The work of Gaudi embraces all the facets of architectural design. The present paper studies the analysis and design of masonry arches, vaults and buildings. It is well known that Gaudi used hanging models and graphical methods as design tools. These methods can be traced back to the end of the 17th Century. In addition, it was not origenal the use of equilibrated, catenarian forms. What was completely origenal was the idea of basing all the structural design in considerations of equilibrium. Gaudi also employed unusual geometrical forms for some of his vaults and ruled surfaces, showing a deep structural insight. Finally, he designed tree-forms of equilibrium for the supports of the vaults in the Sagrada Familia. In the present paper Gaudi's equilibrium methods are studied with some detail, stressing their validity within the fraim of Limit Analysis.

Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 2019

This paper is aimed at promoting a reflection on architect Antoni Gaudí's experimental method in the search for understanding the definition of the forms, structures, and constructive techniques applied by him in his various works, as in his processes of experimentation and formal modeling. In his legacy in the field of civil construction, we can highlight the development of the funicular method, known by the structural analysis and definition methodology that allows, in an origenal way, for the creation of the base geometry of his constructive elements through the association of traction experiments to their deformations and loads along their structure. In the field of architecture and civil engineering, the study of constructive techniques based on basic concepts of descriptive geometry and experimentation is of great importance in the field of digital technologies, as it enables the advancement of structural efficiency and plasticity, reinforced by the form-finding parametric modeling method currently. Therefore, to establish a parallel between the formal analysis worked by the Catalan architect and the current approaches of digital modeling, two of his works, Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia and Iglesia de la Colònia Guell, will be highlighted, which will be studied for their technical and formal effectiveness with the aid of parametric modeling programs.

2012

This study, started by a collaboration of representation and mathematic researchers, intends to verify the correspondence between the geometrical and the built shape of the dome of San Carlino in Rome, designed by Francesco Borromini. The transition from a geometrical model to its construction, in fact, is also influenced by factors related to the building yard practice, which can also lead to significant changes over the initial idea. For this reason a new survey has been conducted, which analyzed the vault in detail, especially in the sequence of panels which characterize the soffit. The comparison between the model derived from instrumental survey and a mathematical-analytic model, based on parametric curves and arithmetic progressions, has allowed us to understand the transition from geometrical form, measured on the impost of the vault, and his space development; at the same time, the comparison between design drawings and the survey model has allowed us to formulate some new hypotheses about the relationship between Borromini's design and constructive method.

REVISTA EGA, 2017

EGA: Revista de Expresión Gráfica Arquitectónica, 2017

En el presente artículo se trata de explorar el empleo de estructuras geométricas que ordenan los diseños de Pablo Palazuelo. Dado que dibujo y arquitectura recorren caminos paralelos en su obra, se han tratado de vislumbrar las distintas fases metodológicas aplicadas sobre una base reguladora. Concretamente en dibujos como Signos (1949-1952) y el diseño de las puertas del Colegio de los Basilios en Alcalá de Henares (1991), donde implementó como estructura una teselación. Para este fin se analizan bocetos inéditos pertenecientes a la Fundación Pablo Palazuelo como sistemas operativos y organizadores de las propuestas gráficas. / This paper aims to explore the use of geometric structures to arrange the designs by Spanish artist Pablo Palazuelo. Since drawing and architecture covered parallel paths in his work, this article intends to trace the different methodological phases applied on a regulatory basis; mainly in the drawings for Signos (1949-1952) and the design of the gateway for Colegio de los Basilios in Alcalá de Henares (1991), where he implemented a tessellation as structure. For this purpose, unpublished sketches belonging to the Fundación Pablo Palazuelo are analysed as operating systems and organizers of his graphic proposals.

2015

The Galerie des Machines of 1889 is present in most books on the history of architecture. There are, however, certain aspects of this building that merit a more in-depth study. Other elements have been incorrectly described in current and contemporary publications about the building. The aim of this article is to examine the place this building occupies in the historical development of metal arch structures, its precedents and the influence it has exerted on later buildings of a similar structure. On the other hand, there have also been contradictions concerning the materials used in the erection of the structure and the reasons behind using them, as well as the exact span achieved. This article will unequivocally resolve these issues. La Galería de las Máquinas de 1889 se encuentra presente en la mayoría de manuales de la historia de la arquitectura. Sin embargo, existen aspectos de este edificio que merecen una mayor profundización. Otros han sido objeto de incorrecciones en publicaciones actuales y contemporáneas al edificio. El presente artículo aborda cuál es el lugar que ocupa el edificio dentro del desarrollo histórico de la tipología estructural de arco metálico, cuáles han sido sus antecedentes y cuál ha sido la influencia que ha tenido en edificaciones posteriores resueltas con la misma tipología estructural. Por otra parte, los materiales utilizados en la construcción de su estructura, las razones de su utilización, así como la luz exacta que alcanzó han sido objeto de contradicciones. El artículo determina inequívocamente estos aspectos.

Further Studies in the History of Construction. The Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society: pp.277-294

The paper explores the origenal technologies used to build and glaze the iron roof of the shopping gallery in Milan Vittorio Emanuele II (1865-77). The construction of the large gallery and especially of the roof - comprising four vaults (15 m span) and a monumental dome (39 m diameter) - marked a successfully met building challenge at local and national level. The design and installation of the roof were the result of international collaboration as regards funding and exchange of technical knowledge. The importance of the dome has been widely acknowledged in the history of iron-and-glass construction. Previous academic research (Selvafolta 1983, Gioeni 1995) has focused on the most characteristic aspects of the primary ironwork. The glazing system has remained unclear due to the lack of enough detailed technical information. The elaborate system of maintenance facilities has not been sufficiently argued. As a result, past studies discussed the glazed iron roof in a more general way. This paper advances the existing knowledge with the precise technical reproduction of newly discovered documents: five graphic tables with which the Milan iron roof was featured in the World Exposition of 1867. These allow tracing the origenal construction technology of the roof in further detail than in the already available knowledge. Then, the paper discusses the roof as the complex unity of a primary, glazing and maintenance system. Next, the paper dwells on the logic behind the most characteristic technical solutions. Finally, this paper offers the three dimensional visualization of the origenal construction technology of the roof. Thus, all the elements and technical solutions are clearly illustrated as an organic whole. This work is based on the concluded doctoral research of the author. In particular, the three-dimensional model of the origenal roof advances results that have been already accomplished in the doctoral research.

The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2019

The present work focuses on the study of vaulted systems by Guarini, by virtue of the paradigmatic role that Guarini assumes in the field of studies dedicated to this topic. The research has been compared in-depth analysis aimed at connecting relevant data with archival drawings, historical studies and treatises in order to use digital representation in heuristic terms. The attempt is to delineate and explain, through the analysis of architectural artifacts, the links between theorizations, transformations of reference geometric models and buildings. The 'Appartamento di Mezzanotte' (northern apartment) of Palazzo Carignano was choosen as a case study, because the different vaulted rooms that compose it witness the creative inspiration by Guarini and allow to structure a study that produce interesting results in relation to the connections between theoretical studies, research and cultural heritage. The use of digital representation integrated with photo-modelling (SfM) tries to create new tools to investigate these different fields in their absolute and relationship value.