The Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market hall) in Frankfurt/Main. An early reinforced concrete shell structure

Abstract

The Grossmarkthalle in Frankfurt/Main is an example for the implementation of the developments current at the time in terms of material technology and also the development of building methods for reinforced concrete shell structures. The research on spatially curved structures made of reinforced concrete, was inter alia initiated by Walther Bauersfeld. In collaboration with the engineers of the company Dyckerhoff & Widmann it was possible to develop a new manufacturing method for thin walled domes made of reinforced concrete. The basis for these shells was a steel grid as a geodesic dome. This development was facilitated by the then newly available option to apply concrete on any surfaces using airpressure (air placed concrete). This knowledge on material and manufacturing processes provided the basis for the construction of the Grossmarkthalle. In parallel the theoretical analysis which focused on simply two dimensional curved surfaces was further developed. The utilization of the building has changed, so the status quo of the Grossmarkthalle was analysed. Following that a respective concept for refurbishment was developed.