How to get the most out of this book This book introduces different aspects of construction and materiality in architecture via dedicated chapters for each topic.Each chapter provides examples of different construction techniques and materials at various stages of the architectural design process.The examples shown here are contributions from a range of contemporary architects and,together with detailed analysis in the text,form a book that offers a unique insight into the practical and professional world of architectural design. Captions Provide contextual information about each featured project and highlight the practical application of key principles. Section headings Each chapter unit has a clear heading to allow readers to quickly locate an area of interest. Information panels Introductions Chapter navigation Provide additional Each unit's introduction Highlights the cument information about technical appears in bold text and chapter unit and lists the terms that are used in the outlines the concepts that previous and following body text are to be discussed. units.48 | 49 prelims (1-11)_.qxd 10/6/08 1:46 PM Page 10 Cultural and material context Concrete Origins and chronology › Cultural and material context › Application Unlike other construction materials, which may strongly connect with the place of their origin, concrete is made from ingredients that can now be mixed anywhere. This not only makes it flexible in terms of manufacture, but also does not restrict the material to a particular location. This affords concrete a sense of anonymity, which means it is much less limited by traditional ideas and concepts than other materials: it can be anything, anywhere. Notwithstanding this, the use of concrete in architecture is (usually) still informed by local ideas of construction, form, function and other aspects of context. Concrete and the era of Modernism The prominent Modernists of the early 20th century, notably Le Corbusier and Auguste Perret, exploited the flexibility of concrete to create new forms and shapes. They designed cities for the future that contained strong, bold and tall structures all made from concrete. Project: Chapel Notre Dame du Haut (right) Location: Ronchamp, France Architect: Le Corbusier Date: 1954 Le Corbusier’s Chapel Notre Dame du Haut at Ronchamp uses concrete to create a dramatic and sculptural form on both the exterior and interior spaces. The building is punctured with holes filled with coloured glass and these bring light into the chapel illuminating the interior space. The building appears as a sculptural element in the natural landscape. Continuing this tradition, Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer uses concrete in his designs to respond to organic forms in the landscape. Niemeyer extends the landscape and topography with his architectural ideas, producing dramatic shapes on rolling planes or landscapes that are made from carpets of concrete. In South America, Luis Barragan introduced colour to his architecture to connect his building designs and materials with the traditional colours found in the landscape and culture of the region. Barragan’s architecture has been described as similar to an abstract painting with wall surfaces coloured to contrast against one another and sharp coloured walls framing views across landscapes. His architecture is about the surface experience, walls that are rendered in cement and then painted, to create abstract planes. Contemporary 21st century architecture uses concrete to create ever taller, more dramatic statements. Daniel Libeskind, for example, specified the use of concrete in his designs for Berlin’s Jewish Museum to dramatise and accentuate the Jewish experience in wartime Germany, producing both a provocative and commemorative result (see page 40). Concrete is the substance of our new buildings, our greatest edifices and our skyscrapers, and it will challenge the future of architectural forms. Yet even so, the adaptation of concrete to respond to local cultural and climatic issues is essential for its survival. Topography Topography is concerned with local detail in general, including not only relief but also vegetative and human-made features, and even local history and culture. This meaning is less common in America, where topographic maps with elevation contours have made ‘topography’ synonymous with relief. The older sense of Topography as the study of place still has currency in Europe. Title: Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (facing page) Location: Valencia, Spain Architects: Santiago Calatrava Date: 2001 The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is an urban cultural centre. It reacts to the local environment and uses white concrete to contrast with the blue Spanish skies. The concrete is used with local tile to connect the finish with traditional industries. Information panels Provide additional information about technical terms that are used in the body text. Construction + materiality How to get the most out of this book Introductions Each unit’s introduction appears in bold text and outlines the concepts that are to be discussed. Captions Provide contextual information about each featured project and highlight the practical application of key principles. Section headings Each chapter unit has a clear heading to allow readers to quickly locate an area of interest. This book introduces different aspects of construction and materiality in architecture via dedicated chapters for each topic. Each chapter provides examples of different construction techniques and materials at various stages of the architectural design process. The examples shown here are contributions from a range of contemporary architects and, together with detailed analysis in the text, form a book that offers a unique insight into the practical and professional world of architectural design. Chapter navigation Highlights the current chapter unit and lists the previous and following units. TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-10 / 3173 ~ 1st Proof prelims (1-11)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:44 PM Page 10