Prisca Lu 103905863 Discussion 1D Rocchio, M.P.

New Materials and Technology Leads Progress The world is constantly progressing forward. As things move forward there is also a grasp of what lays behind and a comparison of what was better. In architecture progress means a change in the style that a building is built based on the new materials that the progress brings. From the traditional style to the postmodernism style everything changes based on new materials and new technology. This is shown in Gianlorenzo Bernini, Christopher Wren, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, R. Buckminster Fuller, and Frank Gehrys work. Eugne Viollet-le-Duc and Le Corbusier are two theorists that support progress with technology. This is shown through work in stone and marble, wood, glass, steel, and the use of a computer. The Baroque Period of architecture was integrated with theater. To grasp the audiences attention buildings were made as a spectacle. Highly ornate with exquisite material, Gianlorenzo Berninis creations were by far one of the most theatrical. In the past traditional architecture was reserved for the churches. The wealthiest people owned the church, and although the focus was supposed to be on God it was actually a way to lure pilgrims to donate and at the same time come to marvel at the wealth. These churches were designed to be a total work of art intended to capture the five senses. Thus, it was not a surprised that Gianlorenzo Berninis The Cornaro Chapel (Rome 1652) was literally set up like a stage in a theater. The material used to build the Cornaro Chapel was stone, marble, gold, and other metals.The interior of the church used veiny marble, and gold plated ornaments. The focal point of the church was Saint Theresa. Saint Theresa is in constant movement; her clothes seem to billow in a magical wind and she is caught up in spiritual ecstasy. A window behind the nun seems to shine golden light down on it. The

Prisca Lu Rocchio, M.P. Cornaro family is also in this visage because they are the benefactors of the church. They are represented as audience members on the sides of the chapel witnessing Saint Theresas ecstasy. The materials available at the time were all used cohesively to bring a spectacle to the audience. During the Baroque time period The Cornaro Chapel was considered to be modern because it used the most expensive marble, it had a religious statue made out of white marble, ornate detailing of gold and other precious metals, and the entire chapel was made out of stone. The architects during that time only knew how to work in stone so the chapels were large and heavy and seemed of something of substance. Items that represented stability and protection promote progress. Baroque in England was much less theatrical and much more simple. One of the biggest reasons being that the Italians were Catholics with a lot of patronage, while the Protestants had a much smaller gathering with a lot less money. Also the location is different. England contains a lot of forests, which means that wood was in abundance. While in Italy, wood is not as abundant and so stone is used. Wood is also a cheaper and faster material. Stone is very heavy and labor intensive. The trend therefore moves towards dematerialization. Christopher Wrens St. Stephen Walbrook (London, 1672-87) is made entirely out of wood and it is painted white. While Berninis Cornaro Chapel was focused on giving its pilgrims a spectacle, the Protestant church was focused on God. The church is in white so that it would not distract the spiritual man. Because wood is so light and thin there is a lot of interior space. This created a light and airy space within the church rather than the darker tone of the Cornaro Chapel. Progress occurs when new materials and situations arises. With stone the architects had to use different type of machinery to cut stone, different technology is also needed with wood. With the promotion of new materials, new technology, and new engineering techniques also get discovered. This

Prisca Lu Rocchio, M.P. altogether promotes progress while still retaining some of the knowledge of the past and moving forward. Eugne Viollet-le-Duc is a theorist who supports the ideas of progress. To move forward in architecture is to develop a new architecture, which is based on Descartes philosophy, only on facts and reasonable conclusions. In his book Entretienssurl'architecture (lecture 1, p.29), he states that "what we call taste is but an involuntary process of reasoning whose steps elude our observation". "Authority has no value if its grounds are not explained" (p. 458). Progress for him is a means to show off the new and improved materials and technology that is created. In his Project of a 3000-seat Theater (unbuilt, 1864) the building shows off new steel technology. The building has odd angles and steel protrusions coming out from the wall to show what the building is made of. There is no need to hide the construction process. Steel contracts and expands according to heat so the building itself needs to relieve the tension. Thus, joints were created to allow the building to literally breathe. This means that there is a new development in the engineering side of architecture and once again progress ensues. The theory form follows function, by Louis Sullivan was first proposed to the functionalists, but it was not completely formed until Walter Gropius defined it with the Bauhaus. Function is the physical requirements that are necessary to carry out practical activities in the building. Beauty to the functionalists is based on the perfect mastery of all the scientific, technological and formal prerequisites of the taste The approach of Functionalism means to design the objects organically on the basis of their own contemporary postulates, without any romantic embellishment or jesting (Walter Gropius). Accordingly, functionalist architects avoided decoration of buildings and favored simple geometric forms. The Functionalist allowed for progress because it used prefabricated components such as steel and sheet glass. Another

Prisca Lu Rocchio, M.P. important factor for progress was the use of ecological architecture, seen most prominently in Le Corbusiers Villa Savoye (Poissy, 1929). The roof was used for a garden, which represented the used up space that the building sat upon. The Villa Savoyealso incorporated ribbon windows (prefabricated material) and a free plan. Another ecology friendly building was R. Buckminster Fullers Dymaxion House. This house was a new idea because it would be entirely prefabricated and sent fully made to those who wanted it. This was useful because it was less damaging to the environment and at the same time it would be wind resistant with a hurricane proof structure. This building is considered to use advance technology because of its resource conservation and low cost living unit. Modern appliances would also be used in the home. Another novel item about the Dymaxion House was that it would be suspended from a post. To suspend a house on a post would require advance engineering and technology. This means that progress in both categories need to happen in order for the Dymaxion House to be built. Frank Lloyd Wrights Prairie Homes were immensely popular because it brought the focus of the home to the wife of the family. This was a new thing in the creation of homes because in the past the kitchen was far away from the living and eating quarters. In the Prairie Home it was close and nearby making it easier on the wife whom would be the one cooking. Also the architecture of the Prairie Home was new because it promoted a flat style, which seemed to integrate itself with the environment. The flat and wide style helped the home not lose as much heat. Also technology with heated water pipes ran along the bottom of the house. The roof also seemed to hover above ribbon windows made of prefabricated glass. Modern appliances were also brought into the home to make living life practical. The home also included a car garage, which shows that new technology would be brought in and integrated with

Prisca Lu Rocchio, M.P. everyday life. Every plot of land allowed for privacy in-between families, which was also a new thing for the American lifestyle. Lastly, Frank Gehrys Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao 1997) uses todays most up-to-date technology, the computer. With the computer architects have can create buildings in any style that they want. The computer allows the architect to create buildings that have waves, ripples, twist and turns, and much more. Computer simulations of the buildings structure make it possible to build shapes that architects of earlier eras would have found impossible to construct. The museum is built of a complex steel frame;it uses cement, and is wrapped in titanium sheathing. Titanium sheathing is placed as curves that appear in random. The reflective titanium panels are supposed to resemble fish scales and the entire building is intended to resemble a ship. The randomness of the curves catches the light and makes the nautical theme of the Guggenheim Museum seem out of this world. According to many other architects and critics the Guggenheim Museum is one of the most spectacular buildings of our time. Also in typical Gehry fashion, the building is uniquely a product of the period's technology. With the use of new materials and new technology the Guggenheim Museum represents progress. Of course the past traditions of architecture will always be respected and admired for its splendor during its time period, but as time moves on new materials and new technological advances allow for progress in the architectural world. What was previously thought impossible is now possible with prefabricated steel, and glass, reinforced concrete, and new computer software. Homes back then could not include the modern technology that the houses of today have because it just simply did not exist. Although many can argue that the traditions of past architecture is better than what it is today, the technological advances and computer programs that we have now can create architecture that was once deemed impossible. Also life is made so

Prisca Lu Rocchio, M.P. much more practical and easier with progress. Modern appliances are brought into the home and considerations are given to the family. The kitchen now leads into the dining area. The building does not hinder human living; rather it is mingled and integrated with people and the environment, creating a habitat of harmony. One thing runs true for the architecture of the past and the architecture of today is that architecture can still be a spectacle. It can still appeal to all five senses, but in a different form and in a different style. New materials leads to new technology, new technology means new engineering techniques, new engineering techniques leads to modern appliances, modern appliances makes life practical, and altogether it promotes progress. Tradition is not bad or better; rather it is a stepping-stone to the next best thing.