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This article offers a new approach to analysing the medieval vaults of Norwich cathedral cloister, which at first appearance seem to be of a consistent design, yet detailed inspection and analysis reveals this not to be the case. Whilst previous scholars have recognised the presence of inconsistencies, their focus has been on chronology, patronage as well as the iconographic programme of the extraordinary range of sculpted bosses. Our approach is based on accurate digital surveying and analysis methods and comparison with similar data obtained from other sites. This enables us to understand the design of the cloister vaults in plan, including bay proportions and the nuances of the tierceron star arrangement of ribs. We then employ a representation technique termed the 'middle plan' to identify and analyse specific design runs and their breaks in a greater level of detail than previously achieved, including analysis of geometric data to explain different processes that were likely used to create the curvatures of individual ribs. In doing so, we have identified methods not previously described, which reveal the inventiveness of medieval masons faced with a series of complex constructional issues and enabling them to achieve a range of visual effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restructuring of the railways and steel railway bridges in Chemnitz and Hannover around 1900 The development of the railway network in the mid‐19th century had massive implications for settlement and landscape planning in Germany, deeply affecting the cultural and historical development of each region. As a consequence of high industrialization, around 1900, there was a significant increase in the population's desire for mobility and the necessity of transporting goods. This led to the continuous expansion of the railway network. Particularly in urban areas, this expansion was accompanied by the construction of extensive infrastructure, which increasingly reached its capacity limits on both roads and railways. The necessary track diversions required the construction of a large number of new bridge structures. This gave rise to a variety of steel solid web girder bridges with short spans, which, with their economical design language and richly adorned abutment pylons, profoundly transformed the cities. These bridge ensembles, as well as the respective construction and planning processes, will be examined in more detail for the cities of Hannover and Chemnitz. The discussion will focus on the solutions found for the same construction task against the backdrop of each region's unique political context and how they have shaped the urban landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper examines the heritage value of construction documentation and processes via Virtual Reality (VR), with a focus on the Sydney Opera House (SOH). It underscores the importance of comprehending and documenting transient construction techniques for heritage valuation. Utilising VR, the study offers an immersive portrayal of the SOH's construction, emphasising its innovative methods, craftsmanship, and environmental challenges. The paper draws from the Digital Heritage Construction project, showcased at the Heritage Exposition of the ICOMOS General Assembly 2023. This project featured two VR simulations, developed through analysing 200 original shop drawings, historical photographs, and site minutes and reports. The first simulation illustrates the formwork systems used for the SOH's iconic sails, while the second elucidates the assembly methods for the precast vaulted roofs, including the operation of the telescopic erection arch and the installation of concrete segments. The paper examines the novelty of this approach through a survey conducted at the Heritage Exposition. Analysis of the survey's result reveals VR's effectiveness in deepening the appreciation of architectural heritage's intangible qualities, providing new insights into the historical construction processes of the building and their cultural significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research deals with an interesting interdisciplinary case study for the knowledge and dissemination of masonry sail vaults in Malta between the 16th and the 17th centuries. In particular, it focuses on the sail vaults of the Magistral Palace, which have a distinctive structure. Based on a digital survey, the necessary data was extrapolated to critically analyse the geometry, through drawing and three-dimensional modelling. The paper, therefore, presents graphical and geometric investigations, which complement the study of the history of the Magistral Palace. Comparisons with the Maltese architectural context between the 16th and 17th centuries show the use of different solutions for the construction of sail vaults, according to different geometries. This implies knowledge of the international debate on the theory of stonecutting at the time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical models play a primary role in Cultural Heritage preservation. Nevertheless, the design of a realistic model remains challenging due not only to the complex behavior of masonry but also to the asynchronous building phases, the damage induced by natural and anthropic aggression, and the associated repairs. This paper discusses the impact of the information provided by an in-depth analysis of the construction history on the updating process of a Finite Element building model. The case study is the church of Sant'Agata del Mugello (Italy); for this building, a previous historical–archaeological study identified and recorded the asynchronous construction phases, the repair techniques, and the damage induced by three historical earthquakes (1542, 1611, and 1919) – moreover, a dense ambient vibration survey allowed to identify the modal parameters. The information from previous works is summarized in five Finite Element models with increasing complexity. A vibration-based model updating methodology based on a Particle Swarm Algorithm is developed. This work shows that the best minimization of the difference between the numerical and experimental modal parameters is obtained with the numerical model considering the identified construction techniques, repair phases, and connection relations between the bell tower and the nave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New Architecture is the property of New Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

www.hiddenstructures.berlin – a digital project for communicating the art of structural engineering Even if certain improvements have been recognisable in recent times, the public reception of engineering achievements in the construction field is still deficient overall. On the one hand, this perpetuates the only marginally positive connotations of the entire profession, and on the other hand, it fosters the generally low appreciation of load‐bearing structures and construction in the debate about the preservation of listed buildings. Even outstanding testimonies to historical engineering achievements fall victim to the practice already discussed internationally as facadism, which reduces the preservation of the building to the façade alone while the entire structural framework is lost. In the debate about the interpretation of the value of engineering works, proactive communication of construction as an intrinsic value and cultural heritage is of particular importance. The hidden structures – Ingenieurbaukunst Berlin project makes use of the possibilities of digitalisation and virtual reality for a new dimension of interactive communication of historical and contemporary engineering achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Berus television tower in Überherrn – a building archaeology on a high modernism building The knowledge of planning and realization on the basis of building archaeology represents a benefit in the research field of the construction history for concrete structures of the high modernism. It also forms the basis for sensitive and conservation‐oriented maintenance; in particular, the identification of concrete surfaces at the time of construction or later renovation measures can be determined in this way. Built in 1954, the expressionist‐looking transmission tower of the Berus transmitter in Überherrn is one of the first television towers in Germany. The Béton brut surface of the three concrete pillars with their formwork board imprints have been preserved in large parts. As part of the building archaeology, new high‐precision survey methods were used to create a detailed survey of the building, which was analyzed from various points of view and compared with the craftsmanship techniques used at the time of construction, also with a view to the question of what conclusions can be made if the building itself is considered as a source. In summary, the article provides a comprehensive view of the construction and construction history of a building which, together with the transmitter hall, which has been awarded the title "Historic Landmark of German Engineering", forms a successful overall architectural and engineering composition. At the same time, the described approaches and methods are intended for a transfer and future use on comparable concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the 200 th birthday of Gustav Robert Kirchhoff: The plate theory was finalised 175 years ago Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824–1887) is remembered for five important achievements in 19th century physics: – Circuit laws (Kirchhoff's current and voltage law), 1845 – Theory of the thin, elastic plate, 1850 – Theory of the thin, elastic rod with large deformations, 1859 – Foundation of spectroscopy with Robert W. Bunsen (1811–1899), 1859 – Law of thermal radiation, 1859 There is also the Piola‐Kirchhoff stress tensor from continuum mechanics. This list of Kirchhoff's impact on physics could be continued. In addition to the biography, the following focuses on the genesis of the theory of the thin, elastic plate, which is important for reinforced concrete construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load-bearing systems in buildings, significant in material use and embodied greenhouse gas emissions (EGHGE), have lacked detailed analysis on their environmental and functional relationships over time and space. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of building structures in Geneva, Switzerland, considering factors like material usage, EGHGE, and urban development. A new method using a similarity-weighted function projects environmental impacts onto a GIS-based building stock, analysing 48 archetypal and 84,477 stock buildings built from 1850 to 2018. Results show a 37% reduction in structural volume per floor area and a 10% increase in mass over time. Buildings predating the masonry-to-concrete transition would produce 7% more EGHGE if constructed today. Multi-residential buildings emit 14% less EGHGE than single homes. A new indicator amortizes upfront environmental effects over a building's lifespan, aiding in historical comparisons of building stocks. This approach underscores the need for spatial-temporal environmental impact mapping to understand sustainable urban development dynamics.

The Carmel church and monastery of the Santissima Annunziata - later the Agostino Pepoli Regional Museum- were among the most important centres of worship in western Sicily. The church is an interesting case study for the coexistence of elements from the fourteenth, the sixteenth and the eighteenth centuries and for the late-baroque transformation led by the Sicilian architect Giovanni Amico. A survey campaign conducted with laser scanning and photogrammetry in the crossing and apses revealed architectural and constructive solutions developed by Amico in his innovative project. The research methodology was based on interdisciplinary approach that integrated the disciplines of the history and representation of architecture. It enabled a deeper understanding of the "nuova idea di architettura" by the architect and offered insights into his approach to the ancient, balancing preservation and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grand building code called Yingzao fashi, drafted in the twelfth-century Song dynasty, was used as a technical reference guide and assisted previous researchers in analyses of premodern Chinese building structures and construction, yet how the building code entangled with contemporary society, coetaneous challenges and the changing courses of political power deserves a comprehensive investigation. This study applies the research approach of textual analysis to track the vicissitude of the grand building code, examine these contemporary reforming attempts related to the building code, and scrutinise the consequence of the national building code when it was implemented in the later Song dynasty. By tracing the formation, promulgation and implementation of Yingzao fashi in premodern China, this paper reveals that the building standards are the product of emerging philosophical theories and the standardisation of practices is the key strategy in the building and construction reforms. It also concludes that the political and power factors would dominantly influence the evolution of the building code and thwart its effectiveness, thus producing a result opposite to its initial intention in practice.

The focus of this article is the critical comparative analysis of three projects by Ralph Erskine realised between the 1950s and early 1960s in the municipality of Kiruna. The analysed projects offer the possibility to understand and discuss the extent to which architectural technology and typology could be developed for adapting modern design and ideals to the sub-Arctic climate conditions. Purpose of the presented research is the argumentation of the heritage value and conservation state of the selected designs in relation to Erskine's architectural vision. Considering that in the near future only one fragment of one of the three buildings will be preserved, the research contributes to passing on their legacy to future generations. The issues emerged from the attempt to assess the heritage value of the design and construction processes behind the buildings, stimulate further debate about the multiple perspectives of the practice of architectural conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

David Bestué's recent take on Philip II's reification of centrality (El Escorial: Imperio y estómago, 2021) is an open contestation of the royal site's conception—and later reception—as an immutable, transcendental edifice meant to "stop the entropy of physical processes." Distancing himself from castizo evocations of El Escorial as "piedra lírica" (Ortega y Gasset) and "líneas puras" (Unamuno), Bestué guides us through the building's secluded sewers, the granite quarries that nourished its construction, and its many scenes of fire and dereliction to dismantle the monastery's value as purely symbolic permanence. As Bestué explains, his book functions "no como un acto más de significación, otra capa, sino como un corte." This mechanistic notion of the written word as a device with which to shape abstraction back into physicality, however, is not a novel addition to the literature on El Escorial. This article revisits José de Sigüenza's Fundación del monasterio de El Escorial (1605)—the most exhaustive and authoritative chronicle of its construction—as a reaction to the official representational apparatus of the building. Whereas the language of Philip II's instructions allied with Juan de Herrera's designs to project an immutability beyond space and time, Sigüenza, this article shows, enacts a ventriloquist mimicking of artisanal practice that vindicates process and local experience in conflict with the notion of a petrified center of empire. It also examines, as reverberations of these disparities, late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century appraisals of Sigüenza's text that have projected the unblemished geometrical lines of the Escorial onto the friar's writing. Its overall aim is to shed light on the lingering tensions around language, architecture, and place that characterize the most instrumentalized—and yet paradoxically dematerialized—of Iberian materialities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past 50 years, the Sydney Opera House has been the subject of a prodigious hagiography of the personalities involved in its realization and their legendary querelles. Yet it remains paradoxically unexplored when it comes to its operative construction decisions, particularly those that relate to the erection of its renowned superstructure. Through the analysis of a newly discovered set of shop drawings prepared for the innovative formwork system of the iconic roof sails, the paper contributes to the construction history of the building whilst shedding light on the hitherto unacknowledged role of the general contractor in the design process. In doing so, it questions the validity of conventional assumptions about the technical division of labour in complex projects, where construction and project management tend to be kept separate from architectural and structural design, furthermore suggesting the need for broader design exegeses, combining project-based and production-based concerns. In reflecting on its import for contemporary practice, the study suggests that the revealing picture of the Sydney Opera House project, as it emerged from the cumbersome archive-based cross-analysis of the manual documentation produced for it, is in principle much easier and perhaps important to obtain today. This is due, on the one side, to availability and diffusion of digital project collaborative platforms; on the other side, to the merging and the blurring of professional and non-professional design contributions.

Wrought iron was a determining material in historic times. Although it was mainly used for manufacturing tools and weapons it was also applied for architectural purposes as building structural or architectural elements. In this paper the impact of material and technology of forging on the shaping and the design of wrought iron building structural and architectural elements from the time of the first known application to the 20th century in Europe is analyzed, distinguishing five main periods which are divided by four determining technological shifts in material production and consequently forging technology. Several phenomena are delighted regarding the appearance of the artifacts and the characteristics of the material, which reveal connections between technology and architectural design. The observations are validated by visual analyses of wrought iron samples.

Wrought iron was a determining material in historic times. Although it was mainly used for manufacturing tools and weapons it was also applied for architectural purposes as building structural or architectural elements. In this paper the impact of material and technology of forging on the shaping and the design of wrought iron building structural and architectural elements from the time of the first known application to the 20th century in Europe is analyzed, distinguishing five main periods which are divided by four determining technological shifts in material production and consequently forging technology. Several phenomena are delighted regarding the appearance of the artifacts and the characteristics of the material, which reveal connections between technology and architectural design. The observations are validated by visual analyses of wrought iron samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In September 2013, the National Energy Administration approved the establishment of Fuling national shale gas demonstration area (hereinafter referred to as the demonstration area), whose construction was completed in December 2015. After nearly one decade of development, it has grown into the main shale gas production base in China. In order to speed up the integration and breakthrough of China's shale gas theoretical understanding and exploration and development technology and effectively promote the great development of marine shale gas in China, this paper reviews and summarizes the development and construction history of the demonstration area, geological theory understanding, engineering technology and key equipment progress. And based on this, the future development direction of the demonstration area is predicted. And the following research results are obtained. First, shale gas exploration and development in the demonstration area is divided into three stages, i.e., exploration evaluation, phase I and II construction, and stacked development and adjustment. Second, the “binary enrichment” theory for marine shale gas and the engineering theory for efficiently developing gas reservoirs are innovatively established. Third, a series of supporting technologies are innovatively developed, such as optimized and fast drilling technology for shale gas cluster horizontal wells, differentiated network fracturing technology, high-efficiency gas production, gathering and transportation technology, and green development technology for karst mountains, and the localization of key equipment and tools is realized. Fourth, the efficient development of shallow overpressure shale gas reservoirs above 3500 m in depth and the effective development of shale gas reservoirs at the depth of 3500–4000 m are realized in the demonstration area. Fifth, the construction of the demonstration area in the future includes accelerating the development of normal-pressure deep shale gas, continuously tackling key shale gas EOR technologies, actively promoting the field application of new technologies and methods, and powerfully strengthening the construction of green demonstration areas. In conclusion, this demonstration area is the earliest one of four national shale gas demonstration areas, and its achievements will provide continuous guidance for the shale gas exploration and development in China and play a demonstrative and guiding role in promoting the development of shale gas geological theories and exploration and development technologies in China.

The earth pressure theory from 1700 to 1850: 250 years of Coulomb's earth pressure theory Earth pressure theory can look back on more than 300 years of history. Its first half was shaped by French engineering officers ranging from Sébastien le Prêtre de Vauban (1633–1707) through Bernard Forest de Bélidor (1697/98–1761) and Charles Augustin Coulomb (1736–1806) to Jean‐Victor Poncelet (1788–1867) had to do with the design, construction, building and maintenance of forts. Coulomb's Memoire Sur une application des règles de Maximis et Minimis à quelques Problèmes de Statique, relatifs à l'Architecture presented to the Paris Académie Royale des Sciences 250 years ago – which also contains groundbreaking findings on beam and vault theory – forms the basis historical‐logical middle of the development of the earth pressure theory from 1700 to 1850. In the following, the thesis is developed that the French military engineers from the end of the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century not only played an important role in the development of the modern civil engineering profession, but also created the first genuine technical‐scientific theory with the earth pressure theory, which self‐image of the civil engineer constituted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past 50 years, the Sydney Opera House has been the subject of a prodigious hagiography of the personalities involved in its realization and their legendary querelles. Yet it remains paradoxically unexplored when it comes to its operative construction decisions, particularly those that relate to the erection of its renowned superstructure. Through the analysis of a newly discovered set of shop drawings prepared for the innovative formwork system of the iconic roof sails, the paper contributes to the construction history of the building whilst shedding light on the hitherto unacknowledged role of the general contractor in the design process. In doing so, it questions the validity of conventional assumptions about the technical division of labour in complex projects, where construction and project management tend to be kept separate from architectural and structural design, furthermore suggesting the need for broader design exegeses, combining project-based and production-based concerns. In reflecting on its import for contemporary practice, the study suggests that the revealing picture of the Sydney Opera House project, as it emerged from the cumbersome archive-based cross-analysis of the manual documentation produced for it, is in principle much easier and perhaps important to obtain today. This is due, on the one side, to availability and diffusion of digital project collaborative platforms; on the other side, to the merging and the blurring of professional and non-professional design contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work provides a stability study for a double masonry dome during its construction process and, a consideration of the possible effects that the procedure followed for building the structure has on its current mechanical behaviour. In particular, the analysis is carried out on the Baroque dome of Santa Maria alla Sanità in Naples, a relatively small dome with a span of 12 m. The main contribution of the paper consists of making a hypothesis about the different phases of construction and demonstrating that the dome was in equilibrium during these different phases. This aspect has been rarely considered when analysing historical structures. The theoretical framework assumed refers to Limit Analysis in which the masonry is modelled as composed of rigid-unilateral material. To assess the stability of the dome, the study proposes an equilibrium analysis performed both graphically and analytically, by using the graphic statics and the membrane analysis. The results obtained from the two methods are also compared, at each stage of construction. Besides the classical graphical methodology based on the slicing technique, the membrane equilibrium solution provides a wider repertoire of equilibrium states, since it allows for biaxial stress fields and is here implemented with a new method for which the surface and the stress potential are both approximated through simplicial surfaces based on the same triangulation. This more refined analysis confirms the results obtained through graphic statics giving wider geometrical safety margins and a more detailed interpretation of the non-axisymmetric loading cases [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

100 years of KIT Research Centre for Steel, Timber and Masonry The appointment of Prof. Dr.‐Ing. Ernst Gaber at the University of Technology Karlsruhe in 1921 gave the go‐ahead for the Testing Facility Gaber, from which the Research Centre for Steel, Timber and Masonry developed. Today, the research centre is part of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and consists of the departments Timber Structures and Building Construction and Steel and Lightweight Structures. In the following contribution, the history of this institution is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dikes often have a long history of reinforcement, with each reinforcement adding new material resulting in a heterogeneous dike. As data on the dike internal heterogeneity is sparse, it is generally overlooked in the stability assessment of dikes. We present an object‐based and process‐based model simulating dike construction history on archeological dike cross, yielding similar patterns of heterogeneity as observed in real dikes, and apply it in a dike safety assessment. Model predictions improve when being based on more accurate statistics of dike buildup, or when being conditioned to ground truth data. When incorporated in a dike stability assessment, multiple model runs can be coupled to hydrological simulations and dike slope stability calculations, resulting in a probabilistic stability assessment considering internal dike heterogeneity. While high‐resolution observations are still sparse, good model accuracies can be reached by combining regional information on dike buildup with local point observations and this model provides a parsimonious basis to include information of internal dike heterogeneity in safety assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Dikes often have a long history of reinforcement, with each reinforcement adding new material resulting in a heterogeneous dike. As data on the dike internal heterogeneity is sparse, it is generally overlooked in the stability assessment of dikes. We present an object‐based and process‐based model simulating dike construction history on archeological dike cross, yielding similar patterns of heterogeneity as observed in real dikes, and apply it in a dike safety assessment. Model predictions improve when being based on more accurate statistics of dike buildup, or when being conditioned to ground truth data. When incorporated in a dike stability assessment, multiple model runs can be coupled to hydrological simulations and dike slope stability calculations, resulting in a probabilistic stability assessment considering internal dike heterogeneity. While high‐resolution observations are still sparse, good model accuracies can be reached by combining regional information on dike buildup with local point observations and this model provides a parsimonious basis to include information of internal dike heterogeneity in safety assessments.

Copyright of Architectus is the property of Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wroclawskiej and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Floating structures – the adidas ARENA in Herzogenaurach The headquarters of adidas World of Sports ARENA in Herzogenaurach not only offers a new work concept for more than 2000 employees, but also offered room for innovation during construction. For the structural design, it was necessary to implement the sophisticated architectural design in such a way that the lightness of the elevated construction becomes visible and the "activity‐based working concept" of the client can be guaranteed without space‐separating elements. At the same time, the integration of the building services had to be ensured and the steel consumption and the buildability of the demanding structure had to be taken into account. In addition to many challenges in statics, design and fabrication, the first‐time application in Germany of the so‐called cardington method and the hydraulic lifting assembly were particular highlights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the study of a rectangular plan sail vault built by brick slices in the Roman villa of Carranque in Spain in the fifth century, in the context of a research project on the constructive configuration of Mediterranean vaults of this kind. The project aims to identify technical links to trace their expansion and examine the possibilities of using this technique in present-day building practice. The case at Carranque confirms the arrival of this vaulting technique to the Iberian Peninsula prior to a possible diffusion through the Arab world. The analysis of a 3d photogrammetric model of the remains allows posing that the solution used to solve the slices meeting at the diagonal is different from Byzantine ones; the large perimetral arches were lowered, almost matching the height of the small ones, and a vertical area was placed, being arranged as if it were part of the vault itself. With this design, it is not easy to notice the rectangular form of the vault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-leaf stone masonry walls are a typical construction technique in architectural heritage in Egypt. The assessment, modeling, and strengthening of historic masonry walls of multi-leaf systems essentially require suitable knowledge of their construction technology, typology, geometrical characteristics, and the properties of their components. Within the current research project, a comprehensive structural survey of multiple-leaf walls of medieval historic buildings in Cairo was performed. The observation and statistical analyses allowed characterization of the transversal section of the surveyed walls, as well as examination and identification of the construction materials and techniques. The slenderness ratios of this type of wall, its blocks’ dimensions, the utilized connectivity between the inner and outer leaves, and leaves ratio were also investigated. Three construction hypotheses of multiple-leaf stone masonry walls are presented considering weak, thick, and monolithic core infill layers. The study’s objectives were to enlarge the knowledge of typology, morphology, and construction materials used in three-leaf masonry walls and provide a proper characterization as a prerequisite for determining the most suitable materials and techniques for further strengthening interventions.

Copyright of Natural Gas Industry is the property of Natural Gas Industry Journal Agency and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The application of the systemic approach in architecture aims to promote an integral, holistic view of the architectural design process. The literature reviewed calls for models with systemic behavior, and for these models to be applied in concrete cases. This paper proposes an original approach, using the foundation matrix and the constructive logic matrix. Both matrices are part of a developing model that is being tested on a case study. The work presented here had two objectives: to check this part of the model and gain more knowledge about the model itself. The selected case study, the 2005 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, is a contemporary ephemeral construction of significant architectural interest. It is a reciprocal frame structure, linked to the construction history. The methodology used was a systemic analysis. In the first phase of the analysis, the reciprocal structures documented historically in the West were reviewed. The other two phases corresponded to the application of the two model matrices. Conceptual diagramming was used in all phases of the process. The results show the importance of the study of historical building solutions. The use of matrices facilitates the identification and understanding of the operations carried out in the design process of the case study. Matrices favor the organization of concepts and relationships from through a systemic approach. Understanding generation operations in an integrated way leads to a type of knowledge (relational knowledge) that allows architecture to be thought about in a holistic way. This makes the systemic view of art and technology as a unit possible, attending to the whole complexity of architectural thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering has been widely accepted as the only profession that directs and develops construction knowledge. When the leading architects of the Modern Movement in Architecture tried to change this image, they were accused of distancing the architect from the traditional artistic status despite the acceptance of industry and mechanization in all areas of life. In the history of construction, important innovations, which are often associated with prefabrication, have been realized as a result of architects' design approaches that interpret function and construction together. The aim of this article is to examine the effect of architectural design thinking on the emergence of construction innovation. The literature in the context of innovation theories and architectural design and production thought was discussed through Walter Gropius, one of the important representatives of Modernism. As a result, the impact of the architect on construction innovations was evaluated and the innovation processes they contributed to were identified.

More than one hundred major structures for warehousing grain were built in Chicago between the city's founding decade and the 1960s. These were vital to the city's status as a transportation and financial capital as they provided the impetus for Chicago's commodities market and enabled smooth transfer to points east by rail or ship. The city's grain elevators also served as markers of changing economic geography, as precincts developed throughout the city that related to railroad development, river and lake access, and commercial pressures. Chicago's decline as a grain market in the late twentieth century is reflected in their abandonment. While elevator structures in Buffalo and Montreal have attracted attention from architectural and urban historians, those in Chicago have been largely ignored, but they show how construction, infrastructure, politics, labor, and trade were uniquely enmeshed with one another due to that city's position within in networks of rail and water transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-leaf stone masonry walls are a typical construction technique in architectural heritage in Egypt. The assessment, modeling, and strengthening of historic masonry walls of multi-leaf systems essentially require suitable knowledge of their construction technology, typology, geometrical characteristics, and the properties of their components. Within the current research project, a comprehensive structural survey of multiple-leaf walls of medieval historic buildings in Cairo was performed. The observation and statistical analyses allowed characterization of the transversal section of the surveyed walls, as well as examination and identification of the construction materials and techniques. The slenderness ratios of this type of wall, its blocks' dimensions, the utilized connectivity between the inner and outer leaves, and leaves ratio were also investigated. Three construction hypotheses of multiple-leaf stone masonry walls are presented considering weak, thick, and monolithic core infill layers. The study's objectives were to enlarge the knowledge of typology, morphology, and construction materials used in three-leaf masonry walls and provide a proper characterization as a prerequisite for determining the most suitable materials and techniques for further strengthening interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Walking through the streets of the historic center of Naples and taking a glance at the sky, you may notice that its skyline is determined by the countless peculiar architectural elements, the domes precisely, that stand out from the context. Purpose of the study: The study aims to investigate the Neapolitan domes of the 16th and 17th centuries, focusing on the role of geometry and the close relationship between form and stability in the construction of this type of vaulted structures. Methods: Geometric surveys and in-situ investigations are used to define the shape of the domes. The study of the constructive solutions is based on the analysis of the original documents describing the works carried out as well as the analysis of several structural components that constitute the domes. This is related to ancient treatises and comparison, as far as possible, with similar buildings. Finally, to describe the mechanical behavior of these constructions, reference is made to the Modern Limit Analysis Theory developed by J. Heyman and applied to masonry structures in order to determine their degree of safety. Results: The approach set out can help to avoid improper restoration interventions on such historical artefacts. For good restoration work, it is absolutely indispensable to deeply investigate the geometrical and constructive aspects of a building, as well as its mechanical properties, in order to avoid approaches and methods of structural analyses far from the real behavior of these masonry structures.

Archaeological and historical research combined with material science help to understand the development of building material and construction technology of the Middle Ages. The natural sciences, especially mortar characterisation and scientific dating have allowed new insights into mechanical mortar mixing which has been introduced and used mainly in the early medieval period between AD 500 and 1000. This paper combines the results of the pan-European archaeological research project RESTOMO with that of the interdisciplinary SNF-project “Mortar technology and construction history” at the UNESCO-world heritage site of Müstair monastery. Müstair so far is the only site with six mortar mixers from two periods. The comparison of the mortar samples from the mixers with samples from the building remains has proven to be challenging and partly contradicts the previous correlation of mortar mixers with archaeologically established building phases.

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)