Fig. 2.14 Plan at level three
of the Exhibition and
Assembly Building, Ulm,
Germany, 1993. Richard Meier,
architect. The structural plan of
this building is based on a 9 m
grid. Columns are placed on
the grid points and at the
locations where the grid lines
intersect the perimeter. Beams
run between these except
where this would carry them
across a void. The structural
arrangement is simply an
adaptation of the basic two-
way-spanning skeleton frame
layout (Fig 4.51b).with the curved exterior wall, for example, four
lines of vertical structure are used to support
the floors, one in each perimeter wall and two
running the length of the interior of the build-
ing. These lines of vertical structure form a
series of rigid frameworks between which the
floors span. The structural make-up of the
other half of the building is similar. These
post-and-beam frameworks are therefore
adaptations of the standard one-way-spanning
frame plan and constitute a sensible structural
solution in view of the spans and loadings
involved. The relationship between structure
and architecture is one of 'structure accepted'.
The Exhibition and Assembly Building at
Ulm in Germany by Richard Meier (Fig. 2.13) is
yet another example of a complex form which
is based on a reinforced concrete framework.
As in the case of the Munster Library the build-
ing is in two linked parts. The more compli-
cated of these has a plan which is based on
concentric circles. The arrangement is further
complicated by the juxtaposition of solid and
void which occurs in both the external walls
and in the floors of the building.
The structure is based on a 9 m span grid
(Fig. 2.14). Columns are placed on the grid
points and at the locations where the grid
intersects the concentric circles which define
the building's perimeter. Beams run between
the grid points, except where they would cross
voids, and carry the floor slabs. This produces a
pattern of support which is sufficient to carry
all areas of the floors. The structural continuity
of reinforced concrete is required, however, to
accommodate the complex plan-form of the
floors. The square column grid would normally
be used in conjunction with a flat-slab floor
structure. The use of deep beams in this case
was due to the lack of structural continuity
caused by the large areas of void in the floor
structures. The degree of adaptation of the
standard form was therefore greater in this
building than in the examples described above.2.6 Conclusion
The buildings described above give an insight
into the process by which the design of an
architectural structure is carried out. The
various aspects of the decision-making process
by which the form of structure for a building is
determined may be summarised as follows.
First, there are several significant global factors
which influence the choice of structure type.
Perhaps the most important group of these are
the architectural objectives being set by the
architect(s). The building form which results
from the deconstructionist approach followed
by, for example, Coop Himmelblau, is likely to
be very different from those whose approach is
closer to the modernist mainstream, such as
Meier or Boles and Wilson. Another form is
likely to result from high-tech modernists such 47Structural design for achitecture