On Concrete Materiality in Architecture - Ute Poerschke

Once again, we look at materials used within architecture, here the text is looking at concrete and how it is used within architecture. Concrete has always been one of my favourable materials when designing a building. I like the way it looks, feels and how it changes in temperature due to its surroundings. The roughness of it makes architectural structures have a raw and stripped back effect. I believe that in the construction of a building a large amount of its appearance can go down to its materials and without the right ones, a whole building can completely change. After studying materials thoroughly in Technical Studies (one of the modules for Interior Architecture) it is interesting to see how these materials are used within architecture, why they are used and their sustainability. I strongly believe however, that materials should be used in order to fit in with their surroundings. Again, going back to Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘organic’ approach in the way he works, and making sure that the architecture does not look out of place.

The text moves on to speak about Gottfriend Semper, who said that materials should appear in their natural form.

“Brick should appear as brick, wood and wood, iron as iron”

It is interesting to see how much this has changed over time, and materials are being developed every day to improve construction as a whole and also to make them more aesthetically pleasing. I like the idea however, that raw materials are used and left untouched. It gives the idea that they have come naturally, which is something I appreciate within architecture.

My feelings towards the text vary; I strongly stand by the fact that materials should be left untouched if possible. In my work, I like using raw and natural materials, rather than ones that have been coated or covered in paint. I believe that although sometimes, these coatings might be needed, sometimes it is completely unnecessary and can ruin the finish of some projects, the architecture should speak for itself.