Betão. Materialidade e expressão arquitectónica. Da observação à experimentação

• Author(s): João Antonio Correia Gomes
• Date: 2015
• Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/80545
• Origin: Repositório Aberto da Universidade do Porto
• Subject(s): Artes; Arts
• Document Type: Master thesis
• Language: Portuguese

Description

The study of the history of concrete exposes an evolution of the construction techniques, furthermore unveiling an instability that traces back to the cultural and social contexts - nameless material used since the Roman Empire, neglected over the Middle Age, lacking shape during the 18th century, 19th century engineers' challenge, celebrated by the architects of the modern movement over the 20th century, essential to our times. This lack of visual definition regarding the expression of concrete is eased by the advent of photography, since it emerges as an important mean of architectural representation. Some concrete projects become symbols of architecture and modernity greatly due to the potentials of photography. Successive experimentations with this material likewise contribute to confirm both its physical and aesthetical assets, countering its reputation as a rough material that is incompatible with the sensitivity of architecture. The experimental factor is positively decisive in the whole history of this material, recognized as the principal strategy on the pursuit of innovation. The developed work adds to the theoretical studies, based on History and on the contrasts of the contemporary, empirical information. Accordingly, the execution of a project in an existing context helps unveiling the complexity that is intrinsic to building in concrete. Defined by its formal and expressive versatility, this material fosters architects' creativity. Its seemingly homogeneity is the outcome of an extremely heterogenic composition, hence the perception of a concrete element is altered according to the distance of the observer. This paradoxical character also leaves room for conveying an architectonic intention, with the possibility to emphasize opacity or transparency, lightness or density, roughness or fluidity. Building in concrete is not only a matter of defining a shape on a given place, but rather the quest for a materiality that is sensitive to our eyes.