LECTURE 05
ARTICLE READING
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What is the role of materiality and immateriality in architecture today?
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Is materiality and immateriality predominantly about the expression of material properties, the transformation of materials, human perception, or value judgements; some combination of these; or something else.
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In other words, if a forth text were added to this chapter, what would the argument be about today’s architecture in relation to materiality and immateriality?
For my personal opinion, architecture today most building can be found is materiality, it is applied to modern
architecture by using the materials such as concrete, steel, and glass.The high raise buildings tend to show power and serve the purpose of providing functions like Leon Battista Alberti mention about roof is a element just to
provide shelter.
While some architects are more towards immateriality,design with five senses which is sight, smell, hearing, taste,
and touch. For example Hazelwood School, Glasgow. It is designed specifically for children that are sensory
impaired blind or deaf, sense of touch eventually become more crucial. Architect developed a linear plan that
allows children to follow the linear walkway through the building. Moreover, the interior walls are consist multiple
textured materials, which students can follow with their hands to make senses by touching.
Materials play an important role when come to architecture and designing the building. When it comes to
materials there is a quote always in my mind, when Peter Zumthor mention his projects generally originated with
materials.
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’’When I start, my first idea for a building is with the material. I believe architecture is about that. It's not about
paper, it's not about forms. It's about space and material.’’ -Peter Zumthor
Architecture speak for itself, same goes to materials. In my opinion, immaterial will speak more by using materials
as a tool to express the design or the senses that the architect bringing. Through out the year, materials being
evolve, develop and transform to achieves or express the perception of atmospheres by immaterial. Architecture could be more emotional feel and human understanding. immaterial is use to engages people and architectural by influences your mind and engaging all senses.
Example of using new material to create new quality of space is the Serpentine Arthouse Pavilion which is a icon for using ETFE Foil as the main material for the pavilion. The design is to focus on the interaction with people as they pass through and the reflected light playing with the interior canvas.The choose of material is to use space-age materials and striking array of colour combinations which is unusual in architecture. The designer explain to provide different shadows, colours and effects. The designers exploring the possibilities to create the effects to keep the transparency to add different mirror effects. Which materality can’t express.
To conclude, immateriality is the way to turning and transforming idea into reality, immaterial make use of the
imagery or symbolism of architecture as well as architecture are described with immaterial values and
architecture with human emotion and making more comprehensible.
Turning Idea Into Reality
