Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University Architecture and Urban Planning
Ilze Rukmane-Poča, Jānis Krastiņš. The Tendencies of Formal Expression of 21st Century Architecture
2010
Volume 4
Fig. 10. Office building. Paris. Project, façade detail. 2009. RH+architects. [25]
Fig. 9. West Coast Pavilion. Architectural Biennale 2006, Beijing, China. E Manferdini. [24]
A tendency where the surfaces of the delimiting constructions of the building are created with pictorial artistic means, is called the surface pictorial architecture. It is characterized by surfaces that are „played with” using ornamental pictorial means, murals, graffiti elements as well as photography. In this formal direction polychromy is very strong. In facades, color tones, halftones, contrasts and chiaroscuro effects are used, creating the building facade as a „painting”. Architects working in this direction include, for example, Z. Hadid, W. Alsop, G. Nouvel, JR architects etc. (Figures 6, 7 and 8). Frequently in building architecture the pictorial and ornamental expressive elements manifest themselves simultaneously. This is the surface ornamental-sculptural architecture. The finish materials used in buildings of this type most frequently include printed glass, as well as colored, matt glass or curved forms or perforated metal. The sculptural forms of the objects are emphasized by the decorative ornaments used in the building facades, creating an imposing total impression. Experiments are made both with the building form and with finish materials. Convincing objects in this direction have been created by the architecture offices Snøhetta, RH + architects, Sako architects etc. (Figures 9, 10 and 11). Sometimes visual effects in Surface architecture is created with finish materials, associatively recreating another material, including textiles, emphasizing the texture or other physical properties of the material. This direction is sometimes called Textile architecture or Architextile. In the Internet Architextile is frequently mentioned in connection with projects where architects cooperate with fashion designers. The new high-technology acoustic textile products may be used as wall covers, or to create partitions or create autonomous interior objects. These materials are three-dimensional, they have a highly bold surface texture created by means of patented weaving technologies [26]. Various source materials may be used, for example, metal. All of this creates a possibility to implement revolutionary effects, synthesizing the results produced by textile designers and architects. Architextile mainly is surface sculptural-ornamental architecture at the same time. The difference is in accents – the main emphasis is on the materials and technological innovations (Figure 13). Architextile works have been created by several reputed architecture offices –
Fig. 11. Mosaic. Shopping center, Tokio, Japan. Interior. 2009. Sako Architects. [26]
Fig. 12. “40-bond - gate 2”, The gate of dwelling house, Via CoolBoom. New York. 2008. Herzog & de Meuron. [27]
Fig. 13. The part of façade. Experimental model. 2006. Herzog & de Meuron. [28]
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