Development Of Contemporary Architecture

Center George Pompidou

Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers

Style & Expression

High-Tech Architectural Deign

Style & Expression II

Large Paved Plaza

Colour Coded Ducts

Design and Planning

Element and Features

The Escalator on the west facade

Interior of the Escalator

The structural system on the outside

The different color coded piping systems distinguishing their roles as well as giving the elevation a unique look.

The Red Elevator Duct providing visitors fantastic aerial view of Paris.

STRUCUTURE
The building was designed on the lines of an "evolving spatial diagram" in two parts : firstly, a 3-level infrastructure housing the technical facilities and service areas; secondly, a vast 7-level glass and steel superstructure, including a terrace and mezzanine floor, concentrating most of the centre's areas of activity. On top of the posts, on each level, are moulded steel beam hangers, measuring 8 m in length and weighing 10 tonnes. 45 m long girders rest on the beam hangars, which spread stress through the posts and are balanced by tie-beams anchored on cross-bars. Each storey is 7 m high floor-to-floor and the glass and steel superstructure envelops the free open spaces.

Section of the Pompidou Centre showing the elaborate and complex truss systems used.

INTERIORS

The Centre Pompidou houses the Muse National dArt Moderne, which is Europes largest museum for modern art. Also located in the vast open interior is the Bibliothque publique dinformation, a huge public library, and a center for music and acoustic research known as IRCAM. The flat open site upon which it is located is a constant exterior stage for urban events and is is noted for the presence of street performers, such as mimes and jugglers. In the spring, miniature carnivals are installed temporarily into the place in front with a wide variety of attractions: bands, caricature and sketch artists, tables set up for evening dining, and even skateboarding competitions.

Some Interior Views

Interior of the Centre

Restaurant

Interiors

Museum

Works at the Museum

STRUCUTURE
The design exemplified constructivism and was a high-tech modern cultural centre structured with a system trusses unlike anything seen in the architectural world before. The skeleton itself engulfs the building from its exterior, showing all of the different mechanical and structure systems not only so that they could be understood but also to maximize the interior space without interruptions.

IMPACT ON ARCHITECURAL WORLD

High-tech architectural style is characterised by a "nuts-and-bolts, exposedpipes, technological look". The Pompidou Centre is a building that epitomises it. It heralded the emergence of High-tech which brought a refreshing new face to modern architecture, which was becoming increasingly associated with brutalist slabs encased in grimy concrete, and the bad press they received for their failings. Science and technology were having a major impact on society - the memory of the Apollo moon landings was still fresh - and there was a feeling that with the right technology anything was possible. Architecture, too, was having its techno moment, as traditional construction gave way to space frames with metal and glass cladding, and extensive use of factoryproduced materials and components.

IMPACT ON ARCHITECURAL WORLD

On the design of the Pompidou Centre, Richard Rogers notes that "Pompidou proves that modernity and tradition can profitably interact and enhance historic cities. Receiving more than 150 million visitors since is completion thirty three years ago, there is no doubt that Pompidous vision became a successful reality.

Lloyds Building 1979-1984 Richard Rogers

Lloyds Building(1979-1984)

Style & Expression

Structural Expressionism

Design & Planning

Atrium Space

Escalators leading to first 4 galleries

Features & Elements

Use of Titanium

External Service Lifts

Spectacular Night View

Views and Images

The End