Modernity and Tradition

Modernity and Tradition

High-tech architecture, also known as Late Modernism or Structural Expressionism, is an architectural style that emerged in the 1970s, incorporating elements of high-tech industry and technology into building design. High-tech architecture appeared as a revamped modernism,  an extension of those previous ideas helped by even more technological advances. This category serves as a bridge between modernism and post-modernism, however there remain gray areas as to where one category ends and the other begins. In the 1980s, high-tech architecture became more difficult to distinguish from post-modern architecture. Many of its themes and ideas were absorbed into the language of the post-modern architectural schools.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-tech_architecture

Centre Pompidou is one of the most famous high-tech architecture designed by Renzo Piano.The first time I saw this construction,I feel deeply the contrast between the Pompidou and historical buildings around.Some people dislike high-tech architecture mainly because the construction materials are most steel and glass, which render the atmoshpere cold and uncomfortable. But when the Renzo Piano creates a  space specifically for local residents,this kind of feeling disappear at once.The large slightly sloped paved piazza in front of the building fulfills this role and introducing the building to it's traditional surroundings and Paris street life.


The main structure are moulded steel beam hangers.45m long girders rest on the beam hangers,which transmit stress though the posts and balanced by tie-beams .Those escalators exposed outsides and  carried by the structure coming out of the main steel beam serves as the main transportation system communicating each floor.The interior space has no columns and  the flow ability of the floor was enhanced .


                                                                                  
I am extremely interested in the details of the beam and the spacial experience with cable,terrace glass and tunnel.So ,I drew some pictures there transport from my direct inner world to a visual world.Paris is an international ,culture-mix city, and the history it has make every Paris pound of .When I looked  cross the steel beam to the city at the top of Pompidou,I can feel the history of  Paris by looking at the city context ,building type and the movement of people downstairs.I suddently realise the most important thing that make centre Pompidou is not itself,it because Pompidous proves that modernity and tradition can interact and enhance historical cities.