SPUR Project

2011 winner (18 of 20)

Learning from the Shell Builders: Heinz Isler and Felix Candela

Supervisors: Dr Marisela Mendoza, Professor John Chilton (both Architectrue, Design and the Built Environment)

Student: Nicholas Rose

Reinforced Shell Concrete Structures became one of the most innovative construction systems of the mid-twentieth century. This construction system exploited the generous properties of concrete in combination with geometrical systems and ingenious techniques that allowed the construction of shells with unprecedented shapes and sizes. The latter also brought a different perspective towards structural design and the theory of structural engineering as an art was introduced then by David Billington. The project sought to disseminate and illustrate the work of these two shell builders to a younger audience of architects, engineers, architectural technologists and structural designers so to learn from their methodologies, structural common sense as well as the cultural and social duty of designers in order to face the challenges that architecture, engineering and the built environment face in contemporary and globalized societies. Student tasks included a review of literature and supporting graphic material such as videos, photographs etc, 2D and 3D CAD modelling of concrete shell structures, physical modelling of concrete shell structures, analysing and reporting on findings and assistance with the Heinz Isler Exhibition at the IASS 2011 Symposium, London.