Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Transcription

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
S TA N D I N G O N T H E S H O U L D E R S O F G I A N T S : ANEVOLUTIONARYHISTORYOFARCHITECTURALSTRUCTURALSYSTEMS
AFINALREPORT
BY
WILVSRUBARIII
STRUCTURALENGINEERINGTRAVELINGFELLOWSHIP
TABLEOFCONTENTS
FOREWORD&INTRODUCTION 3
MASSCONSTRUCTION
6
TRABEATION
7
11
15
17
SHELLS&HYPERBOLOIDS
26
30
34
36
ARCHES
VAULTS
DOMES
TENSILESTRUCTURES
SPACEFRAMES
BRIDGES AFTERWORD&PHOTOGALLERY
42
FOREWORD
Itissaidthathistoryoftenrepeatsitself.
Scholarlyadvocatesofthisphenomenon,inattempttoproveandprofessitsvalidity,
oftencite,asevidence,profound,cyclicsynergiesinthehistoricalepochsofhuman
civilization–intheriseandfallofgreatempires,intheconstantebbandflowof
sociopoliticalconflict,andintherecurrencesofculturaltransformation,likeinthe
AgriculturalandIndustrialRevolutionsofyesteryearwhichhavecometodefinethe
historyofhumanlifeonEarth.
Thephysicalnatureofearthlytimeitselfsingsdaily,theywouldargue,toacircadian
rhythmcadence,whosepredictivepulseisfurtheraccentuatedbysuccessiverotations
ofclimaticseasons,byprophesiesofweatherpatterns,andbyaccurateportendsof
astronomicalevents.Furthermore,MotherEarthandFatherTime,alongwiththeir
earthlyparentalcounterparts,canattesttotheresurgencesoffamiliarfads–music,
dance,language,andfashion.Ineffect,tothehumanpsyche,historicaleventsindeed
seemtorecurtimeandtimeagain
Butwithinthisphenomenonliestremendousopportunity.Ashumans,wearetheonly
earthlyspecieswithagency,freewill,andtheuniqueabilitytorecordandremember
historicalevents;wearetheonlyspeciesthatcanrevisitourspecieshistory,celebrate
ourvictories,and,moreimportantly,learnfromourmistakes.
Notingthisopportunity,I,asbuilder,willarguethatarchitecture,too,repeatsitself.
Buildingsaredesigned;theyarebuilt;theyfall.Designandconstructionprocesses
havebeenrepeatedforthousandsofyears.Materials,forms,andsymbolshavebeen
reiterated,refined,andreusedformillennia,evolvingintostructuresmoreelegant,
moredurable,andmorerefinedthantheirhistoricpredecessors.Understandingthe
importanceandimpactofthatevolutioninherentlylieswithinthehistoricalrootsof
architectureandconstruction.Formillennia,lessonshavebeenlearned,inspiration
hasbeendrawn,andprogressivestepshavebeenmadetoensureaconstantstateof
evolutionofstructuralsystemswithinthebuiltenvironment.
Theepichistoriesofarchitecturewerewrittenbythosewhoborewitnesstotheones
whohadgonebefore,whoembracedthecompositesystemsofform,material,
ornamentation,andsymbol,whostudied,reflected,challenged,andefficientlyrefined
existingarchitecturalstructures,andwho,insodoing,stoodupontheveryshoulders
ofthesearchitecturalgiantsandsawfurtherthananyoneelsehadeverseenbefore.
We,myfriend,candothesame.
TEMPLEOFKARNAK,LUXOR TEMPLEOFHERCULES,ROME
THEPANTHEON,ROME
PAGE 3
PANTEON,PARIS
THEPARTHENON,ATHENS
SANCARLO,ROME
ST.PETER’SBASILICA,ROME
REICHSTAG,BERLIN
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
Manhasalwayssoughtshelterfromtheelements.Fromthemostprimitivestick,
stoneandanimalskinstructurestomodernsustainablebuildings,thefascinating
evolutionofarchitecturalstructuralsystemscanbetracedthroughouthistory,noting
theinfluenceofstyle,theinspirationofsymbol,and,especially,theprogressive
developmentofmaterialefficiencyandtherefinementofstructuralform.
Architecture,asahumanartandsocialactivity,isrelativelyinfantile–beginningwith
therevolutionarydiscoveryofagriculturalcultivationandanimalhusbandrynearly
10,000yearsago.Thehistorictransitionfromnomadic,tribalculturestomore
permanentsettlementsbroughtwithitthedawnofhumancivilization,and,forthe
firsttimeinhistory,manbegantoshape,influence,andalterhisnaturalsurroundings
byconstructinghisownbuiltenvironmentseparatefromthenaturalworld.
Flimsytentlikestructureswerereplacedbymoresubstantialdwellings,constructedin
resourcerichfertilerivervalleys.Numerousdwellingsgaverisetovillages;contact
betweenfamiliesbecamemorefrequentandmorepersonal.Flourishingvillages
developednetworksoftrade,betweenwhich,pathswereworn,crossingrivers,
ravines,andgullies,requiringtheconstructionofroadsandfootbridgesmadeoflogs
andnaturalfibervines.
Thegrowthofcitiesrequirednewconstruction,bothphysicalandsocial.Common
structureswerebuilttoservethesocial,political,and,especially,thereligiousneeds
ofpeoplesinthecommunities,which,formostcultures,remainedcentraltothe
organizationandstructureofthevillageitself.Indeedthroughouthistory,thelarger,
moreimpressivearchitecturalmonumentswereoftenmotivatedbyspiritual
requisites.
Butbasichumanneedshavechangedlittleoverthecenturies.Likeourancestorswe
eat,sleep,procreate,worship,andsocializeinourcommunitiesmuchinthesame
waysashumanshaveforthousandsofyears.Tothatend,architectureisconsideredto
beaconservativeart,changinglittleinitsfunctionalpurpose.Itis,however,withthe
growthofpopulations,theadvancementofhumanintuitionandingenuity,andinthe
increaseinpolitical,religious,andsocialinfluencesthatarchitecturehasseenmuch
evolution.Increasingpopulationsrequiredefficientlydesignedhousing;larger,taller
buildingswereerectedandbiggerspaceswereenclosedforreligiousandsocial
activities.However,despitethesechangesinspace,peopleincitiesgather,still,tosee
thesamesortsofspectacles,tosocializeinthesameway,andtoperformthesame
basic,dailytasksasourancestorshaveforthousandsofyears.
Toservethesebasicneeds,architectureismeanttoperformaspecificfunction–
namelytoprotectpeoplefromweatherandtheelementsbyenclosingaseriesof
PAGE 4
ROMANCOLISEUM,ROME
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:INTRODUCTION
ROMANCOLISEUM,ROME
SANTAMARIADELFIORE,FLORENCE
EIFFELTOWER,PARIS
25DEABRILBRIDGE,LISBON PAGE 5
interconnectedroomsandspaces.Theconstructionandfunctionalservices
ofbuildingsarereliantuponitsstructuralcomponents–columns,beams,
floorslabs,walls–whichdelineateinternalandexternalspace.The
materialpropertiesofthesestructuralcomponentsareutilizedtosafely
transfertheloadscarriedbythestructuretotheground,maintainingthe
integrityoftheentirestructuralsystemwhileimposingnaturalstrength
limitstowhatisstructurallyfeasible.
Withtheexceptionofmodernprestressedconcreteandhighstrength
steel,modernstructuralmaterialsareverysimilartothoseusedbyour
forefathers–wood,stone,bricks,andmasonrystilldominateconstruction
inmanypartsoftheworld.Theymustbeusedinapplicationscompatible
withtheirmaterialproperties.Thoughthematerialstructuralcomponents
ofarchitecturehaveseenlittlealterationthroughouthistory,their
arrangement,formandvaryingmaterialcompositionhaveindeedseen
muchevolution.
Itisinthisaspect–inthedevelopmentandrefinementofstructuralform–
thatarchitectureisinaconstantstateofevolution.Thiscontinuousevolu
tionispromptedandshapedbymanythings–changeswithinpolitical,
socialandreligiousorganizations,aspreviouslyaforementioned–andalso
bythesheerfascinationandnaturalcuriosityofthehumanmind.
Forexample,manhasalwayshadanaspirationtoreachnewheightsinthe
sky.This“TowerofBabel”complexhasledtotheerectionoftallerand
tallerbuildings,sparkedtheaviationindustry,andlaunchedtheageof
spaceexploration.Furthermore,manhasalsopushedthelimitsofthe
horizontal,fromthemostbasicpostlinteltrabeationsystemsofprehistoric
StonehengeandthetemplesofancientGreecetothemoreelegant,
refined,curvaceousformsofmodernhyperboloid,tensileframe,and
domestructures.
Althoughmanhasseenmuchmoresuccessinhisquestforverticality,the
tremendousaccomplishmentsofrevolutionaryhorizontalstructuralsys
temshavespannedcenturiesandareworthexamination.Whatfollowsisa
précisofthehistoricalevolutionoflongspanstructuralsystemsfrom
prehistorytomoderntimes,highlightingtherevolutionaryarchitectureof
theancientEgyptianandByzantinecivilizations,aswellastheremarkable
engineeringfeatsoftheRomanEmpire.Suchasurveyismeanttobea
thorough,yetnotexhaustive,accountofarchitecturalhistorythroughout
WesternEurope,inordertounderstandnotonlytheinnovationsand
achievementsofhorizontalstructures,buttoemphasizetheinherent
influence,innovation,andinspirationofformandstructurethroughoutthe
epicsagasofhistoricworldarchitecture.
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:INTRODUCTION
MASSCONSTRUCTION
Beforeproceedingtoaninvestigationoftheevolutionoflongspanstructuralsystems,
itisimportanttounderstandwhatpromptedtheneedforsuchsystemsinthefirst
place.Alongwiththerudimentarystickandskintentstructures,prehistoric
architecturehaditsrootsinmassconstruction–thepilingofdirt,rocks,soil,andother
loosedebrisintocivilinfrastructure,suchaswallsusedforprotectionagainstenemies,
andembankments,levies,channelsforirrigationandfloodprotection,aswellasearly
architecturalstructures,likemoundsforreligiousritesandroyalburials.
Theearliestburialmoundswereknownasmastabas–rectangular,flatroofed
structureswithslopingsides.Theearliestformofthemastaba,asseeninFigure1,was
asquaremassbuiltofsoil,mudbricks,andstone.Mastabasmarkedtheburialsiteof
prominentkingsandthesocialeliteofancientMesopotamiaand,later,ancientEgypt.
Theburialchamberitself,thoughnothingmorethanashallowgrave,wastypically
adornedwithgold,jewels,andotherriches;consequently,thetypicalonetiered
mastabasgavelittleprotectionfromthievesandgraverobbers.
Inordertoensureincreasedsecurityandsanctityoftheirrestingkings,theancient
Egyptianswerethefirsttobuildmastabasontopofmastabas,thuscreatingtheiconic
pyramidlikeformasseeninFigure2.Believedtobethefirstexampleofsuch
constructionandthefirst“structurallyengineeredform,”theSteppedPyramidofKing
Djoser(Figure3),designedandconstructedbyImhotep(whoisconsideredtobe
history’sfirstarchitectengineer)around2630B.C.exemplifiedwhattheEgyptians
calledthe“materialforeternity.”Thesquarebaseofthestructure,likemanylater
pyramids,wascrisplyalignedwiththecardinalpointsandwasmeticulously
constructedfromstoneblocksharvestedandtransportedviatheNileRiverfrom
UpperEgyptianlimestonequarrieshundredsofmilesaway.
Theparticularformofthestackedmastabainfluencedotherculturesascontact
betweencivilizationsprogressed.TheburialmoundsofancientRomewere
constructedinmuchthesameway.TheMausoleumofAugustus,seeninFigure4,
wasbuiltaround28B.C.Constructedbymassingstoneandbrick,themausoleum
wascircularinplanandconsistedofconcentriccircularmoundsofearthlinedwith
cypresstrees.
Theincreasingsizeofmassconstructedburialmounds,theemergenceofpyramids
andgrandmausoleums,anevengreaterconcernabouttheftprevention,aswellasthe
demandformorepermanentresidential,civic,andreligiousstructuresasmoreand
moreculturesbecamecivilized,promptedtheneedtohavestructuresbuiltcontaining
rooms,halls,passageways,andtunnels,theneedtocarryanddirectheavyloads
throughstructuralelements,and,morespecifically,theneedforarchitecturally
createdinternalspace.
PAGE 6
FIGURE1.MASTABA
FIGURE2.MASTABAPYRAMID
FIGURE3.STEPPEDPYRAMIDOFDJOSER FIGURE4.MAUSOLEUMOFAUGUSTUS STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:MASSCONSTRUCTION
TRABEATION
Sincethedawnofcivilization,manhaslookedtotheskyinastronomicalwonderand
incorporatedsuchponderingsintoreligiousandritualisticpractices.Inprehistoric
communities,thesharedreligiousinterestswerecentraltothesocialstructureofthe
villagesthemselves.Thisinducedaneedforpermanentstructureslastinggenerations,
ensuringthepreservationofculture,tradition,andreligiousritesforfutureposterity.
InsouthernEngland,onesuchstructurestillexists.Intheruralcountrysidenear
SalisburylietheruinsofStonehenge.Thenameitself,givenduringmedievaltimes,
means“placeofhangingstones”andadequatelyreferstothestructurethatgivesthe
siteitsuniquecharacter:uprightstonecolumnswithmassivestonelintels.
Constructedaround3000B.C.,Stonehenge,itisargued,wasaplaceofsolsticeritual,
hypothesizedbasedonthesolarorientationofthecomplex.Thebasicstructure,as
seeninFigure5,isamostrudimentaryexampleofpostlinteltrabeation.Builtof
stone,themostpermanentconstructionmaterialoftheagehasprovendurable,
lastingmillennia.Thelargestonesusedinconstructionwereactuallyquarriedand
transportedformanyhundredsofmiles—anoblefeat—suggestingthatStonehenge
wasaplaceofverysignificantimportance.
ThebasicmonolithiccolumnbeamstructureofStonehengewasknownandutilizedby
manyancientcivilizations.Forinstance,theancientEgyptiancivilizationsbuilt
impressivestonetombsandtemplesbyusingthebasicpostlintelstructuralsystem.
ButtotheEgyptians,structurewasmorethanphysical.Nosoonerdidtheirbasic
structuretakeonaspecificformdiditbegintotakeonsymbol.Decorated
ostentatiouslywithpaintings,carvings,andarchitecturaldetails,thecolumns,capitals,
lintelsandmassconstructedwallsofEgyptiantemplesnotonlyservedafunctionof
creatinginternalspace,butalsocommunicatedpower,wealth,right,anddivinity.
AncientEgyptwasdividedintotwokingdoms:thenorthernLowerEgyptandthe
southernUpperEgypt.Thesymbolsofthesetwokingdomswerethepapyrusandthe
lotusflower,respectively,symbolizingthemainresourcecentraltotheirparticular
economicindustries.Theimportantsymbolsbecameincorporatedintoarchitecture,
ascanbeseeninthecolumnsandcapitolsofvariousEgyptiantemples(Figure6and
Figure7).TemplesthatwerecommissionedandbuiltaftertheunificationoftheUpper
andLowerKingdomsincorporatedbothofthesearchitecturalsymbolseitherbyusing
bothstylesofcolumnsandcapitalssidebyside,likeinthe1300B.C.TempleofKarnak,
asseeninFigure8a,orbyusingacompositeformofthepapyrusandlotusflower,like
inthe237B.C.EdfuTemple,asseeninFigure8b.
Similarly,theancientGreeksdevelopedthreedistinctivearchitecturalordersforstyles
ofcolumnarcapitals.Forexample,thefamousGreekParthenonwasbuiltintheDoric
order.TheveryspecificstandardsandproportionsoftheDoricorderwerethoughtto
PAGE 7
FIGURE5.STONEHENGE
FIGURE6.LUXORTEMPLE
FIGURE8A.TEMPLEOFKARNAK
FIGURE7.LUXORTEMPLE
FIGURE8B.EDFUTEMPLE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:TRABEATION
reflecttheproportionsofamanandwereusedintemplesdedicatedtomalegods.
Thecolumnsstooddirectlyonthefoundation,withoutabase.Thecolumnitselfwas
flutedwithtwentyconcavegroovesandculminatedinaplain,smoothcapitalthat
flaredfromthecolumntomeetasquareplatethatsupportedthebeam—whatthe
Greekscalledtheentablature.Theentablatureconsistedofastonebeamcarvedwith
triglyphsandmetopes,whichsculpturallyimitatedtheconnectiondetailofwood
constructedtemples,whichpredatedthemorepermanentstonemonuments.
IncontrasttotheDoricorder,whichcanbeseeninFigure9,theIonicorderstands
uponabase.Itsslenderproportionsandcharacteristicpairofscrollingvolutesonthe
capitalnegotiatethetransitionfromcolumntobeam.OneparticularGreektemple,
theErechtheion,asseeninFigure10,wasbuiltintheIonicstyle.Thetemplealso
containedacoveredterraceinwhichfemalesculptures,knownascaryatids,servedas
thecolumnarsupportsfortheroofstructure(Figure11).ThefactthatthisIonic
templealsohadacaryatid“PorchofMaidens”furtherreinforcedtheGreekbeliefthat
theIonicorderreflectedtheproperproportionsofawoman.Ineffect,Greektemples
dedicatedtofemalegoddesseswerebuiltintheIonicstyle.
Thethirdarchitecturalorder,theCorinthian,wasbelievedtobethemostornateand
refined.DrawinginfluencefromthelocalacanthusplantofCorinth,Greece,the
Corinthiancapital,asusedintheTempleofDionysusinFigure12,hassimilar
proportionstotheIonicorder,althoughslightlymoreslender.Typically,theGreeks
usedtheCorinthianorderinsideofbuildings,whiletheRoman’s,whoadoptedthe
Grecianarchitecturalorders,ascanbeseenintheclassical,IonicstyleTempleof
Portunus,morereadilyembracedtheCorinthiancapitalanduseditextensivelyin
buildingconstruction,asseeninthecircularTempleofHercules.
Insomeapplications,theorderswerepaired,orsuperimposed,usingtwoor,
sometimes,allthreeordersinthesamestructure,asseenintheRomanColiseum,
Figure13andFigure14.Whensuperimposingtheseelements,theordersare
progressedfromtheDoric,whichisbelievedtobetheheaviestandplainest,onthe
bottom,totheCorinthian,whichisbelievedtobethelightest,slenderest,andmost
intricate,onthetop.TheColiseumactuallyutilizesamorerefinedRomanversionof
theCorinthianorder,inwhichtheymergethescrollingvolutesoftheIonicandthe
ornatefoliageoftheCorinthianintowhatiscalledtheCompositeorder.
Thefurtherrefinementofornamentationwithoutasignificantchangeinstructural
formdemonstratesaninherentlimitationinmasonrycolumnbeamstructures.
Therefore,therestofthediscussiononpostlinteltrabeationfocusesaroundcultural
influence,exchangeofideas,andarchitectureasapoliticalsymbol.
Forexample,theculturalexchangebetweentheancientGreek,Egyptian,andother
civilizationsisnotonlyverballyapparentinlinguisticliteraryaccounts,butalsovisually
apparentintheinfluenceofarchitecturalstyleandsymbol.Suchinfluenceisapparent
inthearchitecturaldetailingofthecolumnsandcapitalsoftheSteppedPyramidof
PAGE 8
FIGURE14.ROMANCOLISEUM—
HIERARCHYOFARCHITECTURALORDERS FIGURE9.THEPARTHENON—
DORICORDER
FIGURE10.ERECTHEION—
IONICORDER
FIGURE13.ROMANCOLISEUM
FIGURE11.ERECTHEION—
PORCHOFMAIDENS
FIGURE12.TEMPLEOFDIONYSUS—
CORINTHIANORDER
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:TRABEATION
DjoserComplexinwhichtheDoricinspiredcolumns,areplain,fluted,andwithouta
base,althoughsomecolumnsinmorerecentadditionstothecomplex,dorestupona
base,asseeninFigure15.Thiscolumnarstructure,whichpredatesthepapyrusand
lotuscolumnsofLowerandUpperEgyptbymorethanathousandyears,hasengaged
insteadoffreestandingcolumns,suggestingalessevolvedbuildingmethodologyand
refinementofthebuildingstructure.
TheTempleofQueenHatshepsut,seeninFigures16and17,furthercharacterizesthe
interactionofcultureandtheinfluenceofarchitectureasasymbol.QueenHatshepsut
assumedthethroneofEgyptuponthedeathofherhusband,ThutmoseII.
Withholdingtherightfulreignfromherson,QueenHatshepsutwishedtorulewith
powerandauthority;shewishedtobeviewedasstrongandironwilled,asadeity,as
aking,andasaman–notawoman.Itshouldrightlyfollowthathertemple,
completedaround1450B.C.,wasbuiltintheDoricstyle–bold,plain,unadorned–a
directcorrelationtoGreektypology.
Thespecificarchitecturalordersnotonlybecame‘types’andsymbols,butalso
completesystems,andbuildingsbecamemodelsandtypesforotherstocopy.For
example,theTempleofPortunus,showninFigure18,wasbelievedtobetheideal
templeformofRomanarchitecture.Thisparticularexamplewascopiedthroughout
WesternEurope,evidenceinthearchitectureoftheMaisonCarreeinNimesin
southernFranceandtheL’egliseSainteMarieMadelieneinParis,showninFigure19.
Eventoday,buildingsliketheUnitedStatesCapitol,theBritishHistoryMuseum,as
seeninFigure20,andBerlin’sReichstagandBrandenburgGate,asseeninFigures21
and22,alsoattempttosymbolizeandcommunicatetheGrecoRomanphilosophiesof
freedom,democracy,andequality.
FIGURE20.BRITISHHISTORYMUSEUM
FIGURE15.STEPPEDPYRAMIDOFDJOSERCOMPLEX
FIGURE16.HATSHEPSUT’STEMPLE
FIGURE17.HATSHEPSUT’STEMPLE
FIGURE18.TEMPLEOFPORTUNUS FIGURE21.REICHSTAG
FIGURE19.LAMADELIENE
FIGURE22.BRANDENBURGGATE
PAGE 9
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:TRABEATION
Theornamentalandstylisticrefinementsofthevariousstonetrabeatedstructuresdid
nothingtoimprovethestructuralefficiencyofsuchsystems.Inherentlimitationsexist
whenusingstoneasahorizontalspanningmember;stonebeamsarelimitedbythe
tensionforcesthatdevelopalongtheirbottomsurface.Beyondtheirloadcarrying
capacity,tensioncrackswouldformandwouldpropagatethroughoutthecross
sectionofthebeam,resultinginfailure.Atypicalexampleofthisfailurewasnotedin
Athens’TempleofDionysusandcanbeseeninFigure23.
Thismateriallimitationrestrictedthespanlengthsbetweencolumns,and,ineffect,it
governedthetotalvolumeofenclosedspaces.ThebeamsofancientEgyptiantemples
spanned,atmaximum,fifteenfeet;typically,thespansweresignificantlysmaller.This
ledtostuffy,crowdedenclosedspaces,asnotedinFigure24andFigure25;however,
itpromptedthedevelopmentofnew,efficientstructuralformsthatwouldfullyexploit
theextraordinarycompressioncapacityofstone,brick,andotherformsofmasonry.It
wouldbethegreatmindsoftheRomanengineersthatwouldfindtheformto
effectivelyputstoneincompressionandthedevelopmentofthearch.
FIGURE23.TEMPLEOFDIONYSUS—STONEBEAMTENSIONCRACKING FIGURE25.TEMPLEOFDIONYSUS
FIGURE24.LUXORTEMPLE—LIMITSOFSTONETRABEATION
PAGE 10
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:TRABEATION
ARCHES
BeforetheRomans,therewereearlyattemptsatincreasingthestructuralefficiencyofstone
trabeatedsystems.Inthediscussionofancientmastabas,theSteppedPyramidofZoser,and
theMausoleumofAugustus,itwasnotedthatthesemassconstructionstructureswere
erectedasrestingplacesforthedeadandwereinneedoftunnels,chambers,andlarge,
internalspaces.DrawinginspirationonceagainfromearlyMesopotamianbuildingpractices,
theancientEgyptiansexperimentedwithbasicformsofcorbelvaulting.Corbelling,asseenin
Figure26,isthecreationofinternalspacebytheprogressivecantileveringofstones,
structurallyredirectingandtransferringtheverticalloadpathintothewallsofthecorridor.
Thissystem,whichworkedwellonsmallscales,asinthenarrowtunnelsandchambersofthe
GreatPyramids(Figure27),hadsimilar,inherentlimitationsasthepostlintelsystemsanddid
noteffectivelyexploitthecompressioncapacityofthestonesthemselves.
SimilarcorbellingeffortsareapparentinIslamicarchitecture.Characteristicandfundamental
toIslamicstructuresisthemuqarnaarch,whichisconstructedbylayeringaseriesofsmall,
pointedniches,whichprojectbeyondthosebelowit.Thecommontermforthisformisthe
“stalactitearch,”whichisappliedtotheundersideofcorbellikearches,underneathvaults,
andinthesquinchandpendentiveareasofdomes,theareawhichnegotiatesasquareplanto
theroundbaseofthedome.Examplesofmuqarnavaultscanbefoundintherich,Islamic
architectureofsouthernSpain,especiallyintheAlhambrainGranada,asseeninFigure28.
However,itwastheRomansthatrealizedtheextraordinarycompressivecapabilitiesofstone,
whichledthemtodeveloptheclassicRomanroundarch,asseeninFigure29.TheRoman
roundarch,constructedbybricklayingstonesontopofasemicircularwoodenformwork,
effectivelyputallofthestonesinpurecompression.Afreebodydiagramofthekeystone
showsagravityorloadinduced,verticalforceappliedtothestone.Theforceisresisted
partlybyshearfrictionforcesalongtheblockinterface,andtheresultantissafelytransferred
tothefoundationorpierthroughwhatiscalledthelineofthrust.Agoodexampleofthe
RomanroundarchisfoundintheRomanColiseum,seeninFigure30.
TheRomansusedthenewlyengineeredarchformextensivelyintheirconstructionofcivil
infrastructure,particularlyintheirconstructionofbridges,aqueductsandviaducts.Asuperb
exampleoftheRomanaqueductisthePontduGard,builtinthemiddleofthefirstcentury
A.D.Theaqueduct,seeninFigure31,wasbuiltinthreelevels,completelyoutofstonewith
outtheuseofmortar.Thestoneswerepreciselycuttofitperfectlytogether,muchlikethe
ancientEgyptiantemples,withouttheuseofabondingagent.
Attheheightoftheirempire,theRomanshadbuiltmorethan50,000milesofroadsand
bridges.Thispromotedculturalexchange,ideas,and,ineffect,architecturalformsandcon
structiontechniques.ArchconstructionflourishedinotherareasofWesternEuropeandled
tothedevelopmentoficonicstructuresoutsideofRome.Forexample,theCharlesBridgein
PAGE 11
FIGURE26.COREBELARCH
FIGURE29.ROUNDROMANARCH
FIGURE27.GREATPYRAMIDSOFGIZA
FIGURE28.LAALHAMBRA—MUQARNA
FIGURE30.COLISEUM —ROUNDARCH
FIGURE31.PONTDUGARD
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:ARCHES
Prague(Figure32)isoneoftheworld’smostfamous
bridges,characterizedbyitssimple,roundedarchform.
TotheRomans,thearchwasnotjustastructure–itwas
alsoasymbol.Itwasasymbolofherempire,her
conquest,herglory.AttheheightofRomanrule,
triumphantarches(examplesofwhichcanbeseenin
Figure33,Figure34andFigure35)wouldbeerectedto
commemorateanotablebattle,avictory,andyet
anotherconquestofdistantlands.Thetriumphalarches
wouldbeinauguratedinvictoryparadesthroughthecity
–markingthebeginningandendingoftheseancient
processions.Thearchembodiednoblehonorand,like
theformitself,begantotranscendculturalboundaries.
NotableleaderslikeNapoleonBonaparte,Constantine
andevenafewBritishmonarchswouldeventuallyerect
triumphalarchesintheirownname.
TheRomanroundarchwasindeedmorestructurally
efficientcomparedtotheantiquatedstonepostlintel
trabeatedsystems;however,therewerestilllimitstoits
span.Sincemoderndayphysicsandstructuralmechanics
didnotyetexist,stonemasonsandmasterbuildersin
thetimeleadinguptothemedievalGothicage,through
trialanderrorattemptsatlengtheningthespandistance
ofarches,foundthatroundarcheshadinherent
weaknesspoints,atapproximatelythirtydegreesfrom
thehorizontal.Itisnowknownthatthelineofthrustof
masonryarchesisnotsemicircular,butrather,parabolic,
asseeninFigure36.Inlongerspans,thislineofthrust
wouldnotbecarriedthroughtheroundstructuralform.
This,ineffect,ledtothedevelopmentofpointedarches,
showninFigure37,whichmorecloselyfitthelineof
thrustloadpathandmoreefficientlydirectedthetothe
foundation.Anapplicationofthisstructuralformcanbe
notedinFigure38,thePisaCathedral.
Tocontroltheseinherentweaknesseswithinthearch,
masterbuildersbegantodevisewaystoreinforcethe
structure.Thisresultedinthedevelopmentofdifferent
formsofarchandvaultbuttressingsystemswhich
effectivelyrestrainedthetendencyforarchesto,ina
sense,buckleoutward,undercompressionloads.
FIGURE32.CHARLESBRIDGE
FIGURE33.ARCHOFSEPTIMIUSSEVERES
FIGURE35.ARCDETRIOMPHE
30°
FIGURE36.LINEOFTHRUSTINROUNDARCH
FIGURE37.LINEOFTHRUSTINPOINTEDARCH PAGE 12
FIGURE34.ARCHOFTITUS
FIGURE38.PISACATHEDRAL STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:ARCHES
AllthreesystemsaredetailedinFigure39.Thefirstsystemrequireda
minorretrofitting—ametaltiewasconnectedtothearchsupports.
Thiswasacommonformofarchbuttressing,attractiveonlyforits
economyandeffectiveness;however,theinterruptionoftheelegant
archformdetractedfromitspopularity.Anexampleofthistypeof
buttressispicturedinFigure40,theBlueMosqueinIstanbul,Turkey.
Thesecondofthesebuttressingsystemstobedevelopedwasmass
buttressing,whichinvolvedabuildupofmaterial,similartomass
constructionofretainingwalls.Thisledtoamorerefinedformofwall
buttressing,asseeninParis’St.ChappelleinFigure41,whichgave
addedstabilitytothearchvaulting.
AthirdformofbuttressingthatdevelopedcametodefineGothic
architecture—theiconicflyingbuttress,asseenintheNotreDame
CathedralinFigure42.Flyingbuttressesdirecttheloadofarched
vaultingsystemsawayfromtheexternalwallsofthebuilding.This
reinforcesthearchedsystemwhilesafelytransferringtheloadtothe
ground,whileallowingformorewindowsandglasstobeincorporated
intothewallstructure,and,therefore,allowingnaturallightandairto
filterintotheenclosedspace.
Itisnotuncommontofindmodernexamplesofarchedstructures,
especiallysincetheemergenceofalternativemetalmaterials,likeiron
andsteel.Theengineeringpropertiesofthesematerialsmadepossible
unprecedentedstructuralforms,liketheEiffeltowerasseeninFigure
43,thethreehingedarchstructureofthePiraeusRailwayStation,as
seeninFigure44,andthearchedrooftrussesoftheAEGTurbine
Factory,asseeninFigure45.
FIGURE43.EIFFELTOWER
PAGE 13
FIGURE39.TIE,WALL,ANDFLYINGBUTTRESSES FIGURE41.ST.CHAPPELLE—WALLBUTTRESS
FIGURE40.BLUEMOSQUE—TIEBUTTRESS
FIGURE44.PIRAEUSRAILWAYSTATION
FIGURE42.NOTREDAME—FLYINGBUTTRESS FIGURE45.AEGTURBINEFACTORY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:ARCHES
Continuingwiththerefinementofformintermsofmasonrystructures,theGothic
archprovedmuchmoreefficientindirectingloadpathsthanthepureRomanround
arch.However,itwasnotuntilthelate19thcentury,aftertheonslaughtofmodern
mathematics,physics,andmechanicsdidengineersandscientistsbeginto
experimentwithrefiningthestructuralarchedform.Thankstostructural
experimentsbyarchitectengineerAntonioGaudi,thelineofthrustinducedbythe
loadsonaparticularstructurecanbefoundbysimplyusingapieceofstring.
Inhisexperiment,Gaudiestimatedtheverticalloadsthatwouldactonhisstructure–
loadsthathewantedtoresistwithanarchedform.Hescaleddowntheappliedloads
andattachedweightstoastringattheappropriateloadpoints.Theweightswould
makethestringsagunderthegravityloadcondition.ShowninFigure46,thepure
tensionshapeofthestring,whenflippedvertically,Gaudiconcluded,isthemost
efficientarchedstructuralform–acatenaryarchloadedinpurecompression(shown
inFigure47)–foranygivenloadcase.
ThecatenaryarchformisusedextensivelyinGaudi’sworks,includinghisfamous
SagradaFamiliainBarcelona,Spain(Figure48)andintheworkofSantiagoCalatrava,
includinghisOlympicComplexinAthens,GreeceandhisCiutatdelesArtsiCienciesin
Valencia,Spain(Figure49andFigure50,respectively).
PURETENSION
PURECOMPRESSION
FIGURE46.TENSIONSTRINGEXPERIMENT FIGURE47.CATENARYCOMPRESSIONARCH FIGURE50.WALKWAY—CIUTATDELESARTSICIENCIES FIGURE48.SAGRADAFAMILIA
PAGE 14
FIGURE49.WALKWAY—2004OLYMPICCOMPLEX STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:ARCHES
VAULTS
Thediscussionofarches,inessence,islimitedtoatwodimensionalconversation–
basicallyahorizontalspanresistingverticalloads.Inearlyapplications,archeswere
onlyusedinthissense,asnotedinthecivilinfrastructureexampleofthePontduGard
andinthesculpturalexamplesoftriumphalarches.Archapplicationswerealso
integratedintobuildingsystems,asseeninFigure51,thechurchofSt.Minatoal
MonteinFlorence.Thisparticularchurchhasmasonryarchribseverysooftenalong
thenaveofthechurch,alongwithatwodimensional,pitched,woodentrussroof.This
truss,incombinationwiththereinforcementstrengthofthemasonryarch,comprises
theentirecompositeroofstructuralsystemofthechurch.
However,thelimitsofwoodenspans,theirsusceptibilitytofire,andthenoted
materialefficiencyanddurabilityofmasonrypromptedtheexperimentationof
threedimensionalvaultingsystemsmadeentirelyofstone.
Thesimplestformofmasonryvaultisknownasabarrelortunnelvault.Abarrelvault
isastructuralelementformedbytheextrusionofasinglecurve,inthecaseof
catenaryorRomanroundarches,orpairofcurves,inthecaseofGothicpointed
arches.AnexampleofanextrudedbarrelvaultcanbeseeninFigure52.Effectively,
thiscreatesasseriesofarchesplacedsidebyside,onerightaftertheother.The
earliestknowntypesofmasonryvaultingwereusedextensivelythroughout
Mesopotamia,aswellasinancientRomanapplicationsofwarehousesandchurches,
ascanbenotedintheruinsoftheBasilicaofMaxentiusinFigure53.Otherexamples
includetheaforementionedtriumphantarches,showninFigure54,aswellasthe
massivebarrelvaultsofSaintPeter’sBasilica,showninFigure55.
Aswithsimplearches,barrelvaultstructuresgenerateanoutwardthrustthatmustbe
controlled.Thereareseveralwaysofcontrollingthishorizontalthrust.Thefirstisby
makingthewallsextremelythickandstrong,whichisuneconomicalandmost
inefficient.Secondly,barrelvaultsmaybebuiltparalleltoeachother.Thethrustfrom
onevaultthuslynegatesthethrustoftheother.Thisallowedforanincreaseinthe
uninterruptedinteriorspace,andonlythethrustsoftheoutermostvaultswouldneed
tobecontrolled.Thirdly,thevaultsmaybebuttressedbymass,wallbuttressesor,
moreelegantly,byflyingbuttresses.
However,themostsophisticatedwayofcontrollingthehorizontalthrustswasto
intersecttwobarrelvaults,asdemonstratedinFigure56,thusreducingmaterial,
openingspacesforwindowsandlight,andproperlydirectingthehorizontalthrustsof
thevaults,throughtheintersections,tofourmanageableverticalpointloads,which
eliminatedtheneedforcontinuouswallsupports.Thisledtofurtherexperimentation
andimprovementofthenewlyengineeredgroinvaultedstructuralsystem.
FIGURE52.BARRELVAULT
FIGURE51.ST.MINIATOALMONTE FIGURE56.QUADRIPARTITEGROINVAULT FIGURE53.BASILICAOFMAXENTIUS
FIGURE55.ST.PETER’SBASILICA
PAGE 15
FIGURE54.TRIUMPHALARCH STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:VAULTS
AlthoughtheRomansutilizedthisparticularstructuralsystemintheconstructionof
theColiseum(asseeninfigure57),thefirsttrialanderrorexperimentswithlarge
scalegroinvaultsystemsarehistoricallyassociatedwiththeambulatoryofSaintDenis
BasilicainParis,France,aroundtheyear1140.AsseeninFigure58andFigure59,the
vaultsofSaintDenis,althoughquiteheavy,squat,andunrefined,influencedan
architecturalmovementthatwoulddefinetheGothicageandpushthelimitsof
masonrystructures.
Thecathedralsthroughoutthemedievalperiodareprimecharacteristicexamplesof
theevolutionandprogressiverefinementofmasonryvaults.ShowninFigure60,the
vaultofChartresCathedral,completedaround1220,isaquadripartitemasonryvault,
meaningtheintersectionoftwobarrelvaults,whichresultsinfourpartitions.Thevault
itselfrequiredmassivemasonrypiers,whichleftlittleroomforstainedglasswindows
andnaturallight.Theinternalspaceiscold,dark,andtheroofisseeminglyheavy.
Throughtimecamerefinementinformandmaterialefficiency.Ascanbeseeninthe
sexpartitevaultingofNotreDameCathedral(Figure61),whichwascompletedaround
1245,andinthequintessentiallyvaultedchapelofSt.Chappelle,showninFigure62
andFigure63,thin,gracefulpiersreplacedbulkyones,allowingforlessmaterial,more
windows,morelight,andamoreefficientstoneskeletonduetotheevolvedtrialand
errorconstructiontechniquesofmedievalmasterbuilders.
DuringthelateGothicperiod,vaultingsystemsbecameevenmoreintricate.Some
examplesofsuchvaultscanbeseeninFigure64.St.VitusCathedralinPrague,
completedaround1344,isanexampleofHighGothicribnetvaulting,notthat
dissimilarfromthependantstylefanvaultingofHenryVIII’schapelinWestminster
AbbeyshowninFigure65.
TheSpanishCatalanarchitectAntonioGaudimadeextensiveuseofcatenaryarches
andvaultsinhisarchitecturalworks.Capitalizingonthestructuralefficiencyofsuch
arches,Gaudiincorporatedsimilarvaultsintothethinshellstructuralsystemsofhis
famousSagradaFamiliaandtheCasaMila,showninFigure66,Figure67andFigure68.
FIGURE57.ROMANCOLISEUM FIGURE58.ST.DENISBASILICA
FIGURE60.CHARTRESCATHEDRAL FIGURE64.ST.VITUSCATHEDRAL
FIGURE66.CASAMILA FIGURE61.NOTREDAMECATHEDRAL
FIGURE65.HENRYVIII’SCHAPEL
FIGURE67.SAGRADAFAMILIA
FIGURE63.ST.CHAPPELLE
FIGURE68.SAGRADAFAMILIA
FIGURE59.ST.DENISBASILICA
FIGURE62.ST.CHAPPELLE
PAGE 16
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:VAULTS
DOMES
Consideredearthlyconstructionsofheavenlyspheres,domesmeetthechallengeof
creatinglarge,enclosedspaceswithouttheuseofinternalsupports.Constructedby
revolvinganarchedform,eitherround,pointed,orcatenary,aboutacentralaxis,
(depictedinFigure69)domesadequatelyholdtheirownwhenitcomestocontrolling
outwardthrustscreatedbyarchedandvaultedsystems.However,uniquetodomes,
tensionhoopstressesaregenerated–forcesthatmakesthedomebulgeunderits
ownweightincombinationwithexternalloading–whichmustbecontrolled.
TheengineersoftheancientRomanknewallabouthoopstress,howtocontrolit,and
howtominimizetheloadsthatdomeshadtocarryinordertomaximizethespans
theycouldachieve.ThelegendaryPantheon(Figure70andFigure71),whichwasbuilt
inthefirstcenturyA.D.,achievedunprecedentedspans,duetothediscoveryand
extensiveuseofearlyconcreteproductsasconstructionmaterialsandbyingeniously
alteringtheformofthestructureitself.Theenveloping142footspanofthePantheon,
whichheldtherecordforlongestspanfor1500yearsuntilitwassurpassedbythe
domesoftheRenaissance,wasaccomplishedbyagradualchangeinthethicknessof
thedomefrombasetooculus,decorativecoffering,whicheffectivelyeliminatedma
terialand,ineffect,weight,andtheincorporationoflightermaterialsintheconcrete
mixture,whichalsoreducedtheselfweightofthedome.
Abuildupofmaterialwasplacedatthebaseofthedomeasaformofmasswall
buttressingagainstthegeneratedhoopstresses,andtheinfamousoculusnotonly
eliminatedmaterialweight,butalsoservedasaforcecontrollingtensionringforthe
crownofthedome.
TheancientRomanswhoconstructedthePantheonhadeffectivelydiscovered
concrete,whichcouldbeeasilymoldedandformedintoanydesiredshape,provided
therewasadequateformwork.However,afterthefalloftheRomanEmpire,the
knowledgeofconcreteconstructionwaslostinthepagesofhistory.Medievalbuilders
knewnothingoftherevolutionarymaterial;sothedomesconstructedintheearlyand
lateGothicagesleadinguptotheRenaissancewererelativelyprimitivecomparedto
theRomanmarvelofthePantheon.
Inearlymedievaldomeconstruction,builderswoulderectaseriesofrevolving,
transverseribarchesandinfillthespaceswithbrickorstonework.Theresultwasa
vaulteddome,liketheoctagonaldomeoftheCathedralofValencia,picturedinFigure
72,builtcircaA.D.1500.Theeightribspokeswerearrangedinacircularpattern,and,
sincetheywerefreestandingarches,thespandistance,whichisrelativelyminiscule
comparedtothePantheon,requiredheavybuttressingalongthedome’sperimeter.
SimilardomeconstructionwasusedmanyyearslaterinthebuildingofSantaMaria
dellaSalute,achurchbuiltin1631inVenice,Italy,showninFigure73.
PAGE 17
FIGURE69.REVOLVEDARCHDOME&HOOPSTRRESS
FIGURE71.PANTHEON
FIGURE70.PANTHEON
FIGURE72.SAGRADAFAMILIA
FIGURE73.SAGRADAFAMILIA
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:DOMES
Thistypeofdomeconstructionwasnotrevolutionaryduringthemiddleages.The
legendarydomeoftheHagiaSophia,completedaroundA.D.500,picturedinFigure74
andFigure75,wasdesignedasaseriesoffortyribs,whichallowedforaseriesofforty
windowstobeplacesbetweenthem.Thisgivestheillusionthatthedomeis“floating”
overtheinteriorspace–aconceptenvisionedbythedesignertofloodthespacewith
lightandtoevokeemotionsofwondermentandcelestialproximitytotheheavens.
The102footspanrivalsthatofthePantheon;however,duringitslonghistory,the
domehasbeenbuiltandrebuiltatotalofthreetimes,duetodestructionbyfireand
structuraldesignfailuresattributedtoinefficientbuttressingofthemainandside
hemisphericdomes.
TheuniqueinterioroftheHagiaSophiacanbeattributedtoitsuniquegeographic
location.LocatedinIstanbul,Turkey,whichwasoncetheEasternRomancapitolof
Constantinople,spanstwocontinents,thusitsarchitecturalstyles,painting,and
ornamentationareheavilyinfluencedbydifferentcultures.TheHagiaSophiawasfirst
builtasaRomanCatholicchurch,decoratedwithintricatelypristinemosaicsinthe
Byzantinestyleofartandarchitecture;inlatercenturies,withthespreadofIslam,the
churchwasconvertedtoamosque,anditsmosaicswerecoveredbylayersofstucco,
whichwerethenpaintedwithIslamicsymbolsandgeometricdesignscharacteristic.
Thespreadofdifferentstylesofartandarchitecturecanbeseenviaexamples
throughoutWesternEurope.VeniceechoedtheidealpositionofConstantinopleatthe
meetingpointofancienteastwesttraderoutes.SaintMark’sBasilicainVenice,Italy,
seeninFigure76,isbuiltanddecoratedinmuchthesamestyleastheHagiaSophia,as
notedbyextensiveByzantinemosaicsandpaintingsthroughoutthecathedral.
However,thedomesofSaintMark’s,showninFigure77andFigure78,completed500
yearsafterthefloatingdomeoftheHagiaSophia,werebuiltinanewformandstyle
achievedbyemployingnewmaterialsandimplementingnewconstructiontechniques.
TheonionshapeddomesofSaintMark’sBasilicawereformedbyconstructingtwo
shells–aninterior,structuralshellandanexterior,aestheticshell.Theinteriorshells
ofthedomeswereconstructedinasimilarfashiontotheHagiaSophiaandthe
CathedralofValencia.Itconsistedofaseriesofspokelikemasonryribs,whichallowed
forwindows,andfinishedwithastoneandbrickinfill.Theouterdomes,whichwas
added200yearslater,isformedoutofwoodandcoveredinleadpanels.Theabilityto
bendwoodintoadesiredshapeallowedthedomestotakeoncurvaceous,onionlike
forms,whichwereintendedtoblendinwiththenewlyappliedGothicfaçadeand
ornamentationoftheBasilica’sexterior.
TheGothicagesawlittleimprovementsinthedesignandconstructionofdomes.
However,theflourishofideas,creativegenius,andthenewemergenceandimpacts
ofmathematicsandscienceduringtheItalianRenaissancepromptedunprecedented
accomplishmentsintermsofspanninginteriorspace.
PAGE 18
FIGURE74.HAGIASOPHIA
FIGURE75.HAGIASOPHIA
FIGURE76.FAÇADEOFST.MARK’SBASILICA
FIGURE77.INTERIOROFST.MARK’SBASILICA
FIGURE78.DOMESOFST.MARK’SCATHEDRAL STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:DOMES
FlorencewasacitythatneverforgottheclassicalpastofItaly.Buildingssuchas
SaintMinatoalMonte,showninaprevioussection,werebuiltintheclassical
style,influencingartistsandarchitectsduringtheyearsleadinguptheartistic
flurryoftheRenaissanceperiod.Eventheoctagonalbaptisteryandthe
similarlyshaped,crossingofthecathedralofFlorence,laterchristenedSanta
MariadelFiore,weredesignedintheclassicalstyle,derivinginfluencefrom
ancientRomantemples.However,theambitiouslyextensiveoctagonalcrossing
ofthecathedral,alongwiththeconstructionofatowering180foothighthin
walledoctagonaldrum,causedadilemmaintheoveralldesign–thecrossing
couldnotbespannedbysimplyraisingadomeonatraditionalwoodenframe
work,knownascentering,duetoitsheightandthewidthofthespan.
Intheend,thenovelsolutioncamefromFilippoBrunelleschiwhowasa
classicallytrainedsculptor,artist,andarchitect.Brunelleschiwonadesign
competitionwithhismodelofadomethat,byitscompletionin1456,boldly
definedtheRenaissance(seeFigure79).Mergingartandscienceintoastandard
forthefuture,Brunelleschiinsistedthathisdomecouldbebuiltwithoutthe
assistanceofwoodenformwork.Thedomeconsistedofaconcentricseriesof
selfsupportinghorizontalringsofbrickandstone,reinforcedbyaninfillof
brickworklaidinareinforcingherringbonepattern,depictedinFigure80,which
addedstiffnessandstabilitytotheshellstructure.Furthermore,thedomewas
constructedintwolayers–aheavy,thickinteriorshell,andathinner,weather
protecting,exterior,whichallowedfortheconstructionofastaircasebetween
them,allowingeasyinspection,repair,while,morerecently,sufficingthecurios
ityoftouristsandvisitors.
Taperingastheyriseabovethecrossing,theinnerandouterdomesarelinked
andreinforcedby24verticalribsofsandstone,eightlargeribsdefinethe
octagonaldrum’scorners,whilesixteensmallerribsareembeddedand
distributedbetweenthem.Atwentyfootdiameteroculuscrownsthedomeand
supportsthelanternwhichwasinstalled,posthumously,inhonorof
Brunelleschi.Anothermajorinnovationofthedomeconstructionwasthegirdle
ofchains,someofwood,someofstone,andironcrampsthatrestrictedthe
domeshoopstresses.Brunelleschi’sdomebecame,almostovernight,the
standardbenchmarkbywhichallotherdomeswouldbemeasured.
FIGURE80.HERRINGBONEBRICKPATTERN
PAGE 19
FIGURE79.SANTAMARIADELFIORE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:DOMES
DuringtheRenaissance,otherartistsandarchitects,likeDonatoBramante,begantoadopt,
change,andcodifytheclassicalrulesofGreekandRomanarchitecture.HisTempietto,
completedin1502,showninFigure81,isacommemorativemartyriuminthecourtyardof
SanPietroinMontorio,asmallchurchbuiltuponthesupposedsiteofthecrucifixionofSaint
PeterinRome.ThetempleisconsideredtobeamasterpieceofHighRenaissance
architecture,perfectlyproportionedandharmoniouslydesignedwithDoriccolumns,aDoric
entablaturedepictingbothChristianandpagansymbols,andadome.Althoughviewedasa
pieceofsculptureratherthanarchitecture,theTempiettoembodiedalloftheelementsof
classicalarchitecture,and,alongwithBrunelleschi’smasterpiece,servedasmodeland
inspirationforotherRenaissancearchitects,includingthelegendaryMichelangelodi
LodovicoBuonarrotiSimoni.
FIGURE82.MICHELANGELO’SDOME FIGURE79.FAÇADEOFST.PETER’SBASILICA
FIGURE84.INTERIORDOMEOFST.PETER’SBASILICA
FIGURE81.BRAMANTE’STEMPIETTO PAGE 20
FIGURE85.PIERSSUPPORTINGDOME
Michelangelo,whoinheritedthetitleofchiefarchitectofthenewSaintPeter’sBasilicain1546
aftermanyillustriouspredecessorsincludingBramanteandRaphaelSanzio,waschargedwith
thedauntingtaskofdesigningthedomeofthelargestchurchinChristendom.With
BrunelleschiandBramanteinmind,Michelangelodesignedhisowntoweringmasterpiece.
DirectlyoverwhatmanybelievetobethetomboftheearlyChristianmartyr,thedouble
vaultedbrickdome,showninFigure82,Figure83andFigure84,rises452feetintotheairand
spansadiameterof137feet,closelyrivalingthatofBrunelleschi’sFlorentinetourdeforce.
Rowsofwindowspiercethe16ribbedcompartmentsbetweenthearchesastheycurvetoward
thelantern.ThoughnolongervisiblefromeverywhereinRome,asMichelangelointended,the
leadcovereddomestilldwarfstheotherRenaissancechurchesinitstoweringheight.
Theimmensedomesitsatopfourmassivepiers(showninFigure85)morethansixtyfeetwide
thatanchorthefourarcheswhichsupportsthedome’sbase.Thetransitiontoaroundbaseis
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:DOMES
negotiatedbyfourpendentivesbetweenthearchesandthecirculardrum.Thedome
wasconstructedsimilarlytoSantaMariadelFiore,byusingdoubleshellsofmasonry
andwrappedwithtwoironchainstoeffectivelycontrolthehooptensionstressesthat
weregeneratedinthemassivestructure.Nearly150yearslater,cracksbeganto
propagatethroughoutthedome.In1742,apioneerinstructuralmechanicsnamed
GiovanniPolenideterminedthattheproblemcouldbesolvedbytheadditionoffive
moreironchainstocontroltheoutwardthrustofthedome.
AfterLondon’sdevastatingGreatFirein1666,SaintPaul’sCathedral,showninFigure
86andFigure87,wasrebuiltasperthedesignofarchitectSirChristopherWren,
whichincludedadomeconstructedwithnovel,innovativetechniquesthatmadeprior
methodsobsolete.WhileadmiringthedoubleshellmasonrydomeofSaintPeter’s
BasilicainRome,Wrenwasalarmedbythestructure’scracking.Furthermore,the
rubblefilledpierswhichwouldsupportWren’sdomebegantospallevenbeforethe
dome’sdesignwascomplete.Thisdemandedthatthemassivedomebenotonlystruc
turallysound,butalsoextremelightinweight.
Wrenaddressedbothdemandsbyusingthreeseparateshellsinhisdome:a
lightweight,inner,eighteeninchhemisphericaldomemadeofmasonry,acentral,
eighteeninchcatenary,coneshapeddomealsomadeofbrick,andanoutershellof
leadsheathedtimber.Onlythecentralcatenaryshellstructurallysupportsthe850ton
lanternthatcrownsthedome.Eightpiersandfourtowerlikebastionsarejoinedbya
seriesofarchesandbarrelvaultsthathelpanchorandstabilizethedome.Inaddition,
asingleironchainisusedtoresisttheoutwardhooptensionforcesfromspreading
throughoutthesystem.
TheinternalcatenarydomeofSaintPaul’sCathedral,thoughinnovativelyintegrated
intothedesignofthestructure,wasnotaparticularlynovelstructuralform.Infact,
catenarydomeswerebeingconstructedpriortotheMiddleAges,beforeGothic
cathedralsand,especially,beforethemorerecentworkofAntonioGaudi,whois
consideredtobethemainexploiterofthisparticularform.Asanexample,the
BaptisteryatthePisaCathedralhas,asitsmainstructuralform,acatenarymasonry
domeascanbeseenonthefollowingpageinFigure88.Thisstructurewascompleted
in1363,centuriesbeforethemastermasonsoftheMiddleAgesortheinnovative
geniusesoftheRenaissanceutilizedthisefficientstructuralformintheirdesigns.
AftertheRenaissanceperiodofclassicalarchitecture,architectsandbuildersbeganto
playwithotherdifferentformsandshapesofvaultedspaces.Thisledtotheuseof
ovals,intricatecoffering,andcomplexshapesindomeconstructiontypicaloftheBa
roqueperiodofartandarchitecture.Forexample,thechurchofSant’AndreaalQuiri
nale,designedbythefamousartistGianLorenzoBerniniinthe1660sisconsidered
oneofthefinestexamplesofRomanBaroquearchitecture,combiningartandstruc
tureinoftenseamlesscombinations.Thedomeofthechurchisanovalshapedmono
FIGURE86.DOMEOFST.PAUL’SCATHEDRAL
FIGURE87.FAÇADEOFST.PAUL’SCATHEDRAL
PAGE 21
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:DOMES
shelldome,showninFigure89,supportedby10masonryribsandacofferedmasonry
infill.Thesmalloculussupportsalanternthat,incombinationwithotherstrategic
sculpturesofmarble,glassandgilding,floodthespacewithcelestialbeamsoflight.
SimilarinstyleandformtoSant’AndreaistheRomanchurchofSanCarloalleQuattro
Fontane–theinteriorofwhichwasredesignedbyarchitectFrancescoBorrominiin
1637.Thechurch,depictedinFigure90,withitsundulatingfaçadeandintentional
departurefromclassicism’scrisplineation,isalsoconsideredaniconicmasterpieceof
Baroquearchitecture.Borrominifavoredacorrugatedovaldomeintricatelycoffered
withasystemofcrosses,ovals,hexagonsandoctagonswhoseproportionsdiminish
towardsthecrowninglantern.Thesolesourceoflightforthespace,thelanterndepicts
partingcloudsflankingthesidesofapure,whitedove–asymbolofpurity,redemption,
cleansing,andspiritualrenewal.
OvaldomeswerenotexclusivelyBaroque.PriortotheItalianRenaissance,muchlikeits
sisterbaptistery,thePisaCathedral,consecratedin1118,wasadornedwithblackand
whitemarble,greystone,agildedceilingandafrescoedovaldome.Thedome,
depictedinFigure91,issetuponhighandnarrowpointedarches.Itisconsideredtobe
ofIslamicinspiration.
FIGURE89.SANT’ANDREAALQUIRINALE
FIGURE91.PISACATHEDRAL PAGE 22
FIGURE88.BAPTISTERYATPISACATHEDRAL
FIGURE90.SANCARLOALLEQUATTROFONTANE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:DOMES
FIGURE93.DOMEINTERIOR OFTHEBLUEMOSQUE
AlsoofIslamicinspiration,istheSultanAhmedMosque,thelargermosqueina
complexofseveralknowncollectivelyastheBlueMosque,namedforthebluetiles
adorningthewallsofitsinterior.Completedin1616,themosquewasconstructed
neartheacclaimedHagiaSophia,andmuchofitsinterior,especiallyitsdome
construction,wasinfluencedbythearchitectureoftheearlyChristianchurch.The
crowningcircular,masonrydomeoftheBlueMosque,showninFigure92andFigure
93,hovers130feetoveracentralprayerhallandboastsaneightyfootdiameterspan.
Thecentraldomeissupportedbyfoursemidomes,whichare,inturn,supportedby
threeexedrae,smaller,semicircularhalfdomesrecessedinto,andthereby
undulating,abuildingsfaçade.Thereare28windowsinthecentraldome,fourteenin
eachsemidome,andanotherfiveineachexedrathatfloodthespacewithlight.
OtheruniquedomesfoundthroughoutWesternEuropeincludethedomeofthe
Alhambra’sSaladelasDosHermanas(Figure94)inGranada,Spain.Thedomeofthis
famedroom,completedinthelate1300s,wasconstructedusingthemuqarna,or
“stalactite”vaultingoftheIslamicMoors.Tiny,honeycombedcellsvaulttheceiling
andnotonlycreateanacousticallyinterestingspace,butalsocompositelycomprise
strikinglyintricategeometricpatternstypicallyassociatedwithIslamicarchitecture.
Architecturethroughoutthecenturiesdrewheavyinfluencefrompastgenerations,
especiallywhenstructureswerebuilttosymbolizecertainideas,evokecertain
emotions,orcommunicatecertainagendas.Forinstance,theclassicalRenaissance
idealsofarchitecturalorderandproportionwerereemphasizedtimeandtimeagainin
religiousandpoliticalarchitecturalcommissions,particularlyduringtheneoclassical
periodofpostrenaissancearchitecture.Duringthisperiod,politicalbuildingslikethe
ReichstaginBerlin,completedin1894,wereconstructedintheneoclassicalstyleto
communicatetheprinciplesoffreedom,equality,anddemocracy.Furthermore,itis
unmistakable,ascanbeseeninFigure95onthenextpage,thatthe1757Parisian
churchofSainteGenevieve,nowknownasthePantheon,wasdesignedtohavethe
façadeoftheRomanPantheonandthedomeofBramante’sTempietto,thus
reinforcingtheinfluentialnatureofarchitectureasaneffectivereligiousandpolitical
symbol–amediumbywhichtocommunicatemeaninganddivinerightofempirical
power–thesamethathavetranscendedepochs.
FIGURE94.SALADELASDOSHERMANASMUQARNADOME PAGE 23
FIGURE92.BLUEMOSQUE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:DOMES
Sincetheindustrialrevolution,architectsanddesignersofmoderndomestructures
havereplacedmasonrywithnewmaterials,likeglass,metal,andconcrete,inorderto
achievenovelstructuralforms.TheaforementionedReichstag,showninFigure96
throughFigure99,forexample,isamoderndomemadeofglassandsteel.This
particulardomeisa1992replacementtoasimilarglassandironworkstructurethat
wasdestroyedpartlybyfirein1933.Itsawadditionaldestructionduringthelastfew
daysofWorldWarII.Alarge,reconstructedglasscupolasitsatoptheroof.Its
transparencygivesvisitorsachancetoseeinsidetheparliamentchambersbelow,in
linewiththegovernmentalmandatethattheGermanpeoplecanalwayslooktosee
whattheirpoliticiansareupto.Naturallightradiatesdowntotheparliamentfloor,and
alargeshieldtracksthemovementofthesun,shieldingsunlightwhichmightblind
thoseinthechambersbelow.
Theintricatelatticeworkofsteelandglassisreminiscentofthecofferingpatternsof
ancientdomes,liketheRomanPantheon.Otherbuildingswithsimilar,modernlattice
structureswillbeexploredinalaterchapter,aswilllongspannedstructuresachieved
bytheuseofconcreteandothernovelconstructionmaterials.
Althoughthelastfewbuildingsdiscusseddidnotachievemonumentallyimpressive
spans,perse,theyarestillnoteworthyinanexplorationofarchitecturalstyle,
influence,form,andmaterialcomposition.Thediscussionofdomes–theancient
marvelsandtheiconicstructuresoftheItalianRenaissance–wasthuslycenteredon
thepreIndustrialRevolutionconstructionofwoodandmasonrystructures.Modern
physics,mathematicsandstructuralmechanics,aswellasthediscoveryofmodern
constructionmaterialsandtechniques,gaverisetonewforms,newwaysofbuilding,
andnewarchitecturesthatcametodefinethepostIndustrialageofhumancivilization.
FIGURE95.PANTEON
FIGURE99.SUNSHIELDINTHEDOMEOFTHEREICHSTAGBUILDING
FIGURE97.DOMEOFTHEREICHSTAGBUILDING
FIGURE98.DOMEOFTHEREICHSTAGBUILDING
FIGURE96.REICHSTAGBUILDING
PAGE 24
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:DOMES
SHELLS&HYPERBOLOIDS
Forcenturiesarchitectureandstructurewasatanextremedisadvantage,
constantlystrugglingwithmaterialinefficienciesandconstructionlimitations.For
modernbuilders,theRomanPantheon,shownagaininFigure100,ismorethan
justaniconicpieceofancientarchitecture;itsymbolizeswhatwasachievable,it
representswhatwashumanlyandphysicallypossiblenearlytwothousandyears
ago,and,ineffect,itsignifieswhatwasinherentlylostfortwomillennia–the
knowledgeofthemostversatileconstructionmaterialknowntoman–concrete.
Onlysincethemodernrediscoveryofconcretehavedesigners,architects,and
buildersbeenabletochallengethebarsetbytheancientRomans.Aftera1500
yearhiatus,modernconcrete,initsbrief175yearhistory,hasbecomethemost
widelyusedconstructionmaterialintheworld,andonlyrecentlyhavewe,like
theRomans,beenabletomarvelatourownworksofmodernengineering.
Concreteismultitalented.Itcanbemolded,strengthened,reinforced,and
formedintoanydesirableshape.Itcanbeadjustedforawidearrayof
applications,and,moreover,theincorporationofwastematerialsandbyproducts
fromotherindustriesactuallyimprovetheperformanceoftheconcreteitself.No
wonderconcreteisthemostutilizedconstructionmaterialinthemodernday!
Beforethemassapplicationofconcreteasastructuralmaterial,aspreviously
mentioned,architectsandbuildershadtorelyonstonemasonsandbricklayersto
achievecomplex,undulatingsurfacesintheirdesign.ThefamousworkbySpanish
architectAntonioGaudichallengedtheskilllimitsofstonemasonsinhisdesigns.
Forexample,hisCasaMila(Figure101andFigure102),builtinBarcelonaaround
1907,hasawavy,masonryfaçade,characteristicofsanddunesorcavelike
honeycombs.TheworkisbetterknownasLaPedrera,whichmeans“TheQuarry”
inthelocalSpanishdialectofCatalan.Thismountainofstonerequiredthateach
blockbecut,carved,andsculptedintotheexactshape–aprocessthatis
extremelytimeandlaborintensive.
Gaudi’smasterpiece–theSagradaFamilia–wasdesignedandisbeingcon
structedinmuchthesameway.AscanbeinferredfromFigure103,theBasilica,
famousforitsorganicdetails,sandcastlelikeappearance,useofintricatevault
ingandefficientcatenaryforms,requiresthateachstonebesculptedindepend
entlyfromallotherstones.Itcomesasnosurprisethatconstructionbeganin
1882andcontinuestoday.Gaudiissaidtohavejoked,“Myclientisnotina
hurry.”However,withtypicaltimedependentconstructionprojects,building
moderndaystructuresinthiswayisnevertypicallyanoption.Fortunately,after
itsrediscovery,concretehasbecomeviablealternativetomasonryconstruction.
PAGE 26
FIGURE101.FAÇADE OFCASAMILA
FIGURE102.CASAMILA
FIGURE100.PANTHEON
FIGURE103.SAGRADAFAMILIA
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:SHELLS&HYPERBOLOIDS
Whenhardened,concreteachievesamasonrylikequality;however,itsstrength,
durability,andworkabilityallowittobeformedintoverythinshellsthatarecapableof
bridgingmostexpansivegaps.Onesuchexampleofconcreteinathinshellapplication
istheCNITBuildinginParis,France.Uponcompletionin1968,thebuildingboastedthe
largestconcreteshellintheworldintermsofsquarefootagecovered.Thetriangular
shapedvaultisheldinplacebythreesupports.AsseeninFigure104,Figure105and
Figure106,aseriesofparalleldoublethinshellcurvebarrelvaultsareplacedsideby
side,whichcountertheoutwardthrusttypicaloftunnelvaultsofthisparticularform,
effectivelyutilizingthecompressivestrengthofconcrete.
Othersimilarconcreteroofstructuresoflessimpressivespanscanbefoundthroughout
WesternEurope.Forexample,theHausderKulturenderWelt,showninFigure107,is
locatedinBerlin,Germany.Thismuseum,whichisaffectionatelycalledthe“pregnant
oyster”bythelocals,isdedicatedtocelebratingthediversityofthepeoplesand
culturesoftheworld.Thestructuralsystemismadeofreinforcedconcrete,andthethin
shellroof,itscurvaceousform,isaniconiccitylandmark.
Concreteiscelebratedforitsabilitytobemoldedandshapedintoanyform,provided
thereissufficientwoodenormetalformworktocradlethematerialasitcures.
Economicallimitationsofconstructingformworkhavenarrowedthebreadthof
concreteapplications;however,somesupremearchitecturalexamplesexist,which
showconcrete’strueflexibilityofform.
FIGURE104.CNITBUILDING
PAGE 27
FIGURE105.CNITCONCRETE VAULT FIGURE107.HAUSDERKULTURENDERWELT
FIGURE106.VAULTINGOFTHECNITBUILDING
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:SHELLS&HYPERBOLOIDS
Forexample,SantiagoCalatrava’sPalaudelesArtsReinaSofía,whichiscurrentlyunder
construction,alongwiththeentirecomplexoftheCiutatdelesArtsilesCienciesin
Valencia,Spain,isanoperahouseconstructedoutofthinshellconcreteforms,asseen
inFigure108.Anotherbuildingonthesite,ElMuseudelesCienciesPrincipeFelipe,isa
sciencemuseum.Itscomplex,curvaceousformcanbenotedinFigure109.Thenautical,
organicshapesofCalatrava’sarchitecture,shownexquisitelyinFigure110,couldnotbe
achievedwithouttheuniqueformabilityofconcrete.
TheOrientStationinLisbon,Portugal,showninFigure111,isyetanotherexampleof
Calatrava’saffinitytocreatecomplexforms.Thewhimsicallyformedconcrete,seenin
Figure112andFigure113,isstrikinglyreminiscentofthearchitecturalconcretework
byLeCorbusierandLuigiNervi.Theconcretebasecombineswithmodernapplications
ofsteelandglasstocreateothercurvaceous,natural,organicforms.Thisparticular
structureservesasagoodtransitionfromadiscussionaboutconcreteshellstoa
conversationaboutundulatingsurfaces,complexforms,andhyperboloidstructures
madeofothermaterials.
FIGURE111.ORIENTSTATION
FIGURE113.ORIENTSTATION
FIGURE108.PALAUDELESARTSREINASOPHIA FIGURE110.CIUTATDELESARTSICIENCIES
PAGE 28
FIGURE112.ORIENTSTATION
FIGURE109.MUSEUDECIENCIES
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:SHELLS&HYPERBOLOIDS
Ahyperboloid,inastructuralsense,isafancytermthatincludesallshapesand
surfacesthatarecurvy,wavyandhighlyandirregular.Pureellipticalhyperboloids
givetheshapestonuclearcoolingtowers;however,thesamestructuralprinciples
usedtoerectthesestructuresarealsousedinconstructingthecurvaceousformof
theSageGatesheadConcertHallinNewcastle,England(Figure114),andthe
undulatingsurfacesinthedeconstructivistarchitectureofFrankGehry.
ThearchitectureofFrankGehryischaracterizedbyitsseeminglychaoticformand
unpredictablecurves–hisarchitectureisneverlinear.HisfamousGuggenheim
MuseuminBilbao,Spain,whichwascompletedin1997(Figure115),isnowa
universallyrecognizedarchitecturalsymbol.Hiswasoneofthefirststructuresto
showcasetitanium,alongwithstoneandglass,asapredominantbuildingmaterial.
Hisextensiveuseofcomputersinthedesignandschematicrepresentationofthe
structuralsystemswasalsoapioneeringendeavor.
Gehryisknownforpushingtheenvelope,especiallyinhissculpturallyabstract
approachtoarchitecture.AsseeninFigure116,hisdesignfortheDZBankBuildingin
Berlin,Germany,whichwascompletedin2000,containsatypicallyGehry
hyperboloidsculpturalform,alongwithatensilegridspaceframeofsteelandglass,
whichheusesfortheroofandinteriorcanopy.
Thisparticularstructuredemonstratesthecomplexformsandshapesthatcannow
beachieved,quiteefficiently,withtheintroductionofnewmaterialsand
constructiontechniques.Theunprecedentedabilityforconcretetofitvirtuallyany
shape,aswellastheemergingapplicationsofsteelandmetallatticework,hasgiven
risetonewformsofstructuralmembersandarchitecturalsurfaces–especiallyinthe
areaoflongspansystems.
FIGURE114.SAGEGATESHEADCONCERTHALL
PAGE 29
FIGURE15.GUGGENHEIMMUSEUM
FIGURE116.DZBANKBUILDING
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:SHELLS&HYPERBOLOIDS
TENSILESTRUCTURES
Tentstructuresarenothingnew.Formillennia,manhaseffectivelyutilizedtheform,
asdepictedinFigure117,byexploitingthetensilecapacitiesofcables,vines,and
skins,toprotectthemselvesfromtheelements.Today,mancontinuestofindusesfor
thisparticularstructuralform–fromthemostbasicofapplications,likeshadinga
SpanishstreetinSevilla,wheretemperaturescanriseabove100degreesFahrenheit
daily(seeFigure118),tomorecomplexapplicationsofpneumaticroofstructures.
Similarly,manytensilestructuresareusedasshades,notonlythroughoutWestern
Europe,butalsoallovertheworld.Forexample,inthearchedopeningoftheGrand
Arch(Figure119)intheLaDefensedistrictofParishangsasuspendedtensilecanvas
canopy(Figure120)usedasanartisticarchitecturalelementintheoverall
compositionofthebuildingdesign.Itisnotastructuralelement,perse;however,its
basicfunction,itsmostfundamentalprinciple,toshadepeople,pairswithan
overarchingaestheticpurposeandisemployedeffectivelyinbothregards.
Ageneralconcernforprotectionfromthesun,rain,weather,eveninpublicspacesis
notanovelconcept.Attheheightoftheirempire,ancientRomanswouldholdpublic
spectacles–inthegreatCircusMaximusand,morefamiliarly,theRomanColiseum
(Figure121).TheColiseumhadauniqueandinnovativewayofshelteringitsfansfrom
theblisteringTuscansun.AsdemonstratedinFigure122,theRomansraisedahoopin
thecenterofthearenabyusingpullingtautaseriesoftensionedcablesaroundthe
circumferenceofthearenaviapulleys,leversandsheermanpower.TheRomans
wouldthenunrolllargetarpsofanimalskinsoverthedesiredareasofthetensioned
grid,thuscreatingaprotectiveawningforspectators.
FIGURE118.SPANISHSTREETSHADE
FIGURE117.SIMPLETENTSTRUCTURE
FIGURE119.GRANDEARCHDELADEFENSE
FIGURE122.ANCIENTROMANCOLISEUMAWNING
FIGURE121.ROMANCOLISEUM PAGE 30
FIGURE120.TENSILESHADESTRUCTURE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:TENSILESTRUCTURES
Thistensionhoopideaisstillbeingemployedtodayinmodernsportsarena
construction,asseenintheBerlinOlympiastadioninFigure123throughFigure126.
Themodernsteelandfabricawningwastheresultofarenovationofthe1936
OlympicStadiumforthe2006WorldCup.Theroofitselfisupheldbyanetworkof
lightweightsteeltrusses,supportedbyverythincolumns(tomaximizevisibilityfrom
anyseat),andanetworkoffabricandplexiglassisstretchedoverthetrussframe.
FIGURE124.SLENDERROOFSUPPORTS
FIGURE125.1936OLYMPICRINGS
FIGURE126.LIGHTWEIGHTSTEELTRUSS,FABRIC,&PLEXIGLASSROOF FIGURE123.BERLINOLYMPIASTADION
PAGE 31
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:TENSILESTRUCTURES
FIGURE128.PNEUMATICSTRUCTURE FIGURE127.ALLIANZARENA
Modernpneumaticstructures,likeMunich’sAllianzArena,depictedinFigure127and
Figure128,employthesametypeofframingsystems.Thesteeltrussframescreateaframe
overwhichagridofcablesandfabricarelaid.Thefabricitselfisthenfilledwithair,
stiffeningthematrixandprovidingstrength,stability,andinsulationtotheoverallstructure.
Fabricroofsareapopularchoiceforsportsarenas,particularlybecauseofeconomicadvan
tages.NumerousGermansportsarenascontaintensilefabricroofs,liketheoneshownin
Figure129–aniceskatingrinkinMunich,whichemploysacombinationsteeltrussandfab
ricroofingstructure.AsimilarcompositesystemwasextensivelyusedbySantiagoCalatrava
inhisdesignforthe2004OlympicSportscomplexinAthens—bothinhisVelodrome(Figure
130)andtheOlympicStadium(Figure131).
FIGURE129.ICESKATINGRINK
PAGE 32
FIGURE130.OLYMPICVELODROME
FIGURE131.OLYMPICSTADIUM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:TENSILESTRUCTURES
BothofCalatrava’sVelodromeandmainOlympicStadiumemploythesamearchsuspensiontensile
netstructurefortheircanopies;however,whiletheVelodromehasafabricroof,themainOlympic
Stadiumhasasuspendedroofofplexiglass,whichundoubtedlyechoesthe1972workofFreiOtto–
thefamedMunichOlympicStadium.
ShowninFigure132,the1972MunichOlympicStadium,oncecompleted,wasaninstantengineering
marvel.Theintricateuseoftensionedcables,aswellastherevolutionaryuseofplexiglassasa
constructionmaterial,gaveinstantfametoOtto.However,theinnovativeuseofplexiglasswasnot
originallyOtto’sdecision.Televisionbroadcastingwas,fromitsinductionintomainstreamculture,a
highlyinfluentialmedia.TheMunichOlympicGameswerethefirsttobebroadcasttoaglobal
audience.Thus,themediademandedthattheygetadequatesunlightfortheirbroadcasts–atall
timesoftheday.Ottohadtofindanalternativetoconventionalfabrics.Hedidso–withplexiglass.
Tensilelatticeworkroofingsystems,showninFigure133andFigure134,whileextremelyefficientand
economical,arebecominganincreasinglypopularalternativetoconventionalroofstructures.Already,
therehavebeenmanyapplicationsofsuchsystemsthroughoutWesternEurope,andtheincreasing
needtocoverlargerandlargerspaceshaspromptedtheconstantreevaluation,redevelopmentand
refinementoftheseflexiblesystems,andtheirmorerigidcounterparts,spaceframes. FIGURE134.PYLONANDTENSILENETROOF
FIGURE133.PLEXIGLASS TENSILENET
FIGURE132.1972MUNICHOLYMPICSTADIUM
PAGE 33
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:TENSILESTRUCTURES
SPACEFRAMES
Liketensileframestructures,spaceframesexploitthetensilecapacitiesofmaterialsin
gridlikeforms,inlayingthemwithplexiglassorotherdurablematerials.Unliketensile
framestructures,spaceframesareinherentlymorerigid,morestable,andmore
closelyrelatedtothreedimensionaltrussesratherthantwodimensionalstringand
skinconstruction.
TheevolutionofspaceframeshasoriginsintheageoftheIndustrialRevolution.The
emergenceofmodernmaterials,likeiron,steel,andglass,soonreplacedcommon
buildingmaterials,likewoodandmasonry.Thisallowedforlighterstructures,interms
ofmaterialquantityandstructuralefficiency,aswellasstructuresfloodedwithnatural
light,duetothetransparencyoftheglass.
Inspiredbythe1851wroughtironandglassCrystalPalace,atemporarybuilding
designedbyJosephPaxtonforLondon’sGreatExhibition,the1861GalleriaVittorio
EmanueleIIinMilan,Italy.AsseeninFigure135,thepromenadeiscoveredbyan
archingglassandcastironroof,andthecentraloctagonalspaceiscoveredbya
similarlyconstructedglassdome.Thismarkedanimportantstepintheevolutionof
modernglazedandenclosedspaces.
Modernapplicationsofspaceframesrangefromsmallscaleapplications,liketheglass
metalframeoftheacclaimedBilbaometroports,Figure136,tothehighlycomplex,
curvedroofformsofFrankGehry’sDZBankBuilding.Here,itcanbeseeninFigure
137,thethin,barrelvaultedroofspaceframeisactuallybuttressedfromtheinsideby
aseriesofsteelcabletensileties,showninFigure138.Thelowercongrega
tionalareaisalsocoveredbyamorerigidspaceframe.
Similarapplicationsofthesetypesofframesarepopularforconvertingonceoutdoor
courtyardsofmuseumsorpublicspaces.Afewexamplesofthesetypesofapplications
canbeseeninFigure139andFigure140,theGermanHistoricalMuseuminBerlin,
Figure141,theLouvreMuseumPyramidinParis,andFigure142,theBritishHistory
MuseuminLondon.Thisparticulartypeofroofconstructionisthepreferredmethod
inthesetypesofapplications;themetalandglassroofeffectivelyintegratenew
architecturalstyleswitholderonesofmuchsignificancewithoutdisruptingthe
message,symbol,orexperienceoftheexistingstructure.
Spaceframesareparticularlyusefulforarchitectswhotendtousestructureas
dominantelementsintheirdesign.Inasmuch,spaceframesdonotalwayshavetobe
inlaidwithanymaterial.Forinstance,SantiagoCalatravaisknownforderivingmuchof
hisinspirationforarchitecturalformsfromskeletalsystemsandnaturalstructures,like
thebackbonesofanimals,veinsinplantsandleaves,stalksandstemsofflowers,etc.
Calatravaseekstheefficiencyinpurestructuralform;tohim,ifitisfoundinnature,it
PAGE 34
FIGURE135.GALLERIAV.EMMANUELEII
FIGURE136.BILBAOSUBWAYSYSTEM
FIGURE137.DZBANKBUILDING
FIGURE139.GERMAN HISTORICALMUSEUM
FIGURE141.LOUVREGLASSPYRAMID
FIGURE142.BRITISHHISTORYMUSEUM
FIGURE138.TENSILEBUTTRESS FIGURE140.GERMANHISTORICALMUSEUM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:SPACEFRAMES
hasalreadyevolvedtobeefficient.Someexamplesofhisworks,allofwhichhave
previouslybeenmentioned,canbenotedinOrientStation(Figure143andFigure144)
andthe2004OlympicComplexinAthens(Figure145).
Theuniquetensilecapacityofsteelcables,thestrengthandstabilityofmetals,andthe
lightweight,transparentclarityofglazingmaterialsmakesspaceframesaunique,
efficient,andsuccessfulstructuralform.Today,aspreviouslymentioned,spaceframes
continuetospanremarkabledistances,and,morerecently,theyarebeingformedinto
unprecedentedshapes.
Ageodesicdome,orsphere,forexample,isanearperfectsphere,basedontriangular
trussframeelementsthatformanetworkofgreatcircles,calledgeodesics,which
actuallyincreasesinstrengthasitincreasesinsize.Historicallywellknowngeodesic
domesincludethe1967MontrealBiosphere,byR.BuckminsterFullerandthe1982
SpaceshipEarthatEpcot,WaltDisneyWorld.Asmallerexampleofacomplete
geodesicspherecanbeseeninFigure146andFigure147–LaGeode.Thisspace
framesphere,whichwasconstructedin1985,ishometoanImaxmovietheaterinthe
ParcdelaVilletteattheCitedesSciencesetdel’IndustrieinParis,France.
Geodesicdomesandspheres,alongwiththeintricatemetalandglasslatticeworkof
spaceframesandtensilestructureslieatthecuttingedgeofarchitecturalstructural
systems.Asfarasconventionalconstructiongoes,concretebeams,steelcolumns,
masonryfaçadesandwoodenfloorsmaynotseemuchchange,innovation,or
refinementintermsofformandmaterialcomposition;however,inspirationmaybe
drawnfromexperimentsinwhichpurelystructuralformsarealteredforreasonsof
aestheticsandefficiency,andtheymay,infact,bethedirectsourceofinfluencefor
modern,longspan,structuralsystems.
Whatformcouldbetterfitthebillthanbridges? FIGURE146.PARCDELAVILLETTE
FIGURE143.ORIENTSTATION—BUSSTOP PAGE 35
FIGURE144.ORIENTSTATION
FIGURE145.WALKWAY—2004OLYMPICCOMPLEX
FIGURE147.LAGEODE STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:SPACEFRAMES
BRIDGES
Bytheirnature,bridgesarepurelystructuralinform.Evolved,efficientdesignsare
attributedtoscientificmaterialandmechanicalgenius,ratherthanaesthetic,artistic
expression.However,throughoutthehistoryofbridgeengineering,differentforms
andtypeshaveemergedthatarebothstructurallyefficientandaestheticallypristine,
givingmoderndesignersnumerousoptionsintermsofpossiblestructuralsolutions.All
formsservedifferentpurposes–somesmallspanfootbridgestransportalightflowof
pedestriansonlytensoffeetacrossariver,whilemoreambitioussuspensionbridges
supportseverallanesofheavytrafficseveralmilesalongitsspan.Arisingfromphysical
necessity,bridgeshavecometosymbolizethetransferofbeliefs,goods,values,and
ideasacrossculturalboundaries,andtheyhavecometorepresentaspiritthat
embodiesthephysicalityandspiritualnatureofthesocialnetworksofcivilizations.
Theearliestformsofbridgeswerenothingmorethanlogslaidoverrivers,streams,or
gorges,tiedwithvinesandfittedwithhandrailsupportsmadeofsimilar,local,organic
materials.Withtime,moresubstantialmaterials,likestone,iron,lumber,and,more
recently,steelandconcrete,havegraduallyreplacedtherudimentary,temporary
bridgesofoldwithmodernmarvelsofcivilengineering.
TheinfluenceofmodernbridgedesigncanbetracedtotheancientRomans.As
previouslymentioned,theRomanswereexceptionalengineers;theirextensive
systemsofroads,aqueducts,andbridgesweremadepossiblebytheirdiscoveryand
executionofarchedstructuralsystems.TheRomanroundarch,whichwasdeveloped
forbuildingandarchitecturalstructures,wassoonincorporatedintothebuildingof
civilinfrastructurelikethePontduGard,thefamousaqueductcrossingtheGardRiver
insouthernFrance,constructedinthefirstcenturyA.D.(Figure148).Theaqueduct
wasconstructedbystackingtwolowertiersofequalspanarches80feetwide;athird
tierofthreesmallermasonryarchescontainedacementlinedchannelusedto
transportwater,which,atthetimeofthegreatRomanEmpire,wasasimportantto
theRomansasmilitarystrength.Thebridge’spiersareonlyafifthasthickasthearch
spanwidth,givingthestructureamuchmoreslender,gracefulsilhouettethanmost
otherRomanbridgestructureswhichwerebuiltwithapiertospanlengthratioof1:3.
SprawlingRomaninfrastructureledtothespreadofideas,culturalvalues,andeven
architecturalformsthroughoutEurope.ManyRomaninspiredmasonryarchbridges,
likethePontduGard,stillstandtoday;they,liketheCharlesBridgeinPrague,Czech
Republic,(Figure149)arecelebratednotonlyforitsengineeringachievement,but
alsoforitshistoricalsignificance.TheCharlesBridge,composedofsixteen30foot
masonryarchspans,servedasamajorarteryacrosstheVltavaRiveralongan
importanttraderoutebetweenEasternandWesternculturesduringthe15thcentury,
bringingeconomyandprosperitytotheonceprovincialmedievaltown.
FIGURE148.PONTDUGARD FIGURE149.CHARLESBRIDGE
PAGE 36
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:BRIDGES
Masonrybrickandstonewereusedalmostexclusively,alongwithtimber,inbridge
constructionuntilthedevelopmentofmodernstructuralmaterialsaftertheIndustrial
Revolution.ThecantileverstyleForthBridge,picturedinFigure150,wasthefirst
bridgeconstructedentirelyoutofsteelandisregardedstilltodayasatremendous
structuralengineeringachievement.MuchofthedesignworkoftheForthBridgewas
donewithoutprecedent:constructionloadsanderectioninducedstresseswere
considered,aswellaswindloads,temperatureeffects,andevenlifecycle
maintenancecostswerefactoredintotheoveralldesign.
Completedin1890,therevolutionaryrailbridge,whichsuccessfullybridgedEdinburgh
andNorthQueensferry,Scotland,shatteredallengineeringrecords,spanningatotalof
1.5milesinlengthovertheFirthofForth(675feetbetweeneachsupport)andraising
therailroadtracksapproximately150feetabovethewatersurface.Themassive
supportstructuresrestonseparatefoundationsthatwereconstructedascaissons
undercompressedair90feetbelowthewaterlevel.Thestructuralmembersofthe
bridgewereconstructedoutofsteelandrivetedtogether.Thestructuregetsits
“cantilever”namefromthestructuralarmsofsupportsthatextendfromthetowering
anchors.Thesearmseachholdupasimplegirderbridge,eachspanning350feet,
whichwerebuiltbaybybayontheactualconstructionsite.Thefinalcompletionof
thesegirderbridges,whicharenotunliketypicalarchtrussbridges,markedtheendof
constructionforthismassivestructureoneyearafterGustavEiffelcompletedhis
landmarktowerinParis.SimilarlytotheEiffelTower,showninFigure151,theForth
Bridgeisapurestructure–havingnodecorativeparts–andendurestothisdayasa
workofstructuralart,asacelebratedlocalicon,andasamasterpieceofhuman
geniusandmasteryovertheforcesofnature.
WhencomparedtothesimplespannedmasonryarchbridgesofRomantimes,steel
archtrussbridges,liketheoneshowninFigure152,demonstratetherealadvantages
ofalternatematerialsandtheireffectsonachievingunprecedentedspans.For
example,insteadofhavingtobuildwoodenformwork,quarry,cut,andsingularlylay
precisestonesinordertoconstruct1020individualmasonryarchestospantheTyne
RiverinNewcastle,England,themodern,steelTyneBridge,constructedin1928,
successfullybridgesthegapefficientlywithone,singlespan.TheTyneBridgespans
531feetbetweenthegranitepiersupports.Thebridgestructureitselfisaround,steel
trussedarchthatsupportstheelevatedroadwayandbridgedeck,whichtowers84
feetabovetheriver,bylightweightsteelsectionsactingassuspensiontensioncables.
TheTyneBridge,liketheForthBridge,wassignificantly(andnottomentionuneco
nomically)elevatedabovethewatersurfaceleveltoallowfortheuninterruptedpas
sageofboatsandships.Althougheffectiveintheirdesign,otherbridgeengineers
integratedspecificmechanismsthatallowedforvesseltrafficandportaccesswithout
actuallyelevatingthebridgedeckitself.
PAGE 37
FIGURE150.FORTHBRIDGE
FIGURE151.EIFFELTOWER
FIGURE152.TYNEBRIDGE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:BRIDGES
AfamousexampleisLondon’sTowerBridge,seeninFigure153.Completedin1894,
thiscombinationsuspensionandbasculestylebridgewasoriginallydesignedand
builtbySirJohnWolfeBarry.Ratherthaninstallinghandoperatedwinchestoraise
andlowerthecantileveredbascules,ashadbeenthecasewithothersimilarbridges,
Barrydesignedahydraulicpoweredraisingmechanism,poweredbysteamengines
whichraisedandloweredthecantileveredbasculeinaduplicatesystem,thus
minimizingpotentialfailures.Inaddition,thebasculeswerecounterweighted,which
facilitatedtheraisingandloweringofthetwodrawbridges.
Each100footbasculecantileversfromasteelframetowercoveredwithornate
Victorianmasonryandexuberantlydecoratedtoharmonizearchitecturallywiththe
medievalTowerofLondonthatstandsnearby.Theyrise206feetintotheskyandare
linkedbytwo140footwalkways.Theapproachesofthebridge,ascanbeseeninthe
figure,weredesignedandbuiltassuspensionbridges,relyingonasystemofsteel
tensioncablesthatsupporttheroaddeck.
Derivingitsformfromprimitivefootbridgesmadeofvinesandwoodplanks,simple
suspensionbridgesarestillbeingconstructedbylayingchordsoflumberorother
deckingmaterialdirectlyontopofanchoredtensionedcables,typicallydrapedacross
supports.Amodernapplicationofthistypeof“ribbon”bridgeisLondon’sMillennium
Bridge,designedandconstructedbyArup,FosterandPartnersfortheyear2000
millenniumcelebration.DepictedinFigure154and155,theMillenniumBridge
consistsoftwopiersupports450feetapart,connectedbyashallowaluminumdeck
supportedbytensionedsteelcables.
Whilethis,andsimilarlyconstructedprimitivefootbridges,aresufficientforlight
trafficflow,advancesinmaterialsandinnovationsindesignledtothedevelopmentof
themodernsuspendeddecksuspensionbridge.Suspensionbridgesofthistypearea
compositesystemofanchoredcablesdrapedovertoweringsupports.Aroaddeckis
suspended,butlinked,tothedraped,ribboncablebysmallertensioncables,which
safelytransfertrafficloadstothepiers,totheanchoredsupports,andfinally,tothe
solidfoundations.Examplesofsuchbridgeincludethe1966Ponte25deAbrilandthe
1973BosphorusBridge.Theformer,locatedinLisbon,Portugal,boastsaspanofover
3300feetbetweensupports.ItisoftencomparedtotheGoldenGateBridgeinSan
Francisco.Thelatter,locatedinIstanbul,Turkey,connectsthecontinentsofEurope
andAsiabyasimilar3500footspan,whichsupportsanaerodynamicbridgedeckwith
zigzagsuspensioncables.
ThePonte25deAbrilandtheBosphorusBridgetowersareuniqueintheirstructure
andresponsetoaestheticconsiderations.Forstructuresthatspanmorethan3000
feet,greatimportanceisplacedonminimizingcostbyminimizingmaterialweightand
quantity.Ineffect,manysuspensionbridgetowerdesignsemphasizetheminimization
ofcost,resultinginthereplacementofrigidbeamswithlighter,flexiblecrossbracing.
Havingbeendesignedwitheconomyinmind,thetowerstructuresofthePonte25de
Abrilwereconstructedwithextensivecrossbracing,and,ineffect,theuppermost
PAGE 38
FIGURE153.TOWERBRIDGE
FIGURE154.MILLENNIUMFOOTBRIDGE
FIGURE155.MILLENNIUMBRIDGESUSPENSIONCABLES
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:BRIDGES
beamsofthetower,whichcanbeseeninFigure156,werealsominimizedinorderto
maintainaestheticharmonywiththeothercrossbracingelements.
TheBosphorusBridge,ontheotherhand,boastsa“cleanlook”design,inwhichno
crossbracingisused.Thetowers,seeninFigure157,actuallyhavethreerigidbeams
thatriseabovetheroaddeck;however,thespacingofthebottomtwobeamswas
reduced,andwebmemberswereinsertedbetweenthemsothatthetowerslookasif
theyonlyhavetwobeams.Reducingthevisuallyrecognizablenumberofbeams
resultedincleaner,sleekertowersandanoverallbridgedesignthatvaluedaesthetics
ratherthanmaterialefficiencyandeconomy.
Akintothesuspendeddecksuspensiondesignisthecablestayedbridgeform.A
typicalcablestayedbridgeemploysthesamestructuralprinciplesasthesuspension
bridge–abridgedeckissuspendedandstayedinplacebytensionedcables,which
directthetrafficloadtothetowerpiersandfoundations.Theonlydifferencebetween
thesetwotypesofbridgesisthatcablestayedbridgesaredirectlyattachedtothepier
supports,insteadofattachedtoaribbon,suspensioncabledrapedoverthem,asin
suspensionbridgedesign.TheVascodaGamaBridgeinLisbon,Portugal,shownin
Figure158,wascompletedin1998.Ithasamaximumspanbetweenthesupportsof
1378feet,and,togetherwiththeattachedviaduct,theVascodaGamaBridgeremains
thelongestbridgestructureinEurope.
Anincreaseinmaterialefficiencyandtherefinementofbridgeformsthroughout
historyhaveledtothedesignandconstructionofveryinnovativestructures.Inthe
remainingexamples,fundamentalbridgeforms–cantilever,suspension,cablestayed,
arch,truss–havebeenintegrated,combined,andredefinedtoproduceveryunique,
efficient,andaestheticstructuralsystemswhichhavechallengedandrevolutionized
therudimentsofmodernbridgedesign.
TheGatesheadMillenniumBridge,whichspanstheRiverTynejustafewyardsup
streamfromtheTyneBridgeinNewcastle,England,isacombinationarchsuspension
tiltpedestrianandcyclefootbridge,whichtiltstoaccommodatesmalltomedium
sizedpassingwatercraft.Completedin2000tocommemoratethemillennial
celebration,thefootbridge,seeninFigure159,isamovablebridgewhichrotatesvia
hydraulicramsabouthinges(Figure160)atitsfixedendpoints,ratherthanbeinglifted
orbended,aswithtypicaldrawbridgestructures.Thisstructure,whichspansa440
feet,rotatesasarigidbody;itstwoperpendiculararches,connectedbysteelcables,
serveascounterweightstominimizeenergyneededtotilttheentirebridge.
AsimilarstructurewasdesignedbySantiagoCalatrava,whichspans230feetacross
theRiverNervioninBilbao,Spain.TheCampoVolantinFootbridge,appropriatelynick
namedZubizuri,meaning“whitebridge”inBasque,is,liketheGatesheadMillennium,
alsoanarchsuspensionbridge;however,thedesignconsistsofasingleinclinedarch
thatsupportsacurvedbridgedecksuspendedbysteelcables,whichareintricately
connectedtothesupportingarch.Thearrangementofthebridge’sstructuralcompo
PAGE 39
FIGURE157.BOSPHORUSBRIDGE
FIGURE156.25DEABRILBRIDGE
FIGURE158.VASCODAGAMABRIDGE
FIGURE159.GATESHEADMILLENNIUMTILTSUSPENSIONBRIDGE
FIGURE160.TILTBRIDGEHINGES
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:BRIDGES
nentsmakesitauniqueexampleofexquisitestructuralart.Builtaspartofacampaign
ofurbanrenewal,thebridgeform,similartootherCalatravadesigns,issaidto
communicateanapparentdisequilibrium,orrather,afrozenmovement,whichis
punctuatedbythestructurallightnessofitsmembers.
Sinceitsopeningin1997,theCampoVolantinfootbridge,showninFigure161and
Figure162,hasbecomeapopularlinkforpedestriantouriststravelingtothenearby
Guggenheimmuseum;however,thelocalswhotraversethebridgedaily,rainorshine,
havesomecomplaints.Thebridgedeck,madeoftranslucentglassblocks,becomes
veryslipperywhenwetandoftenposesasafetyissueforthehumidmarineclimateof
theVizcayanprovince.Nevertheless,itselegantformwillalwaysserveasymbolic
purpose,physicallyrepresentingthecity’scommitmenttourbanrenewal.
AnotherexampleofanarchsuspensionbridgeistheBarquetaBridgeinSevilla,Spain.
Completedin1989,thisbridge,showninFigure163andFigure164,spans550feet
acrosstheAndalusianGuadalquivirRiver.Themainsteelarchsupportsametalbridge
deckbyhighstrengthsteelcables.Thearchiscenteredandsupportedbyfourflanking
“limbs”whichbalanceonslenderconcretepiers.Theformisskeletallyorganicin
nature,characteristicoffishbonesorspinesofreptilesandothercreatures.
TheworkofCalatravaismarkedbyanaffinityfororganicform.Famousnotonlyfor
hisinnovativecreativityinspatialarchitecture,butalsoforhisefficientlyelegant
bridgestructures,Calatravagivesnewdefinitiontoform,compositionandstructural
art.Forexample,thedesignsforhis1987BacdeRodaBridgeandhis1995Alameda
Bridgepushtheenvelopeofbridgearchitecturalformbycombiningdifferent
structuralsystemsinuniqueandinnovativeways.
TheBacdeRodaBridge,showninFigure165andFigure166,wasdesignedasaarch
suspensionbridgewithtwinsetsofleaninginclinedandsplitarches,joinedattheir
apex,whichsupportthepedestrianandvehiculartrafficdeckbyhighstrengthsteel
cables.Thecombinationconcretefoundationwithsteelarchstructure,which
progressivelydiminishesinsizeandweightasitrisesdemonstratesCalatrava’s
adherencetoa“hierarchyofmaterialandform.”TheBacdeRodaBridgespans420
feetwhichlinkstwoprominentstreetsinadrearBarcelonasuburb.
Constructedoverexistingrailwaylines,thebridgelinksthemoreaffluentcommunities
withthemoredeprived.Thebridgemeetstheaestheticchallengesofitslocation,
creatinganattractivepromenadeacrosstheformernoman’sland.Oneofthefirst
bridgestocontributetohisworldrenownedreputation,therecognizableformisa
testimonytoCalatrava’stheory,aswasliketheCampoVolantinfootbridge,that
outlyingurbanareascanindeedberegeneratedbysymbolicintervention.
TheAlamedaBridgewasdesignedandbuiltin1995asanarchhollowboxbridge.This
uniquestructure,whichspans430feetacrossthenowdivertedRiverTuriain
Valencia,Spain,supportsabridgedeckbysteelgirdersconnectedtoasingle,steel
PAGE 40
FIGURE161.CAMPOVOLANTINBRIDGEDETAIL
FIGURE162.CAMPOVOLANTINFOOTBRIDGE FIGURE163.BARQUETABRIDGEDETAIL
FIGURE164.BARQUETABRIDGE
FIGURE165.BACDERODABRIDGEDETAIL FIGURE166.BACDERODABRIDGE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:BRIDGES
archinclinedat30degreeswhichactsasacantileveredcounterweightforthevariable
trafficload.Atalevel45feetbelowthebridgedeck,thedryriverbedisnowhometoa
communityparkthatstretchesfromtheAlamedaBridge,whichispicturedinFigure167
andFigure168,totheeasternedgeofthecity,neartheCiutatdelesArtsiCiencies.
OneofthemostcelebratedofallCalatravabridgesisthefamedAlamilloBridgein
Sevilla,Spain.Knownbyitscharacteristiccantileversparcablestayedstructuralsystem,
showninFigure169,Figure170andFigure171,thebridge,completedin1992forthe
UniversalExposition,consistsofa460foothighsinglesteelcladdedconcretepylon,
which,atanangleof58degrees(thesameangleastheGreatPyramidofCheops)
counterbalancesa650footspanbridgedeckwithtwoparallelsetsofthirteensteel
cables.Calatravaperformedequilibriumexperimentsontheuniquecantilevered
structureusingcubeweightsandwires.Theoriginalintentofthe’92Expocomplex
calledforthedesignoftwosymmetricbridges;however,thesingularAlamilloBridge
has,byitself,becomeabelovedcityicon,representingtheambitionandhigh
aspirationsofSevillainhostingtheworldexposition.
Elegant,pureexpressionofstructuralform,thebridgesofSantiagoCalatravanotonly
demonstratethemeansbywhichestablishedstructuralsystemscanberedefined,but
alsoserveasartistic,technical,andinventiveinspirationforthenextgenerationof
architectsandstructuralengineers.
FIGURE167.ALAMEDABRIDGE
FIGURE168.ALAMEDABRIDGE
FIGURE170.SPARCANTILEVER
FIGURE171.SPARCANTILEVER
FIGURE169.ALAMILLOBRIDGE
PAGE 41
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:BRIDGES
AFTERWORD
WhenIclosemyeyes,Iamthereagain–sittingatopacamelatthebaseoftheGreat
PyramidsofGiza,sweatinginsidethedoubleshelldomeofBrunelleschi’sRenaissance
masterpiece,standing,shivering,aloneattheNorthQueensferrycape,gazingatthe
powerandmajestyofthebridgespanningtheFirthofForth.
Icheckcompulsivelyformytatteredpassport,mycamera,myiPod,andmywornand
weathereddebitcard.Ihaveonaredbackpack,mySt.Christopher’smedal,andmy
belovedbrownCrocs.Isit,clutchingapenandmygreatestsouvenir–aleatherbound
journal–andIbegintowrite,“Noone…noonewilleverbelievethethingsthatIhave
done…thethingsIhaveseen…theplacesIhavebeen…”
Anditbringsasmiletomyface.
Inretrospect,myincredibleitinerarywasquiteextensiveandslightlyoverambitiousto
saytheleast.Isoughttovisitmorethan10countries,inupwardsof30cities,andover
80structuresduringmy70daytriptoEuropeandpartsoftheMiddleEast.Needlessto
saymyschedulewasrigorous,mytimeframestrict,myroomforerror,small–butIdidit
all,withlittlechangeoralterationtotheoriginal,proposeditinerary.
SomeplacesweremorefascinatingthanIevercouldimagine.Forexample,becauseI
wassointriguedbythecharm,history,andcultureofthecity,Imorethandoubledthe
lengthofmystayinBerlin.Others,likeMilanwerealittlelesssatisfyingintermsof
architecturalinspiration.AlthoughIstuckrelativelywelltomysemirigiditinerary,Ihad
theperfectamountofflexibilitybuiltintomodifyandadaptmyscheduletofitmyown
interestsinresponsetothedynamicsofthelocalcultures.
Thesummerof2007wasnothingshortofextraordinary.Although,priortomydeparture
Ihadalittleexperiencetravelingabroad,therewasnothingtopreparemeforwhatwas
tocome.Iknewthesummerwouldbethrilling–physicallyandvisuallyexciting–little
didIknowthatit,too,wouldbemorespiritualthanIeverthoughtpossible.
Muchtomydelight,whileexploringsomecities,Ifoundmostpreciousarchitectural
jewelsthatdidnotblipontheradarwhenformingmyoriginalitinerary.Ihadbegunwith
theintentionofsolelystudyinglongspanstructuralsystems;however,Ifounditalmost
criminaltonegatetheotherarchitecturalandstructuralmasterpiecesinmyfinalreport
thatIhadencounteredalongtheway.
Indoingso,myreport,originallytitled,“ToBridgeAGap”wasrenamedtoreflectmy
newfoundhumility,indebtedness,anduttermostenthusiasmforwhatIhavestudiedand
PAGE 42
whatIaspiretodo.Weinthearchitecturalprofessionaretrulystandingonthe
shouldersofgreatgiants–andifIdo,infact,seefurther,itisonlybecauseofthem,
theirstructures,andtheircontributionstothegreathistoriesofarchitecture.
IwishtothanktheSOMFoundationforthistrulyremarkable,onceinalifetime
opportunity.Iwill,indeed,beforevergratefulforyourgenerosity,kindness,and
relentlesssupport.Icomeawayfromthisexperiencewithnewknowledge,neweyes,
andnewhopethatImayalsosomedayjointheranksofthosewhohavegonebefore
me,andIcannothelpbutdelightinthefactthattheFoundation,too,willgrantthis
uniqueopportunitytoyetanotherdeservedstudent.
Inessence,historyisagainrepeatingitselfasIbegintoclimbupontheshouldersof
architecturalgiantswithaspirationsthatItoo,willpenmyownhistoricallegacyand
leavebehindmyownchapterinthehistoryofarchitecture–achapterofcherished
stories,celebratedsongs,andepicpoemsthatwillberenowned,retold,andhopefully
rememberedforgenerationstocome.
—Wil
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:AFTERWORD
LISTOFSTRUCTURES
UNITEDKINGDOM
GERMANY
St.Paul’sCathedral
WestminsterAbbey
BritishHistoryMuseum TowerBridge
MillenniumBridge
GatesheadMillenniumBridge
TyneBridge
SalisburyCathedral
Stonehenge
FirthofForthBridge
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
St.VitusCathedral
CharlesBridge 54
55
GREECE
2004OlympicStadiumComplex
TheParthenon TheErechtheum TheTempleofDionysus PiraeusRailwayStation 56
57
58
59
60
EGYPT
GreatPyramidsofGiza SteppedPyramidofDjoser
EdfuTemple
TempleofKarnak
LuxorTemple TempleofQueenHatshepsut
TempleofAbuSimbel
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
PORTUGAL
AEGTurbineFactory
HausderKulturenderWelt
1936Olympiastadion
DZBankBuilding GermanHistoricalMuseum
Reichstag
Frauenkirsche AllianzArena
1972OlympicStadiumComplex
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
ITALY
CZECHREPUBLIC
TURKEY
25deAbrilBridge
OrientStation VascodaGamaBridge
PAGE 43
68
69
70
PonteVecchio SantaMariadelFiore
St.MinatoalMonte
GalleriodeVittorioEmmanuelII
PisaCathedral&Baptistery
SantaMariadellaSalute St.Mark’sBasilica
RialtoBridge
ArchofConstantine
ArchofSeptimiusSeverus
ArchofTitus
BasilicaofMaxentius
Coliseum
MausoleumofAugustus Pantheon
Sant’AndreaalQuirinale SanCarloalleQuattroFontane
St.Peter’sBasilica
Tempietto
TempleofHercules
TempleofPortunus
Trajan’sForum 80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
HagiaSophia
BosphorusBridge
BlueMosque
102
103
104
SPAIN
BacdeRodaBridge
CasaMila
1992OlympicComplex BarcelonaPavilion
SagradaFamilia CampoVolantinFootbridge
GuggenheimMuseum
BilbaoSubwaySystem LaAlhambra
AlamilloBridge BarquetaBridge SevillaCathedral AlamedaBridge CiutatdelesArtsiCiencies
ValenciaCathedral
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
FRANCE
PontduGard
ChartresCathedral
CNITBuilding
LeGrandeArch St.DenisBasilica ArcdeTriomphe EiffelTower
LaMadeliene
LouvreMuseum NotreDameCathedral
Panteon
ParcdelaVillette
St.Chappelle
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ST.PAUL’SCATHEDRAL
PAGE 44
LONDON
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
WESTMINSTERABBEY
PAGE 45
LONDON
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
BRITISHHISTORYMUSEUM
PAGE 46
LONDON
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TOWERBRIDGE
PAGE 47
LONDON
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
MILLENNIUMBRIDGE
PAGE 48
LONDON
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
GATESHEADMILLENNIUMBRIDGE
PAGE 49
NEWCASTLE
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TYNEBRIDGE
PAGE 50
NEWCASTLE
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
SALISBURYCATHEDRAL
PAGE 51
SALISBURY
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
STONEHENGE
PAGE 52
SALISBURY
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
FIRTHOFFORTHBRIDGE
PAGE 53
NORTHQUEENSFERRY
UNITEDKINGDOM
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ST.VITUSCATHEDRAL
PAGE 54
PRAGUE
CZECHREPUBLIC
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
CHARLESBRIDGE
PAGE 55
PRAGUE
CZECHREPUBLIC
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
2004OLYMPICSTADIUMCOMPLEX
PAGE 56
ATHENS
GREECE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
THEPARTHENON
PAGE 57
ATHENS
GREECE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
THEERECHTHEUM
PAGE 58
ATHENS
GREECE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
THETEMPLEOFDIONYSUS
PAGE 59
ATHENS
GREECE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
PIRAEUSRAILWAYSTATION
PAGE 60
PIRAEUS
GREECE
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
GREATPYRAMIDSOFGIZA
PAGE 61
GIZA
EGYPT
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
STEPPEDPYRAMIDOFDJOSERCOMPLEX
PAGE 62
CAIRO
EGYPT
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
EDFUTEMPLE
PAGE 63
EDFU
EGYPT
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TEMPLEOFKARNAK
PAGE 64
LUXOR
EGYPT
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
LUXORTEMPLE
PAGE 65
LUXOR
EGYPT
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TEMPLEOFQUEENHATSHEPSUT
PAGE 66
LUXOR
EGYPT
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TEMPLEOFABUSIMBEL
PAGE 67
ABUSIMBEL
EGYPT
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
25DEABRILBRIDGE
PAGE 68
LISBON
PORTUGAL
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ORIENTSTATION
PAGE 69
LISBON
PORTUGAL
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
VASCODAGAMABRIDGE
PAGE 70
LISBON
PORTUGAL
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
AEGTURBINEFACTORY
PAGE 71
BERLIN
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
HAUSDERKULTURENDERWELT
PAGE 72
BERLIN
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
1936OLYMPIASTADION
PAGE 73
BERLIN
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
DZBANKBUILDING
PAGE 74
BERLIN
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
GERMANHISTORICALMUSEUM
PAGE 75
BERLIN
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
REICHSTAG
PAGE 76
BERLIN
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
FRAUENKIRSCHE
PAGE 77
DRESDEN
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ALLIANZARENA
PAGE 78
MUNICH
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
1972OLYMPICSTADIUMCOMPLEX
PAGE 79
MUNICH
GERMANY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
PONTEVECCHIO
PAGE 80
FLORENCE
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
SANTAMARIADELFIORE
PAGE 81
FLORENCE
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ST.MINIATOALMONTE
PAGE 82
FLORENCE
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
GALLERIODEVITTORIOEMMANUELEII
PAGE 83
MILAN
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
PISACATHEDRAL&BAPTISTERY
PAGE 84
PISA
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
SANTAMARIADELLASALUTE
PAGE 85
VENICE
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ST.MARK’SBASILICA
PAGE 86
VENICE
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
RIALTOBRIDGE
PAGE 87
VENICE
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ARCHOFCONSTANTINE
PAGE 88
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ARCHOFSEPTIMIUSSEVERUS
PAGE 89
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ARCHOFTITUS
PAGE 90
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
BASILICAOFMAXENTIUS
PAGE 91
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
COLISEUM
PAGE 92
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
MAUSOLEUMOFAUGUSTUS
PAGE 93
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
PANTHEON
PAGE 94
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
SANT’ANDREAALQUIRINALE
PAGE 95
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
SANCARLOALLEQUATTROFONTANE
PAGE 96
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
ST.PETER’SBASILICA
PAGE 97
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TEMPIETTO
PAGE 98
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TEMPLEOFHERCULES
PAGE 99
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TEMPLEOFPORTUNUS
PAGE 100
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
TRAJAN’SFORUM
PAGE 101
ROME
ITALY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
HAGIASOPHIA
PAGE 102
ISTANBUL
TURKEY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
BOSPHORUSBRIDGE
PAGE 103
ISTANBUL
TURKEY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
BLUEMOSQUE
PAGE 104
ISTANBUL
TURKEY
STANDINGONTHESHOULDERSOFGIANTS:PHOTOGALLERY
BACDERODABRIDGE
PAGE 105
BARCELONA
SPAIN
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CASAMILA
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1992OLYMPICCOMPLEX
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BARCELONA
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BARCELONAPAVILION
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BARCELONA
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SAGRADAFAMILIA
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CAMPOVOLANTINFOOTBRIDGE
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BILBAO
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GUGGENHEIMMUSEUM
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BILBAOSUBWAYSYSTEM
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LAALHAMBRA
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GRANADA
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ALAMILLOBRIDGE
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SEVILLA
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BARQUETABRIDGE
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SEVILLACATHEDRAL
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ALAMEDABRIDGE
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VALENCIA
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CIUTATDELESARTSICIENCIES
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VALENCIACATHEDRAL
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VALENCIA
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PONTDUGARD
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AVIGNON
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CHARTRESCATHEDRAL
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CHARTRES
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CNITBUILDING
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LEGRANDEARCH
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ST.DENISBASILICA
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ARCDETRIOMPHE
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EIFFELTOWER
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LAMADELIENE
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LOUVREMUSEUM
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NOTREDAMECATHEDRAL
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PANTEON
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PARCDELAVILLETTE
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ST.CHAPPELLE
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