The Art of Concrete

The exterior finish of new buildings in the Christian Science Church Center will closely resemble the limestone of The Christian Science Publishing Society and the extension of The Mother Church. The new concrete will be lightly sandblasted to expose aggregates and sand in the concrete. This in effect advances the weathering process, giving a uniform and natural look to the finish.

Buildings in the Center will embody extremely advanced uses of architectural or exposed concrete. Araldo Cossutta of I. M. Pei and Partners, the architect in charge, has become a recognized expert in fusing a knowledge of the technology of concrete with the aims of progressive architecture.

Mr. Cossutta is a combined technologist and artist. As technologist, he oversees the planning of concrete mixtures that will give lasting strength and durability. As artist, he forms, tints, and smooths the concrete to enliven and refine it and to harmonize it with surrounding colors, textures, and shapes.

Mr. Cossutta's previous works in architectural concrete speak with the authority of knowledge and experience. The firm of I. M. Pei has invested incalculable time and patience in learning the complex alphabet of this building medium. One must trace the sources of materials in order to understand their effects on the finished product's appearance. One must study coloring and pigmenting action by natural aggregates, sands, and chemical additives. Finishing techniques must also be explored, and this research includes searching out ways to minimize shrinkage and cracking.

Mr. Cossutta pioneered in the use of fiber glass forms to achieve a finish that is amazingly true to design specifications. The forms have been so successful that plate glass can be glazed directly into cast-in-place concrete without the use of precast window frames.

I. M. Pei's efforts to marry modern architecture to the old medium of concrete have included testing programs, elaboration of controls during construction, and detailing of ways and means to translate intent into drawings and specifications.

The goal, Mr. Cossutta explains, is an architectural material that is strong, durable, easily maintained, and remains good-looking.

An original architectural form, Mr. Cossutta says, cannot be created without a deep understanding of the material of which it is made. For years his architectural intent has been to escape the necessity of building a frame and "hanging" the rest of the building on it. He wanted a frame that also performed the function of a "skin." Hence Mr. Cossutta's deep investigation into the characteristics and possibilities of architectural concrete.

It was not that the technical knowledge of the material was lacking, he says. But he found over ten years ago that American architecture and reinforced concrete had not, as he puts it, "come to terms." In the Administration Building, structure and architecture will be molded into one and the same form. It will be done in a single operation, welding beauty and integrity of function in high-strength architectural concrete.

Church members will recall that in 1966 they were invited by The Christian Science Board of Directors to contribute to the Building Fund for the Christian Science Church Center. Those who have accepted the invitation have had the opportunity of becoming participators in this wonderful project. The invitation is extended and renewed this year to provide the funds for the continuing work.

Contributions should be sent to Roy Garrett Watson, Treasurer, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 02115.

[This is the last in this series of Church Center Progress Reports]