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 locationprelims (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