Comparison 1
Building 1: Notre-Dame Cathedral, Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil, Paris, France, 1163-1250
Building 2: Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Norman Foster, Hong Kong, China, 1979-
85
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking has been built in the High-tech period in the 20th century while
the Notre Dam Cathedral in Paris is built in the gothic style period in the 11th century.
There are some main similarities of the two buildings despite the massive time differences.
The appearance of both buildings relies on structural principles where the structural aspects are
visible on the outside of the building. These aspects function for the structure of the building but also
as ornamentation. The Notre-Dame makes use of the flying buttresses where structural force is
transported. The flying buttresses are detailed with a lot of ornamentation. These details also refer
to the Gothic style. The appearance of the Notre-Dam results in a typical Gothic Cathedral.
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation building relies on the same principles as the
Cathedral. The structural aspects are also visible on the outside of the building where those
structural aspects also function as ornamentation. The massive steel trusses indicate the technical
qualities of the material but also have excessive display to the building. The typical expression of
technology is clearly seen in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation building where the
main structure is pushed outside the building.
The Latin-cross plan of the Notre dame cathedral is organized around the central nave, the most
important part of the Chatedral. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation is also organized
around one central part, the atrium in the middle of the building.
The high tech movement is also known about the illusion of high-tech instead of the requirement of
using the technique. The building becomes more of a statement to technology instead of a high-tech
building.
1
Building 1: Notre-Dame Cathedral, Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil, Paris, France, 1163-1250
Building 2: Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Norman Foster, Hong Kong, China, 1979-
85
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking has been built in the High-tech period in the 20th century while
the Notre Dam Cathedral in Paris is built in the gothic style period in the 11th century.
There are some main similarities of the two buildings despite the massive time differences.
The appearance of both buildings relies on structural principles where the structural aspects are
visible on the outside of the building. These aspects function for the structure of the building but also
as ornamentation. The Notre-Dame makes use of the flying buttresses where structural force is
transported. The flying buttresses are detailed with a lot of ornamentation. These details also refer
to the Gothic style. The appearance of the Notre-Dam results in a typical Gothic Cathedral.
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation building relies on the same principles as the
Cathedral. The structural aspects are also visible on the outside of the building where those
structural aspects also function as ornamentation. The massive steel trusses indicate the technical
qualities of the material but also have excessive display to the building. The typical expression of
technology is clearly seen in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation building where the
main structure is pushed outside the building.
The Latin-cross plan of the Notre dame cathedral is organized around the central nave, the most
important part of the Chatedral. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation is also organized
around one central part, the atrium in the middle of the building.
The high tech movement is also known about the illusion of high-tech instead of the requirement of
using the technique. The building becomes more of a statement to technology instead of a high-tech
building.
1
