A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF NEW MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY 
ON ARCHITECTURAL EXPRESSION 
A Dissertation submitted to the University of Moratuwa 
As a partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of 
Master of science in Architecture 
7 I ^ */ 
•7.?. " 
S.P.C. Disenka 
Department of Architecture 
University of Moratuwa 
July 1999 
71712 
T H 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
I wou ld l ike to first of all thank the a lmighty god who has been personal teacher his w i sdom 
and gu idance . A n d also m y parents , fo r thei r encouragement and part ic ipat ion in helping me 
to accompl ish m y goal in life . 
I wou ld also like to ex tend m y s incere thanks to Prof . N ima l De Si lva , Head of the dept . 
Depar tmen t of Arch i tec ture , Universi ty of Mora tuwa. Archt . Ranj i th A lahakoon , Dr. Ranj i th 
Perera , for their invaluable adv ice and gu idance . 
I a m ext remely gratefu l to Mr. V idura Sri N a m m u n i fo r the great effort taken in shar ing his 
knowledge of archi tecture to us . Wi thou t his gu idance and encouragement , I wou ld not have 
arr ived at this end . I a m also grateful to Mrs . W a s a n a Wi jes inghe w h o gu ided m e through out 
th is s tudy , tak ing great effort to br ing o r d e r , d iscipl ine in to m y th ink ing and wr i t ing . 
I also acknowledge the ass is tance g i ven by Mrs. S. Jayaw ick rama and Mr. Samara jewa for 
read ing the essay and correct ing i t . I a m also ex t remely thankfu l to m y younger s ister and m y 
f r iends fo r the i r k indness and other suppor t they ex tended to m e to comple te th is s tudy 
success fu l l y . 
Last but not l e a s t , I wou ld l ike to express m y grat i tude to Mrs. Niroshini W h o was kind enough 
to check the manuscr ip t and typescr ip t w i th care . 
S.P. C. Desenka 
July 1999 
i 
- A B S T R A C T -
" T o bel ieve tha t o n e can attain beauty by untruth is heresy in the pract ice of art "(1) 
" In archi tecture , t h e quest ion o f t ru th a n d untruth refers t o the re lat ionships be tween 
f o r m a n d construct ion o r b e t w e e n f o r m a n d content" (2) 
" T h e fus ion of these t w o e lements is the absolute a i m of all great art . The s implest 
e x a m p l e is of fered by poetry w h i c h c a n n o t ex is t w i thout the c lose associa t ion or the 
mag ic symbios is of s o u n d a n d m e a n i n g " . (3) 
T h e above s ta tements s t rengthened the fact that a built f o rm and a cho ice of mater ia ls 
& const ruct ion sys tems shou ld have a c lose relat ionship ,as such an a r rangement wi l l faci l i tate 
the ful l real isat ion of t he mean ing of such a built fo rm . Th is mean ing at t r ibute has to be 
regarded as the dom inan t e lement of the built f o rm and one that breathes v igour and vitality into 
it and he lps to ensure its s u r v i v a l . 
T h e ro le of mater ia ls and techno logy is to prov ides the physical enti ty for this mean ing . 
S ince the express ion is v is ib le aspect of th is mean ing , mater ia ls & techno logy act as a med ia of 
archi tectura l express ion .Therefore in the creat ion process of archi tecture there are two dist inct 
ends c o m e in to play hanmonizing wi th each o t h e r . 
Mater ia ls and techno logy : Archi tectura l Express ion 
A n important point to note is that Industr ial Revolu t ion in Europe in the 15th century , 
has actual ly served as a s t rong s t imulus to the growth and expans ion of bui ld ing industry . This 
s i tuat ion has in a sense created a great change in th is re lat ionship , and therefore it impacts on 
archi tectural express ion . 
N e w techn ica l innovat ions gave des igners a new oppor tun i ty of des ign ing bui ld ings , 
using n e w mater ia ls wh ich in turn genera ted better condi t ions , fo r ensur ing that t he built fo rm 
carr ied the appropr ia te mean ing and express ion .Not wi th s tand ing the above the , pr inciple 
point to note is that th is s i tuat ion has a lso c reated new t rends on the score of as to whether 
those new technica l innovat ions wou ld real ly m e e t a successfu l archi tectural ent i t ies . 
" T h e sources of t h e v isual vocabulary o f s t ructura l t echno logy w h i c h is used in h igh ­
t e c h archi tecture are var ious and for the m o s t p a r t , not a r c h i t e c t u r a l . They occur in the 
w o r l d o f 'pure ' structural eng ineer ing -p r inc ipa l ly in long - s p a n br idge bui ld ing -and a lso 
in t h e vehic le t e c h n o l o g y a n d aeronaut ica l engineer ing f i e lds" (4) 
" T h e dua l invest igat ion has b rought m e to the conc lus ion that a technical ly perfect w o r k 
can b e aesthet ical ly inexpressive . G o o d techno logy s e e m s to be a necessary t h o u g h not 
suff ic ient condi t ion for g o o d archi tecture" . (5) 
There fore in th is s i tuat ion it can be sa id that new mater ia ls and technology has c rea ted 
a dua l impact on archi tectural express ion . T h e fo l lowing study is a detai l examinat ion of th is 
i m p a c t . In this s i tuat ion I regard th is subject I have under In th is s i tuat ion I regard th is sub ject I 
have under taken as an exci t ing cha l lenge to probe into a field that is both complex and rich and 
f rom wh ich certain va luab le impress ions and conc lus ions , cou ld be d rawn. It is impor tant to 
note that If I had more t ime I cou ld have gone into more detai l .in this examina t ion . 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S 
A B S T R A C T 
C O N T E N T S 
L IFE O F P L A T E S 
L IST O F F I G U R E S 
I N T R O D U C T I O N 
C H A P T E R O N E 
1.1 
1.2 
1.3 
1.4 
1.5 
C H A P T E R T W O 
2.1 
P A G E N O 
( 1 0 0 0 ) 
E X P R E S S I O N ITS R O L E IN M E A N I N G F U L 
A R C H I T E C T U R E ( 1 5 0 0 )
 r 
22 
22 
Express ion a de f i n i t i on . 
Relat ion sh ip be tween Mean ing and Express ion 
Express ion in meaningfu l Arch i tec ture . 
T h e Genera to rs of Arch i tectura l Express ion 
1.4.1 Genera to rs a Def in i t ion . 6 
1.4.1.1 Pr imary Genera to rs 7 
1.4.1.2 Secondary Genera to rs ( M o d i f i e r s ) 1 9 
Categor izat ion of archi tectural express ion . 
1.5.1 Pr imary express ion 
1.5.2 Secondary express ion 
M O D ^ A N D M E D I A OF A R C H I T E C T U R A L 
E X P R E S S I O N ( 2 0 0 0 ) 2 5 
M o d e of t he archi tectural express ion -an in t roduct ion 25 
2.1.1 F o r m a def ini t ion 25 
2.1.1.1 Componen ts of Fo rm 25 
2.1.2 Shape a def in i t ion 3 1 
2.1.2.1 Componen ts of Shape ^ 
Media of Archi tectura l Express ion 
an introduct ion 
2.2.1 Nature of the Techno logy in Bui ld ing 
2.2.1.1 Non structural nature 
2.2.1.2 Structural nature 
a. Structural e lements 
38 
39 
k3 
b. Comp le te structural a r rangements 
M A T E R I A L S A N D T E C H N O L O G Y A S M E D I A O F 
A R C H I T E C T U R A L E X P R E S S I O N A N E V O L U T I O N (2500) 
A n Introduct ion 
A Per iodical evolut ion 
3.2.1 Egypt ian Arch i tecture 
3.2.2 Greek Arch i tecture 
3.2.3 R o m a n Arch i tecture 
3.2.4 Goth ic Archi tecture 
3.2.5 Evolut ion of m o d e m Arch i tecture 
T H E I M P A C T O F N E W M A T E R I A L S A N D 
T E C H N O L O G Y O N A R C H I T E C T U R A L 
E X P R E S S I O N IN M O D E R N B U I L D I N G S : 
C R I T I C A L E X A M I N A T I O N (4500) 6 9 
4.1 A n Introduct ion 
4.2 Part One 
4.3 Part T w o 
(1000) 0 7 
50 
51 
51 
58 
60 
63 
65 
6 9 
6 9 
38 
LIST OF PLATES 
C H A P T E R - 01 
Plate (1 •v 
Plate (1 -2) 
Plate (1 -3) 
Plate (1 -4) 
Plate C -5) 
Plate (1 -6) 
Plate (1 -7) 
Plate (1 -8) 
Plate (1 -9) 
Plate C •10) 
Plate (1 -11) 
Plate (1 -12) 
Plate (1 -13) 
Plate (1 -14) 
Plate (1 -15) 
Plate (1 -16) 
Plate (1 -17) 
C H A P T E R - 02 
Plate (2-1) Dif ferent roofs express dif ferent qual i t ies. 
Plate (2-2) A Hindu Temple Madras - rectangular, t r iangular f o rms art iculated to express divihity. 
Plate (2-3) Stabil i ty is wel l exp ressed due to the mass ive fo rm co lonnade and the pod ium. 
Old par l iament - Co lombo . 
Plate (2-4) Void > Sol id rat ion on the sk in of the bui lding ach ieve l ightness & openness . 
Plate (2-5) Void < Sol id rat ion on the sk in ach ieve sol iding - R o n c h a m p chapel . 
Plate (2-6) Dif ferent textures g ive di f ferent express ions. 
Plate (2-7) Di f ferent co lors create di f ferent express ive qual i t ies. 
Plate (2-8) Ornamenta t ion contr ibute to ach ieve dif ferent express ions. 
Plate (2-9) Non structural nature of the di f ferent mater ia ls g ives dif ferent textures to the built fo rms. 
Plate (2-10) Structural nature of the mater ia ls g ives dif ferent qual i t ies to the built fo rm. 
C H A P T E R - 03 
Flate (3-1) 
Plate (3-2) 
Plate (3-3) 
Plate (3-4) 
Plate (3-5) 
Plate (3-6) 
Plate (3-7) 
Plate (3-8) 
Plate (3-9) 
Plate (3-10) 
Plate (3-11) 
Plate (3-12) 
Plate (3-13) 
Plate (3-14) 
Plate (3-15) 
Plate (3-16) 
Plate (3-17) 
Plate (3-18) 
Plate (3-19) 
Thebes . 
C H A P T E R - 04 
Plate (4-1) Crystal pa lace, Joseph parxton, London - 1 8 5 1 . 
Plate (4-2) Eiffel tower, Gustar Eiffel; Parr is - 1 8 8 9 . 
Plate (4-3) Hopk inshouse , Michel Hopk ins ; London. 
Plate (4-4) Mi l lenne ium tower - Tokyo. 
Plate (4-5) Rai lway Stat ion & Post Off ice by Sant iage Calat rava. 
Plate (4-6) House, Richard Horden , W o o d Qreen H a m p shire, Parr is - 1 9 8 4 . 
Plate (4-7) T h e centre pomp idou , Renzon Piano & Richard Rogers Parr is - 1976. 
Plate (4-8) Buck minster ful lers Amer i can Pavil l ion d o m e for the mont rea l expo - 1967. 
Plate (4-9) T h e Renaul t head quar ters bui ld ing, by O v e A r u p & partners - 1983. 
Plate (4-10) O lympic s tad ium by archi tect Frei Ot to - Mun ich 1968-72. 
Plate (4-11) Inmos mic roprocessor factory, by Rchard rogers New Port South Wa les - 1982. 
Plate (4-12) T h e Lloyds bui lding by, Richard Rogers , London - 1986. 
Plate (4-13) T h e sch lumborger research laboratory - Cambr idge . 
Hong Kong Bank head quar ters , Hong Kong - 1979-86. 
Plate (4-14) Medica l Faculty by weber brand & partness, W e s t Germany. 
Plate (4-15) Crysta l house, George f red K O C K in Ch icago - 1984. 
Plate (4-16) Steel & Glass house in Germany. 
Plate (4-17) Expo 70 Toshiba ISI Pavil ion - K isho Kurakawa. 
Plate (4-18) Expo 70 Takara ISI Pavi l ion - K isho Kurakawa. 
Plate (4-19) Nagak in Capsu le tower - K isho Kurakawa. 
Plate (4-20x) Expo 70 Capus le house - Kisho Kurakawa. 
Plate (4-20) B ieneke Library M u s e u m in Wash ing ton - 1 9 7 3 . 
Plate (4-21) Gordon Bushaf ts M u s e u m in Wash ing ton - 1 9 7 3 . 
Plate (4-22) Cathedra l / Boi ler house Mies Vander Rohe Ch icago - 1 9 4 7 . 
Plate (4-23x) Stanelty t igerman pr ivate res idence, Lake Michigan - 1 9 7 2 . 
Plate (4-23) S e a g r a m bui lding - Mies Vander Rohe, New York - 1954. 
Plate (4-24) Lake shore dr ive apar tments in Ch icago. 
Plate (4-25) John Hancock bui lding in Ch icago. 
Plate (4-26) T h e sears tower Ch icago. 
Plate (4-27) Wor ld t rade Cent re , Minour Yamasak i , New York - 1973. 
Plate (4-28) Sydeney Opera house - Jo rn Utzon, Austra l ia - 1 9 5 7 . 
Plate (4-29) Restaurant xoch imi lco in Mex ico City be Felix Candel la . 
Plate (4-30) Fal l ing Wa te r House by Franic Lloyd Weight . 
Plate (4-31) Nor te D a m e , du Hsut, R o n c h a m p by, Le Corbus ier 1950-54. 
Plate (4-32) Mar ine country civic Centre. 
Plate (4-33) Guggenhe in M u s e u m New York. 
Plate (4-34) T h e house in Oslo , Norway. 
Plate (4-35) W e b l e r Geiss lers Wurzbu rg off ice bui lding. 
Plate (4-36) Behai house worsh ip - N e w Delhi . 
Plate (4-37) Wi l ls , Faber and D u m a s off ice bui lding. 
Plate (4-38) Terminal bui ld ing, Internat ional Air Port Minnea Opol is . 
Plate (4-39) The Munic ipa l Srad ium, F lorence by, Pior Luigi Nervi . 
Plate (4-40) O lympic Stadia, Munich W e s t Ge rmany - 1 9 7 2 . 
Plate (4-41) Euro sarr inen, Trans wor ld Air Line terminal , New York - 1 9 5 6 
Plate (4-42) G lass House, Phil l ip Johnson , N e w Canagn - 1949. 
Plate (4-43) Tadao A n d o - Wa te r Church Hok ido. 
LIST OF FIGURES 
C H A P T E R - 01 
Fig (1-1) Tradi t ional house f o rms ref lect ing the life style of people. 
Fig (1-2) Tradi t ional house fo rms ref lect ing the life style of people. 
Fig (1-3) Modern examp les genera ted in response to activity pat tern. 
Fig (1-4) Cer ta in se t t lement pat tern responding to their activity pat tern. 
Fig (1-4) Certa in se t tement pattern responding to their activity pat tern. 
Fig (1-5) Var ious Cl imat ic condi t ions modi fy the fo rms of bui ld ings. 
Fig (1-6) Mater ia ls and technology modi f ies the idea of home. 
C H A P T E R - 02 
Fig (2-1) Fo rm is def ined by the space. 
Fig (2-2) Centra l ized fo rm - express ing central i ty and dominance . 
Fig (2-3) Linear fo rm - express ing process ion and movement . 
Fig (2-4) Radia l f o rm - "ext rovetness" 
Fig (2-5) C lus tered fo rm - f lexibil i ty & f reeness. 
Fig (2-6) Gr id fo rm - formal i ty & reqularity. 
Fig (2-7) Modi f ied vers ion of f o rm is shape. 
Fig (2-8) Nature of mater ia ls 
Fig (2-9) Structural e lements . 
Fig (2-10) Comp le te structural a r rangements . 
C H A P T E R - 03 
Fig (3-1) Fo rms wi th un in tended mean ing 
C H A P T E R - 04 
Technical image mak ing in 20th century archi tecture.