Plans for the new Integrative Sciences Building put a sleek, metallic building in the middle of our Brickyard. Does its minimalist design represent progress for our campus, or is it just plain boring?
“I do think that in a lot of ways, minimalism is trying to strip away all those things that are not necessary, [meaning] extravagance in sort of ornamentation, and lots of different materials or things like that,” said David Hill, school head of architecture at NC State. “Minimalist architecture tries to quiet that all down in a way that seems quite simple but elegant.”
Minimalism as a whole gained traction following World War II, with notable influence from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a German-American architect and known trailblazer in the world of modern architecture.
Minimalism, specifically, is one of the most popular branches of modern architecture. While the two share many characteristics, minimalism is recognized by monochromatic color schemes and exceptionally straight and sleek lines.
While there is a time and place for minimalistic architecture, it is encroaching too quickly and on too large a scale, including right here on NC State’s campus.
Architecture has evolved to shape the world we live in. Uniform high-rise apartments and sleek office parks play an important role in today’s society and allow the growing population to function on a constricted amount of land. City life, in particular, would look drastically different if it weren’t for the rise of modern and minimalistic architecture over the past century.
With all great advancements, however, comes great responsibility. Most advancements require sacrifice in the name of progress, be it financial, aesthetic or, most relevantly, character.
One of the largest drawbacks to the reduction of extravagance in the name of elegance is the reduction of character.
When quizzed on the greatest architectural feats, most people’s list might include the Parthenon, the Taj Mahal and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Not that NC State’s mathematics building needs to mimic the Taj Mahal, but this realm of architecture is awe-inspiring and memorable. While this is an extreme example, these buildings ooze character and demand appreciation. You have to immediately respect the time, effort and artistry that went into their creation.
NC State, being a STEM-centric university, seems to encourage the modern architecture movement on campus. With mathematics buildings like SAS Hall and the newly-built Fitts-Woolard Hall, one has to draw a connection between the sciences and modernity.
“A building that houses technology and big research at the University might want to also be a building that looks high tech or very modern and progressive, rather than something that’s more traditional,” Hill said.
Not every building is designed to spark the same emotional response. The idea of progress in the world of science and engineering is paralleled by advanced and modern buildings.
This establishes an obvious home for minimalistic architecture in modern society. This does not imply its superiority over traditional design. Colonial, neoclassical and Georgian influences, for example, are seen all across NC State’s campus. These styles bring the campus historic charm. They invoke a sense of heritage and warmth.
In the end, the most challenging task will be to incorporate the modern and minimalistic with the historic, traditional architecture — it is necessary to preserve charm while still allowing for progress.
