What is the role of honesty and deception in architecture today? Is honesty and deception predominantly about the expression of structure, the relationship between interior and exterior, the expression of goals and challenges of the architect; some combination of these; or something else? in other words, if a fourth text were added to this chapter what would the argument be about today's architecture in relation to honesty & deception?

ARTICLE READING

LECTURE 04

Honest Materials Express.

From my understanding of architecture to be ‘honest’ it is the building does not cover up its structure and

pretend to be something it is not and the surface representing some other material than what they actually is. For example Palace of Assembly that is designed by architect Le Corbusier, it is build with exposed concrete by

revealing the basic nature of their construction and elements representing specific functional zones.

And for ‘deception’ architecture the design details that do not reflect functionality properly and sincerely. One

example is the Kluczynski Federal Building it is located in Chicago Federal Center complex in downtown Chicago.

The vertical I-beams on the exterior surface that is on the facade does nothing or provide any function but just decoration.

Architecture have been improved and evolve since the ancient Greece, the construction, materials, structures

and new technology have improve. For architecture today, the style and building character the architect thinking and consideration is being changed too. When we talk about honesty and deception in architecture today, it is

more likely to be deception because in the 21st century it is all about simple, we want to archive a certain design

by finding the simplest way, to be more efficient and cost saving, architecture started to adapt with it.

The Prudential Building & Crystal Palace is building that is build during the industrial revolution with the material of concrete, steel and glass.

During the industrial revolution there is new materials created which is reinforced concrete, steel and glass. And in

21st century we have new materials everyday that is mass produced, inexpensive and some are more flexible to

use. This leads to the honesty of the materials. I think if honesty is the use of materials in a way that does not

feature with the materials of natural characteristics, then innovation could be mistaken for dishonesty.In Seven

Lamps of Architecture, Ruskin talk about he does not like new invented materials being used instead of natural

materials. He specific talk the use of iron.

‘One of the chief dignities of architecture is its historical case, and that is dependent on consistency of style, it

should be right to retain as far as possible the materials and principles of earlier ages. …Iron may be used as cement, but not as support’. -The Lamp of Truth by John Ruskin-

From my point of view, using iron as a support does now spoil the natural characteristics, so this is not a dishonest

use of material. It is a new story for 21st century materials and architectural, a different and innovative way of

looking at a material it might never be able to tell or show with natural materials. I think the innovation of a new

material is not dishonest. it is how architect use the materials.

The Bruder Klaus Chapel, designed by Peter Zumthor is probably the best example of building use honest
materials. The building tell what the concrete can be. Concrete is a structural material, build it with thick wall and using the colour of local sand the create a texture. This design is showing a clear structural use and the functions. Also, inside the chapel there is concrete being cast in layers, and this actually show the characteristics of

concrete. This building represent and using the materials to speak Peter Zumthor did not try to imitate or make concrete to be something else, but the use of concrete is as pure and honest as it can be. That’s how I think the honesty architectural should be.