many buildings though, particularly those providing open-plan office
accommodation, while column grids may be read optimistically as
ordering space, they are more likely to be spatially disruptive.
The influence of spatial structure upon interior spaces of a building
can be further appreciated by considering Fig. 6.14.^11 Within an iden-
tical building envelope very different spatial qualities arise by varying
interior structural layouts, all of which are feasible from a structural
engineering perspective. While the whole internal volume is essen-
tially perceived as one space in options (a) and (b), (c) and (d) each pro-
vide two separate and differentiated spatial zones. Option (e) offers the
opportunity of creating a closer relationship between the inside and
outside.
A similar investigation of alternative structural layouts and their influ-
ence upon interior space can be, and should be performed on any
building at the preliminary design stage. Figure 6.15 presents different
lateral-load resisting layouts for a regular four-storey building. Variations
to moment-resisting frames that resist transverse wind and earthquakeINTERIOR STRUCTURE 113
(a)(b) (c)(d) (e)
▲6.14 Different structural layouts affect how spaces are read. (After Ogg)