Delivering Beauty

Amidst the critical conversations about the need to build better and more efficient building skins, designers are also mindful of the need for the skin to perform its other functions. Bringing natural light into homes and workspaces make them much more appealing. Keeping the water out and protecting the occupants from external hazards are all part of the design matrix. What part does the beauty of the façade play in that same matrix? Architects and designers are often pushed by their clients to deliver podiums and other features that are unique and eye catching. In general, this is not the owner’s vanity. Rather, it is a commercial imperative. Selling commercial space and selling retail goods requires a look and presentation that is consistent with the brand.

This paper presents case studies of projects that have had to be aesthetically spectacular and still perform all of the façade’s basic functions. We will examine both the dynamics of the design and building process along with the factors that have driven the owner’s team to move forward with these projects.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For some, projects such as Pei’s Louvre Pyramid, Vinoly’s Tokyo International Forum, BCJ’s Glass Cube on NY’s 5^th avenue, and James Carpenter’s retail wall at Hudson Yards represent excess, energy inefficiency, and waste. However, each was built with a purpose and each has become iconic. Perhaps an understanding of why and how they came to be can contribute to the conversation as to where new projects like these fit in the building landscape of the mid 21^st century.