This week of history of architecture lecture , we look deeper at another side of post-modernism where the architecture focusing mainly on the highly expression of the form and complex structure. Form become dominant feature over the function of the architecture. Architect play with visually effect that create by richness of the form that make one architecture stand out from the other in the surroundin context.
I am particularly interested in “ Gateway arch” designed by Eero Saarinen. This building express itself in term of abstract expressionism form of architecture. In a first glance when I look at the image of this building , I rather imagine as it is another great piece of sculpture, because of the abstract structural shape that look as it is can not be functional. The building is designed as weighted or flattened catenary arch which clean, simple in their shape, but as well as innovating which is what make its meaning become ambiguous. People interpret it according to their assumption and experience. This monument has very contradict idea to modernism where “materiel reveal truth” , but in this case the stainless exterior skin covering a sandwich of two carbon steel walls with reinforced concrete tend to “ conceal the truth” ;hiding the interior structure ,and interior programme. Unlike the modernism where interior is a vital role of architecture ,but in this case exterior become crucial point of architecture.
“ I like elements which are a hybrid rather than pure, compromising rather than clean , distorted rather than straightforward, ambiguous rather than articulated, perverse as well as impersonal, boring as well as interesting, conventional rather than designed, accommodating rather than excluding, redundant rather than simple, vestigial as ell as innovating, inconsistent and equivocal rather than direct and clear. I am for messy vitality over obvious unity.”As the Venturi said about the post-modernism architecture
But if we closely examined their form and structure, there are rational reasons behind the conceptual i idea of representing monument. The arch does not only perform as being visually affecting the viewers,but also suggest movement through time and space ,invite inquiry into complex, fascinating story of national expansion. The hollow structure in the middle allowing the tram capsule to move people throughout the spaces which symbolise the idea that arch try to emphasize on movement of time and space. However, in my opinion this architecture is successful in term of creating visual effect as it is intentionally design for monumental sculpture , but it does not make the best use of their functions.
This might be because the concept of monument does not create to serve best performance in their functions, but rather create just for people to interact. That is why the interior of the Gateway Arch is just a observation tower. Also the interaction between people and monument can also raise the awareness of how is this important for built as a monument to the westward expansion of USA.
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