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Showing posts with label steel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label steel. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Case Study_David Lawrence Convention Center
Rafael Vinoly Architects
Building Section
Cable Support System
View from across the Allegheny
Building Section
Cable Support System
View from across the Allegheny
Case Study_Benetton Textile Factory
Tobia Scarpa
Building Section
Structural System
Truss Section
Construction
Building Section
Structural System
Truss Section
Construction
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Case Study_David Lawrence Convention Center
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Size: 1.45 million square feet
Cost: $294 million
Completion Date: September 2003
Inspired by the close suspension bridges, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center is charactereized by its clear-span roof constructed as a cable-stayed structure. The new project combines contemporary design with steel technology, influenced by the urban topography, the city's industrial history, and innovations in steel. Having achieved the USGBC LEED gold rating, the project is just one part of the city's continued emphasis on sustainable design. The facility features the largest column-free space through the investigation in long-span structures. The steel frame consists of major frames to the north and south of the building known as the bow and stern, resembling parts of a ship. The overall design incorporates 15 enormous cables strung over tall masts as seen in an image below.
Image 1- David Lawrence Convention Center
Image 2: Interior of the exhibition space
Image 3: Exterior cables and masts
Size: 1.45 million square feet
Cost: $294 million
Completion Date: September 2003
Inspired by the close suspension bridges, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center is charactereized by its clear-span roof constructed as a cable-stayed structure. The new project combines contemporary design with steel technology, influenced by the urban topography, the city's industrial history, and innovations in steel. Having achieved the USGBC LEED gold rating, the project is just one part of the city's continued emphasis on sustainable design. The facility features the largest column-free space through the investigation in long-span structures. The steel frame consists of major frames to the north and south of the building known as the bow and stern, resembling parts of a ship. The overall design incorporates 15 enormous cables strung over tall masts as seen in an image below.
Image 1- David Lawrence Convention Center
Image 2: Interior of the exhibition space
Image 3: Exterior cables and mastsFriday, January 19, 2007
Tidbit_Steel Innovations
I found a great summary of metal innovations in the book Steel & Beyond, as described on arcspace.com
Recent Advances:
Extremely light alloys
Hybrid constructions
Advanced methods for load calculations
Digital design and fabricataion
Adaptation of techniques from aeroplane design and ship building
It was also interesting to note that the last period of equivalent change occured during the mid 19th century when mass production of iron, steel, and glass developed.
Recent Advances:
Extremely light alloys
Hybrid constructions
Advanced methods for load calculations
Digital design and fabricataion
Adaptation of techniques from aeroplane design and ship building
It was also interesting to note that the last period of equivalent change occured during the mid 19th century when mass production of iron, steel, and glass developed.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Case Study_Footbridge, Amsterdam
the so-called 'python bridge' was designed and built as a part of the borneo/sporenburg development in amsterdam, master plan by west 8 architects. each home within this development is a 'patio house' where 30-50% of the space is left void to provide patios for introverted and personally expressive spaces within the tight urban fabric.
img_1.1 - python bridge
the footbridge is approx. 90 meters in length. it spans and active waterway, and its graceful curves allow for the passage of boats beneath. the steel truss, with t-shaped upper and lower cords and diagonal steel bracing is, and had been, a very common structural steel component. here, however, this basic form is morphed to create a more dynamic experience. in general, the bridge is very interesting because of how form, function, and experience are so closely tied.
for more photos of the bridge, click here.
img_1.1 - python bridge
the footbridge is approx. 90 meters in length. it spans and active waterway, and its graceful curves allow for the passage of boats beneath. the steel truss, with t-shaped upper and lower cords and diagonal steel bracing is, and had been, a very common structural steel component. here, however, this basic form is morphed to create a more dynamic experience. in general, the bridge is very interesting because of how form, function, and experience are so closely tied.
for more photos of the bridge, click here.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Case Study_Kalkriese Museum, Germany
the kalkriese museum and park in bramsche, germany was designed and built to mark the site of the battle between the roman legions and local barbarians. it makes use of specific material and structural qualities of steel to address important project concepts.
img_1.1 - museum
cor-ten steel is used to give the building a rust color to match surrounding buildings (which are not made of steel). more importantly, the cor-ten steel conveys the notion of time, which is important to the history of the site.
img_1.2 - museum / underside
this is the perspective the visitor is faced with just before entering the museum. the forced perspective and dark blur in the distance create a metaphor for time. also, steel is used to hold the building above the ground. steel enables this minimal structural scheme so the at the building can remain removed from the ground in a effort to acknowledge in archaeological importance of the ground plane.
img_1.3 - three pavilions
three pavilions are also situated throughout the site. they are built in the same manner as the main museum building. above, from left to right, the represent "Vision", "Listening", and "Understanding"; the function of each relates to its theme. for example, in the Listening pavilion, visitors can rotate the large trumpet in all directions to 'hear' the site. the pavilions allow the visitor to actively engage the site to gain a more personal awareness of it.
for more photos of the site, click here. for a pdf on cor-ten steel, click here.
img_1.1 - museum
cor-ten steel is used to give the building a rust color to match surrounding buildings (which are not made of steel). more importantly, the cor-ten steel conveys the notion of time, which is important to the history of the site.
img_1.2 - museum / underside
this is the perspective the visitor is faced with just before entering the museum. the forced perspective and dark blur in the distance create a metaphor for time. also, steel is used to hold the building above the ground. steel enables this minimal structural scheme so the at the building can remain removed from the ground in a effort to acknowledge in archaeological importance of the ground plane.
img_1.3 - three pavilions
three pavilions are also situated throughout the site. they are built in the same manner as the main museum building. above, from left to right, the represent "Vision", "Listening", and "Understanding"; the function of each relates to its theme. for example, in the Listening pavilion, visitors can rotate the large trumpet in all directions to 'hear' the site. the pavilions allow the visitor to actively engage the site to gain a more personal awareness of it.
for more photos of the site, click here. for a pdf on cor-ten steel, click here.
Case Study_Building with Steel
"We could reproduce the angles of Picasso; we could experiment with steel as the painters did with paint"
- Steel Rigid Frame Manual: Design and Construction
My steel research began by looking at welding diagrams and gigantic rigid steel frames. I looked up every steel manual in the Architecture library. Although interesting, and certainly worthwhile, I-beam specifications and steel pipe thicknesses were not going to be enough to fully introduce me to the possibilities of steel construction.
My first interesting find was some information on two of the most basic ways of joining steel components; riveting and welding. Although riveting possesses a rigid aesthetic and creates powerful forms with thick plates and massive nuts and bolts, the bottom line turns out to be that it is in most cases just not practical. Not only does welding cut down on the amount of steel necessary to build, but construction is quicker and far less limited. Welded steel joints share every advantage that rivet construction does plus much more.
For example, the riveted plates in the above image stand out in an almost overwhelming sense. However, if you look closely you will notice the weld symbol and the barely noticeable seam between the two plates. Welded joints, if done correctly, can go almost unnoticed.
It was not until I began looking at more contemporary steel structures that I noticed how endless the possibilities of steel construction could be, and how fast the use of steel in building has advanced. First, take a look to the detail below at Crown Hall, Mies' architecture building on the IIT campus finished in 1956. Mies uses welded plate girders to span the entire width of the roof.
Less than 50 years later, Renzo Piano is using steel trusses to span the entire width of an airport, as well as creating flowing forms from tubular steel.
Lastly, take a look to a detail done by Richard Rogers that I feel utilized the potential of steel to quite an extent. The below detail uses welds, rivets, tension cables, steel piping, plate steel, and pin connections that allow for movement all in one structural element.
In conclusion, it seems that steel is a material that lends itself to innovative use. With today's technology steel fabrication is endless, from the smallest details and joints to trusses that span the length of a building. My imagination before flipping through a stack of books stopped around prefabricated steel components, but has ended in a world where steel can be welded at any angle and bent or cut into almost any shape. I think one of the most promising aspects of the semester ahead of us is the opportunity to work with no limits and create a building with "custom" steel structure and details.
- Steel Rigid Frame Manual: Design and Construction
My steel research began by looking at welding diagrams and gigantic rigid steel frames. I looked up every steel manual in the Architecture library. Although interesting, and certainly worthwhile, I-beam specifications and steel pipe thicknesses were not going to be enough to fully introduce me to the possibilities of steel construction.
My first interesting find was some information on two of the most basic ways of joining steel components; riveting and welding. Although riveting possesses a rigid aesthetic and creates powerful forms with thick plates and massive nuts and bolts, the bottom line turns out to be that it is in most cases just not practical. Not only does welding cut down on the amount of steel necessary to build, but construction is quicker and far less limited. Welded steel joints share every advantage that rivet construction does plus much more.
For example, the riveted plates in the above image stand out in an almost overwhelming sense. However, if you look closely you will notice the weld symbol and the barely noticeable seam between the two plates. Welded joints, if done correctly, can go almost unnoticed.
It was not until I began looking at more contemporary steel structures that I noticed how endless the possibilities of steel construction could be, and how fast the use of steel in building has advanced. First, take a look to the detail below at Crown Hall, Mies' architecture building on the IIT campus finished in 1956. Mies uses welded plate girders to span the entire width of the roof.
Less than 50 years later, Renzo Piano is using steel trusses to span the entire width of an airport, as well as creating flowing forms from tubular steel.
The innovation does not stop here either. Along with Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Frank Gehry are using steel to create spectacular details and outrageous forms, unimaginable just 50 years ago. The framework in Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall is almost entirely made from steel. The image below shows the structure before being clad in its titanium finish.
Lastly, take a look to a detail done by Richard Rogers that I feel utilized the potential of steel to quite an extent. The below detail uses welds, rivets, tension cables, steel piping, plate steel, and pin connections that allow for movement all in one structural element.
In conclusion, it seems that steel is a material that lends itself to innovative use. With today's technology steel fabrication is endless, from the smallest details and joints to trusses that span the length of a building. My imagination before flipping through a stack of books stopped around prefabricated steel components, but has ended in a world where steel can be welded at any angle and bent or cut into almost any shape. I think one of the most promising aspects of the semester ahead of us is the opportunity to work with no limits and create a building with "custom" steel structure and details.
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