The goal of a high-tech architecture is to improve the technology and its contribution. Pipes, structures, ventilation systems… everything that was once hidden is now brought to the fore.
The new architecture of the turn of the last century, represented by several authorities, is considered the last great architectural style of the 20th century. The high-tech façade, recognizable by the exposure of all its structural elements, has attracted both criticism and praise. These factory-like neo-tech buildings demonstrate the value of this radical yet rational style that creates open, spacious and easily accessible interiors.
The 5 Most Important High-Tech Architecture Projects
Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture, Paris, 1977
© Frédéric Soltan / Getty Images
Beaubourg hill was nothing more than a huge car park, however, it was not only a large building area, but also in line with the cultural ambitions of the President of the Republic (from 1969 to 1974), Georges Pompidou. His three main goals were to create one a space dedicated to multidisciplinaritycapable of strengthening the cultural image of France in the international arena, supporting contemporary artistic creation and, above all, making it accessible to the general public. Therefore, he decided to erect a huge building that would unite museum and library inside a monument symbolizing the modern architectural style of the second half of the 20th century.
After an international competition chaired by Jean Prouvé, the project won Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini. Opened in 1977 the Georges Pompidou Center was the first example of this new style in Paris. The plumbing, escalators, and metal frame of the building were criticized. Renzo Piano says he wanted to deconstruct”the image of a cultural center that inspires fear”, even if the building then met with great success with the public.