ND FLEXIBILITY
STRUCTURAL PRECEDENCE
POMPIDOU CENTRE
S A I N S BU RY C E N T R E
L E F R E S N OY
RICHARD ROGERS + RENZO PIANO, PARIS
FOSTER + PARTNERS, NORWICH
BERNARD TSCHUMI , TOURCOING
The Pomidou Centre is a real life as close to a real life production of Cedric Prices Fun Palaces that architects have achieved. Behind the industrial framework is a 7500m2 of open floor plan for display, work and other activities. This space can be reinterpreted and reorganised at will to suit a particular scenario.
The large expressive framework allows incredible span over a completely open space for the visual arts gallery contained inside the building. The enveloping structure adds a holistic feel to the open flexible gallery space. The expressed structure gives the building a progressive technological aesthetic spite it being designed in 1974.
The enveloping structure collects 3 buildings together under one cohesive structure with suspended walkways hung from the roof. The building carries an industrial aesthetic which promotes a high tech aesthetic but also aids the building technically as well as architecturally. Tensile members can be thinner than compressive members.