STRUCTURAL DESIGN FOR ARCHITECTURE

Structural Design for Architecture

Fig. 2.13 Exhibition and

Assembly Building, Ulm,

Germany, 1993. Richard

Meier, architect. The

relatively complex form of

this building was accommo-

dated by a structure which

was a relatively straightfor-

ward adaptation of one of

the standard reinforced

concrete arrangements.

[Photo: E. & F. McLachlan]

46

The distinctive form of this building was

therefore made possible by an imaginative

exploitation of the structural possibilities of

reinforced concrete which involved a relatively

simple modification of one of the standard

plan-forms for multi-storey reinforced concrete

structures. The structure stands up well to

purely technical criticism and the building falls

into the category of 'structure accepted'.

A similar relationship between structure and

architecture is seen in the Public Library

Building at Munster in Germany by Boles and

Wilson (Fig. 2.11). The building is in two linked

parts which are separated by a pedestrian

street. Each part has a relatively straightfor-

ward section but is more complex in plan (Fig.

2.12). The juxtaposition of solid and void on

the exterior walls is also fairly complicated.

Scrutiny of the plans reveals, however, that the

structural make-up of the building is straight-

forward. In each part a reinforced concrete

frame has been used. In the case of the part