The interest in the skin of the buildings has grown in many ways since the skin was separated as the independent element in the architecture. Before the modern times, the skin was not the core element in the architecture but just the additional decora... The interest in the skin of the buildings has grown in many ways since the skin was separated as the independent element in the architecture. Before the modern times, the skin was not the core element in the architecture but just the additional decoration. But passing the modern times and contemporary times, the recognition of skin has started to change. For many theorists and architects like Gottfried Semper, Otto Wagner, Adolf Loos and David Leatherbarrow, the skin has been recognized not just the decoration but the symbols showing the contextual background and architect's intention. As the skin is greatly affected by the external environment such as rain, wind or heat among many architectural elements, it becomes a focus on which many efforts are made to solve the design intention and functional requirements. At this time, the issues on the segregation of materials and the handling of the joint are critical as they are related to the intention of design. The method of handling the joint which differently appears depending on the shape of skin in the modulated contemporary architectural production system is a critical point from which we can understand the intention of architect. This analyzes the skins of contemporary architecture published on the detail architectural journals during 2002 to 2008. In this study, the trend in the use of finishing materials and other building materials are checked and the characteristics of the joints which have the materials separation are found through the details on the external walls. In addition, the study will also focus on how the architect's aesthetic efforts have been realized in the joint of the external skin. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, the most widely used finishing material during 2000 to 2008 is the metals. Among them, it is found that the titanium-zinc plate, aluminum compound panel and weather resistant steel panels are widely used, followed by the exposed concrete, glass (curtain wall), wood and stone with the relatively less use of the brick. The characteristics of the skin joint finished with the metal materials can be classified into the single mass and the multiple mass depending on the type of joint. Further, depending on the method of joint, they can be classified into the same surface type, protruding surface type and dual surface type. Finally, they can be divided into the single mass and same surface (single material) type, single mass and same surface (different materials) type, multiple mass and same surface (different materials) type, multiple mass and protruding surface (different materials) and multiple mass and dual surface (different materials) type. The shape characteristics in the details of the joints classified into 5 groups are as follows. First, the characteristics of the joint in the single mass and same surface (single material) showed the type of burial. Those characteristics can be seen in the building of El Port, which is one of 12 works. It shows the clean material separation and recessed feel as its skin is coated with the weather resistant steel plate and H beam is put into between the skin frames. Second, the characteristics of the joint in the single mass and same surface (different material) showed the types of burial and protrusion. The detailed characteristics of the burial type are the expression of recessed feel in the form of "ㄷ" by welding the steel plates. In the protruding type, there appeared the method of folding the aluminum sheets and protruding them to emphasize the wailing and the method of protruding the copper plate and then joining it. Third, the detailed characteristics of the joint in the multiple mass and same surface (different materials) showed the burial, protrusion and open types. In the burial type, as described in the previous case, there appeared the method of welding the steel plate or the method of inserting the steel frame shaped "ㄷ“ for joining to have the effect of the recessed shape like "ㄷ". In addition, the details whose decorative elements are maximized by protruding the aluminum cap also appeared. Lastly, there appeared the open type in which the properties of materials and the finishing surface are used as they are. Fourth, the joint details of multiple mass and protruding surface (different materials) can be divided into two types such as continuous type and discontinuous type. There appeared the method of finishing the lower part (soffit) using the same materials to keep the continuity and the method of finishing it with ceiling materials good for the function in a method different from the materials for the external wall. So, the different feels are expressed. Lastly, in the case of joint in the multiple mass and dual surface type (different materials), the characteristics of dual skins appeared. Regardless of the functions of the external wall, the joint was used as the technical means to maximize the intention of individual architect and the aesthetic effect. Especially, the lower soffit was blocked with the continuous materials, thus giving the feel of mass and opening the upper section to give the feel of the floating dual skin. With the establishment of the standard production system, the contemporary architecture was guaranteed of its diversity of materials. The effort toward the design was made through the skin and the details on the joint were also considered to be important. However, the details were recognized as the functional tool to realize the design instead of considering the joint as the its own aesthetic representation which was argued by Marco Frascari. They did not show the details of handcraft and the use of the materials which need the craftsmanship. Although this has focused on the buildings and engineering perspectives published in the architectural journals only, the study on details would be helpful in creating the topic on this subject and the general architecture if they are studied from various viewpoints as they greatly affect the architectural production work. The definition of details would vary depending on the time and interpretation. But, it is more critical to discuss on how they are interpreted for each period and continue the active studies on them.
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