Honesty and Deception
What is the role of honesty and deception in architecture today? Is honesty and deception predominantly about the expression of structure, the relationship between interior and exterior, the expression of the goals and challenges of the architect: some combination of there; or something else? In other words, if a fourth text were added to this chapter, what would the argument be about today’s architecture in relation to honesty and deception?
Questions of ‘truth’ in architecture became particularly prominent in the 19th century. "Honesty" plays a vital role in contemporary architecture that it maintains the importance of essential qualities of material and the true architecture style, no material or texture are going to be covered up. As John Ruskin wrote, craftsmanship should be appreciating that no machine work is going to be used. By going through honesty, we can actually see the true identity of the building, from materials itself to the technique in construction.
The relationship between interior and exterior
Most of the structures nowadays are deception.
One example is the Kluczynski Federal Building – one of the several buildings of the Chicago Federal Center complex in downtown Chicago. The vertical I-beams on the exterior surface that travel across the entire facade does nothing more than decoration. Aesthetically it is pleasant to view; they add pattern and vibration to the massive structure; the material contributes to the overallness. However, these “beams” are clearly not based on function.
Same goes to the Heydar Aliyev Centre by Zaha Hadid, which is considered as ‘one of the waste architecture’. Its exterior space frame is completely separate from the rest of the building. Its inefficiencies lie in its lack of integration with the rest of the building becoming little more than an expensive 'dress' for the building.
Expression of structure
There is much deception in architecture nowadays. The buildings structure tends to be hidden, or applied with ornamentation. Nowadays, most of the commercial building make their columns with an outer shell to make the columns look grand, which I think it is also one of the deception.
Another example is the pubs in Changkat Bukit Bintang, which the walls are applied with beautiful and pleasant honey comb shaped stone. Upon a more careful examination it can be perceived that the surface is from a wallpaper, lacking the depth and shadow of stone. It is indeed destroying much of the dignity of an otherwise beautiful building.
However, there are still buildings applied with honesty of architecture nowadays.
One of the example is Silalima by Mohd Hatta Ismail. He utilises raw materials as a primary material and without plastering or any ornamentation to cover the structure of the building.
Another example is Shalini Ganendra Art House, in which the I beam that support the building is exposed across the ceiling, showing the identity of honesty.
In total, I disagree with Ruskin’s saying that using of new materials like iron, is a deception, but to agree with what Hearn stands for: New materials should be utilized according to the time to create new and interesting architecture, and to bring out the age of the building. Especially for nowadays, most of the building is facing cost constraint, it is impossible for all the buildings to use the natural materials for their entire bodies, in order to save the natural resources too. Besides, the machines mean of materials give a consistent quality than handmade which ensure the strength of the building.
It is always an issue full of argument, in which the judgement on how honesty applied on the buildings and is it reasonable to apply honesty architecture in this global of time. Hence, I hope the future fourth article would be:
How to adapt honesty architecture in linear with the age of time?
