STRUCTURAL DESIGN FOR ARCHITECTURE

Structure and architecture

Fig. 1.8 Nenfeldweg

Housing, Graz, Austria,

1984-88. Gunther Domenig,

architect. The structure of

this building is a reinforced

concrete framework. Its

adoption has allowed

greater freedom to be

exercised in the internal

planning and external treat-

ment than would have been

possible with a loadbear-

ing-wall structure. [Photo:

E. & F. McLachlan]

be constructed in strong materials such as
steel or reinforced concrete.
Panel structures are arrangements of struc-
tural walls and horizontal panels (Fig. 1.9). The
walls may be of masonry, concrete or timber -
the last of these being composed of closely
spaced vertical elements - and the floors and
roof of reinforced concrete or timber - again
the configuration with timber is one of closely
spaced elements, in this case floor joists or
trussed rafters (Fig. 6.39).
Many different combinations of elements
and materials are possible. In all cases the
volume of the structure is large in relation to
skeleton-frame equivalents with the result that
the structural elements are subjected to lower

levels of internal force. Structural materials of

low or moderate strength, such as masonry or

timber, are therefore particularly suited to this

form of construction (Fig. 1.10).

Panel structures impose greater constraints

on planning freedom than skeleton-frame

equivalents because structural considerations

as well as space-planning requirements must

be taken into account when the locations of

walls are determined. The creation of large

interior spaces is problematic as is the vari-

ation of plans between different levels in

multi-storey arrangements. The advantage of

the panel form of structure is that it is simpler

to construct than most skeleton frames and

considerably less expensive. 7