Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture [Paperback]

Kenneth Frampton (Author), John Cava (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262561492 | ISBN-13: 978-0262561495 | Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Kenneth Frampton's long-awaited follow-up to his classic A Critical History of Modern Architecture is certain to influence any future debate on the evolution of modern architecture.Studies in Tectonic Culture is nothing less than a rethinking of the entire modern architectural tradition. The notion of tectonics as employed by Frampton -- the focus on architecture as a constructional craft -- constitutes a direct challenge to current mainstream thinking on the artistic limits of postmodernism, and suggests a convincing alternative. Indeed, Frampton argues, modern architecture is invariably as much about structure and construction as it is about space and abstract form.Composed of ten essays and an epilogue that trace the history of contemporary form as an evolving poetic of structure and construction, the book's analytical framework rests on Frampton's close readings of key French and German, and English sources from the eighteenth century to the present. He clarifies the various turns that structural engineering and tectonic imagination have taken in the work of such architects as Perret, Wright, Kahn, Scarpa, and Mies, and shows how both constructional form and material character were integral to an evolving architectural expression of their work. Frampton also demonstrates that the way in which these elements are articulated from one work to the next provides a basis upon which to evaluate the works as a whole. This is especially evident in his consideration of the work of Perret, Mies, and Kahn and the continuities in their thought and attitudes that linked them to the past.Frampton considers the conscious cultivation of the tectonic tradition in architecture as an essential element in the future development of architectural form, casting a critical new light on the entire issue of modernity and on the place of much work that has passed as "avant-garde."A copublication of the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies and The MIT Press.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kenneth Frampton's book approaches a very importantissue for understanding the way in which architects proceed: the continuity between form and construction. But to establish this continuity doesn't simply mean to accept pure constructive determinism, and Frampton's book helps us to comprehend that beside whatever technical discovery there is always the architect's effort to produce form. Using the work of outstanding contemporary architects such as Utzon and Scarpa, Frampton is able to show how architectural talent is manifested in continuous form invention." Rafael Moneo , Professor of Architecture, Harvard University

"Kenneth Frampton's book approaches a very important issue for understanding the way in which architects proceed: the continuity between form and construction. But to establish this continuity doesn't simply mean to accept pure constructive determinism, and Frampton's book helps us to comprehend that beside whatever technical discovery there is always the architect's effort to produce form. Using the work of outstanding contemporary architects such as Utzon and Scarpa, Frampton is able to show how architectural talent is manifested in continuous form invention." Rafael Moneo, Professor of Architecture, Harvard University

About the Author

Kenneth Frampton is Ware Professor of Architecture at Columbia University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262561492
• ISBN-13: 978-0262561495
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concrete Poetry, November 26, 2007

By 

Jeremy Hawker (Norway) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture (Paperback)

Anyone who designs buildings will benefit from reading this book.

It's no secret that many buildings today are at the same time technologically advanced and tectonically primitive, that despite their long-span, multi-zone, taut-skin gizmos they still look shoddy. If, as a non-architect, you suppose there is some kind of planned obsolescence that is designed into buildings as with cars, you are mistaken. Paradoxically, this is only the appearance of shoddyness--our structures could last longer than the pyramids, they only look as if they might fall down.

The insightful and subtle critic and theorist Kenneth Frampton wrote this in 1995 to explain the discrepancy to architects. His subtitle is The Poetics of Construction, and that is what his book is about. If you wonder: what poetics? you might think of W.H. Auden's remark, 'when civilization is becoming monotonously the same all the world over...in poetry, at least, there cannot be an "International Style."'

Frampton talks about a poetic formal dimension that transcends technology and materials. The tectonic culture of the title is the mastery of the craft of building, and it is easier understood when you can see the drawings and photographs that accompany the text. Frampton is himself a master in, amongst other things, making his point with architectural images you haven't seen before.

Frampton has spent many years studying the tectonic culture of the great practitioners of modernism. Like a Sherlock Holmes of architectural history, he sees the significance of the smallest detail and how it can fit into the larger scheme. He puts this talent to great use in the six chapters where he analyses buildings by Wright, Mies, Auguste Perret, Louis Kahn, Utzon and Scarpa. The work of others is also considered: Foster, Herman Hertzberger, engineers like Boot's-of-Nottingham's designer Owen Williams and Pier Luigi Nervi, H.P. Berlage, Aalto, late le Corbusier, there are many more.

He ends with Renzo Piano. He sees Piano's Building Workshop as an exemplary way to practise architecture, and though recently completed projects like the NY Times Building are missing (this came out twelve years ago, remember) there's no reason to think Frampton's changed his mind. Nevertheless the book could do with an update. Koolhaas, Gehry, and many other stars whose far reaching influence is spacial rather than about master craftsmanship in building, don't appear here; but what about Japan (there's only one reference to Ando and none to Ban)? Incidently, Frampton--remembering, probably, that when architects move on there is a tendency to throw out the baby with the bath water--notes that tectonic culture must be considered in addition to other things, like space, and not instead of them.

Jeremy Hawker

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars work and think, October 2, 2005

By 

Tak Cheng Sze (London, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture (Paperback)

It might be arguable whether Kenneth Frampton is an excellent architectural theorist, but he is definitely one of the most critical analysists and knowlegeable historians.

Frampton, in this book, opens a new window for us to look at and to think about architecture. He first defined the term 'tectonics' culture with the theory of Semper. Then he critically analyses the tectonic quality of some of the modernist masters' buildings (Mies, Kahn, Wright, Utzon etc).

People might argue that studies architecture only by their tectonic quality reveals only partially of the architect's intent and this is why I think Frampton misunderstood Mies' intent. However, one could not disagree with Frampton's critical architectural analytical skill.

One of the biggest problems of contemporary architecture theorists is lacking of professional knowledges and architectural analytical skills. This makes architecture theory as an over generalized conceptual debate. As a result, it ultimately delineates the 'professionalism' of architect: one either work or think. 'Studies in Tectonic culture' built a new bridge to save our professionalism from 'no-brainers'.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must buy!, July 29, 2003

By 

Grgo Beljo (Zagreb, Croatia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture (Hardcover)

The book contains black and white high resolution photos and architectural drawings. Frampton's text is well written, to the point, and downright interesting. A must buy for any serious architect!