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The Architectural Design Of The 20th Century

Essay, Research Paper


The architectural design of the 20th century skyscrapers


has been redefined due to the advancement of our modern technology. Benny Louie


Humanity 450 Dr. Maureen Schmid 17 May 1999 The architectural design of the 20th


century skyscrapers has been redefined due to the advancement of our modern


technology. In our modern society, the architectural design of skyscrapers is


changing the downtown landscape of metropolitan areas. Due to the change of


technologies, it has changed the architectural design of skyscraper dramatically


in terms of the its function, design structures, heating and cooling systems and


it social status in society. The basic function of the architecture is to


provide a roof over peoples? head. The main purpose of architecture is to act


as a shelter for people to protect themselves against Mother Nature. As


civilization development advances, we increased our knowledge and became more


creative. People start to design buildings for means of displaying wealth and


social status. The skyscraper fits the criteria to show the social status of


such building with great height and elegance to the society. According to


O?Gorman, ?architecture is a form language, of communication.? (P.89) This


communication is represented in the forms of texture, shape and style that


reflects certain period of time. In the early period, architectures were


associated with style and culture. ?The Greeks built marble temples with


Doric, Ionic or Corinthian columns. Egyptian architecture used heavy lotus


columns, massive battered walls and pyramidal forms. The Gothic style used point


arch, vast areas of stained glasses, pointed rib-vault construction.? (P. 92)


Each had its unique characteristic feature to express its message. In the 20th


century architectural design, architecture is no longer viewed as simple shelter


to provide a roof over peoples? head. Architectures are designed with a more


environmental conscious issue like cost, energy conservation and practicality of


the structure. The interior environment is designed according to the space


function of the structures. For example, ?a dance hall, needs a large


open-space with sufficient room for the band and a bar and maybe for tables and


chairs around the edge so that people can sit and chat.? (Conway & Rowan)


This concept always applies to real life situations. People don?t rent more


space than what they needed for. For example, a three person family will not


rent a 3 bedroom apartment, unless they are financially well off. In a Victorian


house, there are different corridors for different users. The servants don?t


use the same passage as the owners? family. (Conway & Rowan, P.4) This is


similar to large hotels, employees have to use the employees entrance to access


the building. These passages are not well maintained as the front of the house.


?The interior environment should be safe for working, living or housing


objects.? (Conway & Rowan, P.17) This means that building should be at a


comfortable temperature, with sufficient lighting, ability to control the


transmission of noise, provide enough space for pipes, wires and ventilation


ducts. Overall the architects has to take in consideration of the climates


differences and regional variations of the building in designing a suitable


interior environment for today?s standard. The skyscraper is defined as a


?building with exceptional height completely support by a frame-work, as of


girders, from which the walls are suspended, as opposed to a building supported


by load-bearing walls.? (www.infoplease.com) The function of the skyscraper is


serve as a commercial purpose. The Sears Tower is fine example of it, not only


the being headquarter for Sears and Roebuck company but it also has an


observation deck for the public. The skyscraper has always associated with


wealth and power. To the general public, big is good; in terms of building, the


taller the better. People had been fascinated with skyscraper ever since the


birth of the first skyscraper in 1895. It was a 10-stories high steel frame


structure designed by William Le Baron Jenney in 1885, named ?Home Insurance


Building.? (Bennett, P.40) Over the year as steel and concrete production


technologies reach a higher level, architects use these new materials to reach


greater height in the design of skyscrapers. The improvement of the skyscraper


structures starts from 10 floor stories to high as 150 floor stories high. The


>

Reliance Building Chicago, USA, in 1895, 15 stories high used the semi-rigid


steel frame. The semi-rigid steel frame was held together with steel beams and


connected by rivets. (Bennett, P.42) The 60 stories high First Wisconsin Center,


Milwaukee, USA in 1974 employed the steel belt truss with framed shear truss.


This structure used the horizontal trusses at the upper and lower stories to


enhance the framed shear truss. (Bennett, P.44) The Sears Tower, Chicago, USA,


in 1974, 110 stories high used the Bundled tube. The bundled tubes were made up


of a cluster of connected frame tubes, reinforced by steel beams at each story


to increase the strength of the structure. Various tubes terminated at different


level to further strengthen the bundled tubes at the center. (Bennett, P.44) The


future structure was the Superframe, which can reaches at least 150 stories


high. It used the concept of the Eiffel Tower with framed tubes connected by


horizontal trusses. (Bennett, P.45) It was the innovation of the structural


design that enables skyscrapers to reach new height. These methods include the


use of steel belted truss, cross members to reinforce the structure. Heating and


air conditioning played an important role in the structure of skyscrapers. They


are the key units that control the inside atmosphere of all skyscrapers. In the


early days, the heat sources in the building came from fireplaces and stoves.


Later on heat in the building supplied by the hot water boiler. The boiler heats


up the water and sends it out to the radiators through a system of pipes. This


was later replaced by central heating furnace with ventilation ducts that


channel heat to various areas of the building. Air conditioning is defined as a


mechanical process for controlling humidity, and temperature of air in room. (www.infoplease.com)


Air condition is originated from refrigeration. The process of refrigeration is


to draw heat away from substances to lower their temperature. In the operation


of an air conditioning unit, air is blow across a cooling pipe and the waste


heat is carried away by the flow of cold water in the pipes. The cooled air is


carried out through the ventilation ducts to various parts of the building.


Today, the skyscrapers use the central heating system with ventilation ducts


that can be shared with the heating and air conditioning system. Engineers are


working on new ways to make heating and air conditioning more efficient and


environmental friendly. This would reduce the cost of energy bill on these


skyscrapers. The cost of building a skyscraper is in hundred million dollars in


the current market. The skyscraper is well known for its great height and the


social status comes with it. In general, large company or firm would host its


head office in these skyscrapers. For example Chrysler had its head office in


the Chrysler Building, owned by Chrysler which is one of the big three auto


makers. (Bennett, P.71) The Sears Tower, the head office for Sears and owned by


Sears. It was known for being the worlds? tallest skyscraper in Chicago.


(Bennett, P.24) Tenants expect clients to know where they are located when they


tell them the Sears Tower as their location. These skyscrapers are own by the


wealthy individuals whom are in the upper level of financial social status.


There is a sense of prestige for having offices or shops in these skyscrapers.


Modern skyscrapers are being redefined by the use of advance technologies. Due


to the advancement in technology, skyscrapers are able to reach new height


easily. It changes the way architects design the structure of these buildings.


The new function of the skyscraper is to provide great views, house antennas for


communications, telebroadcasting and for entertainment purpose. The use of


computer climate control system made the building a more comfortable environment


for everyone. The great height of the skyscraper like the Sears Tower, it


associates itself with the prestige of being the tallest of all. With the rapid


advancement of technology and the influence of fame and wealth, sky is limit for


the next generation of skyscrapers.


Bennett,


David. Skyscrapers Form & Function New York 1995 Conway, Hazel and Rowan,


Roenisch. Understanding Architecture: An introduction to Architecture and


architectural History. London and New York: Routledge 1994. O?Gorman, James.


ABC of Architecture Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1998 Online


www.infoplease.com May 15, 1999

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