Four works by Welton Becket, USA

Abstract

The four works described in this article are: Citizen's Plaza, Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company, the Northrop Building and Park Plaza. The three first buildings are entirely designed for offices whereas the last one is a commercial complex that includes two big department stores. Although different in shape and architectonic characteristics all these have a number of common factors, among which the most outstanding ones are: the concrete construction and tüe facades of prefabricated panels with alternative use of concrete and glass; the adaptation of the inner sections to subsequent reorganisations, either by using predetermined modules for the installations or by using mobile partitions; its functional ism, by means of the perfect adequacy of the spaces for their given functions; the creation of pleasant rooms by using to as great an extent as possible naturally beautiful materials both with regard to the structural parts as well as to the surfacing; and finally the integration of the inner space with the outside ttirough large windows. Each construction is completed with parking places, gardens and a great variety of services for the needs of the building.