Political Statement Facades
I wanted to pull a section of the Alejandra Zaera Polo text that I did not agree with the author's view and show facades of projects that I believed had strong political statements that the architectural envelope showed a political, social stance on a local place, a particular time, and the client's values that the architect materialized into form (and space).
"Previous theories of the building envelope have not been capable of directly relating to the technical and physical propterties of the envelope to their political, social, and psychological effects. As with the impact of certain technical fields (artificial intelligence and genetic modification, for example) on the political arena, a general theory of the building envelope could reconstitute a political discourse of architecture with the capacity to produce effects that may actually destabilize power regimes rather than functioning as mere representations of politics, whether of the status quo or its resisting parties." (Polo, page 79.)
The first example I wanted to show was Casa del Fascio by Giuseppe Terragni, built as the headquarters for the Fascist part in Italy in the 1940s. Strong concrete materials, a proportion system that was adapted from Classical Greek and Roman ratios, and most importantly how the facade was pushed back from the street for a large plaza to be placed in front of it was an important political statement regarding large assemblies. The facade also functions to naturally light the offices and rooms on the perimeter of the building. I am condemning the values Nazi part in all of their political views, but want to make an argument that Terragni's selection of architectural materials and form represent strength, order, and power through concrete and marble facade.
"Previous theories of the building envelope have not been capable of directly relating to the technical and physical propterties of the envelope to their political, social, and psychological effects. As with the impact of certain technical fields (artificial intelligence and genetic modification, for example) on the political arena, a general theory of the building envelope could reconstitute a political discourse of architecture with the capacity to produce effects that may actually destabilize power regimes rather than functioning as mere representations of politics, whether of the status quo or its resisting parties." (Polo, page 79.)
The first example I wanted to show was Casa del Fascio by Giuseppe Terragni, built as the headquarters for the Fascist part in Italy in the 1940s. Strong concrete materials, a proportion system that was adapted from Classical Greek and Roman ratios, and most importantly how the facade was pushed back from the street for a large plaza to be placed in front of it was an important political statement regarding large assemblies. The facade also functions to naturally light the offices and rooms on the perimeter of the building. I am condemning the values Nazi part in all of their political views, but want to make an argument that Terragni's selection of architectural materials and form represent strength, order, and power through concrete and marble facade.
Casa del Fascio plans
Casa del Fascio front and rear elevations
Perspective view of Casa del Fascio facade showing plaza in front of building
The second project that I wanted to talk about how the materials and form of the facade strongly represented a political value systems was the Reichstag Building in Berlin, Germany. (Interesting fact, Reichstag means "diet" and the word traces back to the Holy Roman Empire time.) The original design was a neoclassical building with a glass gabled atrium that was using old symbols of power, strength, order for a government capitol building.
Reichstag Building, Berlin, German, 1932 (Prior to WWII bombings)
Sir Norman Foster won an international competition that his final design, while although not resembling the physical model that was submitted for the competition entry, showed a glass spiral dome design that highlighted the visibility of German political law decision making processes, a higher level of transparency to the citizens than had previously been showcased through their architecture. I think a higher level of transparency in politics is a good thing, in every country.
As you can see in the second Reichstag photograph, a vast majority of the facade was preserved or repaired - but the glass dome is the crowning achievement of the new design - along with the curtain wall glazing at the main entrance behind the portico.
Switching gears and counties - Italy, Germany - I'd like to speak to another politically charged facade, the United States Capitol Building in Washington DC. The original design was by William Thornton.
U.S. Capitol Building drawing, William Thornton, 1792
What elements do you see here? Stone rustification base, pilasters and arched windows, round and square windows at the top, beautiful Corinthian columns, a classical Greek pediment facade as a symbol of democracy - and a dome in the back with an oculus. You're seeing Greek Revival style elements with select components of Renaissance in Italy because these were symbols that American law making political bodies wanted the architecture to physically represent the values of the politics. A government by the people - for the people. Who were the best leaders of democracy? The Greeks. Therefore, much of American architectural national style imitates those values, forms, and materials.
Henry Latrobe, study for the west elevation
(No, not the perfect facade view but I wanted to show a beautiful drawing.)
U.S. Capitol Building 1839 Lithograph, Charles Fenderich
The students who study abroad in Genoa always visit the Casa del Fascio and I think it is an important lesson on how architecture is so contextual. When we studied there, we had conversations about if it was possible to remove a work of architecture from the ideology (Fascism) of those who created it. I am firmly in the camp that architecture cannot be removed from its context, physical or political or otherwise. I am not the only one who thinks this, as evidenced by the fact that the Casa del Fascio today is guarded by police to protect it from being bombed by those who resent its political past.
ReplyDeleteThink of the work done by Albert Speer for Adolf Hitler. Excessive monumentality made from bold, heavy materials to show Germany's power and strength. Anything built for a government always has an agenda, sometimes it is opressive, sometimes it trying to show that a democracy lies in this city, and sometimes - in more recent years it is showing it's constituents that they are putting our money to "better use" than on architectural building considerations.
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