The Power of Iron
A Researech on Horta’s Personal Language of Iron Materials
D. Xie (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M.T.A. van Thoor – Mentor (TU Delft - Heritage & Values)
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Abstract
As one of the most prestigious architects of the Art Nouveau period, Victor Horta explored a set of innovative methods to combine iron materials and architectural forms. This article will focus on this particular material language, first analyze the background of iron materials and architectural development at that time; secondly, analyze the characteristics of iron material itself to discover opportunities for its integration with architecture; finally, through analysis of architectural cases, it will discover the specific design of Horta for iron materials technique, so as to summarize his personal material language. From the perspective of architecture, this new material brought both opportunities and challenges to Horta. This article hopes to analyze Horta’s design strategy not only at the operational level, but also at the conceptual level to explore how to creatively combine new materials for architectural design.