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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

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