Tectonics in Architecture

Overview

This lecture explores the concept of the "tectonic" in architecture, emphasizing its structural, poetic, and cultural dimensions across time and cultures, using case studies and theorists to show how frameworks inform both the construction and meaning of buildings.

The Tectonic in Architecture

• Tectonics refers to the structural and material aspects of architecture.
• Fry Otto's diagram illustrates the evolution of tectonic forms and materials across history and cultures.
• Tectonics is both trans-historical (across eras) and trans-cultural (across societies).
• The tectonic intersects with ecological, technical, and embodied aspects of architecture.

Theoretical Foundations

• Kenneth Frampton asserts structure is the irreducible essence of architectural form.
• Frampton introduces the idea of the “Poetics of construction,” where structure is revealed and made explicit.
• Adrian Forty likens architecture’s interdependent parts to the necessity and function found in natural organisms.
• Form, function, and structure are interconnected in architectural tectonics.

Historical Case Studies

• The Crystal Palace (1851) showcases visible metal framework, rational repetition, and color-coded structural units.
• The Palm House at Kew Gardens demonstrates early use of wrought iron I-beams, influenced by shipbuilding technology.
• The development of ironwork technology reflects changes in industrial labor and architectural construction.

Debates in Tectonic Theory

• Gottfried Semper proposed a universal history of architecture focused on tectonics, differentiating frames (frameworks) and stereotomics (solid, massive forms).
• Semper valued Greek architecture’s ornamentation but disparaged "primitive" structures, embedding cultural biases.
• Charles Davis critiques Semper's and others’ hierarchical, racialized classifications of architectural traditions.

Transcultural and Transhistorical Comparisons

• Comparisons between Greek stone architecture and Japanese wooden shrines highlight alternative tectonic logics.
• The Ise Jingu Shrine in Japan is regularly reconstructed, paralleling the reassembly of the Crystal Palace.
• Japanese and Chinese architecture developed highly complex joinery and bracket systems, revealing structure and function.
• Pagoda structures demonstrate wooden frameworks’ seismic resilience and structural expressiveness.

Modern Innovations and Biomimetic Tectonics

• Fry Otto’s Mannheim Multihalle (1975) exemplifies experimental wooden framings and laboratory-based design.
• Otto’s modeling techniques and Gaudí’s hanging models explore biomimicry for optimized structural forms.
• Nature’s structures (shells, trees, webs) inspire new tectonic approaches.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Tectonic — The art and science of construction, emphasizing material, structure, and assembly in architecture.
• Framework — A skeletal structure supporting a building.
• Stereotomic — Architecture composed of massive, primarily compressive materials (stone, masonry).
• Poetics of Construction — The expressive, revealed nature of structural systems.
• Joinery — The technique and artistry of connecting structural elements.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Reflect on your studied site: diagram its tectonic network and identify transcultural and transhistorical parallels.
• Prepare to discuss these comparisons in the next session.