The Release of Desire: Three Levels of Spatial Expression of Beam in Modern and Contemporary Reinforced Concrete Architecture

Abstract

In contemporary context the discipline gap between Structural Engineering and Architecture to some extent leads to the loss of the spatial expression desire of structural members. Two conditions are presented in a large number of common contemporary building projects: Rough - lacking the architectural perspective control over the scale and layout of structural members, Absence - hiding the beams with decorative elements such as suspended ceiling. Actually, as one of the most important structural members in a building, the beam has great potential for spatial expression. Since the beam plays an increasingly more important role, three progressive levels could be characterized: spatial scenery - as the fifth elevation, spatial prop - participating in the generation of form, spatial protagonist - leading the order of spatial tectonic. According to the above three levels, classification and analysis to several modern and contemporary buildings, especially several reinforced concrete buildings of the 1960s and 1970s, may be helpful in exploring the methodology against these two above trends of contemporary construction Industry.

[EN] In contemporary context the discipline gap between Structural Engineering and Architecture to some extent leads to the loss of the spatial expression desire of structural members. Two conditions are presented in a large number of common contemporary building projects: Rough - lacking the architectural perspective control over the scale and layout of structural members, Absence - hiding the beams with decorative elements such as suspended ceiling. Actually, as one of the most important structural members in a building, the beam has great potential for spatial expression. Since the beam plays an increasingly more important role, three progressive levels could be characterized: spatial scenery - as the fifth elevation, spatial prop - participating in the generation of form, spatial protagonist - leading the order of spatial tectonic. According to the above three levels, classification and analysis to several modern and contemporary buildings, especially several reinforced concrete buildings of the 1960s and 1970s, may be helpful in exploring the methodology against these two above trends of contemporary construction Industry