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    An Integral Approach To Structure and Architecture

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    paper by Hugh Dutton

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    An Integral Approach To Structure and Architecture

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    hda_paris
    3K views10 pages
    paper by Hugh Dutton

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    "An integral approach to Structure and Architecture"

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    paper by Hugh Dutton

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    3K views10 pages

    An Integral Approach To Structure and Architecture

    Uploaded by

    hda_paris
    paper by Hugh Dutton

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 10
    AN INTEGRAL APPROACH TO STRUCTURE AND ARCHITECTURE i : i Engineers design structure and architects design curtain walls. This profesional defini: tion is repeated on site, where structural trades (concrete, steel, ete} and lading trades (alas, aluminum cladding, ete work in their disreteterstores, The building industry ‘songanized around these distinctions between professions and trades tothe extent that everyone involved with typical project assumes the standard procedure will hol: truc- tute employed for the single purpose of supporting the building, while cladding is an ‘envelope around the stricture to keep rain out. But this assumption isnot as ingrained ‘as it may seem to these builders historically, structure and cladding were not distinct, “The fagade ofa briekor stone building was both structural and waterproof skin. As the construction industry developed and the building trades became mote specialized, the use of the weatherproof skin as structure became more and more rare ‘This divisions exists for reasons of professional and industrial expediency. At the design lve, each profession concentrates on specific and distinct aspects of the build ing To avoid rsks of legal responsibilty, one doesnot encroach on the fel of the other, 4 precaution that also simplifies the analytical process of understanding the diferent parts ofa building [atthe industry level, trades are defined by materials and often whether these materi as are structural or nonstructural. On site the issue of construction tolerances an finish ‘quality again draws tne between visible cladding or finishes and non-sible strocture ven some of the most sophisticated recent work, such asthe Pyramid at the Louvre aris by LM. ei characterize by thi fundamental separation, Aa aluminum frame fo the silicone glazing system i fixed toan independent steel fame. This leads toa doubling skeleton in steet and the cladding Faring in aluminum ~ up of ‘structure’ ~ the mat despite the expressed minimalist arcitectral intention of maximum transparency. "Yet itis possible to merge glass and steel into a single structural surface. An exam ple of design before the modern tendency of layering’ professions and trades i the ‘Bicton Palm house, where the hundred of small glass panes form & daring shell strc: ‘ure witha delicate minimal stel frame and tiny glazing bas. ‘The construction indistry’s recent technical developments in engi- neering and material science and ‘he building industry’ new techni- ‘al capacities provide new opport nities for architecture. These inno vations can be used to integrate structure and the building enve lope or skin” For an integrated approsch to ‘design, borders between the dis: tinct professional, industrial, and construction teritories must be transgressed, The success of this exploration depends on architects understanding of the capacities and constraints of each separate fla during the design process. ‘An extreme approach to inte- gration lies in the use of structural skins. A Jot of work was done in ‘this are inthe ‘50s, 60s and “70s by Buckminster Fuller, Frei Oto, Nerv, Isler and others, where the structural potential of curved sie- faces was exploited through the ‘use of shell or membrane analysis theory. In these cates, surfaces ‘ould be both stractural and water roof, and as stich are perfect ‘cxamples of integrated structure and ski. They are natural 2-D sur face structures with very specific forms. which are the result ofthe ‘optimal passage of loads in sur faces The architectural images of these projects were total expres- sions of structure and its formal ‘requirements, Today we ean fully explore complex structural shapes because the description of surface geometric complexity has become more manageable and analyzable through the use of computers. ‘The following examples of integrated designs are presented ‘nan order defined by seale, from aipor to curtain wall Forthisalportcelingstructure was designedto work integrally with the ceiling surfaces. The design brief called for the architectural develop- ‘ment ofthe roof and facade structures of the air ort initially designed by Fentress and Bradburn ‘of Denver in association with KACT, thei Korean based partner for the competition. The design involved both a concave roof over the entrance hall spanning 95 meters ana repetitive module for the main roof measuring, 60 x 70 meters, ‘convex in shape with supporting mats and con- sciously reminiscent of a traditional Korean pagoda. HDA's work, done in collaboration with (Ove Arup and Partners of London, concentrated ‘on creating see roof structures consistent with the architectral forms ofthe ceilings as well as making a clear expression of the structures themselves and how they function, ‘The configuration ofsteel uss members and the connection detailing intend to show how large scale wind and earthquake forees, whieh are as much a concern a gravity forces in this ‘case are resolved, The geometry of the arhitee uml curves of the entrance hall vaults is exploited for structural shell action. The oof sur- face is entirely crossbraced with diagonal mem. bers, which makes it stifin plane. As sueb, i is able to span on its own between stiffening edge ‘russes. The ceiling plane is then as fre as possi ble of vertical structure, thus leaving 2 smooth surface. The ceiling panels are fabriated tr angles to express the bracing allewing the viw- ers a clear view ofall ofthe primary stnctar. Critical tothe succes oF shel structure isthe buelding analysis of the surface. Arup's work on ‘the tof included nomtinear‘snap-throngh simu Tation fr the diagonal members that was neces: sary to show that they remained in the shell plane {in high compression losding configurations ‘On the ‘Pagoda’ roof modules, a series of ‘crescent shaped trusses are suspended from & ‘central vierendeet spine truss and tll masts. The ‘mast and spine truss configuration is designed Tor ductility to absorb seismic Foees such that the suspended trusses ae given a degree of PO tection from the seismic energy. The spine (Fuss {s open and clearly visible, with skylights above to highlight i. The crescent trusses are curved fon their lower surfaces following the convex shape ofthe celling as designed by the arch tects AE each truss, the celing surce is xt ‘open giving a full view ofthe trusses keranie computer modeling fran essential tool inthe design of complex structures. Today's ‘capacities inthe engineering feld, notably inthe area of nonlinear analysis, allow us to better understand structural behavior. The nonlinear analysis permits an almost endles series of analy ses ofa structure that takes into account its grad sual dimensional transformation under load. They simulate the redistribution of forces within a struetute as deforms. Taditionally, if tension member in a structure went slack it presence ‘would be excluded From consideration. However ‘with nonlinear analysis, ifthe member i able to resist force after the structire has deformed ‘under the loa, then its eapaciyis considered ‘This project is a demonstration that structure should net only be conceived as the most economic oreficient solutign to an architectural problem: if thought of asa des ture can address architectural objectives while resisting loads. The design involves a total inte aration of tel structure and structural gas ‘The hub glass wall and its supporting ramps make a transparent counterpoint in the compo- sition of the lemer Student Centre building by architects Bernard Tschumi and Gruzen Samton, lof New York Is cleanly visible stelstructureand sss surfaces act a6 a fll t0 the two masonry clad wings of the building on either side. The structure spans between these two blocks, and the glass encloses the hub void between them, ‘The articulation of the trusses and steel ramp structures expresses the activity and movement zoneof the hub tse thesefunetional structural components=ramp wind beams, main trelis truss, suspension rods, and cantilever glass sup- port arms ~all animate the space. ‘The inclined arrangement of the ramps and truss is 2 logical consequence of the change {in levels between the Broadway street level and the main campus level, which is haifa typical, floor height aboveit. The angular geometry ofthis arrangement is eartied through into the layout of all of the components of the facade and the ramps. The glass grid fllows the incline of the ramps, as do all of the support arms and xing brackets “The inclined fagade truss i simple tiangu- lated trellis beam with tubes as compression ‘members and rod ties as tension members. This Tras partially supports the ramps When are an intricate mesh tex ture of plates assembled diago: nally. The inner edges o the ramps are suspended by virtual plane of| inclined tes from another, much heavier triangulated telis trust roof level, Each ofthese strctural components ate ¢ransparent in fone way or another. The glass plane, with its own inclined grid matrix of joints, is fixed to the ramps with cantilever atms arranged as a series of x’ points punetuating the elevation, The glass is used structurally without glazing bar. ea laminate of clear toughened glass units, ICs fixed to the end of arm supports using bolted connections. ach panel supports its own dead weight and wind loads. The absence of gat- ng bars or mullionsisritial the clear reading of the composition of structural elements A clear distinc tion is thus achieved between the stool stnacture and the pre trans: parent glass weatherproof surfice. The glass fixed using a gstem of bolts that incorporates spherical bearing in the head of the bolt allowing a moment free connection tothe gas atts hoes Walking surfaces onthe ramps ae also executed in glass. They ane side from lainated tiles with the upper sheet toughened and cov fered in an antislip treatment. A dust of tiny glass beads is laid on the top surfice and then flamed to erty tothe surface ‘The design also addresses visual expression of the critical functional Aetils, which are carefully studied and drawn to express each speditic fanetion, They are designed to demonstrate how they work. Bach cantilever tmx’ consists of two lower ‘gravity’ arms that support the dead weight of the lass and “wind” arms that support ‘he wind loads only. The {his configuration isto clarity the analysis of how the glass is to cso for t ‘behave stnictrally and to allow the designers guarantee that the glass can not be loaded in any other way than in the manner for which itis designed. Bach glass panel is simply and indepen- dently supported, and any relative movement ‘between the arms or between the ramps cannot be transfered into the gas asa load. Tis on ‘cept is rigorously carried through to all of the details. Inthe case ofthe gravity arms the glass is supported on cast brackets a their ends. One tite {is suspended from the bracket and the other ests ‘om it For the wind arms, the end bracket is used to fx a group of small articulated struts that ean only resist wind loads perpendicular to the glass plane. They are fiee to rotate in all other dee: tions, thereby guaranteeing that they cannot resis any forces in the plane ofthe glass. If, for ‘ample, the upper amp defects downward with crowd of peopl. the glass panel suspended From Ic remains fhee to move downward slightly with- ct pushingon the arm ofthe ramp below it This principle i critical to te comporitional ide, because it allows the glass to be fixed 10 each, ‘amp independently and directly without any sec: ‘ondary framing, as would probably have been the ‘ase ina conventional glazing application, The arms are hung from the ramps with system of adjustment tumbuckes for correction of construction tolerances that can be achieved even fhe gas isn place. Thisallows for fine tune ing that could be necessary after the whole system has settled due to the dead weight of the gst. The castings themselves are also equipped ‘with adjustment devices for fine tuning eoeree- ions, and, in particular, angular correction to compensate for aiferences in arm angles. A spherical bearing atthe core of each piece per mits a rotational capacity. These adjustment devices are also used t0 correct fora slight non- alignment ofthe ramp slope with the glass ri, “which isthe result ofthe two midsiope landings required by the New York building codes. The castings are important components of the ‘design, because they resolve ina single piece the consequences of the geometric complexity. The ‘astng process gives these key parts a unique idemity specific to this project and allows them ‘to express nan almost sculptural frm the reso Intion ofthe overall geometric composition at small hand sized scale In engineering tems, though the main com- ponents, with the exception of the ramps, are simple and classic structural elements. thelr movements and interactivity require earefl analysis The analysis Tackaded 3+ electronic models of the design to evaluate the interactive behavior ofthe different compo- nents ofthe structure and, in par ew, the relative siness ofthe two different trusses and the ramps that they support Fall volumetric analysis was required to understand the com plex geometry of the ramps them selves and the structural capacity ofthe tight mesh ofsmall elements of which they are made. The design isbased onthe dea tha every plese of steel is fully exploited for its structural capacity as well as its role a8 support element for sec ondary finishes or cladding items such as handrails, glass support ans, glass loo ling, ete, There is rho distinction between any ‘pr mary’ and secondary’ structure or framing: everything 1s “peimary Glass looring can be paved directly ‘oto the main structure and has no secondary framing. Such an intricate interface ‘between what are traditionally di tinct trades requires a particular ‘ootractual arrangement to ensure that necessary coordination hap: pens smoothly. Indeed the design depends wholly on the success of these delicate interfaces to work. "To help make this happen, the

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