06725nam a2200229Ia 4500003000400000005001700004008004100021020001500062040001000077082001000087082000800097100001800105245009000123260002200213260000900235300001000244365000900254365000600263365000900269505619200278650002506470OSt20240109120518.0181031s9999    xx            000 0 und d  a1420852671  ckrvia  a724.6  bBER1 aBerger, Horst10aLight Structures:structures of light: The Art and Engineering of Tensile Architecture  bBirkhauser Verlag  c1996  a186p.  b1120  d0  e1120  aForeword: Two outstanding professionals introduce the subject: Tony Robbin is an artist and mathematician with a special interest in structures. His book, entitled "Engineering a New Architecture", is an excellent introduction to the topic. Mamoru Kawaguchi is one of the most prominent contemporary structural engineers. His work includes the roof structure for the Olympic Arena in Barcelona. 1. Introduction – Building a Gentler Environment: This chapter sets the tone by introducing the subject, stating the objectives, and summarizing the essence of what is to come. Throughout history, architecture has been achieved by a marriage of technology and art. Indeed, technology and the language of contemporary art are intimately linked to the past and the future. Though each individual project featured was designed in response to a specific set of architectural requirements, as a group they represent an attempt to explore forms which the technology of the new age might offer, in order to create a built environment that is efficient, gentle, respectful of nature, and delightful to live with. 2. In the Beginning: Domes.People built structures as shelter for almost half a million years. In so doing, they developed the structural forms which have dominated architectural design throughout its history. A few examples demonstrate the origins of these very early forms, and trace them through history p.9, 3. From Tents to Tensile Architecture: Tensile structures, in the form of tents made of natural materials, go back more than thirty thousand years. People on the move, such as nomadic tribes or armies, have used them throughout recorded history. The industrial age, with its new high-strength materials, first used them to built long-span bridges in the early 1800s, but the earliest true tensile structure covering an architectural space is only 50 years old.p.21, 4. How Tensile Structures Work : Tensile Architecture requires structure to have priority in creating the form of the building. Compared with external loads (snow and wind), the weight of the structure and enclosure is infinitesimal. The components of the structure are flexible, so that gravity and rigidity cannot be marshalled to generate stability and load carrying capacity in the structure: form and the condition of stress are relied on instead. This is a new concept in architecture, This chapter reviews the elementary principles which underlie the form generation of tensile structures, and describes the benefits of their large deformation behavior, using simple diagrams p.41, 5.Materials for Tensile Structures: An exploration of fabric properties shows the impact of the membrane on the function and appearance of the building. Strength, durability, translucency, reflectivity, heat absorbtion, and acoustical properties are discussed. The proper ties of other structural materials are also revievwed, New materials have entered since the book was first published, hinting at a significant future for fabric structures in Architecture p.55, 6. 20 Years of Fabric Structures: 1973 to 1993: This chapter is based on the author's direct experience with the design, engineering, construction, and performance of fabric tensile structures, and includes the following sections p.69, 6.1 The Way of the Spider: The early development of radial tent structures p.75, 6.2 Celebration in the City: Bicentennial structures in Philadelphia, and the roof for Canada Place in Vancouver p.85, 6.3A Forest in the Desert: The design and construction of the Haj Terminal at the Jeddah International Airport, the world's largest roof structure 95, 6.4 Big Tops to Stay: Pole supported structures are the simplest tensile forms. This section describes a series of buildings which use this primary structural form to enclose space p.113, Moving the Masts Outside: A-frames are an efficient and elegant way of avoiding the penetration of interior space by pole supports. This section describes a series of tent-like structures suspended from various arrangements of A-frames. p.121, A Giant Flower Shades the Stadium: The roof cover over the Riyadh Stadium is a third larger than any other stadium roof in spite of its large central opening. The huge petals of its flower-like folds give it the strength and stability to withstand desert storms. Its structure is simple and easy to understand. Its construction process was amazingly elegant p.133, 6.7 Stretched over Slender Arches: Using arches of wood, concrete or steel, elegant and useful spaces were created. The basic configurations are in principle very similar to the first human shelters p.143, 6.8 Music under the Tent: The Mitchell Performing Arts Center near Houston has become a favorite place for audiences of up to 10,000 to listen to a symphony concert or a musical in the area. The structure provides intimacy for the auditorium beneath, and forms a friendly proscenium arch for the lawn audience out- side p.153, 6.9 Sails for San Diego: The fabric roof of the San Diego Convention Center covers the 100,000 sq. ft. outdoor exhibit area. Its simple structure spans the space without interior supports, and allows the ends to be free and open. The sail-like structure has become a landmark for this city p.163, 6.10 Bringing Light to the Airport: The design and construction process of this most important public use of fabric architecture is described as part of the most advanced and impressive airport design. The airport was one year old when this book first appeared and has its ten year anniversary when this edition comes out p.171, 7. Covering Very Large Spaces: Fabric structures are superior very large spans. This chapter describes roofs, and concepts for rigid and movable roof  systems p.187,8. Physical and Mathematical Models: The critical step in the development of tensile designs is the generation of form. A lack of familiarity with the methods of handling form generation is the obstacle to the use of fabric structures. This chapter introduces the two most important design tools: t stretch fabric models and the use of mathematical. As is shown, they are not difficult to handle, with the use of a new form-finding method p.199  aArchitectural Design