To what extent is
architecture a derivation of technology in contemporary times?
Introduction
Architecture
is the art of building in which human need and construction materials are
brought to bear in practical and aesthetic solution. It has been described as a
social art and an artful science. Architecture involves the design of
buildings, cities and spaces, whilst taking consideration of culture, history
and transformation to produce new architecture. The designers; Architects, aim
to look at the opportunity in general; taking into consideration of the contextual
and societal issues. On the contrary, technologies look into technical and
buildability matters with the intention of giving out efficient and effective
solutions to the design and construction of buildings. The expeditious
development in technology has caused various behaviours in designers. It also
affects the development of the city’s life. With the great influence of
technology in the built environment, it influences the architect’s imaginative
and spatial consideration.
Relationship between Architecture
and Technology
One might
be interested to differentiate between architecture and technology by
separating its jobs and subjects. The technology approach was to deal with the buildability
and economical aspects of building, whereas architecture provides satisfaction
of the end user. The overwhelming triumph
of technology that create satisfying sensual experiences for its users is an
example of a new design techniques and material usage that create a new experiential
spaces in architecture.
There is no
uncertainty that every dwelling requires technology to be built. Even with the
most basic ability of handling material in a hands-on move to force it into a
build form. Looking into the history of the relation between architecture and
technology, the exegesis of architecture has evolved according to each moment
in the design timeline. Since the early days of pre-historic times,
architecture is defined with the need for a shelter against sun and rain.
People use natural instinct to construct shelter using natural resources such
as tree branches and mammoth bones. The first discovery of human dwellings was found
as early as 30,000 years ago.
As
technology advances and so did people’s need; it reflects on the illustration
of architecture. Architecture took a different manner when man refined their
knowledge on construction techniques and building materials. The advancement of
technology further assists man’s creation by allowing them to construct designs
with heavy materials using machineries. Artisan and craftsmen then further
enhance the aesthetic values of designs by carving in ornaments on the building
materials. This short study of architecture timeline shows the relationship of
technology as a tool to address architecture needs in all building forms. Therefore
architect or builder would incorporate both art and craft in the making
process. This includes, from manufacturing of raw materials, to mass
production, to assembly and fabrication of building materials.
In my
opinion, architecture concentrates on technology and needs to understand its
capability to create place by cultural means.
Architecture in
Contemporary Times
Technology Informs
Imagination
In the
contemporary times of today, technology has been used to highlight the ability
of architecture and allow a new definition to it. Technology is an external
factor of architecture simply because it is a tool used to go beyond the
imagination and to overcome the limitations of building materials and the
challenges of the environment. As demonstrated by the approaches from Thomas
Heatherwick, current technologies were used to stretch the ability of the
commonly practiced constructional building methods of concrete and steel
material among others in the quest of achieving his intended design. He
incorporated technologies by introducing new constructional materials which
made up of everyday object such as seeds and umbrella.
Looking
into Heatherwick’s UK Pavillion, he uses technology as a tool to aid his
architectural imagination. The phenomenal of utilizing seeds became an idea to
create a seed cathedral that fuses the building and content together.
Heatherwick wanted to present UK with the perception of knowing London as the
greenest city in the world; he then relates trees in the public park, gardens
and squares with putting the seeds on show. Technology allows Heatherwick to
place the seeds into the acrylic rods on both external and internal wall of the
pavilion. As a result, technology transforms a usual; everyday object into an
exciting technological design which pushes the construction challenges off the
limit.
The design
intends by Thomas Heatherwick often informed by bits and pieces of details on
the building materials that can be touch and analyse. It is used to complement
the design intension without being detached from the understanding of
architecture and surrounding context. With the initiation of the intellectual
mind, Heatherwick allows his imagination with regards to the needs and
objective of the design. Technology as an external factor functioned as a
mediator that links the imagination and materials availability. Besides acting
as a way to materialize the design ideas, technology also aided Heatherwick in
creating an experiential space to enhance and enrich user experience.
Technology managed to goes along with Heatherwick’s imagination to extend
architecture limitation and introduce new definition of functionality and
experiential in architecture.
Technology Informs
Vernacular
Vernacular
architecture is a domestic and functional building that has a limitation to the
extent of its development in terms of its material properties and structural
durability. Looking into the material of a bamboo, bamboo is a fast growing
renewable material. However, bamboo has its limitation to bear structural
loadings, prone to splitting and insect invasion. But, the availability of technology improves
the quality of the bamboo through preservation, treatment and amalgamation of
components into a composite material.
Several
famous architect; for example Vo Trong Nghia from Vietnam and Kengo Kuma from
Japan have explored the potential of bamboo to get inspired in their designs.
They apply the inherent properties of the plant in their works. With a helping
hand from the use of technology, it revives this vernacular material to last
longer, resistant to natural decay and to be used in larger scale rather than
traditional usage. Technology also made this vernacular material possible in
order to explore newer forms practicably.
Bamboo is
also used in a refined architectural way in terms of façade treatment or
building structure where sunlight is filtered by bamboo as sunshades and
privacy is kept without preventing daylight to enter. The material itself has
both economic and ecological advantages in comparison to our standard concrete
and steel constructions; thus provide architectural aesthetic and thermal
comfort to users.
Technology
is truly an athletic tool that revives vernacular architecture which has died
down due to its limitations. It also
creates a new generation of vernacular architecture in a more flexible version rather
of its traditional usage, or new forms made possible by new technologies.
Technology Informs Form
The
development of building technology has launch since the industrialism era. It
inspires new forms of architecture, breaking free from being a tool for
architecture into a movement itself; known as the Parametric design.
Parametric
design generates tangible presentation of the contemporary computer age. The
advancement of the technology today has enabled high speed processing of data
for complex variables and aglorithms through computer-aided design programmes.
This execution of form-finding reflects a thought of design within algorithmic parameters.
Computer programmes such as Rhinocerous, Sketchup and Autodesk Maya translate
coding and algorithms in to a virtual visualized building design form in
relation to space organization. Without limiting the imagination of the
designers, the computer generated design approach generates multiple possibilities
of complex forms within the limitation of parameters.
Architectural
technology today has promoted the sharing of cross disciplinary knowledge of
the construction industry to provide new innovative solutions to rethink the
moulding of spaces. The exploration of the continuous skin by Zaha Hadid
Architect firm pushes the limit of a certain technology with every project.
Specialising in parametric architecture, the firm explores the possibilities of
fabric-like design in order to provide fluidity and seamless design for their
clients. A mixed method of conventional reinforced concrete framing and space
frame design forms the continuous skin building. The aid of computer programmes
provides a platform of communication between multi-disciplines to achieve architectural
technology innovations and consequently shaping contemporary parametric
architecture.
Technology Informs
Permeability
In relation
to my architectural thesis on the ability of architecture as agglomeration to
enhance the permeability of a city, architecture could provide a solution to
address various issues on site. Architecture is the result that reflects on the
satisfaction of human activity where individual locates oneself in this physical
and cultural world; whereas technology is the result of improved built
environment.
The project
site remains largely undeveloped in the urban city centre. Therefore,
considering the relative lack of programs such as public spaces and facilities;
architecture design is needed to introduce new spatial configurations within
the city. The architecture idea of the mixed-use proposal reflects on the
opening of the street area to public access and use. It extends the internal
programs inside the building towards the street to increase permeability from
one zone to another. In designing the mixed-use building, a radical approach of
amalgamating a commercial, cultural and educational centre will be tested. This
approach is much inspired by the approach of Thomas Heatherwick’s Google’s
Headquarter. The project introduces amusement and life to the program besides
providing a diversity of experience to the undeveloped site.
The
findings from the issue on site also suggests on the revival of city through
designing a building as a connector where people is connected under a single
roof. Therefore, technology is used to construct huge steel structure with
spaces under a layer of protective skin for users to travel from one point to
another. Furthermore, technology is able to increase the building’s aesthetics
through utilizing specific devoted materials for claddings and solar shading.
The
application of architecture and technology in the design of the mixed-use building
shows a pleasant yet vibrant building as a connector. Architecture has always
been initiated by intellectual and critical mind of the designer to fulfil the
need from the user. However technology in architecture is subject to reveal the
outcome of the final outcome. It is the image from architecture that is being
transferred into technology.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, architecture and technology work in par; they do not function as an
individual. They have a different set of cognitive tools to play its part that
represent their job scope. As seen through the years from the pre-historic
times to the current contemporary days, architecture has been a derivation of
technology regardless of how technology is used. But technology may be used in
certain stages based on situation or progress of the design. However, the usage
of technology in architecture has always been initiated by the intellectual and
critical mind of the designer. Therefore, architecture is a derivation of
technology that is bound by an intent that is much contained by the designers’
concept. It is being embraced and appreciates as part of the tools to develop
architecture.
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