Form and structure in engineering and visual arts

Abstract

Structural and civil engineers are responsible for the design of large scale public works, but they hardly receive any training in conceptual design or visual education. The paper addresses the question of the relevance of such training for engineering students, as it usually is the case for other form and design professionals, exploring the common ground between engineering and visual arts. Attention is focused on the experience of leading art and engineering schools, such as the Bauhaus and the MIT, as well as on the professional curriculum and aesthetic background of pioneering engineers, such as Maillart, Freyssinet, Torroja and Dieste.