DIAGRID STRUCTURE
VAULTS BARREL VAULTS
GROIN VAULTS COMPLEX RIB VAULTS
CELLULAR VAULTS
DOMES RIBBED DOMES FOLDED PLATES
SHELLS
TENSILE MEMBRANE
PNEUMATIC MEMBRANE
The one-way slab is a slab, which is supported by parallel walls or beams, and whose length to breadth ratio is equal to or greater than two and it bends in only one direction (spanning direction) while it is transferring the loads to the two supporting walls or beams.
The direction (shorter side of slab) in which load is transferred is known as span. A oneway slab is designed for the spanning direction alone as it bends in only one direction. The main tension reinforcing bars, therefore, run parallel (spaced uniformly) to the shorter span and are usually placed at the bottom of the slab.
In one-way solid slab (with beams) system, the slab is supported on beams. Depending on beam and column arrangements, this system can be designed for wide ranges of the load conditions.
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Ginkgo Tea House Jiaxing, China 2020 MADAM + Hexia
The Tea House is located on the west shore of Swan Lake This natural area is covered by a Gingko Forest The place brings together nature and architecture, a place to relax and enjoy a cup of tea with an enchanting view of the forest The building finds its way between the trees which are planted in a grid pattern The space flows into nature, where defined private units open to the landscape Literally a tree-hugger
The building spans three floors offering different viewpoints to the forest As you ascend the pavilion becomes more playful, boasting a net on the second floor to get up to the third floor The project is made out of many small and distinctive atmospheres, all of them merging together in a single architecture Every place and every point of view is unique
The interior rooms seamlessly connect to the exterior terraces that are fenced in by slats and arranged so that views of the outdoors can be enjoyed from at least two sides
Materiality is a key element in this design Wooden structures integrate themselves, blending into the sequence of the forest Glass panes dissolve the façade, allowing views all across the pavilion The open floor plan allows visitors to fully immerse in nature while still being indoors The abundant sunlight adds to the feeling of being in the outdoors Perimeter beams are doubled in order to fully experience the form of the structure
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Lostvilla Qinyong Primary School
Ningbo, China 2018
Atelier XÜK
The hotel is located on top of a hill which provides a magnificent view of the entire village The building was built in the 1970s as a primary school which was then disused It was then renovated into a boutique hotel The entire idea of the renovation comes from the preservation of the masonry structure The design process can be called a strategy of intervention
The original structure of load-bearing masonry walls and prefabricated floor slabs determined the spatial framework A raised platform became the driving force throughout the design Made with wood, this platform extends all around the rooms and corridors and plays a mediating role A cafeteria is added onto the rooftop of the wing building where a staircase is added to access the cafeteria
The staircase has openings towards different directions at various heights, framing views which gives visitors a rich spatial experience while ascending
The one-way frame in the structure allows for a space without columns, hence an open floor plan is achieved This open floor plan makes the space very spacious The one-way frame also acts as a visual guide and elongates the room
The two-way slab is a slab which is generally supported on all sides of walls or beams, and whose length to breadth ratio is less than two and it twists or bends in both direction while transferring the loads to the walls or beams.
The two-way slab will deflect in a dish or saucer-like form under the action of loads. Corners of the two-way slab lift up if the slab is not cast monolithically with the supports (walls/beams). The two-way slab is designed for both the directions as it bends in both directions.
Even the slab supported on three edges or two adjacent edges may also be considered as a two-way slab. In that case, loads get divided in the two directions which depend on the ratio of the sides.
In two-way slabs, the main bars are provided in both directions, and they are perpendicular to each other.
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Bamboo Pavilion
Taichung, Taiwan 2018
ZUO Studio
mboo Pavilion, located in the fourth area of Fengyuan Huludun k, is an exhibition hall The materials used are all native cies from Taiwan By mixing the constructional dimension and aving technics, it creates a timeless space that reflects sistency
e building is a metaphor of architecture’s footprint, like a seed been spread and grow, symbolizing our hope and dream of ure - offering a more habitable environment to the next eration The form of the Bamboo Pavilion comes from the ntral Mountain Range, resembling a seed born from the ground face, surrounded by water Indoors and outdoors, it connects h Mother Nature in a non-resisting way
Walking in, the user has a perception of walking through a bamboo forest, which enhances the human experience When raising their head, they could look up to the sky above the foresttop When people enter the space, they can feel the tranquil atmosphere together with the balance between architecture and nature
The tall structure helps to connect the space below to the sky above The two-way frame in the structure acts as a visual guide framing the view for the viewer The shadows cast on the floors also resembles water ripples which help to connect the floor to the water beyond
Project: Qiaotou Ruin
G d
The project is part of the exhibition space of the 2019 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture Bao'an Qiaotou Sub-venue and also serves as an exhibition work The project follows the 5R principles of sustainable design to create a new spatial state
A ' reverse design' method was adopted by partially removing floors, roofs, walls, and grounds from the existing building volume and space This process is like a way of stone carving This method aims at looking for "invisible building entities" to create new spaces that can be viewed and used In other words, the reverse design creates and adds new value to the original building
Qiaotou ruins garden which was a vacant factory building has been redesigned and transformed from "incomplete ruins space " into a real ruin frame that represents a unique aesthetics of ruins Furthermore, as part of the effort to enhance the sense of destruction, workers were encouraged to improvise to a certain extent during the construction process, such as gouging the structure, to create ruin details
The open two way frame structure casts unique shadows onto the floor The structure functions as an outdoor resting area for people The greens grown on site coupled with the intentional marks on the structure adds to the design concept
The diagrid structural system can be defined as a diagonal member formed as a framework made by the intersection of different materials like metals, concrete or wooden beams which are used in the construction of buildings and roofs.
Diagrid structures of the steel members are efficient in providing solution both in term of strength and stiffness. But nowadays a widespread application of diagrid is used in the large span and high rise buildings, particularly when they are complex geometries and curved shapes.
All the diagonal sections are connected to each other by the help of nodes. These nodes are designed for two types of loads, vertical load and horizontal shear. These nodes are joined to the other sections by welding or bolting.
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Poly International Plaza Chaoyang, China
The elliptical shape of the towers frees itself from rigid geometry, allowing the landscape of surrounding parks to continue seamlessly through the site The landscaping covers ramps and stairs, minimizing their visual impact while creating a tranquil, undulating topography with pedestrian paths Inspired by Chinese paper lanterns, the design of the exterior is formed by a continuous diagrid pattern, with jewel-like faceting that shimmers as it reflects the sky
The exoskeleton structural system forms an outer thermal envelope around the office spaces, which are enclosed within a second glazed interior envelope The system of the outer thermal envelope and second glazed interior envelope helps to regulate the building temperature Hence, reducing the energy and heat demand while keeping the interior at a comfortable temperature for its' occupants
The long span structure design allows for large, open, columnfree spaces This allows the workers to convene in a common area with plenty of sunlight These common areas can accommodate meetings and foster social interaction while still establishing physical and visual connections between floors
The metal used in the building gives the place a sophisticated feel The tall yet open space inside adds a sense of grandness and authority The diagrid pattern around the building helps to elongate the building and guides the viewer's eyes upwards
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South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
Adelaide, Australia
2013
Woods Bagot
The cutting edge architecture translates the progressive research ongoing The form of the building seamlessly interacts with its' surroundings, including public transport, cycling and walking networks The building is lifted, creating an open plane in an integrated landscape, opening the building to the public and allows for greater activation and porosity throughout Its' forecourt, adjacent to the new hospital, encourages interaction and exchange by staff, visitors and the general public
The building is inspired by pinecones and responds to its environment like a living organism The transparent façade is both functional and aesthetic, designed to reduce heat and glare received The internal floor plates allow maximum daylight in east-facing spaces while offering protection from the harsh west sun in west-facing spaces
The dense diagrid pattern casts a unique shadow that adds a quality to the space as it changes throughout the day As the diagrid pattern is transparent, the colourful walls and flexible furniture pieces inside the building can be seen from the outside These add a splash of colour to the white outlook of the building
A vault is a three-dimensional arched ceiling construction, usually of stone or brick, to support a floor or roof, often of masonry. It is a structural form composed of a series of arches, typically found in the construction of ceilings or roofs.
When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required. However, when the vault is built above ground, various replacements are employed to supply the needed resistance. An example is the thicker walls used in the case of barrel or continuous vaults. Buttresses are used to supply resistance when intersecting vaults are employed.
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Mortuary Chapel Spain 2015 Vegas & Mileto Architect
It was created as a tribute both to the region’s rich ceramicmaking tradition and to the characteristic tile vault technique The vault is comprised of four interlinked hyperbolic paraboloids and is very light yet incredibly resistant because of its curves
Close to 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles were used in construction following tests to establish the type of clay, fuel and flame, texture, durability and ageing tests The size and thickness, both dependent on the curves of the mortuary chapel, and the necessary weight were calculated for the three ceramic layers to compensate for the effect of wind suction
The vault creates a large open but sheltered space The large vault openings add a sense of airiness to the structure as the wind can easily flow through it in any direction
The unique shape of the vault showcases the thin ceramic tiles and the workmanship well The viewer's eyes would be drawn to the sides of the vault where it is anchored as it is extremely thin, unlike other conventional vaults
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Rice Wine Factory Lishui, China 2019 DnA
e factory has been programmed to provide a ace for large-scale production and branding egrating family workshops into a collective union es ecological agriculture, rural tourism, and ltural products industries to accelerate the pment and help increase village income
the building corresponds to the surrounding ngs, and it is built with concrete The vault es the vertical symbol of space, and gradually atial density at different levels According to the ments, the wall enclosure adopts the local red asizing the vault structure
The production space is stretched along with the linear site with a series of compartments following the production sequence This series of processes formed the spatial rhythm of the whole building
The barrel vault makes the building look rounder and softer The vault emphasizes the length of the building and guides the viewer's eyes
A barrel vault (sometimes referred to as a cradle vault, tunnel vault, or wagon vault) is a continuous arched shape that may approximate a semi-cylinder in form, resembling the roof of a tunnel, or maybe pointed at its apex. It is typically formed by a series of arches placed side by side (or sometimes by a continuous shell).
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Vibo Tværvej
Nykøbing Sjælland, Denmark
2017
Valbæk Brørup
Architects
The house is characterized by its vaulted steel roof and visible internal construction The extruded tube shape of the house with a roof of rolled steel plates is simple, yet notable
The interior is all made of pine The smell, sound and atmosphere are like being in a traditional cabin in the woods
Large windows both along and at the ends of the house create views stretching from one end to the other, inviting the surrounding landscape inside connecting seamlessly The big open loft space bridges the two ends of the house Functions and daylight floats through the house creating an extraordinary spatial atmosphere
The main social space is characterized by its vault and high ceiling with views to the treetops and the sky Internally 8 arched steel beams create a distinctive rhythm in the wood cladded interior
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Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum
Jiangxi, China 2020
Studio Zhu-Pei
The museum comprises more than half a dozen brick vaults based on the traditional form of the kiln, each of the vaults is of a different size, curvature, and length They were naturally applied to the site, carefully integrated with many existing ruins including a few ruins that were found after construction
The unparalleled, liner, and arched structures, like old kilns, reach below the level of the street making it flexible to adapt itself into the complicated site The basic structure of the museum is an arch structure system, it is made up of concrete poured in between two layers ‘masonry brick walls There is a small arch to be layout perpendicularly to connect two arches
The “insertion” of the building into the ground of the site produces a series of public spaces at street level; it allows for the design of a number of more intimate open vaults, and courtyards within the museum The overall experience of the museum tries to rediscover the roots of Jingdezhen, to recreate the past experience among kiln, porcelain, and human being
The form of the structures help yo achieve an intimate scale of interior space Thin and light brick kiln achieved a maximum interior space with minimum materials, the brick kilns appeared in organic forms reflecting heat flow from the one end to another
A groin vault or groined vault (also sometimes known as a double barrel vault or cross vault) is produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults. The word "groin" refers to the edge between the intersecting vaults. Sometimes the arches of groin vaults are pointed instead of round.
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Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica
Adelaide, Australia
2013
Antoine Robillard, James R Bowes, Georges Buillon
Notre-Dame Cathedral is the largest and oldest standing church in Ottawa Its interior is a stunning display of Canadian religious art It has been declared a Heritage Site by the City of Ottawa and a National Historic Site by the Canadian government
Strongly inspired by a long medieval tradition and influenced by the neo-Gothic movement, this iconography is at once complex yet coherent, traditional yet innovative, symbolic yet largely accessible Although it has a traditional air, it bears the markings of its nineteenth century central-Canadian roots The top is neogothic inspired while the bottom transitions to neo-classical style
The windows at the top lets light shine in illuminating the different surfaces of the groin vaults The groin vaults emphasize the tall ceiling by drawing attention to the decorative ribs
The decorative ribs add a sense of grandeur to the space The arches on the sides are doubled with decorative ribs as well It catches the viewer's eyes and leads them up towards the groin vaults The arches and vaults leads the viewer's eyes towards the center as well where the altar is located
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Santo António Museum
Lisboa, Portugal 2014
P-06 Atelier Site Specific Arquitectura
The new museum replaces the existing one and is expanded to a new area in an existing residential building that includes construction elements supposedly prior to that
The space ' s original scale, geometry and identity were recovered by demolishing and clearing existing mischaracterized constructions New exhibition panels were designed in consonance with the existing geometry, emphasising it and reinforcing the original ancient stonework
The groin vaults expand the ceiling space It also guides the eye upwards giving the illusion of a taller ceiling
The groin vault design allows for better illumination The light hits the surface of the vault differently and bounces off in more directions as compared to a normal flat ceiling
A rib vault is an architectural feature used to cover a large interior space in a building, usually the nave of a church or cathedral, in which the surface of the vault is divided into webs by a framework of diagonal arched ribs. It is also called a "ribbed vault." It was a key feature of Gothic architecture.
The ribbed vault was used by Gothic architects to give the buildings flexibility in roof and wall engineering. These vaults were easier to construct when comparing them to the barrel vault, and they were also stronger and more flexible. Moreover, the vault was lighter, easier to build, economical and more enduring.
Ribbed vaults are made by connecting arches; it incorporates two diagonal arches stretching from corner to corner, along with other arches that span the length and side of the vaults.
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Autobahn Church Siegerland
Wilnsdorf, Germany 2009
Schneider + S h h
The three-dimensional translation of the church pictogram – a stylised white silhouette of a traditional village church – can be seen from both the motorway and the service station From closeup, the church appears to grow out of the hillside and visitors enter it via a raised walkway leading to a covered entrance
Once inside, contrary to the expectations raised by the exterior of the building, the design of the interior comes as a surprise The inner dome opens up to the naturally lit area around the altar, illuminated only from above through the two church spires The filigree wooden vaulting also displays a finely worked cross-ribbed structure
The complex ribbed vaults help place an emphasis on the whole structure The emphasis brings a sense of grandiose, strengthening the purpose of the space
The ribs help to elongate the sides of the structure which can make the space look bigger The light illuminating from the top spreads down following the ribs which help make the space look bigger
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De poort van Borne
Borne, Netherlands
2017
Reitsema & partners architecten
Many other health and wellness centres bear little or no trace of the former church In this conversion, special attention was paid to help preserve the existing spatial qualities
In the centre of the church is an inner court, complemented by a multifunctional platform on the first floor The practices are spread over three storeys surrounding the open area, which serves as a transitional space between the interior and exterior
The new interior facades surrounding the court harmonise with the church’s existing spatial rhythm Plastered entirely in white, they do not distract the eye from the original architecture The result is a peaceful visual effect with a timeless character This is further enhanced by a screed floor and light brass-coloured window frames
The vault helps to open up the space The groin vaults help to elongate the space visually which is further emphasized by the ribs The ribs guide visitor's eyes upwards which gives the space the illusion of an even taller ceiling
The open floor plan in the center also makes the building seem longer in length The open floor plan also gives the space a more approachable, encouraging bonding.
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De Petrus Vught, Netherlands
2018
Molenaar&Bol & vanDillen Architects
After an extensive renovation the church, which dates from 1884, was redeveloped into a multifunctional centre containing a library and a museum but also a bar and shops All functions are blended into a large open space which is open to the public
The most striking element is the mezzanine floor This distinctive element gives the church a new look fitting for its new function The first floor houses technical facilities like heating, acoustic covering and lighting The mezzanine is placed mainly in the aisles so the original spatial quality of the church is preserved The first floor offers new and spectacular views of the church The mezzanine floor continues outside as the roof of four pavilions connected to the church
The complex rib vaults place an emphasis on the structure which highlights the high ceiling the church has These tall walls allow more light to filter in from high above The light shining through the windows above draw attention which further emphasizes the high ceiling
The complex rib vaults in the center form a visual guide for the visitors which makes the place seem longer in length They also direct the eyes to the four corners of the space making the space seem bigger
The cell vaulting, which has been present in architecture since the half of the 15th century, has seen a renaissance lately. ... The most important factors in creating cell vaults are the number of divisions and the height of the joint level of a given structure.
The so-called Diamond Vaults (or „cell vaults“) are a particular type of late Gothic vaults, which are characterized by their folded surface with ridges between the groins, creating ceilings with pronounced patterns of light and shadow. The construction material (apart from few exceptions) is brick masonry.
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The Phantom Pavilion Colorado, USA 2018
Volkan Alkanoglu
It is conceived as a light-weight structure and assembled with two cross-laminated layers of aluminium acting as a structural shell The symmetrical pavilion consists of three iconic vaults and stands 16 feet tall at its highest point Following each independent structural shell, with its dynamic shape and silhouette, appears to be in motion
The pavilion offers both shading and seating elements to visitors while creating a colourful addition to the Praerie Basin Park The canopy of the pavilion features an array of multiple colours while introducing a formal colour gradient from left to right and top to bottom
The canopy has exciting shades of blue that gradients from left to right and top to bottom Furthermore invoking a joyous mood The skin of the pavilion features complex patterns and openings which produces dynamic shadows on the ground, along with ambiguous visual effects during the day and as the seasons’ change
The structure invites visitors, guests, and the local community with its fluid form and landscape of colours In addition, it provides a platform for the community to interact in formal and informal events throughout the year
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ICD Aggregate Pavilion
Stuttgart, Germany 2018
ICD University of Stuttgart
The structure is the first fully enclosed architectural space entirely constructed from designed granules, which lie only in loose frictional contact Such unbound granular materials show the unique property to obtain both the stable character of solid material and the rapid reconfigurability of a fluid
The pavilion demonstrates how designed granular materials open up a new perspective for a design paradigm of productive forms of de- and re-stabilization and, thus, an architecture that can be rapidly deployed and reconfigured, as well as eventually removed and reused The highly non-convex hexapods are industrially custom-made through an injection-moulding process using recycled plastics
The individual non-convex hexapods are protruding hence giving off a sense of danger When one is inside, they would feel claustrophobic as the hexapods are pointing in every direction while being clustered
As the hexapods are not arranged in a grid-like pattern such that they fit like a puzzle, light is able to filter through the gaps This makes the light in the space softer as it does not shine down directly in one direction The shadows cast through this pavilion is also unique due to these irregular gaps formed by the hexapods
Dome, in architecture, the hemispherical structure evolved from the arch, usually forming a ceiling or roof. It is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere.
Originally being adapted only to small buildings such as huts and tombs; however, as construction and design techniques developed, they became more popular as a means of showcasing grand structures such as cathedrals, legislative buildings and, more recently, leisure buildings such as sports stadium.
A dome can rest directly upon a rotunda wall, a drum, or a system of squinches or pendentives used to accommodate the transition in shape from a rectangular or square space to the round or polygonal base of the dome. Its apex may be closed or open in the form of an oculus, which may itself be covered with a roof lantern and cupola.
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Osaka Maritime Museum
Osaka, Japan 1997 - 2000
The dome was designed for heavy seismic loads and wave loads in addition to dead and wind loads This was accomplished with concrete and steel piles anchored deep into the seafloor
The building services were designed to provide comfortable conditions in the sunny marine environment while preserving the transparency and dramatic nature of the dome Variously shaded glass panes were used strategically around the dome to allow natural light and a view of the bay but not overheating
Innovative ‘lamimetal’ glazing provides shade The laminated glass incorporates a sheet of perforated metal in the interlayer, the size of the perforations controlling the passage of sunlight The surface of the dome was analysed in relation to the sun path throughout the year When solar energy is at a maximum, the lamimetal is almost opaque When solar energy is reduced, the glass becomes clear The overall density of the lamimetal was chosen to give the best balance between visibility and comfort
Even taking this unusual shape, the building is related to the environment through transparency From afar is recognizable by its particular geometry Their faces almost transparent strip the interior to merge with the landscape, while hugging the curves space
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Timber Dome Stockholm, Sweden 2018 Tham & Videgård
This is a pavilion for an office building courtyard in downtown Stockholm The brief called for an outdoor space that could be used for short breaks, informal gatherings and social events At the same time, it was important that the new structure did not interfere with the views and daylight for the office spaces around the courtyard
Each part of the dome structure was 3d-cut to measure out of solid Swedish timber and assembled on-site within a week
This structure allows for an open yet private space The dome structure provides an intimate feel which adds on to the quality of a break area
The dome has alternating open and shaded panels The open panels allow plenty of natural lighting to shine into the space and gives the structure an airy feeling Meanwhile, the shaded panels provide some privacy while still allowing light to shine in
The ribbed dome is a type of vault giving the effect of a dome, or where the under-surface of a dome or cupola is subdivided by radiating ribs.
It is a structure where a pair of parallel arches is rotated to intersect and form a star pattern. Its' ribs rotate around its' vertical axis.
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Cern | Globe of Science & Innovation Genf, Switzerland
2010
Thomas Büchi and Hervé Dessimoz
The cocoon-like volume of the Globe was designed to evoke the Earth’s shape, both formally and conceptually
The inner shell is clad with laminated timber panels, while the outer supports a larch-wood brise-soleil The outer shell, resembling a finely spun cocoon, is designed to protect the building from the Sun and the elements The inner ball, whose frame – like the outer shell – is made up of 18 cylindrical wooden arcs, covered with wooden panels, creates a magnificent cathedral-like space with two spiral ramps for visitors winding their way up between the outer and inner shells
The structure is made up of five different types of timber: Scotch pine, Douglas pine, spruce, larch, and Canadian maple This enables it to act as a natural carbon sink
A circular skylight, vaguely resembling the famous oculus of the Pantheon in Rome, pours daylight into the multifunctional space on the first floor
The spiral ramp creates a new spatial quality in the space as one moves upwards Towards the top, the space gets narrower and feels more exclusive as compared to the bottom area
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Apple Marina Bay Sands Singapore 2020 Foster + Partners
The structure is a fully glazed dome with a black glass base, complementing the pavilions through its scale and materiality
Structurally, the dome acts as a hybrid steel and glass shell, where the grid of steel sections support the weight of the glass and shading, and the curved structural glass panels restrain the steel elements laterally and stiffen the overall form against lateral loads Integrated solar shading devices keep the interior cool
The structure is all about the delicate interplay between transparency and shade The structure dissolves the boundary between the inside and outside, creating a minimal platform that floats in the water, looking out over the bay and the skyline
Each of the multifunctional concentric light sunshade rings reduces in size as they progress towards the top of the building, providing acoustic absorption for the store They also diffuse and reflect daylight to the ceiling above, creating a magical effect and blending the structure with the sky above At the top, a semiopaque oculus provides a dramatic shaft of light that travels through the space
The dome appears delicate The effect is very calming, and the changing intensity and colour of the light are mesmerising During the day, the dome reflects the colours of the surrounding water and sky, while in the evening the subtle interior lighting provides a warm glow and enhances everyone’s experience of the skyline
Folded plate structures are assemblies of flat plates, or slabs, inclined in different directions and joined along their longitudinal edges. In this way the structural system is capable of carrying loads without the need for additional supporting beams along mutual edges.
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Pulkovo Airport
Saint Petersburg, Russia
2014
Grimshaw, Pascall + Watson, Ramboll
The internal layout of the terminal consists of distinct zones connected, designed to echo the external layout of islands and bridges that make up the city These open rooms are comparable to the many civic spaces found in St Petersburg, emphasising the airport’s role as the first and last great public space of the region for air travellers
The master plan of the airport represents and responds to the climate and heritage of St Petersburg The airport has a large flat roof so that it will be able to cope with heavy snowfall This allowed the underside to be expressed as a series of folded surfaces, which help to distribute weight to different parts of the structure Large windows span the front and rear facades of the building and were engineered to maintain indoor temperatures and to reduce glare from the low sun
Two large skylights are placed at the entrance of the airport to act as a visual guide for the visitors The long triangular shapes point towards the entrance and are visible from far away so that visitors who cannot find the entrance are able to navigate easily
The texture of the folded plates are emphasized as light would hit the surfaces differently The folded plates also help elongate the building length wise The dynamic ceiling contrasts vividly against the smooth floor
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Pulkovo Airport Vienna, Austria 2015
Theo Hotz Partner Architekten
The canopy comprises 14 diamond-shaped space frames, arranged in five rows that follow the lines of the tracks and each of the platforms
Punctured in the centre by a skylight, the segments are staggered to produce a zigzagging effect over the station and allow in light through glazing in the gaps in between The faceted surfaces are clad in glossy, pale-toned panels, evoking the appearance of giant crystal structures
The angled lines of the soffits reflect those of the folded plate structure above and their triangular surfaces create a striking crystalline form that produces stunning light effects
The folded plates on the roof adds another dimension to the structure The skylights that penetrates the roof brings in plenty of sunlight as well as adding an airy, open quality
The skylights and folded plates give the structure a sense of motion, referencing the trains moving in and out of the station The shape of the folded plates also resembles a moving line further emphasizing the purpose of this space
Shell structure, in building construction, a thin, curved plate structure shaped to transmit applied forces by compressive, tensile, and shear stresses that act in the plane of the surface. They are usually constructed of concrete reinforced with steel mesh.
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Bosjes Chapel South Africa
2016 Steyn Studio
The serene sculptural form emulates the silhouette of the surrounding mountain ranges, paying tribute to the historic Cape Dutch gables dotting the rural landscapes of the Western Cape
Constructed from a slim concrete cast shell, the roof supports itself as each undulation dramatically falls to meet the ground Where each wave of the roof structure rises to a peak, expanses of glazing adjoined centrally by a crucifix adorn the façade
The crisp white form is conceived as a lightweight, and dynamic structure which appears to float within the valley A reflective pond emphasises the apparent weightlessness of the structure Elevated upon a plinth, the chapel rises from the flat land its sits upon, providing a hierarchical focal point within its surroundings
Inside, a large and open floor plan where highly polished terrazzo floors reflect light internally The undulating whitewashed ceiling casts an array of shadows which dance within the space as light levels change throughout the day The neutral colours and curves help blend the structure into the magnificent background naturally
The curves resemble an open embrace which invites in giving the space an approachable feeling The curves also resemble the ripples in the water which helps connect the structure to the lake below smoothly The different openings throughout the space also help to highlight certain views for visitors
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Marquise Texas, USA
2018
Marc Fornes and TheVeryMany
Marquise is a spatial entry structure for El Paso’s Westside Natatorium The lightweight aluminium structure transforms the approach and experience of this building
A two-way Cheshire gradient in deep blues and warm yellows alternate graphically to emphasize the sweeping surfaces Seemingly inflated by the wind, as a tent or sail, the ultra-thin surface billows up from the ground, where it forms two contiguous seats: cast in place concrete elements that inherit the compound curvature of the faceted but flowing surface
For younger guests, the surface overhead might appear to be some kind of circus tent or a parachute frozen in midair Older patrons might find a welcome moment of pause at this shady entrance
The curvy shape of the structure suggests motion The material used is not completely smooth on the surface which contributes to the outlook of motion The curves also resemble incoming waves, which further emphasizes the activity going on in the building
The gaps between the components cast interesting shadows on the floor while still providing shelter
Tensile structure is the term usually used to refer to the construction of roofs using a membrane held in place on steel cables. Their main characteristics are the way in which they work under stress tensile, their ease of prefabrication, their ability to cover large spans, and their malleability.
Usually made of coated PES, ETFE, PTFE, PTFE coated fibreglass or even a fabric-like material, the tensile membranes can span large distances and take on a variety of shapes. It is held together with tension.
Most often used for roofs and canopies, tensile structures are capable of creating unique private and public spaces.
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Serpentine Sackler Gallery London, UK 2013
Zaha Hadid Architects
The structure was built to be an enclosure around the former magazine building such that it still stays as a free-standing pavilion where the former courtyards would be turned into internal exhibition spaces Nonhistoric partition walls in the former building were removed to form the open space
The surrounding structure had been cleared to become a continuous, open sequence of exhibition spaces looping around the two central powder rooms, thus showing simplicity and clarity The envelope is completed by a curved, frameless glass wall that cantilevers from the ground to reach the edge beam and fabric roof
What was a courtyard before, became an interior top-lit gallery space Longitudinal roof lights deliver natural daylight into the whole gallery sequence surrounding the central vaults and with a fixed louvre system they create perfectly lit exhibition spaces Retractable blinds allow for a complete black-out of the galleries The continuous sky-light makes the vertical protrusion of the central core of the building visible on the inside
The interior of the new extension is a bright, open space with light pouring in from all sides and through the 5 steel columns that open up as light scoops The curves of the roof make the structure look more organic and fluid The structure seems to blend with the surroundings while still emanating the allure of contemporary art
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Munich Olympic Stadium Munich, Germany
2013
Frei Otto
The transparent tensile roof structure that covered the stands of the stadium featured multiple peaks and was partly influenced by the shape of the Alps mountain range The concept for the stadium itself was derived from the ‘earth stadiums’ commonly built in Eastern Europe since the end of the First World War: taking advantage of the existing topography, space for the field and seating for 90,000 spectators would be carved out of the ground instead of built above it
Supported by columns spaced around the site and tension cables anchored to the ground, the structure was echoed in the glass acrylic roof canopy that connected the surrounding buildings Otto also created a fabric roof for the Olympic swimming pool
The translucent canopy was designed to shelter the athletes and spectators without obscuring lines of sight or casting uneven shadows that would impede upon televised footage of the Games
The material used allows just enough daylight needed to shine through while providing shelter The translucent material helps to connect the structure to the sky.
The structure curves inwards drawing people's eyes towards the center of the stadium where the main activity is happening
Pneumatic structure is a membrane structure that is stabilized by the pressure of compressed air. Air-supported structures are supported by internal air pressure. A network of cables stiffens the fabric, and the assembly is supported by a rigid ring at the edge.
The air pressure within this bubble is increased slightly above normal atmospheric pressure and maintained by compressors or fans. Airlocks are required at entrances to prevent loss of internal air pressure.
The roof of the pneumatic structures are made from the rubber or enforce film with the help of polymers. The weight of the roofing membrane is balance and maintain with the help air compressors or blowers.
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Ontario Celebration
Zone Pavilion
Toronto, Canada
2015
Hariri Pontarini
Architects
The pavilion was built to celebrate the Olympics being held in Canada The main purpose of these structures was to serve as an event or exhibition space The structures are made up of a series of span-wise inflatable arches, interspersed with longitudinal, interconnected ‘pillows’ which are inflated to the same pressure as the arches Two types of fire treated textiles were used in the construction – a white, opaque textile was used for the arches whilst a translucent textile was used for the pillows in order to provide the opportunity for creating interesting effects with internal lighting
The vision for this project was to create elegant and slender forms The slenderness of the design was further enhanced by making the visible edges of the structures from smaller diameter tubes The flowing, organic forms of the pavilions meant that they would be completely asymmetrical, with no repetition or mirroring of any of the fabric panels they would be made from
The curvy form made by the pneumatic membrane makes the structures seem more approachable When the visitors are in the space, they can experience how the shape of the structure changes how they perceive the space
The various openings in the structures doubles as entries and exits as well as framing the view in front for visitors
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Pipeline Installation Paris, France 2020 Dosis
The installation is a living structure that practices the situationist derive, moving around the world without a pre-established destination It dynamically adapts to every situation and every location
It is a living structure that changes depending on the conditions of the ecosystem that hosts it
The transparent material allows the users to see the surroundings while travelling the path The enclosed path ensures that the users will keep moving maintaining the nomadic spirit
The installation is built such that there is no specific starting and ending point The paths all kind of link back to each other so there is no specific way to walk either
