Interior Architecture in Context - Case Study Example

Interior architecture in context Comparison between ALDO ROSSI and HERZOG&DE MEURON About the architects While Aldo Rossi is an individual architect born in the year 1931, Herzog & De Meuron is a firm of architects that was established in the year 1978, as both the partners, Herzog and De Meuron were born in Basel and studied architectcture together, graduating from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 1975. As Aldo Rossi excelled in the art of architecture in theory and drawing, he gained international repute during the period 1972 to 1988 as he achieved distinction internationally in the areas of theory drawing and architecture. Rossi did serve as a course assistant with reputed architects like Ludovico Quaroni and Carlo Aymonino, for a while after taking the Degree in Architecture from Polytechnic University in Milan, in 1959. While Rossi taught the subject at various universities, he was internationally famous professor to teach in Zurich, Spain and America................(Aldo Rossi...) However, The Herzog & Demeuron being a commercial firm started making achievements in the building feats, right from their inception, as they designed museums, schools, art centers, libraries and residences as well as stadiums. Their design achievements can be seen in their works of Goetz art gallery at Munich in Germany, Institute for Hospital Pharmaceuticals, at Basel, Switzerland, built in 1998, Technical School Library at Eberswalde in Germany, and the latest one as the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco, California (2005). Apart from the Walker Art Center Expansion, designed by them at Minneapolis during the year 2005, there are other famous centers accredited to this firm.....(Herzog...) It is worth mentioning here that both the architects of this firm has the fortunate opportunity to study under the guidance of Aldo Rossi, in Zurich, while they were graduating from the ETH there About their works Herzog& De Meuron Herzog& De Meuron impressed the architectural world right from their first building, Ricola Warehouse as they brought in this design, an element of surprise of the fellow architects, although both the architects were young and below the age of forty years at that time. As the building was given a formal restrain that resulted in a canonical form, they established their own logic in this design, although the Ricola warehouse was built with reduced dimensions. While the walls enclosed the space in neutral manner, the handling of materials like the laminated wood panels and other things was done very efficiently to give the walls a traditional pattern that included rhythm and proportion. As many other architects of the later twentieth century tried to bring in originality and proposed new ideas, Herzog&De Meurone did propose new goals that were very refreshing, while solving the problems related to the cornice. While there have been many buildings thereafter designed by these architects, their earlier projects like the Ricola , had expression of their logic as architecture being a conspicuous structure, as the density of the horizontal elements in this building responded to the criteria related with the natural gravity. This can be considered similar to the design used by Cyclopean builders, who have been found placing the heaviest ashlars at the bottom of the wall, where it meets the ground. While bringing in the simplicity in expression and the form, this firm of architects searched for the origins to revitalize the fascination for archaic. This has been well described and demonstrated in their design of Dominus Winery in Napa valley, where they have used the materials in very efficient manner, exploring their potential fully, without effecting on the building structure. Some of their works are given below: ...... (source” http://www.e-architect.co.uk/beijing/birds_nest_beijing.htm ) This is the image of the Birds Nest building at Beijing, also called the National Stadium, which was built in 2004 to 2008, with a capacity of 91000 seats. While this building was designed by Herzog&De Meuron in association with Chinese “Architecture design and research group”, the square form of the National Aquatics Centre, adjacent to it represents the Chinese earth symbol, as the circular form of the stadium represents heaven......... (Chinese Architecture by Herzog & De Meuron..). The photographs below depict the design of this firm in the building of Barcelona forum, in Spain. (source:: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/barcelona/forum_building.htm) Also known as “floating blue cheesecake”, it has facades with glazed stripes having mirrors, which try to give a reduced weight look. The walls and the soffit have cladding of a burnished metal with different patterns. While the forum has many architectural feats in the surrounding area, like Auditoria park, forum bathing zone, princess hotel, forum esplanade and other buildings designed by reputed architects, the stripes images of the forum building designed by Herzog & DeMeuron , have a visual effects of their own, as can be evident from the following visual pictures of the forum (Source: : http://www.e-architect.co.uk/barcelona/forum_building.htm) While ignoring iconography and old traditions, Herzog & De Meuron tried to bring in the joy of construction by using the material to their maximum potential, as they discovered the fundamental nature of materials for all the purposes of construction. While again rejecting the iconographic theories, the architects have brought in the essence of materials in making them talk within a building, as they believed that images do not exist but materials are the most elementary stuff for the building to design, based on such attributes. Projects like Rudin house are a good example of this, apart from knowing their design characteristics in buildings like Stone house and Railway signal box in Basel. As we could see in the works of architects like Gehry or the calligraphy of Siza, these architects have tried not to leave their formal stamp on the buildings that is evident particularly in the floor plans of Siza. However, this may be due to their teaching of Rossi, this architects firm has distanced itself from making any personal statement or remark on the buildings or structures designed by them. Hence, they have always shunned to show off their individuality in their works. As such, they have exemplified this attitude of showing the knowledge of universe in many of their designs, which is seen from the first building of Ricola house itself. While the space of this building is derived from its construction of walls and roof by using simple rectangular and primary elements of architecture only, they have used the materials and other utilities in the most natural form. (Herzog & De Meuron..) This is the image of Caixal Forum, Madrid Spain, which was designed by Herzog & De Meuron that shows the surprising structural aspect of the design. (Source: http://www.arcspace.com/architects/herzog_meuron/caixa/caixa.html) The building design reflects the roof space of the surrounding area. The architects have lifted the building off the ground for luring the visitors and art lovers alike, as it has created two separate parts of the building. While the underworld part houses theater and auditorium along with parking spaces, this all comes beneath the topographically landscaped plaza, as seen on the ground level. This being in contrast to the other existing buildings that have exhibition spaces, the areas above ground level have offices, restaurants, and other and spacious top floor with galleries apart from entrance lobby etc.. The remarkable feat of the separation of this structure in two worlds, one underground and the other as above ground can be seen clearly in the following image: This is only the model of the structure that was proposed to come up a s Caxial Forum in Madrid.....( Caxial Forum ..) (Source: http://www.arcspace.com/architects/herzog_meuron/caixa/caixa.html) While they have invented material to suit their designs, so that these can be put to their maximum and gainful use, their utilization of large blocks of loose rubble encased in steel cages, were used in the winery project, as they called these blocks as Gabions. Thus transferring these conventional blocks used in Swiss highways into a new architectural material, they have also allowed the sunrays to filter inside through the joints of these gabions. Similarly, they have also maximized the use of glass in their various projects, as they have designed several projects and structures in glass, utilizing its full potential. In contrast to the concept used by Mies, Herzog & De Meoron have invented the specific materials to be used in the specific projects, while making the materials work independently in each design instead of being trapped in the same. Therefore, it is observed that they will associate a different set of materials for meeting the specific project requirements. Nevertheless, they have given equal importance to professionalism and commitment, right from the beginning of their career and this was certainly responsible for their international fame and recognition, apart from their love for originality.......( Herzog & De Meoron) Aldo Rossi While Rossi had significant opportunities to prove his own ideas and talent in 1960s, he had a lot of inspiration from earlier mentors and colleagues like Ernesto Rogers and other editors of the magazine published then by name of Casabella. As Rogers was the leader of architecture of Milan in mid nineteen hundreds, he was mentor to most of the talented architects, who were inspired by him. Rossi had its own version of architecture, which he wanted to be based on its contextual specifics rather than connected with any aspect of art and modernism that was depicted by the famous architect of those times, Zevi, who was labeled as his rival by many observers. While Rossi had from the start the vision of architecture to be a scientific subject, having its own principals, Zevi viewed architecture as related to an artistic vocation. However, Rossi looked at the subject as projects involving positive science and architects deemed as scientists only. Many critics have likened his desire for objectivity to the Marxism of that period. As Rossi looked at architecture as a part of natural and human sciences, he decided to find the roots of architecture from the city territory and it development. Thus he wanted to explore the humanism and human cultural development in the architecture of the city.............(Aldo ROSSI) Some of his sketches and drawings have depicted this concept of architecture and his latest works are shown below for this purpose. (source: http://www.designboom.com/eng/exhibition/rossi1.html) Above is the sketch of basilica, as designed by Aldo Rossi in 1996, in Verona. Although these works were unpublished as being his last work of architecture, the whole project of Verona was based on three important elements. Firstly, the open green space of the hills. Secondly, the new dimension of architecture that did not copy the earlier Venetian examples and lastly the close relation of the offices and residential complexes. As Rossi was requested to create office space and shops as well as residential units in a district that could have a space of almost 67000 cubic meters, he worked on all drawings and sketches that could be part of the district, at Verona. These architectural sketches, although remaining the last sanctity of Rossi, were developed by him in 1996 and remained unpublished. Some of these drawings are given below that show the importance Rossi has depicted in all his works for the harmoniums coexistence of human residences and offices, while utilizing the nature’s bounty and scenic beauty by integrating these in his architectural works. This is the view of fountain as originally designed by Rossi in 1996, (Source: http://www.designboom.com/eng/exhibition/rossi1.html) The following sketch shows the buildings and other structures, while highlighting the view over the hills, as designed by Rossi in 1996. The other two sketches are drawings by Rossi for the office complex in this project. The sketches show the proposed prospects and sections of these buildings, including the basilica....(aldo rossi) (Sorces: http://www.designboom.com/eng/exhibition/rossi1.html) BIBLIOGRAPHY WORKS _- CITED & SOURCES USED Aldo rossi , available at: http://www.designboom.com/eng/exhibition/rossi1.html (accessed on 16th Aug 2009) Aldo Rossi, “Architect Biography”, available at : http://architect.architecture.sk/aldo-rossi-architect/aldo-rossi-architect.php (accessed on 15th Aug 2009) Caixal Forum, Madrid Spain, available at : http://www.arcspace.com/architects/herzog_meuron/caixa/caixa.html (accessed on 15th Aug 2009) Herzog & de Meuron, available at: http://academia-research.com/files/message/1399816_moeno-HERZOG%26DE%20MEURON.pdf "Herzog & de Meuron,", available at : http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_701844304/herzog_de_meuron.html (accessed on 14th Aug 2009) Chinese Architecture by Herzog & De Meuron., available at: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/architects/herzog_de_meuron.htm (accessed on 14th Aug 2009) Development by Herzog de Meuron in Spain:, available at: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/barcelona/forum_building.htm (accessed on 14th Aug 2009) Read More