Abstract

The theory of tectonic appeared in the midst of 19th century as German architects adopted new materials and structural technology, invented by creative engineers, into architectural design. This does not merely mean a technical problem but concern the redefinition of architecture in term of an aesthetic, cultural, and ontological identity. Furthermore it alluded to a desire on the part of architectural theorists to actualize artistic and spiritual goals out of new constructional necessities. Because of their complex discourse that assumed the possibility of communication between philosophical and technical aspects, between ideal and real concerns, tectonics becomes until now the most important issue in architecture. The concept of tectonic was intensively investigated by Gottfried Semper's and Karl B$\ddot{o}$tticher architectural writings. They contributed to clarify the principle aspects of tectonic within architectural, philosophical, and anthropological discourses of 19th century. Gottfried Semper stressed an understanding of how architecture took on physical form in earliest human culture. He placed great importance on the artistic expression of materials. But unlike Semper who argued the cladding of the structural frame by decorative wall system, Karl Botticher required maximum visibility of structural frame. This represents the different positions between Gottfried Semper and Karl Botticher

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