Notes on materiality

Abstract

In the past months the Kamra tal-Periti has successfully organised the second series of architectural debates entitled ‘Architecture Nights 07’ with a number of high-profiled international architects delivering enthralling presentations of their work and theories to packed houses. Perit Antoine Zammit, KTP Events Chairperson, gives some thoughts on the theme that inspired this year’s events, The stuff of architecture, or the philosophy behind materiality – what architecture is physically made of. Erik Bryggman wrote, in the early 1920s, “We should understand that beauty is not a mysterious veil thrown over a building but a logical result of having everything in the right place.” Architecture is as much about design and the pursuit of beauty as it is about the sensible and judicious use of the best materials that respond to context, imageability and the environment. Architecture also has to do so much with good detailing – particularly the interface between different materials being used together composing the building fabric. Architects question ‘where’ and ‘when’ to use ‘what’ material, and which determinate characteristics are required of the material that is to be chosen and deployed. Importantly, they also question the compatibility of these materials as well as the way they weather and fail.