The Face of Buildings as a Communication of Architectural Concept In the Work of Herzog & De Meuron

Common people meet architecture on the street. In this relation, the face of buildings creates the biggest effect on them. They meet this surface first and often meet only this surface. People usually never enter buildings they know, although these buildings constitute their surroundings. When we experience the built environment, actually we experience the effect of mass of the buildings, the spaces they create and their faces.

The face of a building is outstanding among these (above mentioned) features, since it is the actual „face” of a building connecting to a specific house. The face of buildings communicates directly with the viewer. It reflects the era when the building was born. This is one of the most direct media of architecture.

If we treat the architectural concept-creation as a unit of the total building, then the face is a sterling unit that determines the appearance of the building. The face is developing and is being refined together with the ground plan, space structure, structure and details of the building. The face such as one of the most direct media of the architectural thinking, allows us to see and undertand the architect’s approach.

The paper presents Jacques Herzog és Pierre de Meuron’s architectural approach and its development in face creation, via 4 buildings.