LECTURE 2

Introduction

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION
ARM MAST

Good detailing is a function of

the spatial arrangement of
the elements, their
slenderness and lightness,
and the connections between
them. The following Figures
associated with text will
illustrate good examples of
steel detailing in a variety of
structural applications. The Renault Parts Distribution
Centre, Swindon, showing mast and
tension structure (architect: Foster and
Partners)
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION
The need for guidance on detailing

Steelwork offers the opportunity for architectural expression, as well

as being a structurally versatile and adaptable material. Good quality
detailing is vital because it affects structural performance, cost,
buildability and, perhaps most importantly, appearance.

Whilst the choice of the structural form is often the province of the
structural engineer, architects should have a broad appreciation of
the factors leading to the selection of the structure and its details.
Traditionally, most detailing of connections is the responsibility of
the steelwork fabricator but, for exposed steelwork, detailing is of
much more interest to the architect, as it impacts on the aesthetics
of the structure.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

The need for guidance on detailing

In this respect it is important that designers appreciate the

common fabrication and erection techniques which may exert a
strong influence on the method and approach to the detailing of
modern steelwork in buildings.

Portal-frame structure used in the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich (architect:

Foster and Partners)

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Connections to other materials

The attachments of other elements, such as cladding and
stairs to the steel structure, are described in another series
of lectures. These ‘interfaces’ are crucial to the efficiency
and buildability of steel framed buildings.

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Advantages of steel construction

The distinct advantages of the use of steel in modern building
construction may be summarised as follows:

• The modular nature of its fabrication (a ‘kit of parts’), which

can be delivered ‘just in time’ to site when required;
• The potential for rapid erection of the framework on site,
which also reduces local disruption, noise and site storage;
• It is prefabricated to a high degree of accuracy;
• Long spans can be achieved economically by a variety of
structural systems in steel and composite construction,
permitting greater usable space;
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

Advantages of steel construction

• Steel or composite frames are lighter than concrete frames of

the same span, thus reducing foundation costs;
• Steelwork permits adaptation in the future, and components
can be re-used by unbolting;
• Composite steel-concrete floors can contribute to a thermally
efficient building;
• A high proportion of steel production is recycled from scrap,
and all steel is recyclable.

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Opportunity for architectural expression

Steelwork possesses various advantages for architectural
expression, as follows:

• External structures clearly express their function;

• Slender members can be designed efficiently, particularly using

tubular sections;

• ‘Lightness’ can be accentuated by openings in beams and by

latticework in the form of trusses;

• Curved members, such as arches, can be formed easily;

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

Opportunity for architectural expression

• Tension structures are efficient and lightweight, particularly for

long-span enclosures;

• Connections can be designed expressively;

• The fire resistance of exposed steelwork can be enhanced by

the use of intumescent coatings, or by concrete or water filling
(of tubular sections);

• Colours and finishes of painted steelwork can be used to great

effect.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

In architecture, the decision to express or conceal the structural

frame, either externally or internally, is usually decided by
aesthetic preference coupled with technical and functional
issues. The desire to express the structure of the building is an
association extending from the use of iron and early steel in the
last century.

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Having decided to express the structure, the architect then

considers a number of design factors against which he may
test his proposals. Such considerations may include
architecture and functional, planning or organisational
requirements, as follows:

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Architectural requirements

• The required overall visual effect of solidity or transparency;

multiplicity of elements or minimalism; individuality or repetition
of elements;

• Use of bespoke or standardised components;

• The nature of the architectural language; i.e. elegance and

slenderness; strength and robustness;

• The relationship in visual and functional terms between the

inside and outside spaces.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

Functional requirements

• Building form and function;

• Dimensional parameters, i.e. height of building, scale, use of
column-free space;
• Stability requirements (particularly for tall buildings);
• Initial cost and life-cycle cost;
• Climate; both internally and externally;

• Services provision and maintenance, and opportunities for

services integration;
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

Functional requirements

• Interface details, particularly of the cladding to the frame;

• Durability, including maintenance implications and time to first

Maintenance;

• Fire-safety considerations;

• Health and safety requirements are now extended to

Construction;

• Protection from impact damage and vandalism.

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

Planning or organisational requirements

• Local planning and statutory requirements, including building

height, and impact of the building on the locality;
• Programme/timescale requirements, not only of the
construction project, but also of the resources/demands placed
on consultants;
• Agreement on the responsibilities of the architect, structural
engineer and constructor;
• Client input and acceptability of the design concept;

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION
Planning or organisational requirements

• Local planning and statutory requirements, including building

height, and impact of the building on the locality;
• Programme/timescale requirements, not only of the
construction project, but also of the resources/demands placed
on consultants;
• Agreement on the responsibilities of the architect, structural
engineer and constructor;
• Client input and acceptability of the design concept;
• Availability of suitable resources for construction, and
opportunities for prefabrication (e.g. on a remote site).

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION
Excellent examples from the 1980s showed what could be
achieved in the expressive use of steel. In the Sainsbury Centre, a
simple portal-frame structure was proposed initially, but rejected
in favour of the deeper and more highly articulated structural
frame that was finally adopted.

Portal-frame structure used in the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich (architect: Foster and Partners)
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION
The highly perforated structural
members of the Renault Parts
Distribution Centre are an
‘architectural’ expression of
engineering and technological
efficiency, yet they do not necessarily
represent the most efficient structural
solution. These are conceptual issues in
which both the structural engineer and
the architect should share a close
interest, and which must be resolved The Renault Parts Distribution
Centre, Swindon, showing mast
jointly at the early stages of design. and tension structure
However, many examples of exposed (architect: Foster and Partners)
steel follow a much more straight
forward approach.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION
Holistic approach

To achieve economic and practical architectural details, there has

to be a basic appreciation of the performance of the overall
structure itself and the loading conditions imposed on the member
or component in question. The form of the structure will strongly
influence the details employed.

For the architect, details often evolve through the logical stages of
conceptual design, followed by further rationalisation into the
detailed design, i.e. from the macro to the micro. The architect may
approach the concept design with the key component details
already in mind. However, the final solution will be influenced by
structural issues, an understanding of the fabrication and
construction process, and other functional constraints
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION
Holistic approach

As one of the first examples of

external support using masts and
cables, the steelwork for the Renault
Parts Distribution Centre was subject
to considerable refinement at the
design stage by computer analysis,
and the components were finally
rigorously tested to assess their load
capacity. The ‘mast and arm’ details
reached a high level of sophistication, The Renault Parts Distribution
creating a strong aesthetic and Centre, Swindon, showing mast
functional appeal for what could have and tension structure
(architect: Foster and Partners)
been a bland enclosure.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

Scale and ornament

Scale

Buildings should be designed well at a range of scales. An

understanding and an appreciation of all the scales will help in
the art of assembly and detailing. Therefore, an elegant and well
proportioned building will have been successfully considered at
the large scale as well as in its details. Good details alone do not
necessarily lead to architectural success. This achievement relies
on the consideration of all elements of the composition of
varying scale.

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Scale and ornament

Scale

For example, the canopy of the

pavilion building contrasts and
compliments the monumental
scale of the Millennium Dome,
as illustrated in Figure.

Pavilion at the Millennium Dome,

Greenwich, UK
(architect: Richard Rogers Partnership)
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION
Scale and ornament
Scale

Examples of the order of scale are as follows:

1. Volumetric scale: The big picture for the whole project and its
locality;
2. Structural scale: The structural system, e.g. a 40 m span roof
Structure;
3. Module scale: A column grid, say, of 9 m;
4. Elemental scale: Repetitive elements, such as beams;
5. Assembly scale: The form of the connections;
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION
Scale and ornament
Scale

Examples of the order of scale are as follows:

6. Detail scale: The detail of the base of a column, or part of a truss;

7. Textural scale: Surface appearance;
8. Point scale: For example, the head of an individual bolt on a
plate;
All of these elements of scale represent opportunities for
architectural expression.

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION
Scale and ornament
Ornament
In architectural composition, ornament has traditionally been sought
in those places where portions of the building change significantly
from one part to another, whether it be from wall to roof, wall to
ceiling, one structural element to another, i.e. beam to
column, or column to ground, and so on.
Much of the ornament and articulation of parts established in
twentieth-century architecture has been found in the attention to the
junctions between prefabricated components, whether they be parts
of the structure or of the cladding systems. Consequently, in
steelframed buildings where the structure is exposed, ornament is
usually sought in the connections between structural members and
between the elements which comprise them.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture
INTRODUCTION

Scale and ornament

Ornament
The careful shaping of the connection plates, stiffening elements,
bolting and welding patterns, hubs for diagonal bracing and tie-
rod assemblies, have taken on an important role, which is not
only structural but also gives expression to the functionality of
construction. Examples where attention to detail can be used to
provide ornamentation to an otherwise plain structure are:

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Scale and ornament

Ornament
• articulated attachment of
horizontal and vertical
members (see Figure)

The Renault Parts Distribution

Centre, Swindon, showing mast
and tension structure
(architect: Foster and Partners)

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION
Scale and ornament
Ornament

• supports to arched members (i.e. at

foundations) (see Figures)

Thames Valley
University, pinjointed
connections
supporting curved
arched
steel members
(architect: Richard Pavilion at the Millennium Dome,
Rogers Partnership) Greenwich, UK
(architect: Richard Rogers
Partnership)

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

 Dynamic Earth Centre, Edinburgh (architect:
Michael Hopkins & Partners)

INTRODUCTION

Scale and
ornament
Ornament

• suspension
and bracing
members,
including tie
rods

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION Dynamic Earth Centre, Edinburgh (architect:
Michael Hopkins & Partners)

Scale and ornament

Ornament

• tie members that

counterbalance a long-
span portal frame

St Paul’s Girls School

(architect: FaulknerBrowns)

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION Dynamic Earth Centre, Edinburgh (architect:
Michael Hopkins & Partners)

Scale and ornament

Ornament

• connections within trusses

Inland Revenue Headquarters,

Nottingham, showing truss details
which provide interest and
articulation
(architect: Michael Hopkins and
Partners)

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION Dynamic Earth Centre, Edinburgh (architect:
Michael Hopkins & Partners)
Scale and ornament
Ornament

• fabricated beams or stiffened members

Operations Centre at
Waterloo, London,
showing a
fabricated cantilever
beam supporting a
walkway

(architect: Nicholas
Grimshaw & Partners)

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION Dynamic Earth Centre, Edinburgh (architect:
Michael Hopkins & Partners)
Scale and ornament
Ornament

• mullions with multiple perforations

Orange Operational Facility,

Darlington

(architect: Nicholas Grimshaw &

Partners)

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION Dynamic Earth Centre, Edinburgh (architect:
Michael Hopkins & Partners)
Scale and ornament
Ornament

• support to a fabric roof.

Relationships can be established

between the individual parts and
the overall building form, which
have a basis in elementary
structural action.

Support to fabric roof at the

Imagination Building, London
(architect: Ron Herron and Partners)
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Department of Architecture