Friday 20 November 2015
Innovations
in Structural Art by Stanford Anderson by Eladio Dieste
Note: the
book includes essays by historians, practicing engineers and architects from
more diverse points of view.
Dieste was well known for
the innovation of Gaussian vault; a thin-shell structure for roofs in single
thickness brick that derives its stiffness and strength from a double curvature
catenary arch from that resists buckling failure (Anderson and Dieste 2014). Dieste
embraced the technique of reinforced masonry that in his day was little know
and less exploited, and through that technique he, invented structural types
that he employed daringly.
He rediscovered brick
not out of a sense of nostalgia for the past but rather in light of its inherent virtues- its being resistant,
elastic, inexpensive and having acceptable thermal features. In addition, as
Dieste further notes its shape give prestige to the material in its structural
function. He understood that art and architecture were integral to the making
of the best buildings and cities of the past and had to be part of any
desirable future.
‘Dance
without effort or fatigue’ Eladio Dieste
Dieste used these words to describe the goals
of his work.
Creative work in
architecture or engineering is the product of harmoniously considering the
essence of functionality or utilitarian aims, a resistant function and a
structural type and economy and its constructive process as well as the
aesthetic qualities of the construction’s shape’s and dimensions (Anderson and
Dieste 2014).Example of such architecture is the Gaussian shell (bus terminal)
Fig.1
Two major innovations
in structural types in reinforce brick masonry. First type was the no
continuous side wall support or buttresses, no tympanum or arch under the vault
at its ends. Dieste termed this structural type also as ‘self-carrying vaults’.
The second type was vaults rest on columns –or even a single
column.
Fig. 2
Another example of his work is the Church at Atlantida, Uruguay
Fig.3
Fig 4
Felix Candela’s work
can be compared to that of Eladio Dieste. This is because, both are well known
internationally for their elegant designs of vaulted structures built in the
20th century. Candela built a number of renowned structures with reinforced
concrete in Mexico. The choice of the materials was partly based on the social
context and the economical solutions.
Reference:
Anderson, Stanford, and Eladio Dieste. Eladio
Dieste. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004.
Figures
Fig.1 http://kubuildingtech.org/sarcweb/Assemblages00/dieste/htmlfiles/images/images/bus/bus1.gif
Fig.2 https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/57/9c/75/579c75b7cdcb8bc3240d9e7569f8affb.jpg
Fig. 3https://betterarchitecture.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/eladio-dieste-brick.jpg?w=500
Fig.4 http://www.bravepraxis.com/images/3505.jpg
