BASICS ARCHITECTURE Lorraine Farrelly ⊙2 construction +materiality n the action or process the matter from which of constructing a building something is or can be made or other structure ava Academia
02 construction +materiality Basics Architecture 0202 Lorraine Farrelly Lorraine Farrelly is deputy head of the University of Portsmouth’s School of Architecture, where she teaches degree and postgraduate courses in both architecture and interior design. Also a qualified architect, Lorraine has experience of working on both largescale and smaller-scale architectural projects, ranging from the interior modelling of bars, restaurants and retail spaces, through to designing residential and school buildings and public spaces. Lorraine lectures extensively on representation in architecture and urban regeneration. Featured topics Origins and chronology Cultural context Material context Applications Key directions Innovation Sustainability The future Material samples Featured contributors Berthold Lubetkin Charles and Ray Eames Daniel Libeskind de Rijke Marsh Morgan (dRMM) Eric Parry Architects Fosters + Partners Frank Gehry Glen Howells Architects Grimshaw Architects Patrick Blanc Schultes Frank Architekten Sean Godsell Architects Stanton Williams Studio KAP Wiel Arets Architects Woolf Architects Zaha Hadid Architects ava publishing sa sales@avabooks.ch www.avabooks.ch BASICS ARCHITECTURE BASICS n the matter from which something is or can be made Lorraine Farrelly ARCHITECTURE n the action or process of constructing a building or other structure construction + materiality This second book in the Basics 02 Architecture series explores the origins, context and application of building materials such as stone, brick, concrete, timber, steel, glass and composite materials in architectural design. Construction + Materiality also takes a look at the future of construction and materiality in architecture, paying particular attention to issues of sustainability and innovation. Supported by examples from both classic and contemporary architects who have championed the use of the materials under discussion, and whose work is very much characterised by the application of its principles, Construction + Materiality provides an invaluable resource tool for students and architectural professionals alike. It offers an accessible introduction for anyone interested in architectural design and material application. Other titles in AVA’s Basics Architecture series include Representational Techniques, History and Precedent and Sustainable Architecture. For further details see www.avabooks.ch SPINE=15mm UK_TB UK Cover A V A • B a s i c s A r c h i t e c t u r e : C o n s t r u c t i o n + M a t e r i a l i t y CD1108-61 / 4239 4th Proof C+M cover_UK_ 11/12/08 10:26 AM Page 1
Contents 6 Introduction 10 How to get the most out of this book 12 Brick and stone 14 Timeline:brick and stone 16 Origins and chronology 20 Cultural and material context 22 Application 26 Grand master:Antonio Gaudi 32 Woolf Architects Brick Leaf House 36 Eric Parry Architects|30 Finsbury Square 40 Concrete 42 Timeline:concrete 44 Origins and chronology 48 Cultural and material context 50 Application 54 Grand master:Tadao Ando 60 Zaha Hadid The Central Building 64 Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank Baumschulenweg Crematorium 68 Timber 70 Timeline:timber 72 Origins and chronology 76 Cultural and material context 78 Application 84 Grand master:Edward Cullinan 90 Sean Godsell The Carter/Tucker House 94 Glenn Howells Architects The Savill Building
prelims (1-11)_.qxd 10/4/08 1:43 PM Page 4 Contents Construction + materiality 6 Introduction 10 How to get the most out of this book 12 Brick and stone 14 Timeline: brick and stone 16 Origins and chronology 20 Cultural and material context 22 Application 26 Grand master: Antonio Gaudí 32 Woolf Architects | Brick Leaf House 36 Eric Parry Architects | 30 Finsbury Square 40 Concrete 42 Timeline: concrete 44 Origins and chronology 48 Cultural and material context 50 Application 54 Grand master: Tadao Ando 60 Zaha Hadid | The Central Building 64 Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank | Baumschulenweg Crematorium 68 Timber 70 Timeline: timber 72 Origins and chronology 76 Cultural and material context 78 Application 84 Grand master: Edward Cullinan 90 Sean Godsell | The Carter/Tucker House 94 Glenn Howells Architects | The Savill Building TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-172 / 3173 ~ 2nd Proof prelims (1-11)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:44 PM Page 4
415 98 Glass and steel 100 Timeline:glass and steel 102 Origins and chronology 106 Cultural and material context 108 Application 112 Grand master:Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 118 Foster+Partners The McLaren Technology Centre 122 Grimshaw Architects|Fundacion Caixa Galicia 126 Composite materials 128 Timeline:composite materials 130 Origins and chronology 134 Cultural and material context 136 Application 138 Grand master:Charles Eames 144 Stanton Williams Architects|House of Fraser,Bristol 148 dRMM|The Kingsdale School 152 Innovation,sustainability and the future 154 Directions 156 Innovation 160 Sustainability 164 The future 168 Conclusion 170 Samples panel 174 Glossary and picture credits 176 Acknowledgements
4 | 5 prelims (1-11)_.qxd 10/4/08 1:43 PM Page 5 Contents 98 Glass and steel 100 Timeline: glass and steel 102 Origins and chronology 106 Cultural and material context 108 Application 112 Grand master: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 118 Foster+Partners | The McLaren Technology Centre 122 Grimshaw Architects | Fundación Caixa Galicia 126 Composite materials 128 Timeline: composite materials 130 Origins and chronology 134 Cultural and material context 136 Application 138 Grand master: Charles Eames 144 Stanton Williams Architects | House of Fraser, Bristol 148 dRMM | The Kingsdale School 152 Innovation, sustainability and the future 154 Directions 156 Innovation 160 Sustainability 164 The future 168 Conclusion 170 Samples panel 174 Glossaryand picture credits 176 Acknowledgements TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-172 / 3173 ~ 2nd Proof prelims (1-11)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:44 PM Page 5
Introduction Materials create an ambience and provide texture or substance to architecture.To understand how to use materials effectively,a designer needs to have an understanding of precedent or how materials have been used historically and an awareness of innovations in material application.Both can provide a useful way to develop a range of design approaches. Construction Materiality introduces the ideas that'make' architecture and the materials used to create and define spaces.The structure(or frame)that supports a building can be considered to be analogous to the skeleton of a body,and the materials that the structure holds in place akin to the tissue and skin that define a body's shape and specificity.In this way,construction techniques and materials are the starting point for architectural design;they create the possibilities for shape,form and space. Project:Leslie L Dan Pharmacy Building,University of Toronto For an architect to use materials effectively,a sound Location:Toronto,Canada understanding of construction methods and practices Architects:Foster+Partners with Moffat Kinoshita Architects is essential.Construction methods and materials can be Dates:2002-2006 expressed in such a way that they immediately reveal the architectural idea behind a building.But not all architecture This building has been carefully designed to sensitively respond to is 'true'and the idea of 'truth to materials'is an essential its immediate surroundings.Its main consideration when understanding architecture. mass is elevated above a 20-metre, five-storey,colonnaded circulation In architectural terms,to be'true'is to be honest.A building space.Two coloured pods are that uses brick to construct a wall,which in turn supports suspended within this space,the larger of which houses a 60-seat a roof,is using materials honestly.A steel-framed building lecture theatre and a reading room, that incorporates a brick wall is not necessarily true to its with the other housing a smaller materials because there is a sense of'hiding'the building's classroom and the faculty lounge. real structure and creating an illusion of another sort of architecture.A building's structure does not always have to be obviously revealed:sometimes an architect may want to create a sense of illusion as part of his or her design idea (for example,to make a heavy material appear light by introducing a steel beam),but to make a concrete or steel framed building appear like a brick building conflicts with the idea of 'truth'to materials. In addition to the concept of architectural 'truth',some materials are strongly connected to their place or origin. Stone,for example,belongs to the ground where it is found or quarried.Similarly,timber is a resource that is part of a natural landscape.Other materials,such as concrete and glass,are much less connected to the identity of a location
prelims (1-11)_.qxd 10/4/08 1:43 PM Page 6 Construction + materiality Introduction Materials create an ambience and provide texture or substance to architecture. To understand how to use materials effectively, a designer needs to have an understanding of precedent or how materials have been used historically and an awareness of innovations in material application. Both can provide a useful way to develop a range of design approaches. Construction + Materiality introduces the ideas that ‘make’ architecture and the materials used to create and define spaces. The structure (or frame) that supports a building can be considered to be analogous to the skeleton of a body, and the materials that the structure holds in place akin to the tissue and skin that define a body’s shape and specificity. In this way, construction techniques and materials are the starting point for architectural design; they create the possibilities for shape, form and space. For an architect to use materials effectively, a sound understanding of construction methods and practices is essential. Construction methods and materials can be expressed in such a way that they immediately reveal the architectural idea behind a building. But not all architecture is ‘true’ and the idea of ‘truth to materials’ is an essential consideration when understanding architecture. In architectural terms, to be ‘true’ is to be honest. A building that uses brick to construct a wall, which in turn supports a roof, is using materials honestly. A steel-framed building that incorporates a brick wall is not necessarily true to its materials because there is a sense of ‘hiding’ the building’s real structure and creating an illusion of another sort of architecture. A building’s structure does not always have to be obviously revealed: sometimes an architect may want to create a sense of illusion as part of his or her design idea (for example, to make a heavy material appear light by introducing a steel beam), but to make a concrete or steel framed building appear like a brick building conflicts with the idea of ‘truth’ to materials. In addition to the concept of architectural ‘truth’, some materials are strongly connected to their place or origin. Stone, for example, belongs to the ground where it is found or quarried. Similarly, timber is a resource that is part of a natural landscape. Other materials, such as concrete and glass, are much less connected to the identity of a location Project: Leslie L Dan Pharmacy Building, University of Toronto Location: Toronto, Canada Architects: Foster+ Partners with Moffat Kinoshita Architects Dates: 2002–2006 This building has been carefully designed to sensitively respond to its immediate surroundings. Its main mass is elevated above a 20-metre, five-storey, colonnaded circulation space. Two coloured pods are suspended within this space, the larger of which houses a 60-seat lecture theatre and a reading room, with the other housing a smaller classroom and the faculty lounge. TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-10 / 3173 ~ 1st Proof prelims (1-11)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:44 PM Page 6
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6 | 7 prelims (1-11)_.qxd 10/4/08 1:43 PM Page 7 TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-10 / 3173 ~ 1st Proof prelims (1-11)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:44 PM Page 7