An exploration of 21st-century architecture
A link to the medium publication of this post can be found here
Source: Mediated Matter Group, MIT Media Lab
Every century observes an onset of architecture and structural design that questions the status quo and pushes the limits of the construction industry a step further. That question of the status quo is what creates the image of the “Structural/ architectural style of the century”. Whether that be Classical Architecture rooting into mathematics and the grandeur of construction, Modern Architecture bringing in a new way of thinking rooted in function and truth of the material or Parametricism, the age where the domain of design lies in the workings of a computer.
Up until the last century, innovation in structural design was a concept independent of limited availability of natural resources and environmental consideration. It was more concerned with the immediate advancement of the human race. The Colosseum in Rome, the Crystal Palace of the Great Exhibition in London, 1851, the Eiffel Tower built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the Home Insurance building built in Chicago in 1884 (World’s first skyscraper) are all examples of man’s feat in engineering that is mostly independent of demands of the time but reflecting more the technological advancements and material innovation of the period. It was done because it could be done.
What then is different about the 21st century?
The 21st century has seen a radical shift in the way we design and build. For the first time, we are asking questions on ethics and our responsibility towards the environment. This could be a direct effect of the depletion of natural building resources. Sand, a primary component in glass, concrete and other building materials is facing a severe scarcity around the world. Situations such as this are going to be the driving force in developing new types of structures.
Source: Zaha Hadid Architects
A primary example of this is KnitCandela, a sinuous concrete shell constructed using fabric formwork. The project uses 3D-knitted technical textiles with cement paste coating to create a lightweight, stay-in-place formwork for concrete. This replacement to the traditional formwork construction is material-saving, labour-reducing and cost-effective. It is also an epitome of the architectural design style of the 21st century- Parametricism.
Digital technology has given us control over the factors affecting design in a way that now we can pre-assess hazardous situations and incorporate them in our design decisions: everything can be worked into parameters. With the help of BIM software, we are now able to make a series of optimizations to designs and structure, materials etc., in response to climate, topography, usage etc.
Technology has also paved the way for us to answer questions that were seemingly impossible up until now. As an answer to the rise of climate refugees and the politics behind it, floating cities have been imagined since the last century. But only now do we have the technology to materialize the design. While the structural concepts used are not radical or innovative, the fact that we are now able to assess all the conditions that a floating city will face and make structural changes accordingly comes from the technological advancement of our age. The first floating city is set to be built in French Polynesia, and it boasts of a design that comprises an entirely self-sustaining living unit, starting from buildings that can grow food and farms inside the structural platforms that make the city.
In the 21st century, buildings have been given the capacity to think and perform for itself.
Up until the last century, green buildings were buildings that saved energy to the extent that humans planned: replacement of tungsten by LED bulbs, integrating services in construction, etc. The buildings of this century can read the environment around them and respond to that. A strong example of this is Hygroscope, a wooden membrane structure developed by Achim Menges that responds to humidity and opens and closes its skin accordingly.
Source: Achim Menges, 2012
But the strongest factor imparting the image of a building of the 21st century will be brought by urbanization. The demands of urbanization and population growth have stark effects on structural design. The pressure on cities to accommodate a constant flow of migrants and ever growing population is felt not just on the economic fabric and resources but on the built fabric as well. An answer to this could be China’s Mega Structures. While they form an indispensable part of 21st century structure, they are only a fraction of what the technology today is capable of.
With such high rates of urbanization and scarcity of land in the cities, structures have to respond to a wide variety of functions; buildings of the 21st century cannot have a unilateral function, it has to cater to multiple demands. One such example is the Shed in Hudson Yards, NY. It is built with spaces that can function as an amphitheatre, a museum, a gallery space, a food court and a multi-use hall for concerts — all in the same space. The spaces and their configurations change with the kinetic structure of the building.
Source: Diller Scofidio + Renfro
21st-century structures have created a dialogue between man and his environment; the conversation is not one-sided anymore.
Our buildings are as much capable of reacting to us as we are of affecting it. Structures have developed beyond being smart, flexible, modular to being tailored to each person’s unique demands. Digital fabrication technology has brought the onset of this new age structure where it changes and suits its nature to each person’s specific demands. Randomness is not a chance anymore, it is a part of the design process. Randomness is the identity of each person’s uniqueness.
An example of this is the digital water pavilion built by Carlo Ratti Associati. The architect has devised a pavilion structure with a water curtain separating the open public space and the pavilion. The curtain shifts and creates a void when it senses a human approaching, creating a constant dialogue between the building and the users of the public space. During specific times of the day, the entire pavilion recedes into the ground to create a continuous open public space. The interactive design has become a core principle behind designing structures.
Source: Carlo Ratti Associati
21st Century structures are thus a direct result of the effects of the climate crisis, rapid urbanization and the development of digital technology.
They epitomize interaction between the built environment and the user, and in the creation of unique experiences suited to the demands of each user. Sustainability is an inherent part of it; it stands as an answer to some of the biggest questions raised by climate change and natural hazards. It showcases flexibility in the use of space and function, as has never been achieved before. But most of all, it embraces digital technology to its very core, to realize all these things stated above.
Further Read
https://www.engineeringforchange.org/news/ocean-without-sand-construction-industry-may-driving-sand-crisis/
https://oceanix.org/
https://big.dk/#projects-sfc
http://www.achimmenges.net/?p=5083
https://www.blue21.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Master_thesis_Realising_a_floating_city_Kelvin_Ko.pdf
https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/report-describes-the-future-of-buildings-in-2050
http://www.dfab.ch/achievements/knitcrete-bridge-prototype/
https://www.zaha-hadid.com/design/knitcandela/
https://mediatedmattergroup.com/silk-pavilion
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