Camouflage of Architecture

        “Architecture is a language” — Libeskind.

        In reality, architecture can be as an urban language to record the cultural evolution of city. The DZ bank in Berlin designed by Frank Gehry can explain and prove the culture phenomenon. When people mention Frank Gehry, his passionate and gorgeous works cannot be ignored by anyone. Let’s see how he does in Berlin. From the façade design, you can’t distinguish which one is his work. That’s true. Because there are very strict limitations have to follow in berlin. But you still can find the façade of the middle one is more compact than others. It is camouflage of the work and a trick of architect, because he’s Frank Gehry.

        Let’s go inside to see what happened. Architects created a fantastic space and extraordinary experience for their client. Through the foyer, there is a large interior atrium, which features a curving glass ceiling and floor. A sculpture shell, which is the primary conference hall, floats in the atrium. The ambition of architect is hidden behind placid façade. The dynamic space looks like a fluid classical music. The huge structure, its curve form resembled by several stainless steel components, is climax of the musical composition. 

        I draw the section diagrams to discuss and compare with the space model relations. The first one is Gehry’s idea. The dynamic sculpture form, accompanied with two curve glass curtains, controls the entire building absolutely. The other section, I simplified the Gehry’s scheme, is a compact cube space inserted into the atrium. The two glass curtain structures are all flat. I think is a typical contempary Germany architectural language. Compared with the first, the former one, which has more passion, avoids the limited of strict rules in Berlin harmoniously.

         Let’ get out of interior to see the other façade, which face to memorial garden, designed by peter Eisenman. The façade have changed the serious gesture. I think the façade don’t need to follow the strict rules anymore. So it is like a conversation between two famous stars with the dynamic façade can keep a balance with Eisenman’s design. That’s my personal opinion.

        Compared with Fuksas’ cloud, I note another interesting idea is they all use the similar approach to deal with the relationship between new and old. From site analysis, I find that they are like twins, who are located in very political gridding, whose real features hidden by the ordinary skin. Finally, the camouflage of architecture as a trick I think, which is an attitude of architect, represents comprehend of urban development. Architects need to achieve their objective, so they know the rules of the survival very well. 

        In sum, the camouflage of architecture is a great victory of architects, who fight with politics, government and etc.