1. MODULE 2 – From Columns to Domes Introduction to structural shapes
1. “American Pavilion” – EXPO 67, Montreal.

2. What are we going to learn about in this module?
The basic structural shapes that we will discuss throughout the term.
“Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There it begins.”
- Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ( ) 

3. From Columns to Domes
The goal of this module is to expand your architectural vocabulary
There are basic and not so basic structures that make up buildings
We will only be doing a QUICK overview of SOME structures, from the lens of Architectural History
You will learn MUCH more about structures in your Structures class
Remember the first building we looked at:
Who remembers the name of this building?
Who remembers the name of the structural members that are holding it up?
There are basic and not so basic shapes that make up the buildings that we see around us.
The shapes have evolved and have built upon one another over time.
NAME: The Parthenon
STRUCTURAL MEMBERS: Columns + Beams

4. Introduction to Structural Shapes
Columns are under various pressures, but one of the most significant is compression
2. OCAD University, Sharp Centre for Design. Toronto. 2004, by Robbie/Young + Wright and Alsop Architects

5. Introduction to Structural Shapes
Simply supported beams are in tension and compression
They are often supported by columns or walls
The distance between its supports is called its SPAN

6. Introduction to Structural Shapes
Here are some beams in action, supported in this case by columns
The beams are supporting the roof structure
3. AaltoAlvari Aquatic Center in Jyväskylä, Finland. 1956, by Alvar Aalto.

7. Introduction to Structural Shapes
Trusses act in a similar way to beams, but can be lighter, have longer spans, and have very interesting shapes
4. Kansai Airport Terminal, Osaka, Japan. 1994, by Renzo Piano Architects

8. Introduction to Structural Shapes
The arch was built with stones as far back as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamia, however it was the Romans that truly mastered its form
5. A’sur, northern Mesopotamia. 3rd millennium BC
6. Pont du Gard, Roman Gaul (now the South of France.) 1st century AD

9. Introduction to Structural Shapes
The VAULT is an expanded arch
Basically, it creates a roof

10. Introduction to Structural Shapes
7. Dining Room, Auditorium Building Hotel, Chicago.
1889, by Adler and Sullivan

11. Introduction to Structural Shapes
The DOME exerts thrust (or pushes outward) in all directions
8. The Pantheon, Rome, Italy. AD , attributed to the emperor Hadrian.

12. RECAP
SOME of the main structural shapes that we will be learning about include:
the COLUMN
the BEAM
the TRUSS
the ARCH
the VAULT
the DOME
Feel free to have students draw the shapes on the board.

13. In-class Activity In preparation for Assignment 1, let’s practice
USING ARCHITECTURAL LANGUAGE!
In groups of 6, assign each person one of the
following structural shapes:
the COLUMN
the BEAM
the TRUSS
the ARCH
the VAULT
the DOME
NEXT: each student should find an image of a building that demonstrates the structural shape they’ve been assigned. (You can help each other out!)
THEN: as a group find three similarities and three differences amongst the buildings (Maybe each person can try to come up with one!)
AND: When your team is ready, show/tell your professor what you’ve found.
This should take about of 20 minutes.

14. Sources http://expolounge.blogspot.ca/2006/06/us-pavilion_30.html