STRUCTURAL DESIGN FOR ARCHITECTURE

Structural Design for Architecture

Fig. 3.3 Part cross-section of Selfridge's Department Store, London, England, 1907.

The structure of this building is a skeleton framework of steel beams and columns which

support reinforced concrete floor slabs. Unlike in the mill building of Fig 3.2, the exterior

walls do not support the floors and consist principally of glazing. The elaborate giant-

order columns with their bases and stylised entablature are a non-structural screen

designed to give the appearance of a Beaux Arts style 'palace'. [ Illustration, Milchell's

52 History of Building]

1 0 5 10 15 metres

10 0 10 20 30 40 50 feet

ESCALATOR MACHINE ROOM

Concrete

wall

Steel beams inside

false stonework

Stone columns on

Oxford Street front

Steel beams inside

false stonework

Canopy

OXFORD STREET

Pavement

Revolving

door

Void

Window

Steel beams

GALLERY

GROUND FLOOR

BASEMENT