A Case for the Tectonic

Based on The Case for the Tectonic by Kenneth Frampton our group was able to pick out the following ideas from the reading. We already know that tectonics are about how something is constructed. According to Frampton, the most important part of tectonics is the joint at which two materials meet. The most critical joint is the connection between the building and the site. Since the hearth rises from the earth it is often made of stone from the earth, it should be a central feature of a building. The Hearth is also likened to an altar, which suggests that the connection to the earth is spiritual. Frampton seems to be criticizing architectural styles prior to modernism. This is because modern architecture exposes and celebrates the connection of materials, where as a style such as Neo Classic would cover the connections up with ornamentation. Frampton points out that the mechanical and electrical systems are connecting the outside air with the inside and connecting the building to the power grid. This means that these systems are another kind of joint that should be visible so the occupants can understand how the building functions. 

Views of  building sections and the section details are shown from several different architects such as Louis Kahn, Frank Lloyd Wright and Jorn Utzon. The building section is critical as it show the connection to the site as well as to different materials. The building section also shows the relationship between served and servant space. Served space is the space for the building occupants. Servant space is space for the necessary systems such as HVAC systems and lighting. Frampton asserts that these system are as important as the structural connections.