A research about the usage of building materials on Jean Nouvel's architecture

When it comes to architectural production, undoubtfully, the building process will be executed by the usage of the building materials. Those materials in architecture, with all characteristics and potentials that they have, play a big part in building performance and connection with the environment. While investigating the relationship between the building and the environment, it is important to take the building envelope into consideration, as it separates inside and outside like a skin. Therefore, the scope of the study is kept limited with building materials used on the envelope. Examination of building materials for their contributions in building-environment relation is the main subject of the study. The first step in the method is introducing the notion of the natural and artificial environment, and it's features what effects the usage of building materials in architecture. Evaluation of the materials on examined buildings according to these features is aimed. Literature research has enlightened the study for the acquisition of knowledge in determining environmental factors and classification. Sample buildings list of French architect Jean Nouvel, who is well-known for material usage in architecture and won a lot of awards including Pritzker, constitutes the material of the study. Thirty constructed buildings of him are investigated within the scope. A reading through the building materials on facades is executed. Those materials are evaluated according to the environmental factors and shown in investigation charts. Thus, the materials have been questioned for both their characteristics and architect's approach in regards with contributions to the building-environment relation.