Showing posts with label arts and craft movement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arts and craft movement. Show all posts

Sunday, 2 June 2013

Japan: Concrete and Light

Le Corbsuier's Chapel of Notre Dame-du-haut is one of the finest examples of the dramatic use of concrete in architecture. A few decades later, Tadao Ando brought the concept back in style. His most famous include The Church of Light and the Church on the Water, both in Japan. 

The Church of Light by Tadao Ando, Image: http://www.flickr.com/
Japanese architecture is well-known for its minimalism and simplicity. It has been crucial to the evolution of the International Style and the Art & Craft Movements which later led to the evolution of Modern Architecture. 

The Church of Light in Ibaraki, 25 km outside of Osaka in Japan (1989) is a stunning example bringing together nature and architecture to recreate a spiritual power without usage of any symbolic decoration or art. The building structure is simple, composed of rectangular concrete panels cut through with a free-standing wall. 

The Cross, cut out on the Eastern Facade, Image: © Antje Verena
Behind the altar on the eastern facade, a cross is cut out in the free standing panel to let in light. Originally, Tadao Ando intended the cross to stay open to let in the elements. But owing to the freezing conditions in the winter months, it was closed with glazing. 

Image Source: www.buamai.com
A closer look at the glazing within the cross, Image: http://www.archdaily.com/
The light shining through casts reflections on the concrete roof and the blackened cedar floor, creating a meditative place of worship. The powerful effect created eliminates any need of ornamentation or religious art in the interiors. 

The dramatic play on shadows and light, Image: www.milamoo.co.uk
The austere interior comes alive with the ever-changing dramatic play of light and shadow, evoking a sense of spiritual presence.

Every detail in the Church has been laid out with utmost precision. The grooves on the concrete panels, the seams of the concrete form-work, all align perfectly with the cross. Tadao Ando worked with the finest Japanese craftsmen to bring the project to life. The planks and scaffolding used during construction of the building have been re-used in the interiors of the Church.

The Black Cedar Flooring; wood used for the scaffolding has been reused to make the benches
Image: http://architecturalmoleskine.blogspot.in/
Japanese architecture is known for its continuity between interior and exterior spaces; A simple cross resting on grass in the exterior. Image: http://architecturalmoleskine.blogspot.in/

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Belgium: 'Living' architecture

Art Nouveau or Jugendstil was a style of art inspired by natural organic forms and curves. Its beginnings can be traced back to a graphic produced by a Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha for a local ad. It went on to influence various forms of decorative arts, furniture design and architecture.

Gismonda by Alphonse Mucha in 1894. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/
Along with the Arts and Crafts Movement, these artists and designers rejected industrial mass production in favour of individualistic and stylised hand crafted art and design. Victor Horta and Antoni Gaudi are the most well known architects from the Art Nouveau period.

Victor Horta

Victor Horta, a Belgian architect is credited for being the first to introduce the style into architecture. Hotel Tassel at Brussels, built in 1900 is considered among the finest examples of the Art Nouveau Movement in architecture.

Front Facade of Hotel Tassel, Source: http://openbuildings.com/
The extensive use of traditional materials like stone along with modern materials like iron and glass make for spectacular visuals, both inside and outside the buildings. 


Stone, Iron, Glass. Source: Source: http://photos.bruxelles5.info/

Entrance to Hotel Tassel, Source: www.flickr.com
The hotel design is a combination of Baroque and Classical elements built around a free flowing plan, brought to life by highly innovative, detailed iron tendrils and exotic tapestry. Every detail in the interior seems to flower and flow out into the walls, columns and pillars while extending into each other. There is a unity between architecture, interior and furniture elements.

Wall decoration and Lights at Hotel Tassel in Brussels, Belgium
Source: http://www.belltowndesign.com/
Stepping into the hotel makes the visitor feel like he stepped into the 3D version of the colors and patterns on a 2D canvas of an intricate and vibrant painting, twirling and translating itself into every object around!

Main Stairway on the ground floor in Hotel Tassel,
Source: http://www.studyblue.com/
View from the Ground Floor
Source: http://photos.bruxelles5.info/
Intricate iron detailing in staircase juxtaposed
with mosaic patterns
Source: http://photos.bruxelles5.info
Iron Pillar breaks out into patterns
that extend into the ceiling
Source: www.flickr.com
Another prominent example is Victor Horta's House at Brussels, Belgium. 

The front facade, Victor Horta House
Source: http://www.bluffton.edu/
View across Stairway at Victor Horta's House
Source: http://www.flickr.com
Stairwell at Victor Horta's House in Brussels
Source: http://seb89.wordpress.com/
The open plan and sections in these projects show the influence of the Art Nouveau Movement in the shaping of Modern Architecture. 

Post war, the popularity of expensive organic detailing gave way to more simple modern structures. Many buildings in the Art Nouveau style were demolished. The open planning and use of latest building techniques took the next step with the dawn of the Modern era. 

Staircase detail inside House of the People built 1896-99 in Brussels by Victor Horta
(demolished in 1965)
Source: http://www.cupola.com/