A report from the front 1111111111111.pptx

a report

1. A REPORT FROM THE FRONT PETER BUCHANAN [1988]

2. In the world of architecture, facades are undergoing a transformation, becoming more expressive and vibrant. They now exhibit elements such as gables, pediments, columns, arches, cornices, voussoirs, string courses, and bands of color. Architects often associate facade design with insincerity and cynicism, as a means to disguise the complex and mundane realities of contemporary life, while pandering to populist preferences that satisfy planners, council members, and perhaps even Prince Charles. In addition, architects feel that elaborate and self-conscious facade design strays from the moral essence of Modernism, although this perspective misunderstands the likes of brilliant facade practitioners such as Le Corbusier and Aalto. Regrettably, the lack of recent profound contemplation and practice in facade design has led to the construction of clumsy, confused, and unconvincing facades. Yet, there are legitimate and compelling reasons behind the current trend towards richly composed and modeled facades. We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the architectural landscape of commercial structures, with facades once again taking center stage in design considerations. In the spirit of embracing this challenge, this article aims to engage in a serious, yet hopefully entertaining, discussion about facades.

3. Back to the street the renewed interest in decorative and figurative facades can be attributed to a reconnection with context and history. In the past, architectural ideologies like the Charter of Athens and CIAM had oversimplified the city, reducing it to separate zones and isolated buildings. However, the essence of the city was rediscovered through a recognition of what was being lost – the intricate fabric of traditional streets and squares that not only provided physical shelter but also held deep symbolic and cultural meaning. Disillusioned by the destruction and disconnection of reductive Modernism, the public, planners, and even figures like Prince Charles have expressed a desire for conservation and a reconnection between buildings. Some architects may argue that such facades are too costly. However, metal and glass skins, as well as unadorned Modernist construction, can be extravagantly expensive compared to traditional construction that outlasts them. It is important to consider the long-term value and durability of materials.

4. Back to the street While cost and facade thickness were critical factors in earlier tall office towers, the rejection of these towers as urban solutions and advancements in technology have changed the game. Post-Big Bang office blocks now hug street lines and utilize larger floor areas, resulting in a smaller external wall area. This means that the cost of a richly detailed facade becomes a relatively small supplement to the total cost of the building. Facades with material detail and craftsmanship have become more affordable and desirable. Inside office buildings, the focus has shifted to structural trays and the integration of electrical and mechanical services. The specific culture of each tenant dictates the design of the "people spaces" between the trays, leaving little room for the developers' architects to showcase their creativity. Therefore, the exterior facade becomes a critical opportunity for architects to display their flair. Developers and funding institutions prioritize quick enclosure of the building frame with a high-profile exterior, often opting for factory-made panels that can be quickly installed.

5. CREATING AN OUTDOOR ROOM Facades, whether prefabricated or traditionally built, have a significant role beyond providing buildings with an image and identity. They should also contribute to the outdoor spaces they face and help establish a sense of place. In contemporary architecture, many buildings lack a sense of interior or place, and architects should seize the opportunity presented by the recontainment of the street and the ample budget for facade design to reintroduce a sense of place in streets and squares. Facades must fulfill their dual role of enclosing and expressing the interior while addressing and articulating the external space, essentially creating outdoor rooms. It is astonishing that reductive Modernism only recognized the role of facades in enclosing the interior and ignored their functional responsibilities towards the exterior space.

6. CREATING AN OUTDOOR ROOM In extreme cases, particularly in avant-garde and academic circles, the inability to compose large building facades led to buildings becoming expressive sculptures that agitate and stir space rather than anchor and articulate it. In its dual role, the facade imparts character to both the interior rooms and the external spaces. Internally, it achieves this through the admission and modulation of light, as well as the framing and editing of views. Windows and doorways not only allow occupants to observe and access the outside but also present themselves within a well-framed context. Thus, the facade acts as a mediating element, shaping the character of both the interior and exterior spaces, almost like an active joint between them.. This is often achieved through the careful arrangement of smaller intermediary spaces within the facade, such as window seats, deep-revealed windows, bay windows, porticos, balconies, aedicules framing individual windows, and columns or pilasters that provide spatial definition against the wall, even if they are only millimeters thick.

7. CREATING AN OUTDOOR ROOM A sense of mass and materiality is equally important. Tangible mass grounds the building and the surrounding spaces, while materials with grain and texture create visual porosity, slowing down the eye and the perception of space. Additionally, the expression of statics and construction allows for an empathetic understanding of how forces are resolved into the ground and how the various elements are supported and secured in position.

8. Search for contemporary language All of these considerations in facade composition come together to encourage viewers not only to notice but also to engage with the facade in various ways, subtly interacting with their imagination. However, achieving these expressive complexities becomes increasingly challenging in the prevalent use of fiscally driven facades. It becomes even more daunting when everyone is aware that behind the facade lie vast open areas filled with endlessly changing lightweight partitions. Simply adopting a pastiche traditional facade, which some may believe the previous argument was advocating for, would be blatantly artificial.

9. The pursuit of architectural richness A historical facade has the ability to elevate the ground with a detailed and intricate base, while meeting the sky with an entablature adorned with statuary and symbolic elements such as domes and pediments. Between the base and cornice, the arrangement of floors and rooms follows a strict hierarchy, expressing a connection between heaven and earth, as well as cosmic and social hierarchies. modern architecture, regardless of its height, no longer emphasizes the connection between ground and sky. Instead, it often severs these connections by using pilotis to elevate the building from the ground and locating plant rooms on the rooftop. The identical and often roomless floors of modern buildings extend out towards the horizon, symbolizing a rational and non-hierarchical democracy. While this approach may imply a relationship with the horizon, open space, and nature, it lacks the complexities of the traditional connection between heaven and earth, street and neighbors. As a result, these buildings are fundamentally anti-urban and disconnected, which can lead to feelings of alienation.