad times such as the Ringstrasse architecture are not repeated.3 However, in line with the above concept of preserving art, the choice of new materials and methods for designing architectural buildings would be driven by the desire to impress the masses who would be amazed at the materials and form of the architecture, as well as the language being communicated by the building. This would be supported by the infusion of traditional architectural ideas with new methods to result in designs that are consistent to artistic realms, but broad-minded in a manner that shall speak the artist’s mind. In another context, historically, artists and architects such as Hansen and Schmidt have been known to find solace in their art pieces whenever the situations were tough. Under such circumstances, they depended on their own materials and methods to design without minding about the rise of technological changes to materials and architectural methods. As such, I would prefer new materials and methods since one is able to emotionally relate to these in the contemporary world and not the old ones. Consequently, the choice of the new materials and methods as preferred objects for architectural design are beneficial to the extent that they prevent artists from committing surrogate and imitation art that has dominated the field for a long duration. Instead, the selection of new materials and methods would aid in the recognition of the thought for space as recommended in architectural designs.4 The presented readings also present the form of architecture in dynamic forms, key among them the ornamental form. With this, new strategies are adopted, and older civilizations that were the rule of architecture are abandoned such that it becomes essential for an architect to recognize the independence brought about by this. As noted by Semper, the storage of architectural forms in olden and contemporary times is portrayed as largely conditioned by the materials used. As such, there appears to be more value in the use of new materials and methods since this would aid in the preservation of the accessories used in making the designs from recent times. Additionally, the choice of the new materials and methods shall be conditioned by the laws of nature and make the character and form obtained from the creations be dependent on the ideas solely embodied in the specific designs and not the materials. This distinction is essential for the maintenance of the embodiment of architectural designs formed in the present age given that the ideal expression of an architectural building gains its beauty and meaning from the appearance of the materials that the architects employ on it. This then acts as a symbol of naturalism of the design having stood out on its own and actively engaged the influences of development art on the architecture. Finally, the choice of new materials and modern methods of architecture shall be driven by the need to continue revolutionizing the traditional elements of architecture that have constantly changed and developed under the strong influences of variations in the societies, social relations, natural surroundings, and racial dispositions.5 As such, the result has been more disposed architectural elements that have resulted in the refinement of technical skills used in the design and the materials applied to the construction of the same. The use of the new materials and methods as backed by the newly acquired technical skills have also been informed by the need to ensure durability of architectural buildings to the extent that the inner wall is preserved, and greater magnificence is attained. Therefore, alongside the architectural dispositions that have been practiced over time, the application of new materials can enable the combination of architectural elements to variations in the human society; thus, resulting in the thriving of architecture under different influences of climate and natural surroundings.6 Conclusion Architecture is recognized as one of the ancient forms of civilizations that ever existed, and the spirit of architects and artists across ages has been the preservation of art. However, this preservation has mostly been propagated by the wide recognition of the form and materials used in the construction. While most architects would prefer the recycling of materials and ideas at the expense of the new materials and methods, this approach is risky as it would ultimately result in the erosion of the architectural elements. For that reason, it is imperious for an artist to embrace new materials and methods in their art since this would enhance their capability to redefine forms of art being practiced in the contemporary society. This study has largely sought to support the need for using new materials and methods through a critical and analytical analysis of the presented literary texts. Bibliography Kahn, Louis I. “Architecture is the Thoughtful Making of Spaces,” Perspecta 4 (1957), 2-3. Loos, Adolf. “The Principle of Cladding”, Spoken Into the Void.Collected Essays 1897-1900. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1982. Semper, Gottfried. Selections from “The Four Elements of Architecture,” The Four Elements of Architecture and Other Writings, transl. Harry Francis Mallgrave and Wolfgang Herrmann. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène-Emmanuel. Selection from “Applying New Architectural Principles,” The Architectural Theory of Viollet-le-Duc. Readings and Commentary. ed. Michael Hearn. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1990. Read More