Architecture in the 21st century.
Architecture, if it aims to be good architecture, has been experimental since Antiquity. Each experiment seeks an answer to problems relevant to its day. Paxton’s Crystal palace made of glass, Eifel’s tower constructed out of iron, and Frangois Hennebique’s early reinforced concrete constructions; all were architectural experiments in the 20th century.
One of the most important problems facing humanity in the 21st century is the fact that the ecological dimensions of our world have shifted dramatically. Architecture must discover viable solutions for the new demand. The way in which we handle natural resources will dictate our future. It is becoming more clear that things we take for granted such as drinking water, which we in the northern countries think we have more than enough of, have to be handled sparingly and responsibly, and be treated as what they are: a precious necessity for life.
The answers that architecture has brought to the numerous ecological demands are many and various. They begin with down to earth measure such as putting in insulation wall which – unlike ordinary wood and stone walls – retain large amounts of energy for use the house which would otherwise get lost in the air outside.
Arranging the ground plan of the house to suit the natural disposition of light and sun is another measure that can significantly reduce the consumption of energy. Solar radiation in particular can be utilized: solar panels collect the radiation which is used for heating the house and the water. Sunlight can also be used to generate electricity.
But all the ecological requirements that such a house has to fulfill-often at enormous expense for those who commission it need not be detrimental to its architectural impact. This is perfectly demonstrated by the house in Breisach created by Thomas Spiegelhalter of Freiburg, who specializes in sculptural architecture.
The porch is made up of solar panels that provide the hot-water supply, and an L-shaped wind and sun shield gives the building formal dynamism.
The barrels on the roof, which emphasize the pronounced technicity of the building’s appearance, serve as rainwater collectors.
The building embodies a unique synthesis of use, and an absolutely contemporary language of form that points the way into the new millennium. The architect’s responsibility for the future of the environment cannot be overestimated. But this responsibility will lead to new, exciting architectonic answers in the 21st century.
1- Жизнеспособный
2- Бережливо
Ex. I. Find the equivalents:
1. Consumption человечность
2. Aim переоценить
3. Provide решение
4. Overestimate ответственность архитектора
5. Building’s appearance стоять перед. . .
6. Solution внешний вид здания
7. Take for granted потребление
8. Humanity нацеливать на иметь целью
9. Face обеспечивать
10. Architect’s responsibility считать само собой разумеющимся
Ex. II. Translate the following:
-energy consumption; energy consumption amount; energy consumption amount estimation.
-rainwater collector; rainwater collector volume; rainwater collector volume calculation.
- wind shield; wind shield height; wind shield height planning.
- concrete construction; concrete construction strength; concrete construction strength calculation.
- design principles; design principles consideration.
-resources supplies; resources supplies location; resources supplies location search.
Ex. III. Translate into Russian:
a) 1. Architectural project should satisfy some main principles.
2. Alternative types of energy can be utilized.
3. A designer’s ideas must meet all ecological demands.
4. Many simple issues have to be considered carefully.
b) 1. Chemistry has been the experimental science since early times.
2. Ecological requirements have changed dramatically lately.
3. New architectural approaches have been brought forward recently.
4. Some towns have been totally destroyed during the earthquake in Japan recently.
Ex. IV. Find suitable endings:
1. Modern architects should find proper solution to one of the most important problems:
a) how to arrange solar panels.
b) how to provide heating in buildings.
c) how to correspond new ecological demands.
2. Last century architects experimented a lot with
a) building facades.
b) building materials.
c) building functions.
3. Architects and designers should consider in advance the ways of:
a) decreasing the number of stories.
b) decreasing amount of solar radiation.
c) decreasing the consumption of energy.
Additional text A