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  • Essay / Truth in Architecture

    The concern of ethics is our relationship to ourselves, to others and to the world, and these relationships are articulated through architecture. To understand the ethics of architecture, we need to consider various factors such as culture, structure, materials and means of construction. Truth in architecture can be understood in terms of accuracy and authenticity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In “The Seven Lamps of Architecture,” Ruskin argues that architecture should not only be honest, but also reflect current society and culture. He asserts that truth in architecture is expressed through structure, materials and labor or means of construction. It states that architectural form should express and relate to the true qualities of the building structure. Ruskin viewed nature as inspiration for structural design and admired the way function is expressed in various forms of nature. Just as a skeleton is hidden beneath flesh and bone, an architect need not directly expose the means of support but imply the structure through its form and construction. A trained eye could identify the building's biggest structural secrets that a casual visitor might miss. Architectural truth also lies in a material used wisely and when its nature is not hidden in order to deceive the observer. An example of material deception would be if plastic is made to look like wood or vinyl is made to look like tile. An honest building would be one that does not hide its flaws under decorative elements and expresses its structural functions. Ornament is considered as pleasing as an abstract representation of a form, but it is valued differently if it is made by hand or by machine. Architecture is often seen as an organic interpretation of its environment. Since topology and culture are expressed through architecture, it can be argued that truth is a matter of accuracy between a representation and what it represents. The primary way in which architectural spaces present themselves is in terms of vision. The idea that a building is declarative of its nature is a matter of truth. There is an apparent tendency to prioritize the visual in architecture. The ubiquitous use of glass in contemporary buildings is accompanied by a language of reflection, opacity and transparency. In the mid-20th century, the "international style" developed, focusing on the visual effects of light and glass. Alison and Peter Smithsonian said: “Buildings with glass and metal facades reflect light onto the street as much as possible, which in itself is a contribution to the city. And there are, furthermore, magical distortions when two straight tall buildings face each other. A blue glass city, no matter how organizationally mundane, is never visually boring.” This indicates a focus on light as a visual tool as it is reflected and refracted through glass. Truth can be seen in a way that connects the visual to broader modes of engagement and perception. Adler and Sullivan's Guaranty Building was one of the first buildings to emphasize the verticality of the skyscraper. The technological advances of the time were represented through the innovations used in the construction of the building. The building uses ornament to draw the visitor's eye upward through the pillars between the windows and up to the dominant cornice. The opening of.