Point at Issue: Can Modern and Traditional Architecture Stand Together
Sergey Alimov
Architecture is a reflection of culture, but traditionalists feel that glass buildings have nothing to say. As culture mixes with advancements and technology, what we are starting to see reflects a more future-forward and less traditional past. Has it reached a point where all that we are building, no matter where we are, is just another tall glass structure? It is hard to say if there is artistic expression in modern architecture compared to older designs. Older structures may have more character, but modern buildings offer us an efficient and space-saving solution that city dwellers crave. While each serves a purpose, can we love them both the same?
Modern buildings have a purpose, to provide housing and office space for millions of inhabitants. When the focus is on function, we lose creativity and original design elements. The result is a standard of the building that has emerged where everything looks the same. These huge skyscrapers with big panes of glass have replaced older brick masterpieces, and they grow taller and taller. With so many architectural marvels to choose from, are these skyscrapers the best we can do and does it accurately reflect our era?
New York City is a fine example of a combination of architecture from its creation to today. There are colonial buildings built in the 1870s, Georgian, Greek, and Gothic revival, Italianate, Beaux-Arts, International Style, Art Deco, Postmodern, and 21st Century Architecture. With each era comes the incorporation of new details, improvements, and style. New buildings emerge, sometimes destroying others in their place, and it happens rather quickly.
Modern buildings are fast to put up, even with the regulations placed on their construction. For an average installation from start to finish, it takes about five years to complete. The buildings also require a lot of manual labor to put together, but China has a solution to this problem.
In China, Zhang Yue, chairman of Broad Group, built a 30 story tower in 15 days. A majority of the building is prebuilt in a factory, with 10 percent built on the site. His next feat is to build SkyCity, a 202-story steel skyscraper that is said to resist a magnitude-9 earthquake and be very energy efficient.
"The architecture produced by contemporary global capitalism is possibly the most obvious visible evidence that it has some kind of perverse effect on the human soul," wrote Brianna Rennix and Nathan J. Robinson. When you think of your favorite building, you rarely answer with a newly created one; we generally resonate with a landmark of the past.
We are witness to great works of architecture that have withstood hundreds if not thousands of years. One such example, a mausoleum for the fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu, has been around since 2560 BC. The Parthenon in Greece is also another ancient wonder that dates anywhere between 432-447 BC. This temple was the center of religious life in the powerful Greek City-State of Athens. Experts say that because of how the stones were cut and placed, the temple remained intact for all this time. Today's modern buildings will not last this long and will not withstand the elements of time.
"According to a recent colloquium at the Getty Center, the average life span of a conventionally built building (masonry and wood) is about 120 years. But for modernist buildings (reinforced concrete and glass curtain wall) it's half that: 60 years." A lot of this has to do with the building materials used to erect these skyscrapers. Most tall skyscrapers use concrete as the foundation and in their construction because of the cost and strength.
"The constructions must withstand immense forces just to stay upright, including regular lightning strikes and spiraling 100-mile per hour winds – not to mention the constant effect of gravity," reported Zaria Gorvett. Concrete reinforced with steel is the material combination of choice. This "combines the tensile strength (ability to resist stretching), of metal with the compressive strength (ability to resist squeezing) of rock."
Concrete is used for the foundation and also to fill in the structure between the steel supports. Albeit inexpensive, it does not have a long shelf life, as it can break down in as few as 50 years. Some architects and builders are also exploring other options.
When planning and building modern structures, the ability to use recycled materials is a huge selling point. "Using recyclable materials is rapidly becoming an innovative and sustainable staple for architects. Many common building materials – concrete, brick, glass – can be produced from previously used materials. And doing so can lower a building's emissions up to 90%, cited Urban Hub. By using recycled materials, the buildings are easy to dismantle, and the items are used again. Although it creates zero waste, there won't be a historic building that will last for thousands of years.
Many of the modern skyscrapers now also use aluminum in their designs. The window frames, siding, roofs, and other aspects contain aluminum recycled from other projects. When builders use aluminum on the roof, it can reflect up to 95% of sunlight, which lowers the amount of energy consumption because they do not have to rely on air conditioning. Modern buildings for some, are appealing with the simple lines and minimalist approach; they believe that less is more. Others don't resonate and want more warmth and character.
The older buildings within a city are what connect the present to its past. Higher grades of material were used in older buildings, and if you had to build them again, it wouldn't be financially feasible. Venice, Italy, and Paris, France are two cities that are well known for their beautiful building and architectural stylings. When these structures were built, you didn't need to house many people or create spaces for workers to go. As charming as the buildings may be, today's workers need the technology and space of modern facilities.
"Modernist architecture – monoliths of glass, steel, reinforced concrete, and stucco, rejecting texture, slaves to the straight line – is transforming skylines into non-places that architects love and the rest of us try to ignore," stated the Plaza Perspective. These "monoliths" do serve an important purpose, to house thousands of inhabitants and workers. Think of how many people occupy these tall buildings, and the buildings are tall versus wide, so they take up less of a footprint. Plus, when you are so much higher, you have better views and less noise. To put these buildings up, it is sometimes at the expense of tearing down a historical structure; but you can save what is there.
What some older buildings are doing is addressing the problem of energy inefficiency. The Empire State building went through a renovation in 2009 to cut its energy consumption by more than 40 percent. Instead of putting up a new building, you can take an existing one and make it efficient. With environmental updates, existing buildings can reduce your carbon footprint. Right now, the buildings in the United States use about 40 percent of the country's energy to heat, cool, and power.
"Better retrofitting as an immediate, high-impact means to help curb energy usage. Architecture is environmentally friendly, efficient, and all-around better. From construction to completion to use, it costs significantly less in energy, materials, and resources," wrote Patrick Sisson. By choosing not to tear down and giving a modern update, the Empire State Building became the perfect example of old and new.
While it does cost a lot to maintain and preserve older structures, it is worth preserving them for future generations to admire and use. The buildings of today are not energy efficient. "Traditional skyscrapers are an energy-savers nightmare, with their vast glass facades, electric lighting everywhere, overly generous use of air conditioning and heating," wrote Catherine Triomphe. The elevators and other comfort features consume a lot of energy, and not only that, they emit vast amounts of greenhouse gases.
Modern and traditional architecture can coexist. There are benefits that both styles bring to a city. One brings culture, and the other carries a modern aesthetic. It is possible to preserve the old buildings and add modern elements to them. One example of a combination of modern and traditional is the Dresden Museum in Germany. This building has combined a classic look and feel with a modern flair. While some admire how the boundaries are pushed, other critics disagree. The Brooklyn Museum in New York is another combination of old and new. In 2004, they added a modern glass entrance to the 1895 Beaux-Arts building. This 15,000-foot addition combined sleek and traditional in a very eye-pleasing way. As big as our cities are, there is enough room for both styles to fill it out.