LECTURE 12
ARTICLE READING
What is the role of nature in architecture today? Is nature predominantly a design metaphor, a set of physical factors to emulate, or a set of physical factors to overcome or oppose; some combination of these; or something else?
Nature is an important part of the context in traditional architecture, in general. Architecture responds to local conditions such as climate, geology and seismic conditions. Local building materials and their properties are key in the technical design. In short, nature was the cause of the beginning of architecture.
Nature has been the reason why man need architecture as protection, but nature has also provided us the materials to do so, and sometimes in the past nature itself are also a type of protection from its own elements, for example when man use cave as a shelter from rain.
But much has changed since nature first influence the creation of architecture. Even so, I believe that the importance of nature in architecture has never faded into the shadows. So, what role does nature plays in architecture today? Architecture has become independent from its natural context since early twentieth century. With becoming an independent art, architecture found references in its own realm. The design does no longer primarily reflect the natural conditions it is dealing with. The materials used do not necessarily indicate the geographical location of the project. The context of the design does no longer include the natural context.
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To me, I think that nature in architecture today plays different roles specifically, depending and affected by lots of other factors, for example, different regions, different cultures, practices, and other factors. ’’The column must be tapered from bottom to top in imitation of nature where this diminution is found in all plants.’’ (Mac-antoine Laugier), nature has been a metaphor to some architecture, just as some Chinese implemented nature in architecture as a means of Feng Shui.
Tartu Nature House (KARISMA Architects)
The Tartu Nature House is a symbiosis between a zoo, botanical garden and school inspired by tree stump. The building is situated on a site which has a strong natural character with its steep hillsides and gentle slopes that curve around the building. The central atrium is the heart of Y-shaped plan and its wings are directed towards the exterior environment. The Tartu Nature House is a result of an Open Architecture Competition held in 2010. In this project, I think is a great example of how the architecture has affected by nature today. It shows that nature today is still used as a metaphor in architecture, in this case the layout of the building is of a tree stump. Furthermore, the design of the building is also in relation to the hillsides and gentle slope of the site.
The house is structured into different functional zones. The study wings with workshops, classrooms, laboratories, kitchen and a library are directed to west and north. The south- oriented two- story high greenhouse wing with a rising floor accommodates birds, animals and proliferating flora and is related to the outdoor activities and courtyard areas. With this we can clearly see how the architecture of this building design incorporates the nature within it and how it complements its surrounding nature. To me I think this is very important in today’s architecture because of how the world is changing due to pollution, and we can see how the nature affected architecture today both negatively and positively, as architects today have to consider the solution to the problem of today’s nature.
The Y- shape building is combined by simple cube- like forms, archetypical steep gable roofs and a dense row of upright windows. Finishing materials are natural in tone and nature. Various treatments and surfaces of wood is used on the facades continuing inside on walls, floors, furniture and detailing. The seamed metal gable roof is typical to the historical Karlova district. Although the building is designed for children and used very enthusiastically, it is quite remarkable how densely the park area is used by the inhabitants of the city. The absolute favorite attraction in the park is the beaver nest. The various plant types give a real educational impact. Through this consideration, we can see that nature implemented in the architecture also influences the future through education. I think this is very important that architecture today not only design in a way that compliment nature and the surrounding, but to educate the future as well through the architecture.
The building is constructed with masonry blocks, reinforced concrete and, glue-laminated timber and cross laminated timber. All constructional decisions are influenced by the Clients wish to incorporate as much natural materials into the design as possible. The greenhouse glue-laminated timber columns and beams are exposed, just as well as the reinforced concrete elements are exhibited in the interior. To analyze the buildings energy efficiency, Tallinn Technical University conducted an energy simulation. According to the analysis of the simulation less window space was incorporated to the design, thermal conductivity of the windows was improved, demand-based ventilation systems were designed and solar panels were placed. The Y- shaped buildings greenhouse wing has the most glass surface and therefore is directed to the south, the study wing directed to the north has less window space. I think physical factors such as natural materiality is also an influence of architecture today, and that many architects today tend to implement on their design as part of the nature.
THOUGHTS
Overall I do believe that the role of nature today is not just as a metaphor, or physical factors, but a combination of these. More to that, the role of nature had been more complex today because of different culture and regions. Addition to that, nowadays we find large densely urbanized areas where nature is almost totally banned. We acknowledge that man needs a balanced relationship with nature instead of total separation from it and we seek for pieces of nature in our artificial environment. Green is seen as an essential part of architectural context. Therefore, again nature is key in architecture, be it that nature is considered an important issue in urban planning and also being an important part of the architectural context.