HIGH-TECH ARCHITECTURE

Prepared by: Chua, Vincent Alfred Sanjaya, Wisnu Ardi Te, Winston Valencia, Ivan Paolo 4 AR 5

High-tech architecture, also known as Late Modernism or Structural Expressionism, is an architectural style that emerged in the late 80s, this style became a bridge between modernisms and post-modernism.

In the year 1980s the high tech architecture started to look different from the post modern architecture. Many of the themes and ideas which originated during the post modern times were added to the high tech architecture.

They say that Modern architecture is primarily driven by technological and engineering developments, and it is true that the availability of new building materials such as iron, steel, and glass drove the invention of new building techniques as part of the Industrial Revolution.

Buildings designed in this style usually consist of glass for the facade, steel for exterior support, and concrete for the floors and interior supports Example is the I.M. Pei's Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong.

In the 1980s, high-tech architecture became more difficult to distinguish from post-modern architecture. It is the simplification of form and the elimination of ornament.
High Tech architecture is rooted in minimal and true use of material as well as absence of ornament, while postmodernism is a rejection of strict rules set by the early modernists and seeks exuberance in the use of building techniques, angles, and stylistic references.

A vivid example of this new approach was that Postmodernism saw the comeback of pillars and other elements of premodern designs, sometimes adapting classical Greek and Roman examples.
For example, in Modernism, the pillar (as a design feature) was either replaced by other technological means such as cantilevers, or masked completely by curtain wall faades. The revival of the pillar was an aesthetic, rather than a technological, necessity.

By mid 80s, ornaments returned. Hightech architectures characteristics include the use of sculptural forms, ornaments, anthropomorphism and materials. These physical characteristics are combined with conceptual characteristics of meaning.

Ancient ruyi symbol adorning Taipei 101

Like in Frank Gehrys Venice Beach house, built in 1986, is littered with small ornamental details that would have been considered excessive and needless in Modernism. The Venice Beach House has an assembly of circular logs which exist mostly for decoration. The logs on top do have a minor purpose of holding up the window covers.

High Tech interiors

The typical High Tech building symbolizes and represents technology rather than simply using it in the most efficient way possible. This style in the form in the last third of the 20th century. Arose from the design of industrial premises, where all elements of the situation subordinate functions. Designed openness, inclusion in the visual series of pipes, fittings, ducts, the complex structuring of space, favorite materials: metal, glass, concrete - all these characteristics of style high tech.

For interior design there was a trend of using formerly industrial appliances as household objects, e.g. chemical beakers as vases for flowers. This was because of an aim to use an industrial aesthetic.

High-tech architecture aimed to achieve a new industrial aesthetic, spurred on by the renewed faith in the progression of technology. Characteristics of high-tech architecture have varied somewhat, yet all have accentuated technical elements. They included the prominent display of the building's technical and functional components, and an orderly arrangement and use of pre-fabricated elements. Glass walls and steel frames were also immensely popular.

High Tech style during 80s and 90s (even now) is popularized and commonly practiced by:

Richard Rogers

Santiago Calatrava

Norman Foster

Gunter Behnisch

Examples of High Tech Architecture During 80s

Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, by: Norman Foster

Built 1979 to 1986 steel frame and glass

The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank by Norman Foster is probably the best known, and most widely publicized building of the decade, largely because it was claimed to have cost more money than any other building to erect. Not withstanding that kind of publicity and the building's subsequent overshadowing by far inferior competitors, it remains a unique architectural achievement and a small wonder of the modern age.

Experimental Research Center, by Gunter Behnisch: Built 1986 to 1987 stainless steel, glass

Lloyds Building, by Richard Rogers: Built 1979 to 1984 steel frame with glass curtain wall

Whereas the frame of the building has a long life expectancy, the servant areas, filled with mechanical equipment have a relatively short life, especially in this energy-critical period. The servant equipment, mechanical services, lifts, toilets, kitchens, fire stairs, and lobbies, sit loosely in the tower framework, easily accessible for maintenance, and replaceable in the case of obsolescence.