Tectonics in Architecture: Construction, Aesthetics, and Materiality

This essay delves into the concept of tectonics in architecture, defining it as the science and craft of construction, encompassing both functional and aesthetic aspects. It contrasts contemporary trends, such as the destruction of history and stenographic representation, with the principles of tectonic design. The essay examines the references within and outside structures, including the building's relationship to its environment and its inherent properties. It explores the application of tectonics, highlighting the expressive qualities that arise from the interplay of forces and the arrangement of parts. Furthermore, the essay discusses architectonics, which emphasizes the meaningful exposure of electrical and mechanical systems in design. The text then traces the historical evolution of tectonics, from early examples like Caribbean huts and primitive structures to the adoption of various materials and construction techniques, including those found in Japanese architecture and Gothic cathedrals. The essay also covers the development of reinforced concrete and the contributions of key figures like Viollet Le Duc and Hennebique. Finally, the essay references key texts and figures in the field, such as Kenneth Frampton, to offer a comprehensive overview of tectonics in architecture.

TECTONICS IN ARCHITECTURE
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Tectonics in architecture is characterized as "the science or craft of construction, both in
connection to utilize as well as aesthetic plan." It alludes not simply to the "action of making the
really imperative development which answers certain necessities, yet rather to the action which
raises this development to a fine art." It is worried about the demonstrating of material to bring
the material into nearness: from the physical into the meta-physical world. The point is, to some
degree, a response to some contemporary patterns in engineering1.
Section one talk about two current patterns apparent to be negative: the destruction of history,
both in a structural as well as a transient sense; as well as the inclination toward stenographic
portrayal. Section two examines the outside references as well as inside references of structures.
These references are created in two different ways: a building's between cognizance as well as
internal awareness2. The previous is worried about the general conditions of a building,
(physical, social, political, financial), or in Heidegger's terms, the manner by which it "assembles
the fourfold," as well as the last is worried about the characteristic properties of a building.
1 Maulden, Robert, Tectonics in architecture: from the physical to the meta-physical ( PhD diss., Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 1986), 15
2 Maulden, Tectonics in architecture: from the physical to the meta-physical, 52

Figure 1: Stone and timber origin of Doric order
When used utilized in the architectural context, the term tectonics is often used in the description
of the form of building as well as the use of the elements by the designer including the floors,
walls and roofs in the creation of general design of the structure in question. Upon the use of the
word tectonic, it is often with reference to the construction or assemblage of elements. For
instance, the tectonics of a Frank Gehry building tends to be much more dissimilar from the
tectonics of a building which is more rectilinear. The application of term tectonic in architectural
context can best be summarized by Kenneth Frampton, who is professor of architecture at
Columbia University3:
“When a structural concept has found its implementation through construction the visual
result will affect it through certain expressive qualities which clearly have something to
do with the play of forces and corresponding arrangement of parts in the building yet
cannot be described in terms of construction and structure alone. For these qualities
which are expressive of a relation of form to force, the term tectonic should be reserved.”
3 Maulden, Tectonics in architecture: from the physical to the meta-physical, 158

From this definition, sense can be derived which in as much as tectonics is used when discussing
structures, the limitation is not just on how it is made. Rather, it may be used in the description of
expressive nature of given structure as well as the role it plays in space making. The deliberate
exposition of structural elements as an expression form may also be named Architectonics4.
Architectonics is a linked word that may share similar interpretation as has been discussed
above but may as well elaborate activity of meaningfully exposing electrical as well as
mechanical systems in design as a way of expression. In as much as the term appears to be a
mixing of architectural vocabulary the two words have been existence separately for numerous
decades5.
4 Maulden, Tectonics in architecture: from the physical to the meta-physical, 188
5 Oxford University Press, Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (Last modified 2012.
Accessed November 17th 2012. http://www.oxfordreference.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/view/10.1093/acref/
9780198606789.001.0001/acref-9780198606789-e-4637?rskey=J2QYBm&result=43121&q=), 154

Figure 3: Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp, Le Corbusier. 1953-55
It was noted by Frampton in his journal “‘Studies in Tectonic Culture” that tectonic was a
specialization that was made in references to individuals in building or makers of cabinet that
adopted a specifically functional or dry joint even though this was not inclusive of clay as well as
metal working in meaning6. The Caribbean hut was used in the illustration of four elements of
architecture among them the earth, the lightweight skin membrane, the heart as well as the
framework.
6 Oxford University Press, Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, 265

Figure 1: Carribean hut exemplifying the “Four Elements of Architecture”
The use of stereotomic base was illustrated by Semper in which mud-brick as well as stone were
put on the ground onto which was sitting the lightweight frame structure. The stereotomic base
was considered to be load bearing masonry, mud brick as well as weather stone. The importance
of lightweight framed structure was noted in which creation of a known as a primary element in
allowing tying jointly of various lightweight components was observed. The knot resulted in
securing of frame hence was noticed by Semper as sophisticated jointing of construction7. All
7 Madeo, F., and M. A. Schnabel, Integrating the Tectonics in Architecture Design, 268

over world, the techniques may be observed in which a rope is used in the knotting lightweight
structures together, stating how locally available material were used in the building of huts.
African tribal culture adopted an avalanche of vertical screen walls in which rope knot was
employed in holding structure jointly while the mud was constructed about the structure.
Compared to such, the Kuba hut noticed in the southeast of Congo was brought up with the use
of woven mats still with joints being knotted jointly using a rope
Figure 3: Primitive huts and the origin of architecture. Chambers
Semper outlined the development of knots in a weaving process that thereafter resulted in the
generation of building envelope structures among them the Bedouin tribal huts as opposed to
such that were constructed using knots8. Woven walls were in the form of wattle building that
was elaborated by Allen Noble as vertical stakes in which each as driven in a hole or slot in one
of horizontal as well as sponge into a groove or an alternative hole in framework member.
Japanese architecture had significant symbolic structures which were mainly tectonics in which
locally availed materials among them bamboo pillars as well as grasses were being knotted
8 Madeo and Schnabel, Integrating the Tectonics in Architecture Design, 287

together. The Japan house of 15th century was erected using a woven façade. Such structures
were erected in post as well beam framed way using woven infilling walls which enabled
flexible sliding screens9.
Pre 1800 tectonics architects demonstrate that joint or the crafting of building turned out to be
the most significant as well as innovative aspect of tectonic architecture in which stuff played a
major role in design of building. This may be observed from reed-built buildings of Marsh Arabs
which are in Iraq. Such materials were often soured locally and the methods of construction were
attempted as well as tested over long time periods as was with a number of vernaculars of era.
Gothic churches as well as cathedrals were observed by Frampton as bearing the concept which
with joining vaulted as well as trabeated structural shapes in a new unity of spaces on the other is
stretched the art of reinforced masonry building to the technological limits. This resulted to
innovation of large non-load bearing facades in gothic architecture.
A famous French architect and theorist Viollet Le Duc mostly known for his interpretive
restorations of old structures as well as for his writing advocating which materials ought to be
utilized honestly10. He started his career with twelve commissions in the restoration of medieval
monuments. He recommended use of various stuff with the new methods as well as resources in
contrary to work of William Morris as well as his movement of art as well crafts which enhanced
conventional crafts. Viollet le Duc pursues lightweight hollow or even reticulated construction
of metal as an agent for changing every conceivable element of tectonic ranging from window
shutters all the way to metal roofs.
9 Maulden, Tectonics in architecture: from the physical to the meta-physical, 178
10 UK Essays, Relationship Between Tectonic Architecture And Materials Cultural Studies Essay ( [online].
Available from: https://www.ukessays.com/essays/cultural-studies/relationship-between-tectonic-architecture-and-
materials-cultural-studies-essay.php?vref=1 [Accessed 12 December 2018], November 2013), 635

Tectonic reinforced concrete
The last bit of 19th century as well as witnessed in the development in the structural framing
concrete. Engineers Paul Cottancin in 1980invneted his reinforced masonry set-up dubbed as
cement arme11. The system was found to be intensive in terms of labor as well as turning
obsolete 17 years later owing to the patent of Francois Hennebique as well as his reinforced
concrete design which was dubbed as beton arme. Such a finding reversed the tectonic principles
enabling the transgression of stereotomic material to a tectonic frame.
Concrete started to be used in a new way after the perfection of hydraulic cement by Louis
Vicat12. Nonetheless, he mentions the way in which Joseph Moniers started building
prefabricated pots of flower as well as sewer pipes from reinforced wire as well as cement. Not
before Francois started utilizing perfected reinforced concrete in the construction which it gained
popularity.
11 Boncio, Paolo, Francesco Brozzetti, and Giusy Lavecchia, Architecture and seismotectonics of a regional low
‐
angle normal fault zone in central Italy (Tectonics 19, 2000): 1038
12 Boncio, Francesco and Giusy, Architecture and seismotectonics of a regional low
‐angle normal fault zone in
central Italy, 1041

De Baudot was perfecting on St. Jean de Montmarte even as Hennebique was making better his
techniques. Frampton noticed that De Baudot was intending to exploit a technique which was
able to join light construction and bonded brickwork as he outlined, “The finding was somehow
oriental, diagonally ordered vaults system which rise from thin brick walls as well as piers
covering narrow pathways of interior spaces”. This could bring the idea of Viollet Le Duc of cast
iron vaulting to somewhat a new technique of innovation of brick vaulting13.
References
13 Madeo and Schnabel, Integrating the Tectonics in Architecture Design, 326

Boncio, Paolo, Francesco Brozzetti, and Giusy Lavecchia. "Architecture and seismotectonics of
a regional low‐angle normal fault zone in central Italy." Tectonics 19, no. 6 (2000): 1038-1055
Kumar, Niraj, A. P. Singh, S. B. Gupta, and D. C. Mishra. "Gravity signature, crustal
architecture and collision tectonics of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt." Journal of Indian
Geophysical Union 8, no. 2 (2004): 1-10
Madeo, F., and M. A. Schnabel. "Integrating the Tectonics in Architecture Design”
Maulden, Robert. "Tectonics in architecture: from the physical to the meta-physical." PhD diss.,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986
Oxford University Press, "Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture". Last
modified 2012. Accessed November 17th,
2012. http://www.oxfordreference.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/view/10.1093/acref/
9780198606789.001.0001/acref-9780198606789-e-4637?rskey=J2QYBm&result=43121&q=
UK Essays. Relationship Between Tectonic Architecture And Materials Cultural Studies Essay.
[online]. Available from: https://www.ukessays.com/essays/cultural-studies/relationship-
between-tectonic-architecture-and-materials-cultural-studies-essay.php?vref=1 [Accessed 12
December 2018], November 2013