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| View Entry | Author | Year of Publication | Title | Abstract | Keywords |
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Heaton, M.J. | 2016 | Spolia Britannica: The Historical Use of Salvaged Building Materials in Britain. MPhil Thesis, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath. | The thesis demonstrates that architectural salvage was culturally endemic throughout Britain throughout the later Middle Ages and the Early Modern period and was facilitated by sophisticated markets, distribution networks and customary non-economic ’linear exchange’. In addition to its iconographic and economic value, salvage was an important vector of technological and stylistic diffusion. As ’spolia’, salvaged architectural details were used by Catholic and other minority owners as expressions of cultural affinity and political legitimacy. | spolia salvage catholic non-conformist britain |
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Heaton, M.J. | 2009 | ’Building Palaeopathology: Practical Applications of Archaeological Building Analysis’, Structural Survey Vol 27 No. 2, pp119-137 | This article demonstrates how the archaeological analysis of buildings can be used in the design and management of building refurbishment projects, using case studies from the author’s professional work in southwest Britain. It was awarded ’Outstanding Paper 2010’ by the publishers. It is available as a PDF from the publishers. | bauforschung buildings-archaeology palaeopathology |
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Beard, G. | 1981 | Craftsmen and Interior Decoration in England 1660-1820 | The most authoritative a definitive historical study of architectural decoration in England during the Georgian Period. 292 pages plus Glossary, Index and Bibliography | Georgian Interiors Decorators Craftsmen |
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Manfredi, C. | 2012 | ’Comfort versus Industry: Maintenance of the Royal Palaces of Milan during the 1860s’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction, Vol 3, pp289-298 | Paper presented at the 2012 Paris congress on Construction History concerning 19th century advances in building environmental technology and cultural resistance to their use in Milan. | Milan, Building Services, Heating, Ventilation |
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Yeomans, D. | 1992 | The Trussed Roof: Its History and Development | The definitive study of the history and development of trussed roofs, with particular attention to those of Britain but drawing upon their European origins and counterparts, written by a Structural Engineer and leading academic specialising in the analysis of historic structures. | Roof truss, truss, king post, queen post, Wren, Inigo Jones, strut, tie beam |
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Stanier, P. | 2000 | Stone Quarry Landscapes: The Industrial Archaeology of Quarrying | This book explains how building stone was extracted before the advent of modern machinery and then examines the history of the principle stone sources in Britain. It is well illustrated with historic photographs, prints and the authors explanatory line drawings and has an excellent bibliography. | quarry quarrying mine stone |
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Guo, Q | 2000 | ’Tile and Brick Making in China: a Study of the Yingzao Fashi’, Construction History, Vol 16, pp3-12 | Article examining the making of brick and tile as described in the oldest surviving published national building standard - the Yingzao Fashi of early 12th century Song China. | brick tile Yingzao Fashi Song China standards |
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Fancelli, P. | 2008 | De Spoliis in Fictas Ruinas, in J.F.Bernard, P.Bernardi & D. Esposito (Eds), Il Reimpiego in Architettura: Recupero, Trasformazione, Uso; Collection de L’Ecole Francaise de Rome 418 | Paper exploring the formative use of salvaged materials - or Spolia - in ’fictitious ruins’ of the Gothik and Romantic movements in 17th - early 19th C Europe, with large number of examples from Britain. | spolia giardini Gothik Romantic Celtic Revival |
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Carvais, R. | 2008 | ’Le Reemploi des materiaux de construction a paris sous L’Ancient Regime’, in J.F.Bernard, P.Bernardi & D. Esposito (Eds), ’Il Reimpiego in Architettura: Recupero, Trasformazione, Uso’, Collections Ecole Freancaise de Rome 418 | Paper on the economics and logistics of the use of salvaged construction materials in Paris during the 17th and 18th centuries, drawing on a large number of historical sources including building contracts. Reveals that ’salvage’ was not always cheaper than new material, especially during times of war. | spolia salvage ancien regime paris |
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Volmer, L., & Zimmerman, W.H. | 2012 | Glossar zum praehistorischen und historischen Holzbau | The definitive multi-lingual glossary for timber buildings in the principle north European and Scandinavian languages plus Czech and Polish. Well-illustrated and logically arranged by building type and building element, it also illustrates the similarities and differences between the timber building traditions of northern Europe and Scandinavia. | glossary glossar wortbuch holzbau timber |
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McLean, W., & Silver, P. | 2015 | Air Structures | Air can be used in a variety of ways to make lightweight, flexible structures. It can be used to make inflatable structures, mobile structures and temporary buildings. It can also activate movable elements and act as a means of constructing buildings that would be impossible with conventional construction methods. This book looks at every facet of the subject, examining the different types of air structure: super pressure buildings, air-beam structures, buoyant structures, inflatable structures and many more. It also looks at the construction methods that use air, such as air-inflated steel, aerated concrete and blow moulding. | Inflatable, Pneumatic, Air-Pressure |
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Faircloth, B. | 2015 | Plastics Now: On Architecture’s Relationship to a Continuously Emerging Material | Plastics, Construction, Architecture, Composites | |
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Dietz, A. G. H | 1969 | Plastics for Architects and Builders | Plastics, Construction, Architecture, Composites | |
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Price, C., & Newby, F., & Suan, R.H. | 1971 | Air Structures: A survey | Inflatable, Pneumatic, Air-Pressure, Government Report | |
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Quarmby, A. | 1974 | The Plastic Architect | Plastics, Fabrication Technology, Materials History, Spatial Enclosures | |
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Institution of Structural Engineers | 1999 | Structural Use of Glass in Buildings | Structural Glass, Stairs, Floors, Bridges, Balustrades, Lamination, Adhesives | |
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Silver, P., McLean, W., & Veglio, S. | 2006 | Fabrication: The Designer’s Guide | Fabrication Processes, Metal Spinning, Metal Casting, Terrazzo, Glass Reinforced Polymer | |
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Bini, D. | 2014 | Building With Air | Binidome, Binishell, Binix, Fabric-formed Concrete | |
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Silver, P., McLean, W., & Evans, P. | 2013 | Structural Engineering for Architects: A Handbook | This book provides an understanding of the fundamental theories and practice behind the creation of architectural structures. It aids the development of an intuitive understanding of structural engineering, bringing together technical and design issues. The book is divided into four sections: ’Structures in nature’ looks at structural principles found in natural objects. ’Theory’ covers general structural theory as well as explaining the main forces in engineering. ’Structural prototypes’ includes examples of modelmaking and load testing that can be carried out by students. The fourth section, ’Case studies’, presents a diverse range of examples from around the world – actual buildings that apply the theories and testing described in the previous sections. | Structures in Nature, Structural Theory, Structural Systems, Case Studies |
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Silver, P., & McLean, W. | 2013 | Introduction to Architectural Technology (Second Edition) | This book clearly explains the core aspects of architectural technology: structural physics, structural elements and forms, heating, lighting, environmental control and computer modelling. Hundreds of photographs and diagrams demonstrate common architectural forms and construction techniques. Historical and contemporary examples chart significant moments in architectural engineering and the development of materials science Includes an examination of computer-aided design (CAD) and the use of building information management (BIM) technology for predicting and analyzing the behaviour of buildings. | Structure & Form, Structural Logic, Climate & Shelter, Human Comfort |
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Becchi, A. & Foce, F. | 2002 | Degli archi e delle volte. Arte del costruire tra meccanica e stereotomia | Construction History | |
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Becchi, A. | 2004 | Q.XVI. Leonardo, Galileo e il caso Baldi: Magonza, 26 marzo 1621 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2017 | Naufragi di terra e di mare. Da Leonardo da Vinci a Theodor Mommsen, alla ricerca dei codici Albani. Edizione del manoscritto XIII.F.25, cc. 129-136, della Biblioteca Nazionale di Napoli a cura di Oreste Trabucco | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2007 | I criteri di plasticità: cento anni di dibattito (1864-1964) | ||
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Becchi, A., Corradi, M., Foce, F., & Pedemonte, O. | 2002 | Towards a History of Construction | ||
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Becchi, A., Corradi, M., Foce, F., & Pedemonte, O. | 2003 | Essays in the History of Mechanics | ||
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Becchi, A., Corradi, M., Foce, F., & Pedemonte, O. | 2004 | Construction History. Research Perspectives in Europe | ||
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Becchi. A., Bertoloni Meli, D., & Gamba. E. | 2013 | Guidobaldo del Monte (1545-1607). Theory and Practice of the Mathematical Disciplines from Urbino to Europe | ||
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Becchi, A., Rousteau-Chambon, H., & Sakarovitch J. | 2013 | Philippe de La Hire entre Architecture et Sciences | ||
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Becchi, A., Carvais, R., & Sakarovitch, J. | 2018 | Construction History. Survey of a European Building Site / L’Histoire de la construction. Relevé d’un chantier européen | ||
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Becchi, A., Carvais, R., & Sakarovitch, J. | 2015 | Construction History. A European Meridian | ||
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Becchi, A. & Foce, F. | 2005 | Bibliotheca Mechanico-Architectonica | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2002 | Aurea concinnitas: pour une orthodoxie hérétique, in A. Becchi, M. Corradi, F. Foce, O. Pedemonte (eds.), Towards a history of construction, Birkhäuser, Basel 2002, p. 523-528. | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2003 | Before 1695. The static of arches between France and Italy, in S. Huerta (ed.), Proceedings of the First International Congress on Construction History (Madrid, 20th - 24th January 2003), Instituto Juan de Herrera, Madrid 2003, vol. 1, p. 353-364. | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2005 | Raisons A-symétriques. Équilibre des formes et formes de l’équilibre dans la theoria columnarum, in P. Radelet-de Grave (ed.), Symétries, Brepols, Turnhout 2005, p. 35-61 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2005 | Fortuna (e sfortuna) critica del De re aedificatoria di Bernardino Baldi, in E. Nenci (ed.), Bernardino Baldi (1553-1617) studioso rinascimentale: poesia, storia, linguistica, meccanica, architettura, FrancoAngeli, Milan 2005, p. 303-316. | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2005 | Baustatik, in F. Jaeger (ed.), Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit, J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag, Stuttgart/Weimar 2005, vol. 1, col. 1093-1100 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2005 | Vaults in the Air: Signor Fabritio’s English Theory, in S. Huerta (ed.), Essays in the history of the theory of structures. In honour of Jacques Heyman, CEHOPU, CEDEX, Instituto Juan de Herrera, Madrid 2005, p. 45-59 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2005 | 88317.63520 Tarli della storia, piatti di lenticchie e vecchie zie, in G. Mochi (ed.), Theory and Practice of Construction: Knowledge, Means, Models, Ed. Moderna, Ravenna 2005, vol. I, p. 57-62 | ||
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Becchi, A. & Foce, F. | 2005 | Bibliotheca Mechanico-Architectonica. From the passing references to a study of the sources, Introduction to the CD-rom series Bibliotheca Mechanico-Architectonica, Genoa 2005 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2006 | Festigkeitslehre, in F. Jaeger (ed.), Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit, J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag, Stuttgart/Weimar 2006, vol. 3, col. 945-948 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2006 | Gewölbebau, in F. Jaeger (ed.), Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit, J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag, Stuttgart/Weimar 2006, vol. 4, col. 881-884 | ||
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Becchi, A., Corradi, M., & Foce, F. | 2006 | La fine dell’inizio: 26 Maggio 1980 (with M. Corradi and F. Foce), in E. Benvenuto, La scienza delle costruzioni e il suo sviluppo storico, Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, Rome 2006, p. V-XVIII | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2006 | Eggs, turnips and chains: rhetoric and rhetoricians of architecture, in H. Schlimme (ed.), Practice and Science in Early Modern Italian Building. Towards an Epistemic History of Architecture, Electa, Milan 2006, p. 97-112 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2007 | Wusste Galileo davon? Die Architektur als Theatrum pro experimentali philosophia, in Jahrbuch der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft 2007 (digital edition, www.mpg.de) | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2008 | “Taccia dunque la turba de gli Architetti pratici ...”. Henry Wotton und der Abt von Guastalla, in W. Oechslin (ed.), Wissensformen, gta-Verlag, Zürich 2008, p. 100-107 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2008 | Imaginer l’entasis. Constructions, définitions, malentendus dans les traités de la Renaissance, in R. Gargiani (ed.), La construction de la colonne. Nouvelle histoire de la construction, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 2008, p. 149-163 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2008 | Les paradoxes (historiographiques) de la vis columnarum, in R. Gargiani (ed.), La construction de la colonne. Nouvelle histoire de la construction, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 2008, p. 203-219 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2008 | Bernardino Baldi, in N. Koertge (ed.), The new dictionary of scientific biography, vol. 1, Ch. Scribner’s Sons, Detroit 2008, p. 166-168 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2009 | Vitruvius in the Sahara: Auguste Choisy’s ‘philologie plafonnante’, in J. Girón, S. Huerta (eds.), Auguste Choisy (1841-1909). L’architecture et l’art de bâtir. Actas del Simposio Internacional, Madrid, 19-20.11.2009 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2009 | Juxta textum Vitruvii et mentem Newtonii. Das neue Wissen und das «Räthsel der Architektur», in W. Oechslin (ed.), Architekt und/versus Baumeister, gta Verlag, Zürich 2009, p. 40-49 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2009 | Pregnant Columns. From Word to Shape, in H. Nowacki, W. Lefèvre (eds.), Creating Shapes in Civil and Naval Architecture. A Cross-Disciplinary Comparison, Brill, Leiden and Boston 2009, pp. 279-296 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2009 | The Body of the Architect. Flesh, Bones and Forces between Mechanical and Architectural Theories, in K.-E. Kurrer, W. Lorenz, V. Wetzk (eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on Construction History, Cottbus, 2009, vol. 1, p. 151-158 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2009 | Uno e trino. Impronte stravaganti di un testimone postumo, in F.P. Di Teodoro (ed.), Saggi di letteratura architettonica, da Vitruvio a Winckelmann, Olschki, Florence 2009, vol. 1, p. 19-35 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2010 | La doppia vita di una ‘mauvaise règle’. La regola di Derand tra Leon Battista Alberti e Simone Stratico, in P. Cassinello, S. Huerta, J.M. de Prada Poole, R.S. Lampreave (eds.), Geometry and Proportion in Structural Design, p. 123-139 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2010 | Architecture as a mechanical problem. A ‘new’ Renaissance manuscript and some old stories, in A. Sinopoli (ed.), Mechanics and architecture between Epistéme and Techné, Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, Rome 2010, p. 97-106 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2010 | Histoire de la construction: un regard italien, in R. Carvais, A. Guillerme, V. Nègre, J. Sakarovitch (eds.), Édifice et artifice. Histoires constructives, Picard, Paris 2010, p. 59-63 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2010 | L’asino che vola: architettura, ricerca, metodi tossici, in E. Rabasa, J. Ibáñez, D. Sanz (eds.), Actas Tercera Jornadas Sobre Investigación en Arquitectura y Urbanismo (Madrid, 17-19 Junio 2009), Mairea Libros, Madrid 2010, p. XXXIV-XLVII | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2011 | Cantieri d’inchiostro: meccanica teorica e meccanica chirurgica nella seconda metà del Cinquecento, in G. Curcio, N. Navone, S. Villari (eds.), Studi su Domenico Fontana 1543-1607, Silvana Editoriale, Milan 2011, p. 91-103 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2012 | La poutre brisée: une question, deux réponses, in R. Gargiani (dir.), L’architrave, le plancher, la plate-forme. Nouvelle histoire de la construction, Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes, Lausanne 2012, p. 316-328 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2012 | Ut unum sint: poutres, arcs, plates-bandes, in R. Gargiani (dir.), L’architrave, le plancher, la plate-forme. Nouvelle histoire de la construction, Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes, Lausanne 2012, p. 329-340 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2012 | Il corpo dell’inventio: Vitruvio interprete di Archimede, in “Horti Hesperidum. Studi di storia del collezionismo e della storiografia artistica”, 2012, fasc. 2, p. 39-60 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2013 | Idées manuscrites, théories imprimées: la mécanique architecturale de Philippe de La Hire, in A. Becchi, H. Rousteau-Chambon, J. Sakarovitch (eds.), Philippe de La Hire entre architecture et sciences, Picard, Paris 2013, pp. 177-190 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2013 | ...zoticamente non intendendo le Mechaniche. La scientia aedificandi ai tempi di Guidobaldo del Monte, in A. Becchi, D. Bertoloni Meli, E. Gamba (eds.), Guidobaldo del Monte (1545-1607), p. 241-263 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2013 | Archimedes’ Bath, in G. Di Pasquale, C. Parisi Presicce (eds.), Archimedes. The Art and Science of Invention, Giunti, Florence 2013, p. 115-119 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2013 | Architectus omnibus armis ornatus. Sind die Waffen des Architekten nur Spielzeuge?, in Jahrbuch 2012, Braunschweigische Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft, J. Cramer Verlag, Braunschweig 2013, p. 215-225 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2013 | Looking for an equilibrium point: Wilson, Machiavelli and the King of Siam, in “Construction History. International Journal of the Construction History Society”, vol. 28, N. 3, 2013, p. 1-19 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2014 | Fokus: Die Gestalt der Säule, in J. Renn, W. Osthues, H. Schlimme (eds.), Wissensgeschichte der Architektur, Edition Open Access, Berlin 2014, vol. 3, p. 369-396 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2014 | Fokus: Architektur und Mechanik, in J. Renn, W. Osthues, H. Schlimme (eds.), Wissensgeschichte der Architektur, Edition Open Access, Berlin 2014, vol. 3, p. 397-428 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2014 | À Joël, le juste, in “Construction History. International Journal of the Construction History Society”, vol. 29, N. 1, 2014, p. ix-xi; also “Scholion”, 8, 2014, p. 177-179 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2015 | Vitruvius zu den Zeiten der reinen Vernunft: Giovanni Poleni, Simone Stratico und ihre Exercitationes, in U. Hassler (ed.), Der Lehrbuchdiskurs über das Bauen, Institut für Denkmalpflege und Bauforschung der ETH Zürich, Zürich 2015, p. 78-92 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2015 | Eugene Goostman et les pierres de Saint-Pétersbourg, in “Re-Vue Malaquais”, n. 2, 2015, p. 46-49 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2015 | Oltre la ‘Scientia de ponderibus’, in P. Caye, R. Nanni, P.D. Napolitani (eds.), Scienze e rappresentazioni: saggi in onore di Pierre Souffrin, Olschki, Florence, 2015, p. 389-403 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2016 | Drawing Proofs: lo sguardo cinematico di Robert Willis, in A. Buchanan, J.W.P. Campbell, J. Girón, S. Huerta (eds.), Robert Willis. Science, Technology and Architecture in the Nineteenth Century, Instituto Juan de Herrera, Madrid, 2016, p. 141-165 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2016 | Learning from falling stones: Autobiografie scientifiche between mechanics and architecture, in “Science et technique en perspective”, IIe série, vol. 18, fasc. 2, 2016, p. 3-18 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2017 | I commenti di Daniele Barbaro al Proemio della ’terza parte principale dell’Architettura’ (1556-1567), in F. Lemerle, V. Zara, P. Caye, L. Moretti (eds.), Daniele Barbaro 1514-1570, Brepols, Turnhout, 2017, p. 187-198 | ||
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Becchi, A. | 2017 | La lezione di Salmacide: Vitruvio e il potere delle acque, in T.G. Schattner, F. Valdés Fernández (eds.), Wasserversorgung in Toledo und Wissensvermittlung von der Antike ins Mittelalter, Ernst Wasmuth Verlag, Tübingen/Berlin, 2017, p. 371-385 | ||
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Heaton, M.J. | 2018 | ’How medieval is a Medieval house: Whitestaunton Manort, Chard, Somerset?’, Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society, 62, pp53-71 | Case study analysis of the manner and extent to which a nominally medieval building incorporates in situ Roman masonry, medieval and post-medieval rebuilding and 17th - 18th century spolia. In particular, the article suggests that radical Non-Conformist owners in the early 18th century used spolia and faux-archaeological details to enhance their political and cultural legitimacy, in the same way that Catholic owners (in Britain) were in the 17th and 18th centuries. The article also identifies early 20th century use of salvaged decorative fabric that has, hitherto, been ascribed an early 17th century date on typological grounds, and warns of the danger of analysing such buildings on the basis of superficial fabric alone. | Britain, Somerset, Whitestaunton Elton Brett Hugyn spolia salvage in-situ re-building, archaeology, Bauforschung |
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Heaton, M.J. | 2009 | ’They don’t build ’em like they used to: The defective flyers of Christchurch Priory’, CHS Newsletter, 84, pp6-7 | A short article on observations made during geotechnical investigations at Christhchurch Priory in Dorset (GB), which revealed that the flying buttress of the 14th century Quire Aisles do not have any structural foundations. They are therefore largely cosmetic, and hence failing. This means that, contrary to received wisdom about the medieval builders’ empirical understanding of statics, the builders of this stage of the monastic church did not understand the function of flying buttresses and that, probably, the buttresses were added simply because it was fashionable to do so. | Britain, Dorset, Christchurch, church, statics flying buttresses foundations medieval quire, knowledge transfer |
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Heaton, M.J. | 2016 | ’The Nave Roof at Holy Trinity Church, Warmell, Dorset’, The Construction Historian, 1, pp7-9 | Case study analysis of a ’Scissor Brace’ truss roof added to the 13th C parish church of Warmell in c. 1750-1770 (dendro). Citing Yeomans (1992), the report concludes that this particular form of roof was first used in Britain in London in the late 17th C and that the knowledge transfer of the design to the West Country took c. 100 years. | scissor brace truss dorset warmwell |
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Heaton, M.J. | 2009 | ’Dunster Castle Roof’, CHS Newsletter, 86, pp2-5. | Case study report and analysis of the roof structure of Dunster Castle near Minehead in Somerset. Assisted by dendrochronology, the report describes and identifies a primary lead-covered flat roof of c. 1617 that was re-engineered in 1722-8 by the addition of king posts and principal rafters. The jointing and other forms of connection are unusual, employing ’forelock’ bolts and large sprockets redolent of marine construction. | Dunster roof king-post forelock bolt flat-roof lead |
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Heaton, M.J. | 2008 | ’Crinolines and scaffolding: The value of church records to the historical study of women in construction’, CHS Newsletter, 81, pp3-4 | Case study report arising from the author’s examination of church archives for a Conservation Management Plan. 18th and 19th century archives held by Christchurch Priory record that a significant amount of the repair and rebuilding work commissioned by the church during the 18th and 19th centuries was undertaken by women acting as main contractors employing male tradesmen. Some of those women had inherited their companies from their deceased husbands, but not all of them had. More importantly, none appear in the civil records (trade directories, census etc.). The report concludes that, given the importance of the Church to pre-20th C British society, church records might be a more reliable indicator of female involvement in the construction industry than civil records. | christchurch women contractors indemnities pews repair rebuilding |
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Heaton, M.J. and Davenport, P. | 2003 | ’A Late Medieval Timber Frame at Nos 21-22 High Street, Bath’, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeol. & Natural History Soc., 146, pp73-79 | Case study report on a 16th century timber framed building discovered during refurbishment of a superficially Georgian building in central Bath. The report describes the structure and summarises the documented history of the site. Unfortunately dendrochronology was not employed because the principal timbers are salvaged, so the structure is dated broadly to 1400-1600 typologically. The significance of the discovery is that it demonstrates that the Georgian ’re-building’ of Bath in the 18th century did not involve wholesale demolition of the pre-existing medieval and post-medieval building stock, as has hitherto been assumed. Similar, though not as complete, survivals have been noted elsewhere in central Bath | Bath medieval facadism facade Georgian salvage |
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Andrew Rabeneck | 2015 | Industries of Architecture - "The place of architecture in the new economy" | I offer a speculation on the future place of architecture in society. I explain the increasing marginalisation of design professionals in construction, based on trends that are already impinging on their daily experience of practice. These trends derive indirectly from the widespread deregulation of financial markets in the 1980s, and the subsequent political adoption of neoclassical libertarian economics around the world. In short, the free global movement of capital has irreversibly transformed the political economy of construction. To recapture pre-eminence in the evolving setting design professionals would need to radically change both their education and practice, but there is little chance that this will happen. Further marginalisation is inevitable | globalisation, capital, professional education |
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Andrew Rabeneck | 2011 | CHS Journal Volume 26 - "Building for the future - schools fit for our children" | This essay contrasts responses to post-war demand for school building first in Britain and later in America. In both cases modernist architects were primary actors, inspired by ideologies of pioneers such as Walter Gropius. They became instrumental in developing construction techniques involving educational innovation and prefabrication. In Britain’s centralised command economy, dominated by scarcity of resources, innovative organisations quickly collapsed when economic conditions changed. But in America, by goading industry to innovate in sustainable ways through the agency of a private foundation, idealistic architects achieved a lasting impact on the construction industry. | Schools, post-war construction, prefabrication, Britain, USA. |
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Andrew Rabeneck | 2012 | ”The Transformation of Construction by Concrete", Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, proceedings of the 4th International Congress on Construction History, Paris,vol. 2, 627-635. | In this paper I argue that concrete has played a critical role in the complete transformation of construction from a local demand-led craft to a global supply-led industry, a transformation not just of technique, but of labour processes and organisation. | concrete, industrialisation, globalisation, concrete products |
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Theodossopoulos, D | 2016 | The catastrophic repairs of Holyrood Abbey church in 1760 | The collapse of the significant church of Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh in December 1768 is discussed as the result of the ill-conceived repair of the roof in 1760, i.e. the substitution of the timber trusses with closely-spaced diaphragm masonry walls that aggravated the delicate equilibrium of the vaults and the poor state of a building being mutilated over 250 years. This study interprets these repairs by demonstrating the authorship and partnership of the architect John Douglas with the mason-developer James McPherson, who combined architectural ambition (the aesthetics of a flagstone roof) with the (cheaper) option of diaphragms, which would not involve a wright. The detailed examination of the procurement, the process of the intervention, the collapse and the limited impact of its aftermath, are framed in a wider technical and historical context in Edinburgh and Scotland, during a period marked by several failures of medieval churches, and reveals a poor understanding of a critical element in Gothic construction. Analysis of all public archive material available sheds light on key events of the case, and critical study of the work of the two partners’ attempts to identify the intentions of their project, whose limitations were inevitable once the partnership was formed. | Edinburgh; gothic; Holyrood; John Douglas; restoration; stone vaulting |
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Wermiel, S., | 1993 | The development of fireproof construction in Great Britain and the United States in the Nineteenth Century, Construction History, Vol 9, pp3-26 | The authoritative study of the development of purposely fireproof structures and materials, mainly in industrial and commercial buildings, concentrating on the British and American industries | fireproof fire-proof |
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Louw, H. | 1993 | The mechanisation of architectural woodwork in Britain from the late-eighteenth to the early twentieth century, and its practical, social and aesthetic implications. Part 2: Technological progress, c. 1860 to c. 1915, Construction History, Vol 9, pp27-50 | Authoritative study of the machines, buildings and materials developed to facilitate the mechanical cutting and shaping of decorative joinery components; and the effects this had on the industry and its clients. Contains a large number of detailed images of 19th C woodworking machinery. | joinery woodwork workshop |
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Steel, M.W., and Cheetham, D.W. | 1993 | Frank Bunker Gilbreth: Building contractor, inventor and pioneer industrial engineer, Construction History, VFol 9, pp51-70 | The only published study of the working lives of Frank and Lilian Bunker Gilbreth, examining their application of Time and Motion studies and Scientific Management to the American construction industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. | Time and Motion Scientific Management Construction Management |
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Cooney, E.W. | 1993 | Productivity, Conflict and Order in the British construction industry: A historical view, Construction History, Vol 9, pp71-84 | Study of the issues effecting productivity and labour-relations in the British construction industry to the late 20th century. Examines the changing structure of the industry and the legal, economic and social issues this ocassioned. | conflict productivity relations contract law economics subcontracting |
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McWilliam, R.C. | 1993 | The Science Museum, the construction industry and a Grubenmann wooden bridge model, Construction History, Vol 9, pp85-88 | A short article alerting readers to the contents of the Science Museum in London and its relevance to Construction History | |
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Musgrave, Elizabeth, C., | 1994 | The organisation of the building trades of eastern Brittany 1600-1790: some observations, Construction History, VFol 10, pp1-16 | France Brittany Trades Guilds | |
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Shallat, T. | 1994 | Science and the Grand Design: origins of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Construction History, Vol 10, pp17-28 | US USA Corps Engineers Simon Bernard Presque Isle | |
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Booth, L.G. | 1994 | Henry Fuller’s glued laminated timber roof for Rusholme Road Congregational sunday school and other early timber roofs, Construction History, Vol 10, pp29-46 | Glued Laminated Roofs Rusholme nineteenth century Fuller | |
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Smith, N. A. F. | 1994 | The failure of the Bouzey Dam in 1895, Construction History, Vol 10, pp47-66 | Epinal Dale Dyke Johnstown South Fork Dam Dams | |
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Walker, A. | 1994 | Plastics: the building blocks of the twentieth century, Construction History, Vol 10, pp67-88 | A study of the evolution, use and potential of plastics for the construction industry | plastic Baekeland Swinburn Staudinger Carothers DuPont |
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Penn, R., Wild, S., and Mascarennas, J. | 1995 | The Pomboline Quarter of Lisbon: an eighteenth century example of prefabrication and dimensional co-ordination. Construction History, Vol 1, pp3-18 | Portugal earthquake alluvium Monteiro Maia | |
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Harper, R. | 1995 | The building of the Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield, 1830-34. Construction History, Vol 11, pp19-32 | Worth Taylor Laycock contracts contractor | |
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Skempton, A.W. | 1995 | Embankments and cuttings on early railways, Construction History, Vol 11, pp33-50 | excavation management end-tipping horse-runs side-cutting slips volumetric analysis cuttings failure | |
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Louw, H. | 1995 | The mechanisation of architectural woodwork from the late eighteenth century to the early twentieth century, nd its practical, social and aesthetic implications Part III: the retreat of the handicrafts.Construction History, Vol 11, pp51-72 | The third of four articles dealing with this important subject, concentrating on the advance of machinery in the marketplace and in the workplace. | joinery machinery windows doors skirtings |
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Trepetina, N.V. | 1995 | The archives of the St Petersburg Institute of the Corps of Communications Engineers, Construction History, Vol 11, pp73-80 | Betancourt Bazaine Potue Mongeo Fabr | |
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Weiler, J,. | 1996 | Colonial connections: Royal Engineers and building technology transfer in the nineteenth century, Construction History, Vol 12, pp3-18 | military ordnance Pasley Smith Vicat Macleod Cotton India Australia Canada Barlow Bridges prefabrication tropics barracks empire | |
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Louw, H. | 1996 | The mechanisation of architectural woodwork in Britain from th elate eighteenth century to the early twentieth century, and its practical, social and aesthetic implications. Part IV: the end of an era. Construction History, Vol 12, pp19-40 | artist marketplace machinery craft | |
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Federov, S.G. | 1996 | Early iron domed roofs in Russian church architecture: 1800-1840. Construction History, Vol 12, pp41-66 | St Petersburg Kazan St Isaac dome | |
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Cody, J.W. | 1996 | Erecting monuments to the god of business and trade: the Fuller Construction Company of the Orient, 1919-1926. Construction History, Vol 12, pp 67-82 | Japan China Wheeler Capron Holt | |
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Ruddock, E. | 1996 | Charles Holden and the issue of high buildings-London, 1927-47. London’d highest buildings, 1927-1938: 55 Broadway and Senate House. Construction History, Vol 12, pp 83-100 | tall buildings | |
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Atkinson, G. | 1996 | Though during the Building Research Establishment’s 75th anniversary. Construction History, Vol 12, pp 101-108 | BRE privatisation BRS | |
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Day, T. | 1997 | Did Telford rely, in northern Scotland, on vigilant inspectors or competent contractors?. Construction History, Vol 13, pp 3-16 | contracts contract management Burn Minto bridges roads | |
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Brooke, D. | 1997 | William Mackenzie and railways in France. Construction History, Vol 13, pp 17-28 | Brassey Mackenzie Locke canals organisation plant profits | |
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Lucas, R. | 1997 | The tax on bricks and tiles, 1784-1850: its application to the country at large and, in particular, to the county of Norfolk. Construction History, Vol 13, pp 29-56 | bricks tiles tax Georgian 18th century England | |
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Cox, A. | 1997 | A vital component: stock bricks in Georgian London. Construction History, Vol 13, pp 56-66 | stock bricks Georgian London 18th | |
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Booth, L.G. | 1997 | The design and construction of timber paraboloid sheel roofs in Britain: 1957-1975. Construction History, Vol 13, pp67-90 | timber shell roof TDA TRADA hyperbolic paraboloid Newsum | |
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Spencer-Silver, P. | 1997 | William Edwin Jackson’s cashbook: Part 1, 1845-1847. Construction History, Vol 13, pp 91-115 | Pugin | |
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Mendel, R. | 1998 | Craft labour and the development of trade unionism among building tradesmen in late nineteenth century New York. Construction History, Vol 14, pp 3-20 | America USA sub-contracting technological innovation strikes industrial action | |
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Jackson, A. A. | 1998 | The development of steel framed buildings in Britain 1880-1905. Construction History, Vol 14, pp 21-40 | Ritz hotel industrial market street store Dublin railway Waterhouse Midland hotel | |
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Radford, D. | 1998 | The early history of the tall building in South African city. Construction History, Vol 14, pp 41-58 | Cape Town | |
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Yeomans, D. | 1998 | The pre-history of the curtain wall. Construction History, Vol 14, pp 59-82 | Crystal Palace Baumann Reliance Chicago glass factories commercial Davison Alcoa Equitable | |
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Cooney, E.W. | 1998 | Eighteenth century Britain’s missing sawmills: a return visit. Construction History, Vol 14, pp 83-88 | Limehouse Dingley Stansfield Dossie Dutch sawyer shipbuilding Spey Netherlands Holland Zaanstrek | |
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Spencer-Silver, P. | 1998 | William Edwin Jackson’s cashbook: Part 2, 1848-1849. Construction History, Vol 14, pp 89-112 | ||
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Powell, C. | 1999 | Cobling and Helling: a Georgian building firm at work. Construction History, Vol 15, pp 3-14 | Firm firms Georgian Crediton Devon Prawl | |
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Woodley, R. | 1999 | Professionals: early episodes among architects and engineers.Construction History, Vol 15, pp 15-22 | Mylne Smeaton Blackfriar’s bridge | |
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Anderson, J. | 1999 | Urban development as a component of government policy in the aftermath of the Napoleonic War.Construction History, Vol 15, pp 23-38 | WFLR Fordyce revenue Georgian Britain Nash | |
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Lorenz, W. | 1999 | Classicism and High Technology- the Berlin Neues Museum. Construction History, Vol 15, pp 39-56 | Prussia Preussen Borsig Beauth Egells Christian Conrad | |
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Yarwood, J.R. | 1999 | Traditional building construction in an historic Arabian town. Construction History, Vol 15, pp 57-78 | Al Muharraq Bahrain diffusion Rivoyre coral materials arches doors stairs climate sanitation | |
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Ashby, J. | 1999 | The aluminium legacy: the history of the metal and its role in architecture. Construction History, Vol 15, pp 79-90 | aluminium casting | |
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Guo, Quinghua | 2000 | Tile and brick making in China: a study of the Yingzao Fashi. Construction History, Vol 16, pp 3-12 | China brick tile Yingzao Fashi Zhou quinggun Tiangong Kaiwu Song | |
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Pepper, S. | 2000 | Sword and spade: military construction in Renaissance Italy. Construction History, Vol 16, pp 13-32 | Brunelleschi vinci martini durer michelangelo taccola Lucca Giorgio Sarzana Siennas | |
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Clarke, J. | 2000 | Material concerns in the Pacific Northwest: steel versus reinforced concrete in highway bridge design in Washington State, 1910-1930. Construction History, Vol 16, pp 33-62 | America USA Melan Baker river bridge Columbia truss chehalis | |
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Dunster, D. | 2000 | Financing and building Wacker Drive, Chicago. Construction History, Vol 16, pp 63-76 | America USA Michigan urban planning tall building | |
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Cross-Rudkin, P. | 2000 | Professional lives: compiling the Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers. Construction History, Vol 16, pp 77-87 | ||
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Walker, A. | 2000 | Historical influences on th euse of cement in Mexican domestic construction. Construction History, Vol 16, pp 87-99 | Mexico domestic house casa promotion | |
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Guo, Quighua | 2001 | The formation and early development of architecture in northern China. Construction History, Vol 17, pp 3-16 | Meng Zi Tang dynasty Yaodong houses domestic | |
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Campbell, J.W.P., and Saint, A. | 2001 | A bibliography of works on brick published in England before 1750.Construction History, Vol 17, pp 17-30 | manuals mensuration pricing Ive Wotton Willsford Brown Gerbier Primatt Leybourn Hammond Woolridge Wolridge Coggeshall Foster Plot Mandey Houghton Barker Wing Moxon Neve Roman Coehoorn Aldrich Morton Hawney Good halfpenny Langley Chambers Rowland Salmon | |
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Smith, T.P. | 2001 | On small yellow bricks ....from Holland. Construction History, Vol 17, pp 31-42 | klinker klinkaert Ijsselstenen Netherlands | |
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Wermiel, S.E. | 2001 | An unusual application of wire cables from the 1850s: Benjamin Severson’s wire-tied iron girders. Construction History, Vol 17, pp 43-54 | America USA trussed girder | |
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Lorenz, W., and Rohde, A. | 2001 | Building with iron in nineteenth century Bavaria: the Valhalla roof truss and its architect Leo von Klenze. Construction History, Vol 17, pp 55-76 | Regensburg Schinkel Munich Befreiungshalle Kelheim | |
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Gould, M.H. | 2001 | A historical perspective on the Belfast roof truss. Construction History, Vol 17, pp 75-89 | bowstring Steppings Delorme Libourne Anderson | |
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Locock, M. | 1992 | The development of the building trades in the West Midlands, 1400-1850.Construction History, Vol 8, pp 3-20 | medieval post-medieval | |
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Louw, H. | 1992 | The mechanisation of architectural woodwork in Britain Part 1. The period c. 1790-c. 1860.Construction History, Vol 8, pp 21-55 | joinery machinery windows doors skirting | |
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Jackson, N. | 1992 | Views with a room: taxation and the return of the bay window to the third rate speculative houses of mid nineteenth-century London. Construction History, Vol 8, pp 55-68 | terraced rates rated tax taxation | |
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Federov, S.G. | 1992 | Matthew Clark and the origins of Russian structural engineering 1810-40s: an introductory biography. Construction History, Vol 8, pp 69-88 | Russia Alexandrovskij St Petersburg Aleksandrinskij iron roofs theatre | |
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Smith, S. | 2001 | The design of structural ironwork 1850-1890: Education, Theory and Practice. Construction History, Vol 8, pp 89-108 | specialisation McQuorne Rankine | |
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Portman, D.R. | 2002 | A business history of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Construction History, Vol 18, pp 3-20 | Bristol gorge Smyth Brunel estimates funding speculative Hawkshaw Barlow | |
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Hurst, L. | 2002 | The properties and uses of Portland Cement. Construction History, Vol 18, pp 21-36 | Roman creasing drainage sewers waterproof hydraulic Parker Smirke Smeaton masonry brickwork civil | |
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Clarke, J. | 2002 | Like a huge birdcage exhaled from the earth: Watson’s Esplanade Hotel, Mumbai (1867-71) and its place in Structural History. Construction History, Vol 18, pp 37-78 | India Raj | |
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Tappin, S. | 2002 | The early use of reinforced concrete in India. Construction History, Vol 18, pp 79-98 | ||
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Vale, B., and Richmond, P. | 2002 | The English at Point England. Construction History, Vol 18, pp 99-110. | A study of the mass introduction of pre-fabricated timber houses to New Zealand in the mid 20th century | pre-fabricated houses Australia Auckland kitset Simms Cooke import |
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Mainstone, R. | 2003 | Saving the dome of St Peter’s. Construction History, Vol 19, pp 3-18 | Study of 18th C structural repair of the dome of St Peter’s church at Rome | Rome St Peter’s Bramante Vanvitelli eighteenth century Parere Poleni Riflessioni Aggiunta mathematicians |
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Louw, H. | 2005 | The windows of perrault’s Observatory in Paris (1667-1683): the legacy of a proto-modern architectural inventor. Construction History, Vol 19, pp 19-46 | ||
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Yeomans, D. | 2005 | Soane and Swiss bridges. Construction History, Vol 19, pp 47-64 | Switzerland Shaffhausen Grubenmann Richenau Wettingen trestle arch Hangewerke Haengewerke trusses | |
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Trout, E.A.R | 2005 | Concrete Publications Ltd and its legacy to the concrete industry. Construction History, Vol 19, pp 65-86 | One of several studies of the specialist publisher Concrete Publications Ltd | Sachs Twentieth century Faber Childe |
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Gallo, E. | 2005 | Skyscrapers and district heating, an inter-related history 1876-1933. Construction History, Vol 19, pp 87-106 | Examines the inter-dependency of skyscrapers and ’district heating’ systems in America | America US Birdsill Holly |
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Swenarton, M. | 2005 | Rammed earth revival: technological innovation and government policy in Britain, 1905-1925. Construction History, Vol 19, pp 107-126 | Study of the British government’s investigation of the economics and practicalities of using chalk as a building material for mass housing in the early 20th C. | Amesbury Wiltshire chalk cob pise chalk and clay rammed earth |
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Guo, Quinghua | 2004 | From tower to pagoda: structural and technological transition. Construction History, Vol 19, pp 3-20. | Han Qing gua xie que lou ge Shouwen Jiezi Buddhism Yingzao fashi diantang tingtang pingzuo chanzhu zao chazhu zao | |
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Campbell, J.W.P. | 2004 | Nicholas Hawksmoor’s building notebook. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 21-44 | ||
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Brindle, S., and Tucker, M. | 2004 | Brunel’s lost bridge: the rediscovery and salvage of the Bishops Road Canal Bridge, Paddington. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 45-70 | GWR | |
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Portman, D.R. | 2004 | Henry Marc Brunel - civil engineer. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 71-84 | Armstrong Brunel Channel tunnel Froude Wolfe Barry Tower Bridge | |
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Alegre, A., and Heitor, T. | 2004 | Flexibility in the first generation of reinforced concrete housing: a public housing estate in Lisbon. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 85-94 | Portugal alvalade | |
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Picon, A. | 2006 | Construction History: between technological and cultural history. Construction History, Vol 21, pp 5-20 | Historiographical essay | |
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Saint, A. | 2006 | Architect and engineer: a study in construction history. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 21-30 | historiographical essay | |
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Lorenz, W. | 2006 | From stories to history, from history to histories: what can construction history do ? Construction History, Vol 20, pp 31-42 | Historiographical essay | |
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Clarke, J. | 2006 | Cones, not domes: John Nash and regency structural innovation. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 43-64 | Rotunda artillery Carlton House Polygon room woolwich | |
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Yeomans, D. | 2006 | The behaviour of the structure. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 65-68 | ||
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Swenarton, M. | 2006 | Breeze blocks and Bolshevism: housing policy and the origins of the Building Research Station 1917-21. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 69-80 | BRE BRS | |
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Federov, S.G. | 2006 | Construction History in the Soviet Union-Russia: 1930-2005 Emergence, Development and Disappearance of a technical discipline. Construction History, Vol 20, pp 81-99 | ||
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Hiskey, C. | 2007 | Palladian and Practical: Country house technology at Holkham Hall. Construction History, Vol 22, pp 3-26 | services sanitation 18th C eighteenth laundry sewers drains heating kitchen lighting fire communications | |
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Wells, J.C. | 2007 | A history of structural hollow clay tile in the United States. Construction History, Vol 22, pp 27-46 | fire-proof | |
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Ramage, M. | 2007 | Guastavino’s vault construction revisited. Construction History, Vol 22, pp 47-60 | timbrel vaulting bovedas tabicadas shell | |
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Harris, G. | 2007 | Ove Arup and box frame construction. Construction History, Vol 22, pp 61-74. | ||
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Bullock, N. | 2007 | You assemble a lorry, but you build a house. Noisy-le-sec and the French debate on industrial housing 1944-49. Construction History, Vol 22, pp 75-96 | MRU modernisation pre-fabrication AIROH | |
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Jones, B., Sereni, A., and Ricci, M. | 2008 | Building Brunelleschi’s dome: a practical methodology verified by experiment. Construction History, Vol 23 pp 3-30 | Experimental archaeology examining how the dome was constructed without formwork | Florence Duomo Fiore octagonal ribs herringbone bricks |
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Holzer, S. | 2008 | Structural iron elements in German timber roofs (1600-1800). Construction History, Vol 23 pp 33-58 | ||
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Bullock, N. | 2008 | 20,000 dwellings a month for forty years: France’s industrialised housing sector in the 1950s. Construction History, Vol 23 pp 59-76 | ||
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Van de Voorde, S., and Meyer, R., | 2007 | On the interface between architecture, engineering and technology. Two case studies in concrete construction in Belgium. Construction History, Vol 23 pp 77-98 | preflex beam Zuidertoren Sculpture House | |
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Pepper, S. and Richmond, P. | 2008 | Cottages, flats and reconditioning: renewal strategies in London after World War One. Construction History, Vol 23 pp 99-118 | LCC Tabard housing | |
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Lancaster, L. | 2009 | Terracotta vaulting tubes in Roman architecture: a case study of the interrelationship between technologies and trade in the Mediterranean. Construction History, Vol 24 pp 3-18 | ||
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Mainstone, R. | 2009 | Brunelleschi’s dome revisited. Construction History, Vol 24 pp 19-30 | ||
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Gomez-Ferrer, M. | 2009 | The origins of tile vaulting in Valencia. Construction History, Vol 24 pp 31-44 | Spain 16th C sixteenth vaulting | |
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Osborne, R. | 2009 | Cast iron windows in Anglican churches in England 1791-1840.Construction History, Vol 24 pp 45-62 | ||
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Anderson, J. | 2009 | The operation of the early nineteenth century property market. Construction History, Vol 24 pp 63-82 | The definitive article on how the speculative developments of London and other British cities was funded and executed. | ground rents agreements leases market landowner developer contractor attorney investor funding investment lease building-lease monetization |
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Isaacs, N. | 2009 | Nails in New Zealand 1770 to 1910. Construction History, Vol 24 pp 83-103 | ||
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Devos, R., and Flore, F., | 2009 | Modern wood. De Coene at Expo 58. Construction History, Vol 24 pp 103-120 | ||
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Wenzel, F., | 2010 | Investigations into the construction and repair history of the Hagia Sophia. Construction History, Vol 25, pp 1-20 | Bauforschung geophysics radar tomography buildings archaeology Turkey | |
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Sinopoli, A. | 2010 | No tension behaviour and best shape of pseudo-vaults. Construction History, Vol 25, pp 21-52 | analysis of the structural behaviour of prehistoric, medieval, renaissance and modern vaults in the mediterranean | |
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Thom, C. | 2010 | Fine veneers, army boots and tinfoil: new light on Marc Isambard Brunel’s activities in Battersea. Construction History, Vol 25, pp 53-68 | ||
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Leslie, T. | 2010 | ’Built mostly of itself’: The Chicago brick industry and the masonry skyscraper in the late 19th century. Construction History, Vol 25, pp 69-84 | ||
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Bowen, B. | 2010 | The building of the British Westinghouse Electricv and manufacturing plant, Trafford Park, Manchester, 1901-2: an early example of transatlantic co-operation in construction management .Construction History, Vol 25, pp85-100 | ||
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Sutherland, J. | 2010 | Revival of structural timber in Britain after 1945. Construction History, Vol 25, pp 101-114 | ||
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Deregibus, C., and Pugnale, A. | 2010 | The church of Longuelo by Pino Pizzigoni: design and construction of an experimental structure. Construction History, Vol 25, pp 115-140 | ||
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Bertels, I. | 2011 | Building contractors in late nineteenth century Belgium: from craftsmen to contractors. Construction History, Vol 26, pp 1-18 | The search for the best contractor, from a qualitative and/or economic perspective, became a quest for several clients andn designers in the course of the nineteenth century. In 1879, Ernest Allard (1849-1898) formulated the frustrations of a broad group of architects in ’L’Emulation’, Belgium’s leading architectural periodical at that time, and complained about the standardisation of the building process and the many ’misinterpretations’ contractors made when putting their design into practice. Opposition forces defending the building contractors have limited presence within architectural historiography. This article examines, via the concept of professionalisation, elementary aspects, such as contractors’ professional juridical position, their search for appropriate applied training, and their professional networking and demonstrates how part of this specific group of builders, those who were active in public works, can be defined and evolved within the late 19th C Belgian context. The article shows how, within a dialetical process with related professions, including architects and engineers, contractors gradually obtained strictly defined positions and job responsibilities, but also their personal social and legal status, organisation and knowledge. For this growing group of contractors the 19th C became an important lynchpin between traditional organisations, namely guilds and trades and modern building organisation. | contractorsd buildinging organisation technical education Belgium 19th century |
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Schoenefeldt, H. | 2011 | The use of scientific experimentation in developing the glazing of the Palm House at Kew. Construction History, Vol 26, pp 19-40 | This paper investigates the role of scientific experimentation in the design development of the Palm House at the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, designed and constructed in 1844-48. It focuses on the cross-disciplinary design process underlying development of a special light-filtering glass that was adopted for protecting the tropical plants from the solar radiation transmitted by the highly transparent glass skin. To validate the performance of the glass, the design team was not only dependent on the study of the optical and chemical properties of the glass, but also relied on scientific research into the effect of natural light on the physiology of plants. Kew commissioned the scientist Robert Hunt to conduct a series of scientific experiments, first to specify the right tint and to assist the glass manufacturer in producing a glass with the required properties. The final section discusses the performance history of the glazing as a solar control strategy. | Glass, lighting, Palm House, botanic gardens, internal envuironment, experimentation. |
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Morice, P. | 2011 | A sketch of Wexham Springs history: the early years of the Cement and Concrete Association, 1948-58. Construction History, Vol 26, pp 41-55 | The paper records the early history of Wexham Springs, the research station of the Cement and Concrete Association. The author was the Head of the Structures Department from 1948during its first ten years, when topics of particualr interest were pre-stressed concrete and shell roofs. Residential training courses on pre-stressing for professional engineers were introduced in `1950 as part of the Research Station’s responsibilities. The paper is necessarily biased towards the structures aspect of the research station’s activities. | concrete researc, pre-stressed concrete, prestressed concrete, structural engineering, stuctural models, bridge tests. |
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Guillerme, A. | 2011 | Enclosing nature in the City: supplying light and water to Paris 1770-1840. Construction History, Vol 26, pp 79-94 | Between 1770 and 1840, there was a new emphasis on material comfort in the life of France’s growing middle classes, provided in urban areas by innovation in heating, lighting and water supply. Old techniques were greatly improved by the application of science and the development of new technologies that reduced the need for human work and energy consumption. These technologies also gave birth to new crafts and new industries. For the first time, metal piping was used extensively beneath the public realm of the city, the rapidly developing streets and squares of Paris. The novel ability to transport liquids, through what civil engineers came to define as the new applied science of the network, began the liberation of the city from its old dependence on the natural environment. | Paris, 18th century, 19th century, heating, lighting, potable water, drainage, sewers, public utilities, networks. |
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Tain-Guzman, M., Alonso-Rodriguez, M., Calvo-Lopez | 2012 | Stonecutters’ literature and construction practice in Early Modern Gothic: the tracings for a rib vault at the Cathedral of Tui in Galicia. Construction History, Vol 27, pp 1-22 | According to the manuscript of Rodrigo Gil de Hontanon, written about 1550, late Gothic builders used full-size traci8ngs o9f rib vaults in order to control the placement of the voussoirs of these vaults. No 16th C tracing for a rib vault has been preserved in the Iberian Peninsula, as far as we know; however, a tracing is preserved on the floor of Saint Catherine’s Chapel in Tui cathedral, resembling closely the rib vaults in the cathedral’s sacristy. The chapel underwent a thorough renovatuion between 1707 and `1710; thus, ther tracing was, quite probably prepared in connection with the refurbishment of the Sacristy vaults in 1709. Building on surveys odf the tracing tha vaults, the authors discuss the degree of coincidence between the tracing and the vaults and other issues such as functional, non-representative character of these tracings and the subtle difference s i napproach between treatises or manuscripts and actual building practice. | rib vaulting, tracing, building construction, stereotomy, stonecutting. |
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Lewis, M. | 2012 | Iron lighthouses. Construction History, Vol 27, pp 23-64 | Iron lighthouse construction in the 19th C is interesting, both for the logistical and engineering issues involved, and as a specialised field of prefabrication. It involves some of the major prefabricators of the period , though it does not involve mass-production. Two main forms of lighthouse can be distinguished -openwork and solid trunk- together with numerous hybrids. Experimental examples were built in Britain, after which an expoprt trade developed and Britain dominated the international market. The US imported some British lighthouses before developing its own manufacturing and exporting capabilities. By the end of the 19th C most countries that had been major importers had begun to manufacture their own, and the early 20th C the iron solid trunk lighthouse had given way entirely to the concrete version. | lighthouse, beacon, prefabrication, cast iron, wrought iron, nineteenth century. |
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Mandel, M. and Orro, O. | 2012 | The marvellous reinforced concrete shells of Tallinn seaplane hangars in the context of early concerete architecture in Estonia. Construction History, Vol 27, pp 65-86 | The reinforced-concrete sheell roof of the seaplane hangars at Tallinn designed and built in 1916-17 by the Danish company Christiani & Nielsen, is the most outstanding and famous early reinforced-concrete structure in Estonia, and is worthy of international recognition. The structure was outstanding in its time, due to both its geometry and the method of design calculations used. For many years the building was abandoned and almost forgotten, but after successful renovation and re-opening as a museum in 2011, it has gained much attention from a wider audience. The paper presents a detailed review of its design and construction process, and also provides some observations about its more recent history, reputation and renovation. The hangars are put into a wider context by introducing some other early Russian military concrete constructions in Estonia, as well as their place in local history of reinfo9rced concrete in general, especially other works by C&N. | reinforced concrete, shell structure, military architecture, estonia, Christiani & Nielsen, 20th Century |
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Moe, K. | 2012 | Insulating North America. Construction History, Vol 27, pp 87-106 | The insights and oversights evident in the development of insulation in North America have had a profound impact on the practices, pedagogies and performance of modern buildings in that country. From the earliest scientific observations to contemporary energy codes, this paper discusses the roles of the respective agents inherent in the technological momentum of modern insulation practices: architects, engineers, scientists, marketing and consumers. Central to this discussion is the undue historical preoccupation with certain modes of energy at the price of others: namely as preoccupation with conduction, as measured by the thermal resistance - or R-value- of a material (used in the USA) or its reciprocal (under certain circumstances) the conductivity of the material, or U-value (used in the UK). On account of this preoccupation, North American insulation theories and practices themselves became insulated from a range of adjacent possibilities and, at times, even from the full understanding of heat transfer in buildings. The assumptions embedded in this narrative of technological momentum continued 0 largely unquestioned- into ther 21st C as manifest in bureaucratic standards, codes, and checklists that frequently characterize the tiopic of building performance. In this way, insulation is positioned in this text as anything but a neutralizing and isolating component in a building envelope. Rather, insulation became a highly active physical, conceptual and historical agent in the habits of 20th C building design and its associated construction practices. | insulation, modernism, conductivity, diffusivity, builsding performance, USA |
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Urbano-Gutierrez, R. | 2012 | Pierre, revoir tout le systeme fenetres: Corbusier and the development of glazing and air-conditioning technolkogy with the Mur Neutralisant (1928-33). Construction History, Vol 27, pp 107-129 | Le Corbusier (1887-1965) became involved in the creation of a good number of artefacts throughout his career, many of them patented and developed in collaboration with the building industry. His ’mur neutralisant’ (1928) formed part of an extensive set of emergent propositions to integrate systems of artificial climate into architectural components. The invention as an early prototype of a double-skin facade which included an air-conditioning circuit to improve comfort and energy efficiency thanks to an optimised insulating performance. The system envisioned in any material, but it was the version that included a double-skin facade that became instrumental in backing up one of his most important design elements, le pan de verre (glass curtain wall). Reference to this invention repeatedly focus on a limited number of facts, providing only a partial understanding of its physical definition, performance and developmental context. In order to provide a holistic understanding of the concept of the mur neutrilisant, this paper follows its development as well as th ekey role this element played in some of his most celebrated buildings of that period. | Le Corbusier, mur neutrilisant, respiration exacte, double-skin facades, air-conditioning. |
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Marino, G. | 2012 | Steel, aluminium, plastic: the ’unbearable lightness’ of architectural modernity. The Centrale d’Allocations Familiales building of the XVth Arrondissement in Pars (1953-1959). Construction History, Vol 27, pp129-152 | The Caisse Centrale d’Allocations Familiales de la Region Parisiene (CCAFRP or CAF) was built between 1953 and 1959 as regional headquarters of a new post-war agency, the Central Fund for Family Allowance. Designed by French architects Raymond Lopez (1904-1966) and Michel Holley (b. 1924), it was a work of enlightened modernity, in which the architects broke new ground i terms of urban concept, structural design, engineering and specification. A spectacular steel frame supported facades of tubular aluminium sections, with translucent panels of reinforced polyester infill. The CAF would be the talk of the town , hailed by the press as a ’world first’ in its assertive, not to say militant deployment of the most innovative technical and constructional solutions. One can argue that in the CAF, technical innovation was more than just the guiding principle of the design - that it became in effect the essence of a truyly new paradigm in modern architecture | Technical innovation, France, 1950s, steel frame, curtain wall, reinforced plastics, Raymond Lopez. |
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Heinzelmann, D., Heinzelmann, M., & Lorenz, W. | 2018 | The metal roof truss of the Pantheon’s portico in Rome - 152 tonnes of bronze. Construction History, Vol 33 No 2, pp 1-22 | By order of Pope Urban VIII in 1625, the ancient bronze roof structure over the portico of the Pantheon in Rome was demolished and melted down for canons. So, after 1,500 years, this remarkable witness to Roman engineering, and the only known example of a completely metal structure built prior to the modern age, disappeared. An interdisciplinary research team is now reconstructing this extraordinary roof structure and how it fits into the history of the Pantheon’s construction. They have collected all the relevant sources and findings: drawings and writings of earlier architects, archival documents, describing the weight and form of the bronze removed from the roof, the only remaining rivet in the Antikensammlung Berlin and, very importantly, the survey of the Pantheon itself, which reveals traces of the original roof structure. Structural calculations, copies of original castings and tensile/shear tests verify the archaeological reconstruction. Furthermore, the rebuilding of one joint at full size enabled important conclusions to be drawn regarding the jointing method. Owing to this project, it can be presumed that Roman engineers built a 152 tonne roof structure entirely in bronze long before the first iron structures of the industrial age. | Rome, Pantheon, metal truss, roof structure, bronze, rivet, Borromini, 2nd century CE |
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Markley, S. | 2018 | The ’Unseen Seen’- earth mortared stone construction, a re-illuminated historic construction technique in Britain. Construction History, Vol. 33 No.2, pp 23-42 | Earth mortars, and significantly, earth mortared stone construction has largely been overlooked in the archaeological and historic building record in the UK and Ireland to date. The use of earth mortared stone construction is proven in primary building accounts in England dating to the later medieval period. Wider research across Britain and Ireland has shown that it represents a vernacular building technique present from prehistory to the post-medieval period. It is noted in high and low status buildings and it is evident in all building categories such as ecclesiastical, domestic, agricultural, defensive, industrial, infrastructural and public. However, the descriptive terms used in the recording of earth mortar in published and unpublished literature in Ireland and Britain, negatively portrays it presence, indicating its poor acceptance, interpretation and recognition. This factor is persistently hindering its understanding as a durable material of construction and masking its wider acknowledgement as a historic construction technique in resulting building interpretations. This paper highlights the use of negative terminologies characterising the use of earth mortars in stone construction in Britain, which has resulted in its presence being overlooked and alternative methods of construction being prescribed. This has resulted in the consistent lack of recognition of earth mortared stone construction as a ubiquitouos and significant historic building technique. This paper demonstrates that earth, much like lime, was equally used as a mortar in stone construction through history. | Earth mortar, stone construction, building technique, prehistory, medieval |
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Thorne, R. | 2018 | The rebuilding of the Crystal Palace 1851-54: Permanent and better ?. Construction History, Vol. 33 No.2, pp 43-62 | The rebuilding of the Crystal Palace in south London gave the team headed by Joseph Paxton the opportunity to turn a temporary exhibition building into a permanent work of architecture. Although a large number of component parts from the original building were reused, the design was re-thought for a new kind of multiple use. Structurally it was just as innovative as its predecessor, especially in the design of its arched transepts and nave. The rebuilding was fraught with difficulties and far outran the first cost estimates. Building accidents during the works showed that aspects of the design had overstepped the limits of contemporary engineering knowledge. Ultimately it was not as influential in architectural terms as some had hoped, but it advanced construction thinking in ways that had not been foreseen. | Building failure, building, regulation, Crystal palace, indeterminate structures, iron roofs, prefabrication, temporary works. |
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Coomans, T. | 2018 | East meets West on the construction site. Churches in China, 1840s-1930s. Construction History, Vol. 33 No.2, pp 63-84 | The construction of missionary churches in China in the 1840s-1930s was in many cases the first encounter between two great and completely different building systems: the Chinese and the European. Architectural transfers of forms and technical knowledge happened on the construction sites and resulted in a creative variety of more or less hybridised buildings and styles. This original contribution to the process of modernisation of architecture and construction in China is an important, yet still unrecognised, moment, both in mission history and global architectural history. This article considers the construction site as a ’laboratory’ and focuses on the role of mediators (architects, missionary builders, Chinese middlemen, contractors, craftsmen, etc.) and the process of hybridisation or translation of terminologies, forms, techniques etc. Who were the missionary builders? What were their networks ?n How did they perceive Chinese workers ? How were Western styles transplanted to China. What were the differences between construction works in foreign concession territories, big cities, small cities and the countryside? Furthermore, the article contextualises the three phases of the evolution of church building - 1840s to 1900, 1900 to 1920, 1920s to 1930s - in relation to the transformation of the Chinese society on the path to modernity. | China, christian missions, chu7rches, construyction works, cross-cultural transfer of knowledge, hybridisation, missionary architects and brother-builders, 19th C |
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Iori, T., and Poretti, S. | 2018 | The rise and decline of the Italian school of engineering. Construction History, Vol. 33 No.2, pp 85-108 | This paper tells the story behind the origin, rise and sudden disappearance of the Italian school of engineering in the 20th C. It was not an academic institution, but a movement that produced an extraordinary heritage of big structures. It was a golden age: by the mid Sixties, Italian structural engineering was recognised as one of the most prestigious in the world. However, just after the economic miracle, the school suddenly ceased to exist, and it has been completely forgotten, even by historiography. Some of the leading figures are well-known - Per Luigi Nervi, Riccardo Morandi and Sergio Musmeci - but the school was the result of a more complex adventure undertaken by two generations of scientist, designers, contractors and builders. The SIXXI research (XX Century Structural Engineering: the Italian Contribution) funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, was developed with the aim of tracing and telling that story to engineers, architects and everyone. In the paper, the story is presented as a two-voice story: the first narrative voice tells about events, individual works, construction sites, significant episodes. The second voice (in italics) connects them to the unfolding of the entire affair. The text is dedicated to the 43 victims of the collapse of the bridge over the Polcevera in Genoa on 14th August 2018. | SIXXI, history of structural engineering, 20th C, Italy |
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Harrer, A. | 2018 | Simplicity and sophistication: the fan-shaped bracketing of the Temple of the Two Transcendents in Xiaohui and the Monastery of Exalted Happiness in Shuozhou (11th and 12th century). Construction History Vol.33 No.1, pp1-26 | The paper explores the practical solutions provided by a highly idiosyncratic type pf bracket-block clusters known as a ’fan-shaped bracket set’ from the central Chinese province of Shanxi where timber technology and craftsmanship became a symbolic means of expression. The simplicity and sophistication in design, as exemplified by the two case study buildings, reflect an architectural tradition that is governed by rituals and rules of propriety and creates a spectrum of shapes in response to social status and genius loci. Using the principle of the ’unity of opposites’ - the non-duality of plain beauty and striking beauty - proves helpful in explaining the message hidden within the timber construction of both main halls. If stripped of their distinct local qualities, a still-popular regional construction technique with bracket-arms projecting not only at 90 degress but also at 45 degrees to the wall plane reveals itself as having evolved beyond political boundaries and written rules such that its design exhibits flexibility and and individual artistic expression. | bracket set, dougong, fan-shape, angular design, carpentry, shanxi province, imperial China, rituals, adaptability |
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Monteiro Genin, S. | 2018 | Form, design and construction of ribbed vaults. Joao de Castilho’s innovations in the Jeronimos Monastery, Lisbon (1470-1552). Construction History, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp 27-48 | The vaults of the Jeronimos Monastery church in Lisbon are a remarkable example of late Gothic architecture. Their span and continuous form achieve the goal of spatial unity sought after across Europe at the time. A single barrel vault covers the nave and the side aisles, while the transept is the largest built at the time. No other simialr vaults could be found (by the author ?) amongst about a thousand European vaults. This paper stems from PhD research (Genin, S. 2014) and concerns the issue of form: how was form created, acknowledging that it draws directly from principles for its design and construction. Shaping a unified vault with a single curved rib ridge line and central figure is Castilho’s (c. 1470-1552) most remarkable innovation. The span of the vault is broadened through the use of ’compound ribs’, a new typology created in this research. The author observed the methods used at the time to understand Joao de Castilho’s vault design, and put forward design and construction hypotheses for each type of vault. This method demonstrates that it was possible to build vaults without preliminary drawings, using multiple, standardised ribs. The only requirement was to follow a sequence to position the centrings, using Rodrigo Gil de Hontanon’s method. | Ribbed vaults, form, design and construction, Joao de Castilho, Rodrigo Gil de Hontanon, Santa Maria de Belem church, Jeronimos Monastery, Portugal, Europe, Manueline, Late Gothic, 16th century. |
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Pinto, S.M.G. | 2018 | Behaviours and procedures used by construction agents of ordinary buildings in Portugal during the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period: rules, regulations and controls. Construction History, Vol 33 No. 1, pp 49-68 | This construction agents considered are developers, builders and supervisors, that is, respectively, property owners, master masons and carpenters, and municipal and guild officials responsible for verifying and supervising the construction activity. It focuses on the builders’ hiring types; on the regulations established by supervisors for the builders’ activity in terms of price-fixing for services and building materials, and ih access to the profession; on the supervisors control during construction according to the legal norms defined by municipal ordinances and guild regulations; and on the administrative procedures established by the supervisors for the aforementioned control to be fulfilled by developers and builders. For this purpose, a set of documentary sources from several towns and institutions are used. | Portugal, hiring, ordinance, municipal, rules, regulations, controls, developers, builders, supervisors, late Middle Ages, Early Modern |
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Drioueche-Djaalali, N.K., and Chabbi-Chemrouk, N. | 2017 | Traditional construction techniques of domes in the Kasbah of Algiers (1500-1800), Construction History, Vol. 32 No.2, pp 1-18. | Examines the traditional construction techniques used in the Kasbah of Algiers and specifically those used in the Ottoman period. A computer model was used to analyse these traditional structures and identify their critical sections. The analysis demonstrates the ingenuity and intelligence of the dome builders, who were constantly searching for new, more efficient solutions. The design and construction of the domes was improved over several periods. | Algerian, Algeria, Kasbah, cupolas, computer modelling, sustainable construction, traditional construction processes, knowledge transfer, Ottoman period, 16th -19th century. |
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Dobbels, J., Bertels, I., and Wouters, I. | 2017 | The general contractor, the architect and the engineer. The contractors’ path to become professional building practitioners in Belgium (1870-1960), Construction History, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp19-38. | The paper analyses four general contractors’ periodicals in order to sketch the professionalisation of Belgian general contractors claiming their new position as organisers and executors of construction and their interprofessional interaction with architects and engineers. The content and context of the periodicals is described and they are placed within the broad international research context of contemporaneous construction related periodicals. It becomes clear that it took a very long time to capture the gradual shift of tasks legally. The slow adaptation of the legislative context gave rise to many conflicts about job responsibilities, but collaborative actions were undertaken by the joint arbitration committees for construction related disputes. This allows us to conclude that the main agency of resolution was conversation. | General contractors, Belgium, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, professionalisation, professional periodicals interprofessional relationships. |
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Trout, A.R. | 2017 | Concrete Air Raid Shelters, 1935-1941: A study of the British cement industry’s influence on public policy. Construction History, Vol, 32 No. 2, pp83-108 | The paper assesses the British cement industry’s intervention in just one aspect of the UK’s preparations for war, one that combined commercial self-interest with an impressive contribution to the collective war effort. Founded in 1935, the Cement & Concrete Association was quick to identify air raid protection as a matter of national importance in which its members could have a beneficial interest and, as the Abyssinian Crisis and Spanish Civil War unfolded, undertook a huge publicity campaign combined with concerted efforts to influence public policy. Exploring foreign precedents, the association turned to developing designs for air raid shelters, and technical training for the authorities charged with their installation. Then in 1939 the cement industry placed the resources of its Association at the government’s disposal for the duration.Engineering also took up the advocacy of concrete shelters, published guidance and reported on uptake. By 1940 Britain was better prepared for the Blitz than would have been the case had the task been left to wavering government, and these early efforts to harness the cement industry to defence purposes honed its ability to deliver aerodromes, hutted camps and Mulbery Harbours later in the war. | Bombs, shelters, war, cement, concrete, association, policy, air raid precautions, ARP, Britain, Second World War. WW2 |
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Coleman, T. | 1968 | The Railway Navvies | The definitive non-academic study of the working lives of the labourers who constructed the railway systems of Britain, Europe and the British Empire during the 19th century. Based on thorough analysis of primary and secondary sources and extremely well-written, it explains construction practices, contract practices, safety and welfare provision, women’s lives, the ’truck’ system and the relationship between sponsors, politicians, professionals, contractors, sub-contractors, gangers, labourers and the communities they affected. It has an excellent bibliography. | Britain, Canada, Australia, France, railway, navvie, navvy, labourer, contractor, sub-contractor, ganger, truck, excavator, Brassey, Peto, Brunel, Locke |
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Berg, T., and Berg, P. | 2001 | R. R. Angerstein’s Illustrated Travel Diary, 1753-1755: Industry in England and Wales from a Swedish perspective. | Angerstein’s tour through Britain in the middle of the 18th century was industrial espionage undertaken to ascertain the threat of newly industrialised Britain to the established iron and steel industry of Sweden. Nonetheless, he described and made drawings of most of the industries he encountered, as well as the transport infrastructure, including those concerned with the extraction and production of construction materials. The drawings are excellent explanations of, for instance, how quarrying was undertaken, lime produced or tin smelted. This is an invaluable source for all industrial archaeologists and construction historians studying the 18th century | Sweden, Britain, industry, quarrying, stone, eighteenth, machines |
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Ibarra-Sevilla, B | 2013 | The first ribbed vaults in America: craft skills & construction processes of indigenous people in the Mixtec region of Southern Mexico | ||
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’Blockker, L. E., and Knight, H. A. | 2013 | Louisiana Bousillage : The migration & Evolution of a French Building Technique in North America. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 1 pp 27-48 | Using field study, archival research, interviews with living practitioners and petrographic analysis, the authors dispell some common misconceptions about the tempered earth wall infill construction technique in America known as bousillage. The paper illuminates the full extent of the technique in North America and the manner in which it was made in Louisiana | bousillage wattle daub Acadian Creole earthen earth |
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Obrien, Michael, J. | 2013 | Load-bearing, single wall construction from shanties to Structural Insulated Panels. Construction History Vol 28 No. 1 pp 49-64 | The paper explains the single-wall timber construction technique used throughout North America from the 17th C to the 20th C, in comparison to the better-documented ’balloon frame’ technique, using surviving examples, anecdotal evidence and recorded anthropological data, and attempts a comparison with Lloyd-Wrights Usonian wall and contemporary Structural Insulated Panel | single-wall, box, board, USA, America, vernacular, shanty, self-help, boomtown, 19th |
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’Sachs, A. and Stuth, T. A., | 2013 | Innovation and Tradition:Eighty years of Housing Construction in Southern Appalachia. Construction History Vol 28 No. 1 pp 65-82 | The paper charts the history of advances in house construction in Southern Appalachia (USA), beginning with the Tennessee Valley Authority’s 1930s ’Norris House’ and wartime experimentation with demountable and ’truckable’ trailer housing, the post-war struggles to develop a pre-fabricated house industry and their resolution in the 1970s, and concluding with a current experimental project: the New Norris House. The study demonstrates several ways in which research and experimental projects have advanced and enhanced the construction of good, affordable houses. At the centre of the study is a recurring problem in house construction: the need to balance innovation and tradition - between technical improvements and construction processes on the one hand and the social and aesthetic value of regional and site-specific customization. | Pre-fabrication prefabrication Tennessee Valley Authority USA prototypes, Norris 1930s 20th |
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’Kisacky, Jeanne’. | 2013 | Germs are in the details: Aseptic Design and general contractors at the Lying-in Hospital of the City of New York, 1897-1901. Construction History Vol 28 No. 1 pp 83-106 | At a time when low-rise, decentralised, pavilion-ward standards-dominated hospital designs as a means of environmentally reducing internal cross-infections, the new building of the Lying-In Hospital of City of New York was a skyscraper. To prevent cross-infections in this non-standard structure, the doctors relied on ’aseptic’ design - devoid of materials, details and spatial interactions that could hide, shelter or transfer germs. Building construction was protracted and contentious, suffering from rising prices, materials shortages, labour difficulties and contractor disputes. The client and contractor debated whether construction that was not up to ’aseptic’ standards was the result of not working to specification or expecting the impossible. In the end, the complex requirements of aseptic design supported the development of specialisation in the design professions and building trades. | hospital design, specialisation specialization lying-in New York urban USA |
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Campos,C. F., and Penido de Rezende, M. A., ’ | 2013 | History of the use and production of cement tiles in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Construction History Vol 28 No. 1 pp 107-120 | Cement tiles for floor and wall finishes, made using traditional craft skills of Italian immigrants, were widely used in buildings in Brazil from the early 20th C to the 1960s when cement tiles were replaced with mass-produced ceramic products. | cement tiles Belo Horizonte Brazil 20th |
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McBride, E. G. | 2013 | The changing role of the Architect in the United States Construction Industry 1870-1913. Construction History Vol 28 No. 1 pp 121-140 | The paper examines and discusses the changes to the working practices of Chicago and New York architects after the 1871 Chicago fire, to meet the unprecedented demands of developers and general contractors,particularly with respect to the need for increased floor space and create modern architectural engineering and the new approach to design and procurement that we know today. | USA 19th architectural-engineering genera- contractor Chicago Cass Gilbert New York |
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Siry, J. M. | 2013 | Frank Lloyd Wright’s Innovative approach to environmental control in his buildings for the S. C. Johnson Company. Construction History Vol 28 No. 1 pp 141 - 164 | The paper assesses Frank Lloyd-Wrights designs for heating, cooling, humidification and ventilation of mther S C Johnson Company Administration Building (1936-39) and Research Tower (1943-50) in Racine, Wisconsin. As a variation on the then novel idea of the ’windowless office building’ the Admin Building features, inter alia, heating with low-pressure steam pipes under the concrete floor, and independent control of different zones, synchronized with the sun’s movements. Wright achieved a high level of integration in which novel mechanical systems were intrinsic to the architecture of the building and its spatial, visual and structural forms. However the building proved to be expensive and, while many of the innovations were successful, others needed remediation. | Frak Lloyd Wright, Johnson Wax, HVAC, windowless, environmental controls, services, utilities, Wisconsin, USA |
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Sprague, T. S. | 2013 | "Beauty, Versatility, Practicality" : The rise of Hyperbolic Paraboloids in post war America (1950-1962). Construction History Vol 28 No. 1 pp 165-184 | The paper reviews the people and buildings that influenced the adoption and spread of hyperbolic paraboloid structures in the USA after 1950. | hyperbolic paraboloid aluminium plywood concrete formwork USA 1950s |
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Burchardt, J. | 2014 | Danske veje på Guldkysten. Da trnasport udførtes af bærere på små stier | Danish roads on the Gold Coast. When transport was on shoulders of people on small paths. The tsetse-fly killed potential draft animals. The infrastructure was selfgrown paths. 1600-1925 | paths, transport, Gold Coast, Ghana, |
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Summerson, John | 1985 | What is the history of construction? Construction History, Vol 1, pp.1-2. | ||
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Hinchcliffe, T.F.M. | 1985 | In pursuit of construction history: historical material held by building firms. Construction History, Vol.1, pp.6-12. | An analysis of the challenges facing historians of small building firms, based on a project funded by the NFBTE in 1976. Identifies the most-promising companies, in terms of archives held, and summarises the contents of their archives. . | Britain, 18th, 18th, 20th, Anelay, Holland & Hannen, Cubitt, Corben, Moss, Trollope & Colls |
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Powell, C.G. | 1985 | Case studies and lost tribes: the Bristol firm of James Diment and Stephens, Bastow & Co. Construction History, Vol 1, pp.25-35. | ||
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Donnelly, T. | 1985 | Structure, technology and demand in the Aberdeen granite quarrying industry, 1880-1914. Construction History, Vol 1, pp.36-51. | ||
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Finnimore, Brian. | 1985 | The A.I.R.O.H. house: industrial diversification and state building policy. Construction History, Vol.1, pp.60-71. | ||
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Rodger, Richard. | 1986 | Structural instability in the Scottish building industry 1820-80. Construction History, Vol 2, pp.48-60. | ||
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Davison, Kate. | 1986 | Sources for the construction history of the Second World War. Construction History, Vol 2, pp.76-79. | ||
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I. Stoyanova | 2016 | ’The Roof of the Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan: Reconstructing the Original Building Technology’ pp. 277 294 in J. W. P. Campbell, N. Bill, M. Driver, M. Heaton, Y. Pan, M. Tutton , Chr. Wall and D. Yeomans, (Eds), Further Studies in the History of Construction: Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society | Roof, Gallery, Milan, Building technology, 19th century | |
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I. Stoyanova | 2017 | ’Disappearing Tobacco Warehouses in Plovdiv: Building Technology and an Important Legacy’ pp. 399-414 in J. W. P. Campbell, N. Baker, M. Driver, M. Heaton, Y. Pan, T. Rosoman, M. Tutton and D. Yeomans, (Eds), Building Histories. The Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society. | Tobacco, Warehouses, Plovdiv, Building technology, 20th century | |
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I. Stoyanova | 2018 | ’Scaffolds for the Iron and Glass Roof o f Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan: challenges, design and evolution’ pp.369-378 in J. W. P. Campbell, N. Baker, A. Boyington, M. Driver, M. Heaton, Y. Pan, H. Schoenefeldt, M. Tutton and D. Yeomans, Studies in the History of Service and Construction. The Proceedings of the Fifth Conference of the CHS | Scaffolds, Iron, Glass, Vittorio Emanuele, Milan | |
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I. Stoyanova | 2019 | ’Comparing Plovdiv and Greek Tobacco Warehouses: Comprehending a Historic Local Construction Type’ pp.673-688 in J. W. P. Campbell, N. Baker, M. Driver, M. Heaton, S. Kuban, M. Tutton, Chr. Wall and D. Yeomans, (Eds), Water, Doors and Buildings. Studies in the History of Construction. The Proceedings of the Sixth Conference of the CHS | Tobacco, Warehouses, Plovdiv, Greece, 20th century, Construction type | |
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I. Stoyanova | 2018 | ’At the Intersection of Foreign Building Know How: Plovdiv in the Early Twentieth Century’ pp.1255-1262 in I. Wouters,S. Van de Voorde, I. Bertels, B. Espion, K. De Jonge, D. Zastavni, (Eds), Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories. The Proceedings of the 6th International Congress on Construction History, Vol.2. | This paper suggests a new perspective on twentieth-century Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as a crossroads of foreign construction know-how. The paper discusses three notable yet insufficiently studied buildings: the railway station (1905-08), Excelsior cinema (1911-12) and tobacco warehouses (1912-28). First, using archival and historical literature, it seeks to understand the protagonists behind the design and construction of the station building. This research was augmented with onsite investigations of building materials and techniques. Next, the paper discusses the construction technology of the cinema. Then, it adds to an understanding of the local warehouse building type through a comparative analysis of several case studies. This paper unveils traces of foreign influence in all three by comparing their features with buildings described in foreign nineteenth-century technical manuals. The paper extends the little existing knowledge on the three examples and suggests the ways through which building know-how flowed into Plovdiv. | Plovdiv, 20th century, Railway station, Excelsior cinema, Tobacco warehouses |
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Lorenz, W. and Kurrer, K.E. | 2018 | Construction History in Germany. In: Antonio Becchi et al: L’Histoire de la construction / Construction History. Vol. 1, pp.195-246. | ABSTRACT – The recent establishment (2013) of a German association dedicated to the history of construction represents an important step. Even if the contours of the field are relatively well-defined, two differences make them unique. Germans position themselves in relation to the old theory/practice debate and four themes are dominant: structural engineering, architecture, cultural heritage preservation, and archeology. The history of construction is now established among the scientific community. | |
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Lorenz, W., Kosykh, A., Frommelt, K. | 2018 | The roof of the Marble Palace in Saint-Petersburg: A structural iron ensemble from the 1770s. In: Wouters, I. et al (Ed.), Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories. Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Construction History, pp. 809–817. | It is one of the classic narratives in construction history that the first load-bearing iron frames were erected in France in the late eighteenth century. However, early iron roof structures were already built in Russia several decades before. As part of a larger study of these virtually unknown iron structures, the paper focuses on the wrought-iron roof truss of the Marble Palace in Saint-Petersburg. Covering an area of approximately 4000 m2, it was assembled in the 1770s. Designed on the basis of patterns used for traditional timber roofs, and assembled during this “Golden Age” of Russian metallurgy, the structure is a unique example testifying to the high level of the builders’ craftsmanship. Based on comprehensive investigations, supplemented with material testing and structural calculations, this paper describes and assesses the iron roof of the Marble Palace as one of the first steps in developing the “language of construction” of building with iron and steel. | |
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Lorenz, W., Kosykh, A., Frommelt, K. | 2017 | Steel viaduct refurbishment inspired by the original structure and its history. In: Pelke, E.; Brühwiler, H. (eds.): Engineering History and Heritage Structures – Viewpoints and Approaches. Structural Engineering Documents 15. pp.173-178. | ||
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Lorenz, W. Luong, M.; Rohrmann, R.G.; Zabel, V. | 2017 | Finite Element Model Calibration of a Historic Wiegmann–Polonceau Truss Based on Experimental Modal Parameters. In: Conte, P. et al. (eds.): Experimental Vibration Analysis for Civil Structures. Testing, Sensing, Monitoring, and Control. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 5. pp. 212-224. | ||
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Lorenz, W. and Heres, B. | 2015 | The Demidov Ironworks In Nevyansk (Ural Mountains) – Iron Structures In Building From The First Half Of The 18th Century. In: Bowen, B. et al. (eds.): Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Construction History, Chicago, June 3-7, 2015, vol.2, pp.505-517. ISBN | Although the use of single wrought or cast iron structural elements such as tie rods, plates or columns goes back to the ancient world and became more and more common in the 17th and 18th centuries, the roof structures erected in Paris at the Théâtre Francais (1786–90) and the Salon Carré du Louvre (1789) are commonly regarded as the first examples of complete iron roof trusses in the history of construction. However, an earlier, larger application of an iron truss has been found in Russia dating from the first half of the 18th century. Considering the dominant role of Russian iron production in the 18th century, this is hardly surprising. The “golden age of Russian iron” goes back to the strategic decision of Peter the Great, at the end of the 17th century, to push forward the foundation of iron-making plants in connection with pre-industrial “works towns” in the Ural Mountains. Within a few decades, the Urals became the centre of Russian iron production, with plants often equipped with larger and better tools and machinery than in Europe. Nevyansk, 90 km north of Yekaterinburg, was the first of these new plant towns. Founded by the state in 1699 but transferred into private hands (Nikita Demidov) in 1702, Nevyansk, the “grandfather of the Ural plant towns”, became one of the most important factories – not only in the Urals, but also in Europe in terms of both the quantity and quality of the metal produced. From the structural point of view, the 58 m high “Leaning Tower” of Nevyansk and its porch are of central interest. Work on these began in 1722 and they are still standing today. Whereas the tower contains an impressive array of cast and wrought iron elements, including composite girders made of both materials, the porch is covered by a delicate roof truss built entirely of wrought iron; it spans about 9 m and reaches a height of 7.50 m. This essay analyses these iron structures in the context of the iron industry in the Urals in the 18th century. | Russian iron industry, bloomery iron, cast iron, reinforced cast beam, iron roof truss |
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Lorenz, W. and May, R. | 2012 | CH.ESS: European Summer Schools on Construction History. In: Carvais, R. et al. (eds.): Nuts & Bolts of Construction History. Proceedings of the 4th International Congress on Construction History, Paris, July 3-7, 2012, vol.1, pp.105-112. | The lack of degree programmes in construction history motivated a group of scholars to begin work on creating a European master’s programme in the field. As a first step on this path, they set up a series of European Summer Schools on Construction History (CH.ESS). Jointly organized by universities in Brussels, Cambridge, Cottbus, Madrid, Munich and Wroclaw, the first of these events took place in Cambridge in the summer of 2011. In keeping with the transdisciplinary character of construction history, the two-week course brought together students and teachers from a variety of academic disciplines. The experiences gained with CH.ESS could be of interest to any university teacher who is planning to set up a degree programme in construction history. With that in mind, the authors (members of the central CH.ESS organising team) will end this report with some remarks about the main problems that arose in trying to teach construction history in an international and multidisciplinary context. | Concrete Structures; Construction History; Design Methods and Aids; Domes; Education; Heritage; Masonry Construction; Shell Structures; Static Analysis; Stone Construction; Surveying; Vaulting; Vaults |
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Lorenz, W. | 2006 | Iterative system identification for the assessment and retrofitting of a historical pre-stressed concrete bridge in Berlin. In: Lourenço, P.B. et al. (eds.): Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions, New Delhi, Nov 6-8, 2006, vol.1, pp.617-624. | The quality of the assessment and if necessary retrofitting of a historical structure depends primarily on the as close-to-reality identification and modelling of its static behaviour. This paper demonstrates the advantages of a hybrid approach to historic structures - the behaviour of which is often hybrid as well - using the assessment of one of the oldest pre-stressed concrete bridges of Berlin as an example. Built in 1958 with a span length of approximately 65 m, using the Freyssinet system for pre-stressing, it has been heavily used by the Berlin metro line for about 40 years. Notable cracks discovered in 2002 caused a thorough evaluation which was characterized by the combination of a comprehensive record of historical damage, a measuring programme for the determination of the state of stress of the external tendons, the development of a realistic FE model by calibration on the basis of the experimental results, excavations for the investigation of the actual condition of bearings as well as a one-year automated structural health monitoring program. As a result the bridge could be judged to be capable of bearing loads and to be suf-ficiently serviceable without the need for particular retrofitting. | |
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Lorenz, W. | 2003 | History of construction: An estimable resource in the actual crisis of civil engineering? In: Huerta, S. (Ed.): Proceedings of the First International Congress on Construction History, Madrid, Jan 20-24, 2003, vol.1, pp.31-41. | ||
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Lorenz, W. | 2004 | The Challenge of Creativity – Learning from History? In: CEB-FIP (Ed.): Proceedings of the 5th fib (federation internationale du beton) symposium: Concrete Structures: the Challenge of Creativity. Avignon, April 26-28, 2004, pp.15-24. | To master the challenges of globalisation ingenious creativity is needed more than ever before. From a historic point of view creativity is a new term in structural engineering. To gain an understanding of the specific creativity of the pioneers in reinforced and prestressed concrete construction it is important to analyse their ability, to develop and cultivate a “creative climate”. It was closely connected with some timeless virtues of engineering. Some of these virtues are discussed such as the sense for the material, simplicity, the right balance between static and intuition or the courage to dispute. An important question in this context is the question for the engineer’s responsibility. History offers different positions to this. Today, against the background of global challenges, civil engineers have to develop a new understanding of creativity, which is connected with an increased awareness of responsibility and aims at more than structural or aesthetical quality. | creativity; globalisation; construction history; reinforced concrete; prestressing; simplicity; responsibility; virtue. |
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Lorenz, W. | 1999 | The Berlin Neues Museum – a microcosm of Prussian building technology against the background of beginning industrialisation. In: Brebbia, C.A.; Jäger, W. (eds.): Proceedings of the 6th International Conference Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Historical Buildings, Dresden 1999, pp.389-398. | ||
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Dr. David Yeomans | 1992 | The Architect and the Carpenter - The trussed roof: its history and development | ||
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Dr. David Yeomans | 2000 | Construction since 1900 : Material. | ||
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Dr David Yeomans with D cottam | 2001 | Owen Williams, (part of a series- The engineers contribution to contemporary Architecture. | ||
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Dr David Yeomans with S Emmitt | 2001 | Specifying Buildings :a design management perspective | ||
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Dr. David Yeomans | 2003 | The repair of historic timber Structures | ||
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Dr. David Yeomans | 2009 | How stuctures work : structural design and behaviour from bridges to buildings | ||
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Amici C.M. | 2015 | Hidden iron: high tech devices in roman imperial architecture, pp. 1-18, 5th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS CONSTRUCTION HISTORY, Chicago 2015, pp. 63-71. | In Roman imperial times metallurgy reached a high degree of specialization and complexity. In spite of the difficulty of finding metal remains still in place, it is possible to demonstrate that iron was sometimes used in construction, although it was intentionally hidden to take advantage of its strength without revealing its presence. | |
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Dunkeld, Malcolm | 1987 | Approaches to Construction History. Construction History, Vol 3, pp.3-15. | ||
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Louw, H.J. | 1987 | The Rise of the Metal Window during the Early Industrial Period in Britain, c.1750-1830. Construction History, Vol 3, pp.31-54. | ||
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Charlton, T.M. | 1987 | Innovation in Structural Theory in the Nineteenth Century. Construction History, Vol 3, pp.55-60. | Examines the forces driving developments in structural theory during the 19th C in Britain, Europe and the USA, particularly the influence of railway construction. Identifies the principle people, theories, structures and failures involved. | |
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Locock, Martin | 1992 | The Development of the Building Trades in the West Midlands, 1400-1850. Construction History, Vol. 8, pp.3-19 | ||
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Louw, Hentie | 1992 | The Mechanisation of Architectural Woodwork in Britain from the Late-Eighteenth to the Early Twentieth Century, and its Practical, Social and Aesthetic Implications. Part I: The Period c.1790 to c.1860. Construction History, Vol. 8, pp.21-54. | ||
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Jackson, Neil | 1992 | Views with a Room: taxation and the return of the bay window to the third rate speculative houses of nineteenth-century London. Construction History, Vol. 8, pp.55-67 | ||
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Fedorov, Sergey G. | 1992 | Matthew Clark and the Origins of Russian Structural Engineering 1810-40s: an introductory biography. Construction History, Vol. 8, pp.69-88. | ||
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Smith, Stanley | 1992 | The Design of Structural Ironwork 1850-90: Education, Theory and Practice. Construction History, Vol. 8, pp.89-108 | ||
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MacKenzie, A.D. | 2009 | Canadian Society for Civil Engineering National History Committee. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH1, pp. 5-6. | This briefing looks at the objectives and current historical activities of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) | History |
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Gould, Michael. | 2010 | The innovative use of concrete by the LMS railway. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH3, pp.139-145. | The various railway companies in Britain and Ireland were very reluctant to use reinforced concrete in bridge decks that carried trains before about 1950. This paper looks at a remarkable exception to the rule, the railway north of Belfast that became part of the English LMS. To run it, a body called the Northern Counties Committee (NCC) was set up that operated with considerable independence. As early as 1911, the engineers of the NCC were replacing timber bridge decks with precast concrete slabs. As spans increased, they next used slabs with two attached beams and then individual T beams that became larger as their experience in the use of reinforced concrete grew. Once the use of concrete was accepted, it was used for a variety of other purposes, notably for precast buildings. In 1933, a cut-off line was constructed that included a massive viaduct at Greenisland: this was claimed as constituting the largest concrete work in Britain or Ireland to that time. The paper ends with some indications as to how this experience was brought to the parent LMS Railway Company as the Irish engineers were successively moved to London after 1930. | Bridges / Concrete Structures / History |
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Borden, Allison H. | 2010 | Identifying early reinforced concrete buildings in Scotland. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. . Vol.163, Issue EH3, pp.147-167. | This paper reports the results of a pre-inventory, or review of documentary sources, to identify buildings constructed using proprietary reinforced concrete systems in Scotland. A number of buildings were constructed using proprietary, or patented, reinforced concrete systems in Britain between roughly 1900 and the 1920s. The majority of these buildings were designed by specialist firms with origins outside Britain. Although some of these buildings are listed, as a group they have been little studied due to their relative youth, negative perceptions of them and difficulties faced in their conservation. As development pressures mount and calls for the reuse and, in some cases, demolition of these buildings become more frequent, there is an increasing need to locate documentation to assist with their investigation. It is hoped that this pre-inventory of Scottish buildings will not only serve as a framework for gathering information about this building type, but will also serve as a model for wider conservation efforts. | Concrete Structures / Conservation / History |
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Harper, Brian Charles Seymour. | 2010 | The 1862 gold fields water supply scheme: Victoria, Australia. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH3, pp.169-178. | A major water supply scheme to support mining at two significant alluvial gold fields in the colony of Victoria, Australia was undertaken in the 1860s. It involved a large clay core embankment dam on the Coliban river and aqueducts to serve the mining communities at Castlemaine and Sandhurst. In a new colony lacking hydrological records, estimation of the river flow and the flood characteristics presented a challenge to the designer Joseph Brady. The paper examines Brady’s approach to estimating these hydrological parameters and the reaction of other engineers in the colony to the design. The scheme was modified during construction to increase the volume to be delivered, but the higher level of supply could not be realised. Also the climatic conditions in the colony produced occasional floods with a higher crest than Brady’s estimate. Additional spillway capacity was provided during construction, but the peak volumes were such that the dam had to be held below full capacity level to prevent destruction through overtopping. Problems with the scheme brought about a programme of hydrological surveys of river catchments in the colony. Examination of 50 years of Coliban records shows the acumen of the original design engineer Joseph Brady. | Dams, barrages & reservoirs / history / hydrology & water resource |
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Hartley, Richard G. | 2010 | Lessons from Western Australia’s goldfields water supply scheme. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH3, pp.179-187. | In July 1896, the parliament of the sparsely populated colony of Western Australia voted to raise a loan of £2•5 million in London to construct a reliable water supply for its booming Coolgardie goldfield, a sum greater than the total cost of the colony’s capital works in any previous year. The scheme, prepared by the colony’s engineer-in-chief, Charles O’Connor, involved pumping water 565 km along the world’s first steel pipeline, which required 77 000 t of steel plate. This paper argues that the scheme was not one of monumental extravagance as its opponents claimed, but was one that was designed using the latest hydraulic research and ultimately was the only one that could have provided the reliability required to sustain the goldfield past its early years. Logistical problems, both in materials supply and in the construction of the pipeline largely through uninhabited country, were huge by contemporary standards. Two important technical innovations, the locking bar pipe and the mechanical pipe caulking machine, helped keep the cost of the project close to budget. The lessons learnt from the long, but eventually successful, battle against corrosion and leakage benefited hydraulic engineers around the world. | History / steel structures / water supply |
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Drabble, Stuart. | 2010 | Templer & Parlby: eighteenth century contractor. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. . Vol.163, Issue EH3, pp.189-198. | James Templer (1722–1782) and Thomas Parlby (1727–1802) were men of humble origin who became prominent contractors in the second half of the eighteenth century, working mainly, though not exclusively, in the royal dockyards for the Navy Board. Over 40 projects have been attributed to them or to one of their constituent organisations. England’s quest for maritime supremacy throughout the eighteenth century led to an expansion in the royal dockyards, requiring large-scale civil engineering and building projects. These were undertaken variously by dockyard workers or by external contractors or, sometimes, both working together. Templer, a house carpenter and Parlby, a stonemason, emerged from the ranks of artisans to create a large and effective workforce operating across the south of England. Between them, they acquired properties in London, Middlesex, Kent, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon. Although their businesses brought them wealth and social standing, their interests were not pursued by later generations of either family and their firms shrank into obscurity after 1802. | Biography / history / ports, docks & harbours |
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Heyman, Jacques | 2009 | The establishment of plastic design in the UK. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH1, pp. 7-11. | Tests were made on steel-framed buildings under construction in London in the early 1930s and they revealed startling discrepancies between the values of stresses calculated by conventional elastic designers and those actually measured. It became apparent that very small defects in manufacture of construction could have a great influence on the actual state of a structure; moreover, these defects could not, by their nature, be predicted. It was at this time, however, that results were published on the collapse behaviour of steel structures – initial defects were ‘wiped out’ by plastic deformation, and the final collapse loads appeared to be independent of the defects. The ‘plastic’ method was investigated in the UK (in Bristol and Cambridge) from 1936 onwards, and by 1948 a clause was inserted into the relevant British standard permitting plastic design in steel. Further advances in the second half of the 20th century revealed the theoretical basis for simple plastic design. Elastic analysis is necessary for the calculation of deflexions and the investigation of stability, but the examination of ‘plastic’ strength uses only the equilibrium equations and knowledge of the yield stress of the material. The plastic design method could be renamed that of ‘static equilibrium‘, and it is applicable to structures oof reinforced concrete, of masonry, and indeed of any ductile material that a designer would consider safe in practice. | Design Methods & Aids / History / Structural Frameworks |
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Fahlbusch, Henning | 2009 | Early dams. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH1, pp. 13-18. | The Jawa dam in northern Jordan is often regarded as the oldest known dam in the world. The structure and the famous Sadd el Kafara in Egypt are both well known. However, it seems logical that these large dams had forerunners with an unknown chain of development. Research works over the last five years have revealed small dams in southern Jordan that can be dated to the seventh millennium BC. The dams of the Neolithic and early Bronze Age were designed just to withstand water pressure – not to prevent seepage. A layer of relatively impermeable soil used for sealing was observed for the first time at Hittite dams at Sarissa and Hattusa. A pavement of large stones on the downstream face permitted some defence against water overflowing the dam. These dams therefore represent a significant step in the development of modern dams. | Dams, barrages & reservoirs / history |
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Wermiel, Sara E. | 2009 | Introduction of steel columns in US buildings, 1862-1920. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH1, pp. 19-27. | This paper traces the early history of steel columns in US buildings including the development of steel sections and examples of buildings in which they were used. A common misconception is addressed: that the frames of early skeleton-frame buildings in the USA were made entirely of steel. In fact, some of the first skeleton frames contained no steel at all. In the 1890s, the era of US pioneer skyscrapers, the part of a building’s frame least likely to be made of steel was the columns. At this time, steel columns had to be fabricated from various rolled shapes and the extra labour involved was a factor in their high cost. There were many forms of steel columns and professional opinion differed regarding which sections offered the most strength and best connections at the least cost. Many contingent factors encouraged designers to use steel columns or choose alternatives, or to select one section rather than another. A key point is that structural steel was not a precondition for the development of skeleton-frame construction. Moreover, the diverse ways designers used materials show how experimental frame design was in the early days of skeleton-frame construction. Eventually, by the second decade of the decade of the twentieth century, all-steel frames became the norm for tall buildings. | Buildings, structures & design / columns |
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Milner, Philip | 1992 | The Engineering of the Port of Melbourne. Sixth National Conference on Engineering Heritage (5-7 October 1992) Hobart, Tas. Institution of Engineers, Australia, Tasmania Division, 1992: 29-34. National conference publication; no. 92/17. | The development of the port of Melbourne is described from its initial establishment along the River Yarra, and at Port Melbourne and Williamstown; together with an analysis of the conflict between Sir John Coode and Joseph Brady with respect to the location and method of construction of Victoria Dock, its subsequent operation and adaptation in response to changes both in the volume of general cargo handled and in transport technology, and the causes of its demise. A study of comparable port facilities in other parts of the world suggests that Victoria Dock is now the largest extant nineteenth century tidal basin in the world, which also still retains several ’crucial elements in the development of the traditional (non-containerized) port: linear wharfage and multi-berth cargo handling facilities; and illustrates both a significant stage in the technology of cargo handling and a dockland culture which, with the introduction of containerization, has all but disappeared. | seaport development / dock design, construction & operation / Melbourne / history |
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Buchanan, Robert Angus, et al. | 2009 | Case studies in engineering training and professional education. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH1, pp. 29-37. | This project springs from a discussion among members of a history of technology seminar at the University of Bath. It reflects a widespread apprehension that all is not well with our national training programmes for engineers and other professional groups. British practice has traditionally paid particular attention to the skills that can be acquired by performing tasks under the guidance of established experts. However, it is now generally recognised that such an apprenticeship system is not adequate to meet the modern demands for highly specialised technical skills, which, moreover, are constantly changing in response to new knowledge. It has become necessary to rely on tuition in universities and specialist technical institutions, although this requires supplementation by personal application to reading, field-work, model-making and technical drawing. The resulting amalgam of acquired and taught crafts with a high level of personal commitment is what we have come to expect of our experts. While recognising that it is not possible to generalise precisely from a small number of case studies, these studies nevertheless attempt to assess the value of different elements in our professional training through a comparison of four cases. The emphasis is on engineering because this represents the background of most members of the group, and also because engineering training procedures have been the subject of particular recent anxiety. But other experiences provide a wider context in which the strengths and weaknesses of engineering education and training can be regarded. | Education & training / history |
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Bridle, Ron J., and Sims, Frank A. | 2009 | The effect of bridge failures on UK technical policy and practice. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH1, pp. 39-49. | The first part of this paper sets the scene for the growth of the road programme in the UK since 1950 and new additions to the existing stock of bridges. The second part describes the events that gave concern for the integrity of these bridges and the attention given to the policy and inspection procedures to safeguard the nation’s existing stock. Tables describing the bridge stock, the principal factors influencing maintenance expenditure and the principal tasks are provided, together with concluding observations and acknowledgement of the great efforts of the bridge engineering community over the half-century covered. | bridges / dangers & hazards / failures |
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Cox, Ronald C. | 2009 | Telford in Ireland: work, opinions and influence. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH1, pp. 51-60. | The paper presents a review of Telford’s work in Ireland, in particular the Howth Road, the final link in the plan to improve communication between London and Dublin. Telford’s influence on Irish dock and harbour construction is also discussed, as well as his role in the planning of the Ulster Canal. | history / ports docks & harbours / roads & highways |
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Taylor,Andrew, Plant,Chris & Dickerson,James | 2009 | Wellington Street Swing Bridge, Hull, UK. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH2, pp. 67-79. | The growth of Hull as a British port at the time of William Wilberforce (1759-1833) saw the construction of docks and dock bridges similar to those in London, Plymouth and Liverpool. These structures now form an essential part of Britain’s heritage and are protected under listed buildings and conservation regulations. For several years, Hull City Council has been developing a conservation policy for its nine listed bridges and a comprehensive historical audit was required. This paper looks into the history of Hull Docks and the development of cast-iron swing bridges between 1800 and 1850. The paper describes the design of Hull’s cast-iron Wellington Street Swing Bridge as part of a scheme for restoration of the bridge to working order. When the bridge was originally built, it would have been required to carry horse-drawn traffic that would probably have weighed no more than 5 t in total and carried commodities at walking pace, thus minimising the impact factor. The original bridge design may have been based on a three-pinned arch, although this is just speculation. | Bridges /conservation / ports, docks & harbours |
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Neville, Adam | 2009 | History of high-alumina cement. Part 1: Problems and the Stone report. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH2, pp. 81-91. | The paper is published in two parts. Part 1 presents a lead-up to the Stone Committee. A brief description of high-alumina cement (HAC) is given andthe problems with its use in structures are outlined. The body of the Stone Committee report is then dealt with and some more widely applicable conclusions of the report are discussed. Part 2 discusses the background to HAC problems in light of the Stone Committee report as well as the present day situation. | Concrete Structures / Failures / History |
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Neville, Adam | 2009 | History of high-alumina cement. Part 2: Background to issues. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH2, pp. 93-101. | Part 1 of this paper dealt with the Stone Committee Report as a solution to the problem of the failure of high-alumina cement (HAC) Concrete in structures. This part discusses the reasons why the problems arose: in a nutshell, ignorance of the behaviour of HAC, and relentless pressure to sell HAC as a problem-free material. | Concrete Structures / Failures / History |
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Brown, David Henthorn | 2009 | Canal reservoirs in Great Britain. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH2, pp. 103-110. | This paper considers the development of canal reservoirs in Great Britain from a historical perspective and reflects how they developed in the light of changing requirements and engineering advances. Ninety-two reservoirs, with an average of 188 years, remain the responsibility of British Waterways. There are many more which have found other uses or been discontinued. | Dams, barrages & reservoirs / history / waterways & canals |
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Bartlett, F.Michael, et al. | 2009 | 1870s innovation in London Canada’s Blackfriars Bridge. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Volume 162, Issue EH2, pp. 111-117. | Blackfriars Bridge in London, Ontario, Canada is a wrought-iron bowstring-arch-truss bridge fabricated by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, and erected in 1875. Although typical of the 19km of wrought-iron bowstrings constructed by the company in this period, the bridge is one of the first to feature a ‘double-panel’ web diagonal arrangement that was patented in the USA one year after the bridge was constructed. Considering the state of structural engineering knowledge in the 1870s, this paper investigates whether the structural response of the double-panel diagonal could have been correctly analysed by the original designers or whether the bridge may have been erected as a prototype to validate the innovative feature. Design loads are specified in the company’s 1874 book of designs that depend on whether the bridge is located in the country, a town, a second-class city or a first-clas city. The truss statistically indeterminate to the thirteenth degree, can be manually analysed neglecting slender web diagonals in compression if the participation of vertical members above the double-diagonals is ignored. The patent highlights the structural contribution of these members, however, and because their participation can only be assessed using modern computer analyses, Blackfriars Bridge may have been built as a prototype to validate the double-panel design feature | Bridges / Design Methods & Aids / History |
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Sutherland, H.B. | 1999 | Professor William John Macquorn Rankine. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 132, Issue 4, pp. 181-187. | Macquorn Rankine is probably best known among civil engineers for his 1857 theory on earth pressure, which is still a prominent feature in today’s geotechnical textbooks. But he was also one of the founding fathers of thermodynamics, a world authority on ship design, a fellow of the Royal Society and instigator of the first engineering degree course at a British university. On top of this he was a soldier, a musician and a poet. Nevertheless after fifteen years as an associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers, he was apparently not considered suitable for promotion to member and promptly resigned. This paper reviews his enormous contribution to the advancement of engineering and science and, more importantly, to that of society. | Glasgow University / Biography / Engineering / Earth Pressure /Geotechnics / Thermodynamics / Ships / Design / Engineers / Education / Courses / Degrees / Science /Society / History |
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Jones, Stephen K. | 2009 | Briefing: an engineering historian’s heritage, Rhys Jenkins (1859–1953) Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH3, pp.123-124. | Rhys Jenkins was a pioneer in the study of the history of engineering and technology and one of the founder members of the Newcomen Society, the oldest learned society in the world devoted to the study of the engineering and technology history. This is a brief account of Rhys Jenkins’ early life and Welsh background, which influenced his later interest in engineering history. | Biography / History |
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Bailey, Michael R | 2009 | Briefing: 150th anniversary of Robert Stephenson’s death. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH3, pp.125-126. | Robert Stephenson is one of only two engineers – the other being Thomas Telford – to be buried in Westminster Abbey, reflecting the deep respect with which both were held. Although his reputation is maintained among discerning students of engineering history, Stephenson is less well known today among the population at large, this provides an opportunity to promote further knowledge of his life and career. | Biography / History |
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Barnes, Martin | 2007 | Thomas Telford, project manager. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 61-64. (May 2007) | This paper examines Thomas Telford’s achievement as a project manager against modern criteria for that role. It shows that he was undoubtedly one of the best project managers of his time but appears to have confined his innovations to engineering design rather than attempting to change the way major projects were managed. He nevertheless inspired all who worked with him and proved that you do not need modern communications and management tools to be an outstanding project manager. | History / Management / Roads & Highways / Waterways & Canals |
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Bligh, David, Brown, David, & Crowe, Nigel | 2007 | Birmingham Canal, England - a future unlocked by Telford. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 56-60. (May 2007) | Thomas Telford’s best known canal work is probably Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen (Ellesmere) Canal, possibly followed by the construction of the Shropshire Union and Caledonian Canals. However, the greatest concentration of engineering works exhibiting Telford’s genius is probably a 6 km length of the Birmingham Canal, where he dramatically upgraded the waterway while maintaining existing traffic and preserving revenues for the canal company. This paper describes the project, which included removing a congested summit of six locks with a vast cutting up to 22 m deep. The canal and its structures remain in full use today. | History / Waterways & Canals |
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Chrimes, Michael | 2007 | St Katharine Docks, London - Telford’s high-speed harbour. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 48-55. (May 2007) | The current paper describes Thomas Telford’s work as engineer for St Katharine Docks, London, in the context of his role as a maritime engineer. Although not the largest in London, they presented one of the most challenging projects in Telford’s career, not least owing to the extreme time pressure he was put under to get the docks trading in London’s then busy and profitable shipping industry. With up to 1000 construction workers on site, and despite a major flood, the first ship entered the dock in 1828—just three years after contracts were let. | Construction / Docks / History / Management |
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Quartermaine, Jamie | 2007 | Telford’s Holyhead Road in Wales – the first super highway. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 43-47. (May 2007) | The London to Holyhead Road is widely recognised as one of Telford’s greatest engineering achievements, particularly its landmark suspension bridges at Menai and Conwy. However, it was the dramatic improvements to the route through north Wales that proved most beneficial to the growing stagecoach traffic between newly unified England and Ireland. Even though the railways soon took over, the road set an early benchmark for future road construction projects worldwide. This paper describes the north Wales section which, two centuries on, is still very much in use, along with its many innovative bridges, toll houses, depots and street furniture. | Bridges / History / Roads & Highways |
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Ford, Christopher R. | 2007 | Telford’s Highland roads – a new way of life for Scotland. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 36-42. (May 2007) | Thomas Telford constructed nearly 1200 km of roads and over 1000 bridges in the Highlands of Scotland for the government in 1803–21. Their purpose was to alleviate the living conditions in the poverty-stricken country by providing immediate work and opening up communications. This paper describes how Telford designed and organised this massive project, including his introduction into Scotland of competitive tendering by private contractors, his standard specification for roads and bridges and the need for immediate maintenance. | Contracts / History / Roads & Highways |
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Davies, Hugh | 2007 | Thomas Telford: highway engineer ahead of his time. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 31-35. (May 2007) | Many of Thomas Telford’s innovations in highway engineering were way ahead of his time, but are now familiar practice on modern motorways, ranging from using experiments to provide a rational basis for design to constructing massive cuttings, embankments and bridgeworks. The present paper describes the state of Britain’s roads in the eighteenth century—when it took 230 hours to travel between London and Edinburgh—and then discusses Telford’s road-building activities and his novel approach to design. The disagreement with John McAdam is also described, together with an assessment of Telford’s contribution to the evolution of modern highway engineering. | History / Pavement Design / Roads & Highways |
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Day, William | 2007 | Telford’s Menai and Conwy Suspension Bridges, Wales. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 26-30. (May 2007) | Menai and Conwy suspension bridges in Wales, both completed in 1826 to Telford’s design, represented a significant advance in engineering science and were the culmination of extensive experiment and theoretical study. Telford established practices and procedures during the design and construction of the 177 m span Menai and 100 m span Conwy bridges for experiment, analysis, test and inspection that are recognised to this day as good practice in engineering. The ideas and methods adopted have had a lasting influence upon the profession. | Bridges / Cables & Tendons / History |
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Day, Tom | 2007 | Telford’s masonry bridges on the Carluke Road, Scotland. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 20-25. (May 2007) | This paper describes the construction of Thomas Telford’s imposing nineteenth century bridge at Cartland Crags in Lanarkshire, Scotland and five smaller masonry bridges on the same stretch of road leading to Carluke. It is based largely on letters written by Telford, his inspectors and the contractor—some in the form of progress reports and others describing incidents during construction. They provide a revealing insight into the interaction between the parties involved, particularly during the tendering process and when things went wrong on site. | Brickwork & Masonry / Bridges / History |
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Paxton, Roland | 2007 | Thomas Telford’s cast-iron bridges. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 12-19. (May 2007) | Thomas Telford’s innovations using cast iron included a landmark lightweight type of arch bridge with spans of 32–52 m, longer than then practicable in stone and exhibiting an unparalleled combination of strength, economy and intuitive design. This development influenced cast-iron bridge building until the 1830s and the adoption of elegant and effective lozenge-lattice bracing in bridge spandrels until the 1870s. This paper identifies and examines Telford’s mastery in cast-iron bridge design, exemplified by a legacy of six bridges which are still operational in varying degrees after nearly two centuries. | Bridges / Conservation / History / Testing of Materials |
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Cross-Rudkin, P.S.M. | 2007 | Thomas Telford, county surveyor. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering. Volume 160, Issue 5, pp. 7-11. (May 2007) | This paper describes Thomas Telford’s early years in post as the first county surveyor of Shropshire in the UK, as well as the challenging nature of his relationships with the justices of the peace who employed him. As Telford’s reputation on the national stage grew, his duties increasingly kept him away from the county and he employed Thomas Stanton to undertake the day-to-day work. Telford, however, retained responsibility and correspondence between the two men shows he not only provided leadership when required but also stepped into the breach when his deputy was being pressurised by the cost-conscious justices. | Biography / Bridges / History |
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Abbott, Tim, & Ayling, Les | 2009 | High Level Bridge: engineering successful heritage solutions. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH3, pp.127-136. (August 2009) | In May 2008 the High Level Bridge, which spans the River Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, reopened following a seven-year, £42 million programme of repair and strengthening that also encompassed its conservation as an important piece of UK national heritage. The bridge has a statutory designation as a grade I listed building, the highest designation, and is a strategic part of the rail and road systems in the north east of England. A decision was taken that the bridge required more than its regular maintenance; it required ‘renewal’—a term used by English Heritage not for replacement but for a process that occurs at a longer cycle than maintenance and is more drastic in terms of interventions and the loss of heritage values. The varied nature of necessary repairs and interventions to historic buildings (bridges are buildings under the protective legislation) means that there are no easily defined rules; judgement and the application of principles of conservation are how protection and change are managed. This paper seeks to explain the methods and processes used to give this bridge a sustainable future while managing the changes to protect and respect its historic value. | Bridges / Conservation / Maintenance & Inspection |
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Jackson, Donald C. | 2009 | Structural art: John S. Eastwood and the multiple arch dam. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH3, pp.137-146. (August 2009) | In his landmark book The Tower and the Bridge, engineering professor/historian David Billington proposes the concept of ‘structural art’ and, with a focus on bridges, thin shell roofs and tall buildings, describes its relationship to the ideals of efficiency, economy and elegance. Dams are not discussed in The Tower and the Bridge, apparently because the massive gravity designs commonly built for major projects represent bulky, inefficient designs. Moving beyond gravity dam technology, this paper explores how John S. Eastwood’s work designing multiple arch dams accords with Billington’s idea of structural art. Eastwood built the world’s first reinforced concrete multiple arch dam at Hume Lake, California in 1908 and during the last 15 years of his life became a prominent proponent of the technology. Eastwood’s designs, how they correlate to the ideals of efficiency, economy and elegance, and how he integrated mathematical theory into his design methodology comprise the focus of this paper. In addition, issues of visual appearance and their effect upon professional acceptance of Eastwood’s design are also considered. By employing the concept of structural art as a prism for studying multiple arch dams, the article elucidates an important aspect of hydraulic engineering history. | Barrages & Reservoirs / Concrete Structures / Dams / History |
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MacKenzie, Alistair | 2009 | Engineering ‘the aerodrome of democracy’, Canada 1939-1944. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH3, pp.147-155. (August 2009) | The British Commonwealth air training plan was created to address the critical shortage of trained flyers that existed at the outbreak of World War II. As the expansion of existing training facilities in areas likely to be subject to enemy attack was unlikely to be satisfactory, an agreement was reached between Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to provide training facilities in Canada. Initial requirements were for 58 airfields, one to be complete by May 1940, 37 by the end of 1941 and the remaining 20 by April 1942. The extent of this civil engineering challenge is highlighted by the fact that, in 1939, the Royal Canadian Air Force possessed only five airfields. However, not only were the original targets achieved, they were surpassed in both scope and time. On completion, 88 ‘main’ airfields were in use; as most of these airfields required at least one ‘satellite’ field with many of the facilities of the main fields, the grand total was 176 airfields. In the words of President Roosevelt, Canada had become ‘the aerodrome of democracy’. As airfields were constructed in every province of Canada, planning and logistical problems were immense. Standardisation of design for airfield layout, prefabrication of components for hangars and other airfield structures, a centralised management organisation and the application of what, today, we would describe as modern construction project management techniques all helped Canada’s civil engineers to successfully complete this Herculean task. | Airports / Buildings, Structures & Design / History |
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Roberts, Gwilym | 2009 | St Pancras Station: Victorian ‘cathedral of the railways’. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH3, pp.157-166. (August 2009) | Completed in October 1868, St Pancras station was among the last of London’s rail termini to be constructed. The superstructure inspired the designers of other railway termini being planned at the time, including those in New York, Glasgow, Manchester and Paris. This paper describes the construction of the terminus and the adjacent Midland Grand Hotel, together with their decline and recent regeneration so as to again become the ‘cathedral of the railways’. | History / Rail & Bus Stations / Urban Regeneration |
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Buonopane, Stephen | 2009 | Briefing: ASCE history and heritage committee. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH4, pp.173-174 (November 2009) | This briefing looks at the objectives and current activities of the history and heritage committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). | History / Biography |
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Fuchs, Helmut V. | 2009 | Briefing: Did the ancient Greeks know acoustics better? Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH4, pp.175-178 (November 2009) | For tourists visiting excavated ancient Greek or Roman sites, the extraordinary speech intelligibility experienced in an (unroofed) amphitheatre – no matter how little is preserved of its original structure and outfit – is always a highlight. The article argues that the Greeks and Romans did indeed know more about acoustics without the theoretical background we have today. This knowledge has obviously been lost over the centuries, despite the powerful computer simulation tools now available to any ambitious acoustician. It is suggested that acoustic textbooks and standards be revised as far as recommended reverberation times and spectra are concerned. | Buildings, Structures & Design / History |
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Donald, Philip T. | 2009 | The Irish coal canals. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH4, pp.179-188 (November 2009) | Inland navigation systems were built in Ireland in the eighteenth century with the specific intention of transporting coal to Dublin from the recently discovered coal deposits in east County Tyrone. The two interlinked canal systems were the Newry navigation and the Tyrone navigation with Lough Neagh in between. The Newry navigation comprised four elements : the 29 km long canal from Portadown to Newry, the water supply for the summit length, the shipping basin at Newry and the 5•2 km long ship canal leading to Carlingford Lough and the open sea. The Tyrone navigation comprised three elements: the 7 km length of the Coalisland Canal from the River Bann to Coalisland, the Coalisland basin and Ducart’s Canal beyond Coalisland to the principal coalfield. This paper gives an outline of the background, which showed the need for the canals, their construction, the commercial outcome and their ultimate decline, the current state of repair and future prospects. | History / Waterways & Canals |
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Länge, John, & Lazarus, Deborah | 2009 | St Pancras Renaissance hotel, London – a future for the past. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH4, pp.189-197 (November 2009) | This paper looks at the process of appraisal, both in general and in the particular case where it is used to justify a new use for a redundant historic building. The focus of the paper is St Pancras Chambers in London, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860s. Originally one of the great railway hotels, the building was taken into use as offices after the hotel closed in 1935. In the 1980s it was vacated and remained unoccupied for a number of years, with significant deterioration occurring. The building, now grade 1 listed, is undergoing restoration some 140 years after its original design to transform it back to a luxury hotel, the St Pancras Renaissance hotel, with a level of servicing consistent with modern expectations. The work is taking place in close consultation with English Heritage. Intervention has been limited to the extent that this can be sensibly justified, and alterations are generally reversible. The appraisal has focused on the Moreland floors and the condition of the timber roof trusses. The paper sets out the methodology adopted to justify the continuing use of the building in order to give a ‘future for the past’ to this great Victorian building. | Conservation / History / Strength and Testing of Materials |
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Charles, J. Andrew | 2009 | Robert Rawlinson and the UK public health revolution. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH4, pp.199-206 (November 2009) | Robert Rawlinson was the acknowledged leader of the UK revolution in public health engineering, which transformed the lives, and particularly the life expectancy, of the people living in the towns and cities of England during the Victorian age. Having grown up in a poor Lancashire family, Rawlinson commenced work as a stonemason. The crucial change to professional work came at the age of 21 years when he obtained employment in the Liverpool dock engineer’s office. In 1848, he became an engineering inspector for the newly formed General Board of Health. From that time most of Rawlinson’s work was in government service: he was a member of the Crimean sanitary commission, the organiser of public works for relief employment during the Lancashire cotton famine and chairman of the first rivers pollution commission. For many years he was the chief engineering inspector to the Local Government Board. There was a close connection between his work and the activities of many of the influential people of his day including Lord Shaftesbury and Florence Nightingale. | Pollution / Public Health / Sewers & Drains |
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Merrifield, Arthur L.R. | 2009 | New Zealand’s North Island main trunk railway: 1870-1908. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH4, pp.207-219 (November 2009) | Completion of the Union Pacific railway in the USA in 1869 was seen to hold lessons for New Zealand’s colonial government. A policy of immigration and public works funded from loans was instituted in 1870. A network of railways would be built to open up land for settlement. One such was the North Island main trunk line, linking Auckland and Wellington – the two main centres in the North Island. It took until 1908 to complete the 680km route. As described in this paper, building the line was a major adventure as natural and man-made difficulties were gradually overcome. Location surveyors often worked at risk of their lives as not all Maori accepted the agreement between tribal leaders and the government that work could start. For many years government was uncertain where the best route lay. The engineers had to surmount very difficult topography, the geology of very young rocks and scarcity of funding. Eventually, after locally trained engineers overcame the worst engineering problems, the date that the first through train could run became the focus of a wager between the minister of public works and one of his resident engineers. | Developing Countries / History / Rail Systems |
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Wiltshire, Richard Lyman, & Scott, Gregg Alan | 2009 | US Bureau of Reclamation dams in the American west. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.162, Issue EH4, pp.221-228 (November 2009) | This paper chronicles the Bureau of Reclamation’s achievements and contributions in the evolution and advancement of dam engineering during the design and construction of water projects, largely in the twentieth century, to supply water and reclaim the arid lands of the western USA. These contributions and advancements had a significant effect on the rest of the world. The paper first discusses the bureau’s masonry and concrete dams and briefly describes the more important dams constructed in each decade, along with how they affected the evolution of concrete dam analysis, modelling, design and construction. The bureau’s embankment dams are discussed second, briefly describing the more important dams constructed in each decade, along with how they affected the evolution of embankment dam analysis, design and construction. The paper discusses the early empirical and analytical dam designs, site investigations and laboratory testing, the introduction of soil and rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, foundation treatment, seismic considerations, as well as lessons learned from the Teton dam failure. Related topics such as the evolution of dam instrumentation and monitoring, and a brief history of the bureau’s publications associated with concrete and embankment dam engineering are discussed in the paper. | History / Dams, Barrages and Reservoirs / Water Supply |
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Ibarra-Sevilla, B. | 2013 | The first ribbed vaults in the Americas: craft skills and construction processes of indigenous people in the Mixtec region of southern Mexico. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 1, pp1-26 | The article examines the introduction of European construction to Mexico in the 16th C, using three buildings with elaborate ribbed vaults built between 1550 and 1580.. What did the Spanish masters need to teach; how did the transfer of technology happen; what did the indigenous people know and what did they need to learn | Mexico Mexican indigenous Spanish Spain 16th technology ribbed vaults |
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Nina Baker | 2006 | The production cycles of the Scottish construction industry, 1802-2002. Baker, N. & Agapiou, A, 2nd International Conference of Construction History, Cambridge, 2006 | ||
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Nina Baker | 2018 | Glasgow city chambers: The construction and building services history of a major municipal building from the Victorian period. Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories – Wouters, Van de Voorde, Bertels et al. (Eds). 2018 6th International Congress of Construction History, Brussels, Belgium, ISBN 978-1-138-33230-0 | ||
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Nina Baker | 2006 | Women Nailmakers in 19th Century Scotland. Baker, N. The Tool & Trades History Society: TATHS newsletter 93, 2006, pp16-18. | ||
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Nina Baker | 2009 | More than Pioneers: A Hundred Years of Women at Work in the Scottish Building Industry (1820-1920). Construction Information Quarterly, vol 11, issue 4, 181-185, CIQ paper 250. CIOB, 2009. | ||
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Chrimes, Mike | 2009 | Ahead of the game—masonry dam design in the British colonies 1800–1900, part 1: 1800–1872. Dams and Reservoirs, Volume 19, Issue 2, pp. 55-66 (June 2009) | British dam practice in the nineteenth century was dominated by the use of earth embankments with puddle clay cores. Theoretical approaches to masonry dam design developed in France in the mid-nineteenth century, therefore had little immediate impact on British practice (although they were commented on by Rankine). However, British engineers working overseas often benefited from advanced academic training, at the military colleges, the East India Company’s seminary, Addiscombe, and later the Cooper’s Hill College, and made more widespread use of masonry structures. Differing geological conditions, geography and cost all played their part, but the overall impression is one of innovation that at times astounded the UK engineering establishment. This paper chronicles the work of the pioneers of colonial dam design in the context of the history of masonry dams. Part one describes developments owing to the discovery of the ‘rational method’. | Dams & Reservoirs |
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Chrimes, Mike | 2009 | Ahead of the game – masonry dam design in the British colonies 1800–1900, part 2: 1872–1900 Dams and Reservoirs, Volume 19, Issue 4, pp. 171-183 (December 2009) | British dam practice in the nineteenth century was dominated by the use of earth embankments. The theoretical approaches to masonry dam design developed in France in the mid-nineteenth century, although commented on by Rankine, therefore had little immediate impact on British practice. However, British engineers working overseas made more widespread use of masonry structures. Differing geological conditions, geography and cost all played their part, but the overall impression is one of innovation that at times astounded the UK engineering establishment. This paper chronicles the work of the pioneers of colonial dam design in the context of the history of masonry dams. The first part of this paper (Dams and Reservoirs, 2009, 19, No. 2, 55–66) described developments down to the introduction of the ‘rational method’; this part describes how dam design changed in the next 30 years. | Dams & Reservoirs |
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Huerta, Santiago | 2010 | The safety of masonry buttresses. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH1, pp.3-24 (February 2010) | The vault is the main element in most historical buildings. Masonry vaults exert an inclined thrust that must be resisted by a substantial mass of masonry: the buttress. The buttress system assures the safety of the whole construction. Most traditional structural design rules addressed the problem of buttress design. Today, an architect or engineer assessing the structural safety of a historical construction needs to estimate the safety of the buttress system with accuracy. This is not an easy matter. Among other possible failures, a buttress may fracture under certain conditions with a substantial loss of stability, it may show a certain leaning or it may be separated from the wall. Furthermore, buttress systems are complex structures – a combination of walls and counterforts, flying buttresses, etc. – made of different types of masonry, and their assessment cannot be handled in an abstract way. This paper outlines the development of buttress design since around 1700 to explain the main approaches used and to provide a historical context. The paper then goes on to summarise the state-of-the-art in modern masonry buttress analysis and to discuss estimations of safety. | Buildings, Structures & Design / Failures / History |
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Foti, Dora; Mongelli, Michele, & Paparella, Vito | 2010 | Shear assessment of Della Vittoria stadium, Bari, Italy. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH1, pp.25-37 (February 2010) | Modern buildings are characterised by their use of reinforced concrete (RC) as a novel and versatile building material. In assessments of existing buildings, the most critical structures in terms of shear resistance are those designed in the first half of the last century, when RC theory and detailing rules were not then well established. This study considers the issues related to the gradual understanding of shear behaviour, with particular reference to buildings constructed in Bari, Italy in the period 1920–1960, and aims to emphasise the vulnerability at a territorial scale of structural typologies designed only to vertical loadings. Subsequently, the shear resistance verification of the structural elements of a typical frame of the stadium Della Vittoria, Bari, is investigated according to new Italian and American design codes and the recently proposed Arslan’s equation. The results are compared with those included in the original calculation report (written according to a 1930 royal decree). The paper ends with a detailed commentary on lack of compliance with the ‘capacity design’ philosophy. | Concrete Structures / Seismic Engineering / Stress Analysis |
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Bradford, William, Bridgeman, John, & Gaterell, M | 2010 | A review of the 1892 water demand forecast for Birmingham. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH1, pp.39-49 (February 2010) | The water demand forecast forms half of the supply–demand balance used for developing a long-term water resources plan, but historical water demand forecasts attracted less analytical attention than historical water supply issues. This paper is a critical review of the water demand forecast for the city of Birmingham, which was presented to Parliament by James Mansergh in 1892 – when demand was growing by 3% per annum and the headroom of supply over demand was approaching zero – to justify the need for one of the largest and most controversial water resources schemes in the UK, the Elan Valley reservoirs in Mid-Wales. The first phase was commissioned in 1904. Today, the full scheme supplies water to over a million people in Birmingham, and will continue to do so well into the twenty-first century, long after the 60 to 70 years originally expected by Mansergh. The results of this analysis suggest that by demonstrating an understanding of the drivers of demand growth, Mansergh was able to convince Parliament that his assumptions about the scale of Birmingham’s future demand growth were reasonable. A comparison of the 1892 forecast with actual annual average demand up to Mansergh’s horizon in 1955 shows that the profile of his forecast was remarkably accurate. | Dams, Barrages & Reservoirs / Hydrology & Water Resources / Water Supply |
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Barr, Ben | 2010 | Conway and Britannia tubular bridges: Stephenson’s team. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH1, pp.51-60 (February 2010) | The paper reviews the significant achievements of Robert Stephenson and his team in the innovative design and construction of Conway and Britannia tubular bridges. The text is based on extensive extracts taken from contemporary accounts by two members of Stephenson’s team, William Fairbairn and Edwin Clark. The paper describes the sequence of model tests (from initial small-scale tests, followed by one-sixth scale tests to tests on the first Conway tube) and the methods used to overcome the problems of buckling that were identified in the experimental work. The innovative method of floating and raising the tubes into their final location is also reported. In addition to strength and stiffness considerations, Stephenson’s team also investigated the effects of temperature and wind loading and in these studies developed an accurate method of measuring deflections. It is suggested that the design and construction of Conway and Britannia Bridges could provide an excellent case study for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying structural behaviour and, in particular, the problems associated with buckling. | Bridges / History |
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Orr, David Malcolm | 2010 | The Antrim Coast Road – a civil engineering legacy. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH2, pp.65-69 (May 2010) | In the early 1800s, the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland conceived the idea of building the Antrim Coast Road to open up the Glens of Antrim, to give better access for the military, and to give work to the unemployed. Their civil engineer, William Bald, rose to the challenge and completed the 40 km route between 1832 and 1842. Bald was born in Burntisland in Fife in 1789. He was a civil engineer and surveyor who came to Ireland aged 20 to complete the trigonometrical survey of County Mayo. Bald had the vision of building the road along the foot of the cliffs, some of them over 100 m high. For many, it was an incredible idea. Previous plans were to build the road some distance inland, but this would have meant steep gradients as the road traversed the valleys of the Glens. The Antrim Coast Road was completed in 1842 and William Bald left to practice in Scotland and France. He died in 1857 and is buried in Highgate Cemetery in London. | History / Infrastructure Planning / Roads & Highways |
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McKay, Colin | 2010 | Highway design by highwaymen. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH2, pp.71-75 (May 2010) | This paper presents an outline of the style of work in highway design that prevailed after World War II until approximately the mid-1960s – definitely before the days of computers, hand calculators and total-station surveying. | History / Land Surveying / Roads & Highways |
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Harshbarger, J. Patrick | 2010 | Two pioneering American roadways. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH2, pp.77-85 (May 2010) | This paper discusses the historical background and significance of Delaware’s DuPont Highway (1908–23) and New Jersey’s Route 1 extension (1923–32). Thomas Coleman du Pont envisioned a multi-modal roadway that was far ahead of its time, including the use of bypasses, a concept previously only used by railroads. The Route 1 extension, which was designed by an engineering team led by William G. Sloan of the New Jersey State Highway Commission, featured the innovative use of economic theories and actual traffic studies to guide the design of one of America’s first limited-access motorways. It was planned using economic theories of location adapted from railroad practices. | Biography / History / Roads & Highways |
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Chrimes, Mike | 2010 | Autostrade: the Italian interwar achievement. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH2, pp.87-104 (May 2010) | Italian motorways were the first limited access highways in the world. This paper narrates their development, describes their essential features, and makes some observations on their significance. | Bridges / History / Roads & Highways |
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Davis, Timothy | 2010 | Documenting New York’s Bronx River Parkway, USA. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH2, pp.105-116 (May 2010) | New York’s Bronx River Parkway was a seminal development in the history of the modern motorway. Conceived in 1906 and completed in 1925, the parkway was the first public project to provide a large-scale demonstration of the essential components of modern motorway design: strict limitations on access and egress, grade-separated interchanges, flowing horizontal and vertical curvature geared toward safe and pleasurable high-speed travel, and a broad publically owned right-of-way for better control of the roadside environment and greater flexibility in alignment and location. The Bronx River Parkway was embraced by the motoring public, hailed by contemporary design professionals, and celebrated by subsequent historians. In recognition of the parkway’s significance, the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) conducted a multi-disciplinary documentation project in 2001. HAER produced large-format photographs, a detailed historical report, and measured and interpretive drawings depicting construction details, development processes, and design concepts. The project was part of a larger effort to document historic American roadways including National Park Service park roads and parkways, Columbia River Highway, Merritt Parkway, Taconic State Parkway, and the Arroyo Seco Parkway/Pasadena Freeway. This documentation can serve as a valuable model for future efforts to document and interpret twentieth century motorways and other civil engineering resources. | Biography / History / Roads & Highways |
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Yeadon, Harry Leslie | 2010 | Preston By-pass: the first motorway in the UK. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH2, pp.117-128 (May 2010) | The paper outlines the history of motorways from the early part of the twentieth century, when the internal combustion engine revolutionised road transport. In the UK at that time, there was a great deal of interest in the possibility of constructing roads for use only by motor vehicles. However, due to the opposition of railway companies, no action was taken by successive governments, and Italy led the way by opening the first autostrada in 1924. During the 1930s, systems of motorways were developed in Germany and the USA. World War 2 prevented any positive action in the UK, but professional institutions and the Ministry of Transport continued planning UK transport needs for the post-war period. Lancashire County Council had concerns about congestion and the serious accident record of the A6/A49 north–south route through the county. James Drake, appointed County Surveyor and Bridgemaster in 1945, prepared a road plan with priority given to the building of a 62 mile (99 km) long motorway. In the period of financial restraint then prevailing, the project was to be carried forward by constructing a series of by-passes (with Preston By-pass as the first) that could be linked when finance became available. The scheme was included in the Minister’s expanded road programme as an ‘experiment’ for all future motorways. Construction began in 1956 and the motorway was opened in December 1958. The ‘experiment’ was an undoubted success and many important lessons were learned. | History / Roads & Highways / Transport Planning |
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Soper, Robin H. | 2010 | The M1: Britain’s first inter-urban motorway. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage. Vol.163, Issue EH2, pp.129-134 (May 2010) | This article explores the origin and concept of motorways in the UK and looks back over half a century to the 1950s when part of the first inter-urban motorway in England, the M1, was designed and built. The paper describes the steps leading to the start of construction, the route and some aspects of the construction, highlighting some of the differences between this early pioneering work and present-day requirements. In particular, progress in survey methods, means of calculation and construction plant is highlighted. The paper also discusses the types of bridges used in this early scheme, the reasons for their choice and the ways in which they contributed to the very rapid construction for such a large project. Some of the ancillary items required to enable the road to be safely used for over 50 years of increasing traffic loads are also described. | History / Infrastructure Planning / Roads & Highways |
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Nina Baker | 2012 | Who paints the house? Scotswomen as Housepainters and Decorators from 1820, Baker, N., Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Construction History, Paris, July 2012. | ||
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Nina Baker | 2017 | True Grit: women in quarrying in 1930s England and 1880s Scotland. Baker, N. 2017. The Construction Historian, 2017, 2, 7-9. | ||
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M. Bowley | 1996 | The British building industry. Cambridge University Press, 1966. | ||
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J. Bowyer | 1973 | A history of building. | ||
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N.J. Morgan | 1990 | Construction Industry sector essay, in Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography Vol2, edited by Slaven and Checkland. | ||
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J.R. Newman | 1960 | The NAOP Heritage, a short historical review of the growth and development of the National Association of Operative Plasterers 1860-1960. | ||
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J. Parry Lewis | 1965 | Building Cycles and Britain’s growth. | ||
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M. Robertson | 1936 | Building and contracting. Chapter VIII in A study of industrial Edinburgh 1923-34, vol 1, edited by N. Milnes. | ||
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English Heritage | 2008 | Historic building engineering systems and equipment: heating and ventilation. | ||
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Hyslop, E. K., et al. | 2006 | Safeguarding Glasgow’s Stone Built Heritage Skills and Materials Requirements. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report, CR/06/077. | ||
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Palmer, M., & West, I. | 2016 | Technology in the Country House. | ||
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Knoop, D. & Jones, G. P. | 1949 | The Medieval mason. | ||
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Munchmeyer, A., | 2013 | The masons’ marks in the western part of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostella: an approach to its construction history. Construction History, VFol 28 No. 2, pp 1-22 | Archaeological investigation in the western parts of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostella shows to what extent the documentation of masons’ marks can help to understand the cathedral and its construction history. Distinct masons’ marks relate the west crypt to the narthex and the gallery. In addition to visible structural changes in the masonry, they provide secondary evidence for the different phases of construction. Analysis of the fabric and masons’ marks show that the genesis of the Portico de la Gloria is the result of a structural intervention led by Master Mateo at the end of the 12th Century, which changed the west end including the crypt. | Masonry, masons’ marks, archaeological investigation, Bauforschung, stratigraphic research, cathedral, Santiago de Compostella, Spain |
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Campbell, J.W.P. | 2013 | The supply of stone for the rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral 1675-1710. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 2, pp 23-50 | The paper provides the first detailed account of the supply of stone used to rebuild St Paul’s cathedral after the Great Fire of London. Many different types of stone were employed. Working directly from archival sources, it shows how each type of stone was quarried and transported and the problems that arose, and provides the first analysis of the amounts of stone quarried. The issues of stone supply discussed are not unique to St Paul’s; the same types of stone were being widely used elsewhere in the same period. The paper explains why the supply of stone is a significant factor in understanding why St Paul’s took over 35 years to construct. | Quarrying, stone, 17th century, seventeenth, St Paul’s Cathedral, Portland, Beer, Ketton, Burford, Headington, Tadcaster, Reigate, Caen, Kentish Rag, marbles, stone merchants, stone types |
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Patino, G., L. | 2013 | Helical industrial chimneys in Spain. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 2, pp 51-78. | The paper reviews the origin of the helical industrial chimney, a type unique to Spain, and illustrates their various type of construction. In interview with the author, one of the last great chimney builders explains how to erect helical chimneys using the tool he invented for the purpose. | chimney, Spain, helical, brickwork, bricks, Valencia, 19th C 20th C, industrial |
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Alegre, A., and Heitor, T. | 2013 | The evolution of secondary school building construction in Portugal in the 20th century: from traditional to industrial. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 2, pp 79-104 | The paper provides an overview of the school building construction process in Portugal and the influence of French and British models in its development during the 20th century. Focusing on the history and evolution of secondary school building construction in Portugal, it aims to analyse the architecture - construction relationship assuming its relevance in the history of construction, structural design and building practice. French and British models proved to be significantfor the analysis and characterisation of the Portuguese school building process. The beaux-arts principles, Viollet-le-Duc’s rationalism and typological concerns from French developments of the 19th century, as well as modern architecture from the 1930s, had a direct influence on Portuguese developments. The post-war English experience in school building construction had an important impact in Portugal in both design and production procedures from the 1960s, based on a new design methodology and the adoption of industrialised and rationalised building production system, effective cost and planning control procedures. | schools, Portugal, design, standardisation, 20th century, construction-architecture relationship |
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Langenberg, S. | 2013 | The hidden potential of of building systems: the Marburg Building System as an example. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 2, pp 105-126 | The paper presents a defence of ’system’ buildings of the 1960s. While expressive individual buildings and prototypes, as well as the creations of famous architects and large-scale utopian visions from the boom years, seem to gain more and more recognition, the large mass of system buildings, constructed at the same time or subsequently, are hardly appreciated- despite the fact that their underlying core concepts aimed at openness,growth and modification, and were therefore intrinsically sustainable and long-lasting. The buildings of the Lahnberge Campus of Marburg University were the first to the building system devised by Helmut Spieker, known as the Marburg Building System, based on the tartan grid. These buildings are used as a basis for the investigation of the hidden potential of building systems and to discuss opportunities for their continued use and development in the 21st century | University masterplanning, master-planning, Marburg, Germany, 1960s, systems, pre-fabrication, prefabrication, conservation, Spieker |
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Coste, A. | 2013 | The Llambi Company, Barcelona: a unique relationship between a manufacturer of blinds and shutters, and architects.Construction History, Vol 28 No. 2, pp 127-144 | The paper examines the relationship between the Llambi shutter company of Catalonia and the Catalan architect Josep Antonio Coderch (1913-1984) and the unique approach to the design and construction of buildings fostered by it, specifically the separation of the structure and its envelope. | shutters, blinds, Spain, Spanish modern, Llambi, Coderch, double-skin facade |
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Webster, S.V. | 2013 | The Secret Lives of Buildings in Colonial Quito. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 3, pp 21-46 | The study considers the historiography of Quito’s colonial architecture in the light of contemporary documents and chronicles and offers an alternative readings that counter traditional assessments of its buildings as exemplifying European dominance. Numerous case studies revise earlier accounts of the city’s construction history and document the crucial and extensive contribution of Andean masters. The study argues that Andean dominance of the people and processes of architectural production in the city replicated ancestral patterns of socio-economic power; thus, Andeans perceived Quito’s colonial buildings from a vantage point quite distinct from that of their Spanish and European contemporaries. | Ecuador, Quito, colonial, indigenous, authorship |
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Middleton, R. | 2013 | The first history of construction?. A memoir by Jean Rondelet. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 3, pp 47-68 | In 1799 the Institute set as an essay, the history of construction from the earliest times. Jean Rondelet won the prize, in July 1808, with a 90 page essay, yet unpublished, that would seem to be the first attempt to write a history of construction. He investigated timber construction, stone building techniques - in particular, the moving of stones by the Egyptians - then building with bricks, sun-dried and kiln-dried, from Babylon onwards, through to the churches of Constantinople and Ravenna. There is an acknowledgement of the sklil of the Gothic masons, but little more of note. The 18th C advances in developing a theory of structurees are reduced to no more than a string of names - Coulomb missing. | historiography, Rondelet, France, 18th, theory, pise, history |
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Klosky, J.L. and Klosky, W.E. | 2013 | Men of action: French influence and the founding of American civil and military engineering. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 3, pp 69-88 | The study traces the beginnings of formal engineering practice and military construction in the United States from the cvoming of the French engineers to the establishment of the Army Corps of Engineers and West Point; the likely source of General Putnam’s fortifications at Boston and the relationship between Duportail and Kosciuszko are also mentioned. early American engineers and professors are discussed, as is the strong connection between Fremnch and American engineering education in the early 19th C. The capstone to the early growth of engineering as a discipline in the United States came as the founding of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1852. | America, USA, US, 18th, 19th, Duportail, Crozet, Mahan, Kosciuszko, French, volunteers, civil, military, engieering |
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Barjot, D. | 2013 | Why was the world construction industry dominated by European leaders?: The development of the largest European firms from the late 19th to the early 21st centuries. Construction History, Vol 28 No. 3, pp 89-114 | The paper analyses the most important factors contributing to the dominance of the world construction history by European companies, particularly in the production and distribution of raw materials until c. 2007-8 and the shift into services and public works. The paper concludes that the following are critical factors: technological innovation, control of technological processes, better risk management, the informed support of banks, higher-skilled workforce and engineers, the decisive role of colonial experiences, and state economic support. Nonetheless, despite its successful characteristics, European leadership of the industry (has) remained fragile. . | Europe, Bouyges, Skanska Vinci, industry, globalisation, globalization, world, firm, company |
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Sims, F.A. | 2003 | The Motorway Achievement – Motorway Bridges, their Superstructures and the People involved – a historical record file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/MotorwayBridges.pdf | This historical record is a ‘broad brush’ attempt to record the development of bridge superstructures over almost half a century and covers steel, concrete and composite constructions and ranges from the smallest underbridge to the largest suspension bridge. The CD provides a comprehensive history of bridge engineering in the United Kingdom during the post-War period. Brief descriptions are given of many of the important bridges and the design and construction problems encountered. Developments in analysis, new materials and techniques, and the organisation of research and the construction industry are all covered. There has been much new thinking in bridge and structural engineering and enormous achievements in analysis, new materials and new techniques, the majority of which are recorded, but there have also been some disturbing and damaging occurrences, judged by some to have resulted from the pace of development. Those referred to in this work include box girder failures, falsework collapses, problems with grouting post-tensioned cables, the damaging effects of the use of de-icing salts, the adequacy of bridge deck waterproofing and associated problems of deck joints. The effects of changes in increased traffic and vehicle loadings are also explored. The role of major clients like the Ministry of Transport, and specialist organisations and research bodies, including universities and colleges, are explored. Some of these organisations have so changed that the significance of their role can only be understood by reference to this work - the Cement and Concrete Association being the most obvious example. Thorough referencing enables the researcher to follow up any area of interest within the civil and structural engineering fields covered. The names of prominent people involved during this significant and exciting time for British engineering are recorded. Only available in CD format from the Motorway Archive Trust at [email protected]. | |
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Predari, G., Mochi, G., and Gulli, R. | 2014 | The transformation process of masonry buildings in historic towns: the case of Medicina in northern Italy. Construction History, Vol 29 No. 2, pp 1-20 | The paper studies the evolutionary processes affecting the modification of medieval masonry buildings in the Po valley of northern Italy during the 18th C, at the level of individual buildings and town-wide. It presents a brief introduction to brick construction in the area, then examines how buildings and technology adapted to external changes, using Medicina as a case-study. | masonry, brick, Po valley, Medicina, Italy, medieval, 18th |
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Garcia, N., J. | 2014 | Traces of stereotomy: descriptive geometry drawings in the workshop notebook of the Tornes family from Jaca in north-eastern Spain (c.1650-1750). Construction History, Vol 29 No. 2, pp 21-38 | The paper presents examples from, and an analysis of, the workshop book of the Tornes family of architects in northern Spain between the mid 17th and mid 18th centuries, together with background information on some of the buildings they constructed. The paper suggests, inter alia, that the technically demanding descriptive geometry employed in the art of stereotomy was widely known in Spain at the time, and that the Tornes family were clearly familiar with the more well-known architectural treatises of the time. | stereotomy, stone cutting, drawings, notebook, Aragon, Spain, 17th 18th, Tornes |
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Bill, N. | 2014 | Laminated timber arch bridges of Joseph Locke (1805-60) and his assistants. Construction History, Vol 29 No. 2, pp 39-62. | The paper describes and examines the development of the laminated timber railway bridge in Britain during the early 19th C, with particular reference to the work of the engineer Joseph Locke, who specialised in them. The paper discusses their performance and longevity, and also the manner in which Locke refined and improved the designs, influencing engineers in Britain and abroad. | Locke, Jee, Errington, laminated timber, railway, viaduct, 19th, Britain, France, bridge, Vignoles |
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Nazidizaji, A., Tome, A., and Regateiro, F. | 2014 | The architecture and construction processes of the vernacualr Shikili Houses in Gilan, northern Iran. Construction History, Vol 29 No. 2, pp 63-82. | The paper studies and explains the design, construction and structural behaviour of the late 19th to early 20th C vernacular timber houses of the Gilan area of northern Iran, with particular attention to the flexible foundations. The paper examines how climate, culture and materials. | Shikili, house, foundation, vernacular, Gilan, Iran, 19th 20th , timber, flexible |
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Trout, E.A.R | 2014 | The Deutscher Ausschuss fur Eisenbeton (German Committee for Reinforced Concrete), 1907-1945, Part 2: Between the Wars. Construction History, Vol 29 No. 2, pp 83-103 | The second of two papers on the subject (See CH Vol 29, No.1) that examines the foundations, research, publications and key personalities of the DAfE, reflecting its changing relationship with a rapidly changing and expanding German concrete industry during the first half of the 20th C. It brings to the attention of the Anglophone world a record of achievement that, whilst recognised in the German-speaking world, is less well-known abroad. The first paper took us up to WW1: this paper continues the story to the end of WW2, beginning with the influence of wartime experience on standards and practice, the enhanced role of the blast furnace slag industry after the acceptance of its waste product as a cement binder in 1916. It then reviews research in the architecturally vibrant 1920s, pre-stressing in the 1930s, the autobahns and the West Wall. The paper ends with an appreciation of Otto Graf as the figure linking pre-war research to a post-war generation, anticipating the revival of the renamed Ausschuss fur Stahlbeton. | Germany, reinforced, concrete, standards, regulations, 20th |
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Smyth, F. | 2014 | More than "a Machine for living in": science, noise and experimental housing in 1930s Britain. Construction History, Vol 29 No. 2, pp 103-120. | The paper presents and overview of the social and scientific context in which the earliest British construction standards for sound insulation evolved. It discusses the first official recommendations to reduce noise in dwellings, the controversy surrounding publication, and the experimental work that underpinned the development of minimum performance standards. | acoustics, sound insulation, experimental housing, Hope Bagenal, Burbage House, Britain, 1930s |
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Ginovart, J.L, I., Jover, A.C., and Pla, S.C. | 2015 | Placing the keystones of the vault over the presbytery in Tortosa Cathedral, Spain (1428-40). Construction History, Vol 30 No. 1, pp 1-22 | The article explains how the ambulatory of Gothic cathedral of Tortosa (b. 1345-1441) was constructed around and over that of the pre-existing Romanesque cathedral. Construction involved substantial temporary works and the innovative use of a central keystone - known as the ’clau major’ - weighing 9 tonnes, supported on a central pillar - the ’pilar major’. Design, creation and installation of the keystone took 12 years and is believed to have been unprecedented. The article presents historical information, including the names of the principle people involved, and an archaeological analysis of the structure based on 3D metric surveys. | cathedral, gothic, temporary works, keystone, Tortosa, Spain, Pasqual, Xulbi, Santalina, BIM |
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Melo, A.S. and Ribiero, M. do. C., | 2015 | Late medieval construction site management at the monastery of Jeronimos, Lisbon. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 1, pp 23-38 | Through analysis of the exceptional accounts of 1517 relating to the construction of the monastery of Jeronimos (Lisbon), the paper examines the main characteristics of a model of construction site management that appears to have been new at that time. In the later Middle Ages there appears to have been two main models of site organisation: one, older and more widespread, was centralised and pyramidal; the other, apparently more recent, used several autonomous teams working simultaneously on specific parts or sections of the building. This appears to have been implemented by Joao de Castilho (1470-1552), possibly for the first time in Portugal, but with some parallels elsewhere in Europe. | organisation, organization, medieval, Middle Ages, 16th, labour, cathedral, Portugal, management, Castilho |
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Neild, R. | 2015 | How Thomas Nevile built Trinity College, Cambridge. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 1, pp 39-52 | The paper examines the consequences of Thomas Nevile’s decision to use clunch (rock chalk) as the main wall material during his construction of the Great Court and Nevile’s Court for Trinity College, c. 1593-1615. The decision, enforced by the lack of freestone in east Anglia, lead to chronic structural problems and recurrent repairs, but still proved cheaper than building with imported stone. | Trinity College, Cambridge, 16th, 17th, Nevile, costs, economics, oolitic limestone, brick, clunch, chalk, Fenland, waterways, transport |
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Nobile, M.R. and Bares, M., M. | 2015 | The use of ’false vaults’ in 18th century buildings in Sicily. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 1, pp 53-70 | The paper discusses the use of lightweight vault structures in major civic buildings in Sicily during the 17th and 18th century as a response to recurrent earthquakes, examining the written influences, imported and local construction practice and the principle people involved in this innovative solution to a major problem | Sicily, earthquake, false vaults, treatises, Gagliardi, 17th, 18th, church |
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Mizuta, S. | 2015 | Patent slipways of Bakumatsu and Meiji Japan, 1861-1900s. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 1, pp 71-92 | The paper examines the introduction of mechanically powered slipways for removing ships from the water, from Britain to Japan in the late 19th century, and finds those built in Japan using a mix of native techniques and imported technology, to be larger and more powerful than contemporary British models. | Patent, slipway, Morton, Japan, Japanese, modernisation, Bakamatsu, Meiji, 1860s, 19th, civil, shipbuilding, technology transfer, engineering |
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Isaacs, N. | 2015 | Hollow concrete blocks in New Zealand, 1904-10. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 1, pp 93-108 | The paper examines the introduction of hollow concrete blocks made with US-patented machines to New Zealand in the early 20th C, specifically the marketing, economics, local peculiarities and the effect the technology had on the architecture and construction practice of New Zealand. | concrete, blocks, New Zealand, 1900s, 20th, Harmon, Palmer, patents, USA, materials, imports |
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Extepare, L., Uranga, E.J., and Zuazua-Guisola, N. | 2015 | Marcel Breur and Jean Barets in Bayonne (1964-8): the use of architectural precast concrete panels in large public housing schemes. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 1, pp 109-126 | The paper examines the introduction of the architect-specified pre-cast concrete panel to public housing schemes in France during the 1960s, and their success under competitive and cost-constrained conditions using an alternative method to that developed in the USA a few year’s before. It presents a brief historical introduction to the development of pre-cast concrete panels in Europe and America and then a detailed examination of Breuer’s contribution to the technique. | Breuer, Barets, ZUP de Sainte-Croix, Bayonne, France, 1960s, 20th, pre-cast panel, precast, panel, concrete |
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Heyman, J. | 2015 | Strainer Arches. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 2, pp 1-14 | The article examines and explains the function of strainer arches in large masonry structures such as at the crossings of cathedrals, their historical development and the historical development of the codes used to calculate their thrusts. | Masonry, thrust, statics, arches, bridges, strainer, Telford, Hooke, Brunel, Perronet, cathedral, calculation. |
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Chrimes, M. M. | 2015 | Architectural dilletantes::construction professionals in British India 1600-1910. Part 1. 1600-1860: The age of the dilletante. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 2, pp 15-44 | The article examines the role of military and civil engineers of the Honourable British east India Company in the design and construction of public buildings in India during the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries.By looking at the careers of some of those designers, conclusions are drawn about the professional training, architectural aspirations, structural approaches and project leadership of the creators of the buildings of the British Empire. | Professions, civil engineers, architects, British India, 17th, 18th, 19th |
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Stoyanova, I, Wouters, I., and Bertels, I. | 2015 | Glazed wrought-iron arcades: building technologies and spatial effects. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 2, pp 45-66 | The paper explores the technology used to build and glaze the roofs of three well-known shopping arcades constructed between the 1820s and 1870s: The Gallerie d’Orleans in Paris (1828-29), the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries in Brussels (1845-47) and the Gallerie Vittorio Emanuele in Milan (1865-77). The wrought iron construction and glazing technology of the three arcades are compared in detail, and the development of the structural systems and glazing techniques are reviewed, focusing especially on the different means of constraining the lateral thrusts exerted by the vaulted roof frames. The analysis shows how lateral thrust was managed without visible reinforcement, how the glazing bars evolved towards cruciform section, and how drip edges of the glass plates began to be treated decoratively. The paper concludes that these features contributed to a more striking appearance of the vaults from within the arcades and an enhanced monumental effect. | glazing, arcades, 19th, Belgium, Italy, France, shops |
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Campo-Ruiz, I. | 2015 | Construction as a prototype: the novel approach of Sigurd Lewerentz to using building materials, especially for walls and windows, 1920-72. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 2, pp 67-86 | The paper examines the experimentation in construction by the Swedish engineer-architect Sigurd Lewerentz (1885-1975) by tracing his successive simplification of window frames, doors and wall construction between the late 1920s and the early 1970s. It explores his writings; the firm he established to manufacture barely-visible frames and structures; his involvement in the chapels of St Gertrud and St Knut in Malmo in 1943; and his later experimentation with unusual combinations of glass, timber, brick and mortar. | Sigurd Lewerentz, Sweden, window, wall, prototype, materials, method, 20th |
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Berthier, S. | 2015 | Timber in the buildings of Jean Prouve: an industrial material. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 2, pp 87-1096 | The paper examines the innovative use of timber as prefabricated and often laminated elements of industrial form combined with other materials to create an original aesthetic, by the French architect Jean Prouve. | Jean Prouve, Konrad Wachsmann, wood, timber, industrialisation, off-site construction, assembly, plywood, cross-laminated, laminated, pre-fabrication, prefabrication, France |
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Martin-Gomez, C. and Resano, D. | 2015 | The SEAT Dining Hall in Barcelona, 1956: innovative approaches to structure, the use of aluminium and building services. Construction History, Vol 30 No. 2, pp 107-131 | The SEAT Dining Hall was the first structure to use aluminium in Spain and remains one of the most innovative and efficient buildings in the world with respect to its design, construction, use of materials and services. The paper explains its historical context, the design process and the people involved, specifically Cesar Ortiz-Echague Rubio, Manuel Berbero Rebolledo, Rafel de la Joya Castro, R. Valle Benitez, H. Herrera and Pedro Roca. . | Aluminium, air-conditioning, services, Spain, Barcelona, SEAT, hygrothermic, 20th |
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Guo, Q. | 2016 | Interpreting roof tiles from the Qin state (c. 400-300BC) at Yongcheng in a comparative context. Construction History, Vol 31 No. 1, pp 1-24 | Yongcheng was the capital of the Qin state during the Warring States Period ( c. 400-300 BC), over a century before the Qin established the first centralised empire in China (221-206 BC). A large number of tiles was excavated there in in 1981-84 and 2005-6 and among these several ’new’ types have been identified. This study examines the recovered tiles in an attempt to understand the roofing system of the Qin state. The author focuses on the finds at Yongcheng while incorporating also a comparative approach. Based on architectural reasoning, two reconstructions of the Qin tiled roofing system are proposed. | China, roof tiles, terracotta, Yongcheng, archaeology, Bauforschung, roofs, coverings |
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Heyman, J. | 2016 | The Crossing Space and the emergence of the modern professional architect and engineer. Construction History, Vol 31 No. 1, pp 25-60 | The period after the Great Fire of London saw the abolition of the medieval way of building, in which design and construction were in the hands of a single master - or a succession of masters, in the protracted building of a cathedral. Instead, the professional architect emerged, who made designs but was not himself a craftsman. At the same time, engineering science began slowly to contribute to architecture. A particular technical challenge was the ’crossing’ - the space formed at the intersection of the nave and transepts of a church. Before Wren no domes existed in England: their creation was totally beyond the capacity of a medieval (English) builder. The form of such does was examined by Wren’s ’partner’ Robert Hooke, and Wren designed many of these, of which the largest is that of St Paul’s Cathedral. Both men were architects and scientists, and between them they created the modern (English) building professional. | Domes, crossing, cathedral, Wren, Hooke, 17th, professions, England, Britain. |
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Gudelj, J. | 2016 | The circulation of building materials: pozzolana in the Baroque Dubrovnik. Construction History, Vol 31 No. 1, pp 61-74 | The paper investigates the introduction into Early Modern building practice in the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) of pozzolana in the late 17th century. Documentary sources indicate that it was first sent to Dubrovnik - along with designs and a master-builder from Rome - for the rebuilding of the cathedral after the earthquake of 1667. Initially treated with scepticism by the local authorities, by the 18th century it was considered essential for hydraulic works, such as those commissioned from the Roman architect Pietro Passalacqua. | Croatia, Dubrovnik, Ragusa, Pozzolana, 17th, 18th, earthquake, Stjepan Gradic, Pier Andrea Bufalini, Louvre, Gianlorenzo Bernini, Pietro Passalacqua, Rome, technology transfer |
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Bill, N. | 2016 | Timber bridge construction on British and Irish railways, 1840-1870: the scale of construction and factors influencing material selection. Construction History, Vol 31 No. 1, pp 75-98 | The paper demonstrates that, contrary to received wisdom, thousands of timber bridges were constructed across the British Isles in the 19th century. Using a database of all known examples, it presents a statistical analysis of how timber construction, timber species, structural forms and technical complexity varied with time for different applications, demonstrating that economy was not the sole reason for using timber. | Britain, Ireland, 19th century, Railways, bridges, viaducts, timber, economics, economies, structures, species |
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Chrimes, M. M. | 2016 | Architectural dilletantes: construction professionals in British India 1600-1910. Part 2. 1860-1910: The advent of the professional. Construction History, Vol 31 No. 1, pp 99-140 | The second of two papers on British engineers in India, considers how British administrations in India managed the design of public buildings in the second half of the 19th century. For most of the period this was a responsibility of engineers in the Public Works Department, led by officials initially trained for military service. Much of the work was concerned with civil engineering, but there was also a demand for public buildings. The designers are generally referred to anachronistically as ’architects’ though most held engineering positions in the Indian armies or, latterly, public works departments. By looking at the careers of some of these ’architects’, conclusions can be drawn about the professional training, architectural inspiration, structural approaches and project leadership of the creators of the buildings of empire. From this, it is suggested that, before 1900, in a meaningful sense there were no architects of empire, but a cadre of engineers whose training enabled them to take on all tasks across the built environment. | India, Raj, empire, British, professions, civil engineers, architects, education, training, 19th 20th |
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Uihlein, M. S. | 2016 | Elmer Lawrence Corthell (1840-1916) and the ambitions of a civil engineer. Construction History, Vol 31 No. 1, pp 141-160 | Elmer Lawrence Corthell was a renowned engineer who believed that engineering was crucial to the prosperity of the United States and that engineering had a responsibility to become a worthwhile profession. After a brief survey of his career, three specific periods that influenced his career and views on engineering are studied in detail: the Mississippi Jetties (1875-80), the Tehuantepec Ship Railway (1884-87) and his consulting work for the Argentine Republic (1900-02). In addition, three of his leadership efforts are considered: his attempts to establish a School of Architecture and Engineering at the University of Chicago (1889-1903); his chairmanship of the General Committee of the 1893 World’s Congress Auxiliary on Engineering; and his attempts to set-up an International Institute of Engineers and Architects in 1894. | USA, America, civil engineering, education, training, profession, James B. Eads, University of Chicago, Corthell. |
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Plasencia-Lozano, P. | 2016 | An analysis of Merida’s iron railway bridge: an example of a Linville truss bridge in Spain. Construction History, Vol 31 No. 1, pp 161-172 | The paper examines the process of design, construction and on-site assessment of the Merida iron railway bridge (1881-3) in Spain. | Spain, Merida, railway, bridge, iron, John Cockerill, Eduardo de Perralta, 19th, Linville, Truss |
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Gil-Crespo, I.J. | 2016 | Islamic fortifications in Spain built of rammed-earth. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 1-22. | The paper presents an archaeological analysis of surviving Islamic fortifications in Spain built of rammed-earth, identifying common characteristics of dimension, fabric, formwork and assembly that differ from medieval Christian rammed-earth construction and employ two dimensional modules: one, during the Emirate and Caliphate, based on the rassasi cubit (0.55m); the other during the Almoravid, Almohad and Nasrid kingdoms, based on the ma’muni cubit (0.45m) | Spain, Islamic, rammed-earth, pise, fortifications, scaffolding, formwork, form-work, medieval |
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Jackson, M.J. and Young, B. | 2016 | The building of Durham Cathedral (1093-1133): the preliminary considerations. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 23-38. | Based partly on a conference of construction professionals held in 1993, and enforced by a lack of contemporaneous written sources and published archaeological analysis, the paper presents a hypothetical explanation of how Durham Cathedral was built. It examines the political, geographical, technical, material, logistical and economic constraints effecting the location and form of the building. | Britain, England, Durham, medieval, cathedral, masonry, quarries, haulage, preliminaries |
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Addis, B. | 2016 | Francesco di Giorgio’s contribution to the development of building engineering. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 39-58 | The paper examines the role of Francesco di Giorgio de Martini (1439-1501) in the development of design manuals for military engineering and specifically geometric design rules for the abutments of masonry arches and vaults, and the use of perspective drawing as an essential design tool. | Italy, 15th, Franceso di Giorgio di Martini, Da Vinci, Kyeser, Fontana, Taccola, Lechler, Gil, Brunelleschi, military, civil, masonry, Milan, calculation |
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Sosnowska, P., and Goemaere, E. | 2016 | The reconstruction of Brussels after the bombardment of 1695: an analysis of the recovery through a historical and archaeological study of the use of bricks. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 59-80 | Through a combined historical and archaeological approach, the paper explains the mechanisms that allowed the city of Brussels to recover, quite rapidly, after the destruction caused by the bombardment of 1695. Two research approaches are used: the first - historical - analyses the measures established by the city and central government to promote the material reconstruction of the city; the second -archaeological - focuses on the on-site supply of materials, with a focus on bricks as the reference material. The authors demonstrate that local resources were heavily exploited but were not sufficient, necessitating the import of a significant amount of ’foreign’ material, the re-use of materials on a large scale and the adaptation of surviving structures. The authors draw conclusions about the organisational complexity of such a vast building site, especially the commercial network, the production capacity and the costs of building materials. | Belgium, Brussel, Brussels, Bruxelles, materials, brick, 17th, 18th, archaeometry, archaeology, Bauforschung, re-use, reuse, spolia, reconstruction, urban, war, conflict |
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Calvo-Lopez, J., Tain-Guzman, M., Camiruaga-Oses, | 2016 | The eighteenth century full-scale tracings in the church of St Clare in Santiago de Compostela: execution drawings or design sketches?. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 81-106. | The paper describes the full-scale masonry tracing found in the floor of the church in 2014, dated to c. 1719-24, and currently the largest known for the Early Modern Period. Using metric and photogrammetric analyses, the authors compare the drawings with the architectural details to which they relate, and suggest that the different versions for some details are design sketches and construction specifications. | Spain, Santiago de Compostela, 18th century, tracings, floor, masonry, design, execution, Simon Rodriguez, church, management |
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Fatta, G., Campisi, T., and Vinci, C. | 2016 | Timbrel vaults in Sicily: analysis of a little known construction technique. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 107-133. | The paper examines the introduction of the thin-shell tile ’timbrel’ or ’realine’ vault to Sicily from Spain in the late 15th century, together with the construction techniques and economics developed locally, partly as a response to earthquakes. | Italy, Sicily, Spain, timbrel, tile, realine, thin-shell, earthquake, 15th, 18th. |
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Holzer, S. | 2016 | Canal locks and concrete, 1800-1860. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 133-156. | The paper traces developments in the use of concrete in canal lock construction from the first trials by the French Amiable Hageau (1756-1836) for Napoleon’s Grand Canal du Nord between Antwerp and Dusseldorf, to Johann von Mihalik’s (1818-92) first monolithic concrete lock near Bezdan in present -day Serbia. | Concrete, 19th century, canals, locks, hydraulic, Hageau, Mihalik, water. |
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Vandenabeele, L., Bertels, I., Wouters, I | 2016 | Baltic shipping marks on nineteenth century timber: their deciphering and a proposal for a innovative characterisation of old timber. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 157-176 | Using contemporaneous treatises, journals, catalogues and construction manuals, the paper demonstrates that merchants marks on Baltic timber provide information about the dating, sources, qualities of and trade in timber used in historic buildings across Europe. Though concentrating on 19th century sources, the study is relevant to medieval and early Modern studies. | Baltic, timber trade, shipping, export, timber grading, classification, 19th century, Northern Europe |
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Carocci, C.F., and Tocci, C. | 2016 | The timber truss dome of the Bellini Theatre, Catania: its history and construction. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 177-200. | The paper demonstrates that many of the structural and decorative characteristics of the complex timber dome of the Teatro Massimo Bellini (1812-1890) in Catania (It) are the direct result of a prolonged and troubled design and construction history, and that neither the performance of the structure nor its conservation can be properly understood without a thorough understanding of that history. | Italy, Catania, theatre, dome, timber, truss, Sada, Politeama, Massimo, camorcanna, 19th century |
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Ciccarelli, L. | 2016 | Philadelphia connections in Renzo Piano’s formative years: Robert le Ricolais and Louis I. Kahn. Construction History, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp 177-200 | The paper explores the influence of the French Robert le Ricolais and the American Louis I. Kahn, and the collaboration of the latter, with the Italian Renzo Piano’s work on buildings such as the Olivetti-Harrisburg factory (1967-70), the Menil Collection (1982-87) and the Kimbrel Art Museum (2007-13) in America. | USA, America, Piano, Kahn, Ricolais, Makowski, Olivetti, Harrisburg |
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van Tussenbroek, G. | 2017 | Building contracts in the Low Countries. Provisions concerning form and quality control in the construction industry (1350-1650). Construction History, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp 1020 | Based on analysis of c. 250 building specifications and contracts dating to before 1650, the paper shows how the development of quality descriptions for brick, stone, wood and other materials changed over time. For carpentry and masonry, quality specifications date back to the end of the 15th century. Quality requirements for brick masonry date date from the 16th century, while for other materials they don’t occur until the end of the 16th century. Contracts also included provisions regarding force majeure and unforeseen circumstances. These provisions related to ambiguity in the wording of the contract, as well as to procedures in case of sickness or death of the contractor. Nonetheless, this did not prevent disputes, some of which lasted for decades. | Netherlands, Belgium, Middle Ages, medieval, early Modern, specification, contract, organisation, planning, dispute, quality control |
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Threader, S. | 2017 | Thomas Telford - Engineer of Rochester Bridge 1821-1827. Construction History, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp 21-40 | Drawing on primary archives held by the Rochester Bridge Trust, the paper provides insight into Telford’s personailty and the way he conducted his consultancy business, as well as the detail of his work for the Trust - such as advising on the provision of privies - none of which is published elsewhere. | Britain, Kent, Medway, Rochester, Bridge, Telford, Rennie, 19th, engineering |
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Peters, T.J and Brown, S.F. | 2017 | George Robert Jebb (1838-1927): Railway and Canal Engineer. Construction History, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp 41-62 | The paper discusses the professional, domestic and academic life of the canal and railway engineer G.R. Jebb. Initially trained and working as a railway engineer, Jebb later distinguished himself as Chief Engineer and Director of the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Company and the Birmingham Canal Navigation, both of which had close links with the North Western Railway Company. He was involved with extensive innovative work at the Ellesmere Port docks and was a Commissioner of the Upper Mersey Navigation Commission. He contributed to the Royal Society of Arts, the British Science Association and the Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways; served on the Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers as its Vice President 1912-1915; and was also a member of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers and its President in 1912. He also acted as a consulting engineer and arbitrator, and was interested in mountaineering and flora. | Britain, Jebb, biography, waterways, canals, railways, engineering, maintenance |
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Scibilia, F. | 2017 | Earthquake-resistant construction techniques in Italy between 1880 and 1910: alternatives to reinforced concrete. Construction History, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp 63-82 | Based on historical-critical analysis of specialised literature, design competitions and patents, the paper examines how Italians, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, developed earthquake-resistant structures through re-assessment of traditional construction methods using brick, timber or metal, sometimes in combination with recently introduced materials such as expanded metal mesh. | Italy, earthquake, patents, Messina, Regio Calabria, 19th, 20th |
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Cardellicchio, L. | 2017 | Building organic architecture in Italy: the history of the construction of the Solimene Ceramics Factory by Paolo Soleri in Vietri sul Mare (1952-56). Construction History, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp 83-104 | The paper describes how Paolo Soleri (1919-2013) - a student of Frank Lloyd Wright - designed and managed the construction of an architecturally innovative industrial building using traditional craft skills and vernacular materials in post-war Italy. | Italy, USA, Soleri, organic, terracotta, ceramics, factory, craft, 20th century |
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Zawisny, N., Fivet, C., and Ochsendorf, J. | 2017 | Guastovino’s design of the thin brick dome of the Cathedral of St John the Divine (1909). Construction History, Vol 32 No. 2, pp 39-66 | The paper refutes received wisdom that Rafael Guastovino Jr’s calculation notes for the thinnest brick shell in the world are lost, by showing that his working drawings contain every calculation needed. A comparison of the drawings with contemporaneous literature demonstrates that his faster and more direct method of sizing a spherical masonry dome was highly innovative and original, and that his calculation method is still relevant for understanding old domes and designing new ones. | thin-shell masonry dome, graphic statics, working-drawing, Guastovino Jr, Harlem, St John the Divine, 1909, 20th century, USA, America, New York.n |
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Ginovart, J.L., et al | 2017 | The design and layout of the arches in Pinell de Brai cooperative and the legacy of Catalan construction on Cesar Martinelli’s wine cellars (1918-27). Construction History, Vol 32 No. 2, pp 67-82 | The article demonstrates how Cesar Martinelli i Brunet designed the catenary and parabolic arches of the Cooperative Pinelli de Brai wine cellar, and the influence of Antonio Gaudi i Corbet on the design method. | Catenary, parabola, Martinelli, Gaudi, Hooke, Spain, 20th century, arch, masonry, wine |
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Kalisch, M.A.R. | 2017 | Construction technology development in Merida, Yucatan, MEXICO: From reinforced concrete structures to reinforced concrete shells (1903-64). Construction History, Vol 32 No. 2, pp 109-130 | The paper presents a concise history of developments in reinforced concrete construction technology in Mexico between 1903 and 1964, from mixed structures to folded plate roofs and double curved shells, illustrated by extant buildings. | Mexico, Merida, concrete, reinforced,folded-plate, hyperbolic parabaloid shells, 20th century |
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Blair,Alice; Glover,Sarah; Patel,Dinesh, and Pye,A | 2020 | Claridge’s Hotel: digging deep, creating a five-level basement below a fully operational five-star hotel in London’s Mayfair. The Arup Journal, Vol.55, no.1 (1/2020), pp.16-23 | The owners of Claridge’s, a five-star hotel in the heart of London’s exclusive Mayfair district, wanted to enhance the services offered to their guests and increase capacity. To do so, they needed to expand the hotel. Planning reasons meant they could not increase the height of the building, so an alternative solution was needed. Could a modern extension be created by excavating below the building – without disrupting the hotel services or disturbing the guests? The five-storey basement was constructed under the 1920s Art Deco section of the hotel: All the machinery and excavated materials passed through a single window to the rear of the hotel. | |
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Deegan,J; Deeny,S; Edwards,P; Jaworski,A; et al. | 2020 | Macallan Distillery, Easter Elchies: a state-of-the-art distillery and visitor centre created to meet growing demand for Macallan Scotch whisky. The Arup Journal, Vol.55, no.1, pp.44-51 (1/2020) | The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience is located in the Easter Elchies estate in the Scottish Highlands, where it is set into the landscape so that it blends in with its surroundings. The building’s double-curved grass-covered roof is one of the largest timber grid-shell roofs in the world. Working in collaboration with architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) on the £140m project from concept through to completion, Arup carried out the structural, building services, fire, acoustic and civil engineering design, along with providing environmental and transportation advice for the new facility. The client wanted a contemporary distillery that would showcase the production of Macallan whisky and also be of the highest quality and craftsmanship, reflecting the company’s values. In addition, they wanted it to respect the surrounding countryside. It resulted in a 15,000m2 building that met this vision while also mitigating the fire risks inherent in the distilling process. | |
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Anandityo, Dion, and Tan, Jason | 2020 | Guoco Tower, Singapore: the construction of these geometrically complex towers was achieved at great speed and with minimal disruption to the surrounding area. The Arup Journal, Vol.55, no. I (1/2020), pp.38-43. | Guoco Tower is a 156,000m² mixed-use development consisting of premium office, residential, hotel and retail space. Named after its occupant and owner, property developer GuocoLand, it sits at the heart of a neighbourhood that is swiftly being transformed into Singapore’s next business and lifestyle hub. Working in conjunction with US architectural practice Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Arup was responsible for civil, structural and façade engineering, and sustainable building design. The development comprises two towers; the taller, at 290m, is the tallest building in Singapore. It is linked to the smaller 105m tower by a podium that offers 10m column-free, ceiling-to-floor views across the area. Guoco Tower consists of two towers that offer residential, hotel, office and retail space. | |
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Balmer,Douglas; Balmer,Jo, and Carter,Matt | 2020 | Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project, Montreal, Canada: an essential piece of infrastructure delivered two and a half years earlier than originally planned and within the project budget. The Arup Journal, Vol.55, no.1 (1/2020), pp.30-37. | In June 2019, Montreal celebrated the opening of the 3.4km Samuel De Champlain Bridge, one of the largest and busiest bridges in North America. Crossing the Saint Lawrence River and its international shipping channel, it is a vital thoroughfare for both goods and people, accommodating in excess of 50 million crossings and facilitating CAD$20 billion (around £12 billion) of trade every year. Built through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Government of Canada (via Infrastructure Canada) and the Signature on the Saint Lawrence Group, it is a landmark structure forming a gateway to the city of Montreal. The construction of the bridge was part of the CAD$4.24 billion New Bridge for the Saint Lawrence Corridor Project, a major urban highway improvement project in the Montreal metropolitan area and one of the largest infrastructure schemes in North America. The project also encompassed the construction of the 500m Île des Sœurs Bridge and the renewal of 8.5km of highway; there is a dedicated public transport corridor incorporated, as well as an enhanced network of pedestrian and cycling paths throughout the corridor. | |
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Feteanu,R; Li,M; Su,F; Wong,K and Yu,V | 2020 | Beijing Daxing International Airport, China; the largest airport in the world. The Arup Journal, Vol.55, no.1 (1/2020), pp.24-29. | The spectacular starfish-shaped Beijing Daxing International Airport is one of the biggest single-structure terminals in the world, measuring 1.2km from end to end. Covering more than 700,000m2, it is the largest airport (in terms of size) globally. It opened in September 2019 and currently handles 300 take-offs and landings an hour and 42 million passengers per year. This will eventually grow to 100 million passengers annually. Working closely with Beijing Institute of Architectural Design, Arup designed a number of innovative solutions for this project. The firm provided fire engineering, passenger and logistics simulations and structural peer review services. This work has resulted in significant material and cost savings, and carbon emission reduction. Successfully integrating the ground transportation centre with the terminal building, for instance, has helped to save at least 1.6 million hours for nearly 30 million passengers every year. | |
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Evans,T; Falbe-Hansen,K; Martini,N; Juul-Sorensen, | 2020 | Cityringen metro line, Copenhagen, Denmark. The Arup Journal, Vol.55, no.1 (1/ 2020), pp. 4-15. | The Cityringen line, which opened in September 2019, aims to encourage more citizens to use this environmentally friendly form of transport. Cityringen adds a third line to Copenhagen’s extremely popular existing metro system. The Cityringen metro line, consisting of 16km of twin-bore tunnels and 17 new underground stations, provides a 24-minute loop around Copenhagen’s city centre, interchanging with the existing metro, mainline services and buses. Cityringen runs 24/7 and seeks to encourage residents out of their cars and onto an environmentally friendly form of transit. It is a key part of the city’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2025. Cityringen opened in September 2019; 85% of Copenhagen residents are now less than a 10-minute walk from a train station. In 2007, Metroselskabet, Copenhagen’s metro company, appointed Arup with joint venture (JV) partners COWI and SYSTRA to act as multidisciplinary technical adviser for this design and build contract. It was the city’s largest construction project in more than 400 years. Working on the design and procurement strategy for the contract, the JV provided engineering, architectural and advisory services, including civil and structural design, risk assessment, cost estimates, and project and programme management. Arup was also responsible for the reference design safety case on the project. | |
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Paxton, Roland | 2020 | Spanning the centuries: an anthology of essays reflecting the influence and heritage of the Union Bridge, Berwick-upon-Tweed, to celebrate its Bicentenary | Bridges / Heritage Structures | |
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Peters, T.F. | 2018 | The El-Kantara Bridge in Algeria: An early development of cantilevering construction and what we can learn from its documentation in text and image (1862-3). Construction History Vol. 33 No. 1 pp 69-82. | The article examines the design and construction of the earliest fully-documented cantilevered bridge - at Constantine in Algeria - and the manner in which that process was recorded by its engineer, Georges Martin. The photographic record he produced is the second known, and the first by a construction professional. | Algeria, bridge, cantilever, iron, Martin, Baldus, 19th, photography |
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Shu, C. | 2018 | Towards Western construction in China: Shanghai brickwork and printed technical resources (1843-1936). Construction History Vol. 33 No. 1, pp 83-110. | The paper illustrates the importance of literature - as opposed to oral instruction - in the introduction of western construction, and particularly brickwork, to China in the late 19th and early 290th centuries, and the adaptation of it by Chinese builders. | China, Brickwork, literature,knowledge transfer, Mitchell, Zhang Ying-Xu, Ge Shang-Xuan, Du Yan-Geng, 19th, 20th |
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Clarke, L. | 1992 | Building Capitalism: Historical Change and the Labour process in the Production of the Built Environment. | A detailed and forensic analysis, using primary archive sources, of how the agricultural margins of the City of London were urbanised during the 18th and 19th centuries. Examining the roles of aristocratic and institutional landowners, agents and developers, artisans and - later - trade/building contractors, it demonstrates that the slum conditions created in the former Somerstown area of St Pancras (largely demolished in the 1930s) were the consequence of specific, but un-planned, commercial relationships and strategies; and that the trade and commercial practices and legal structures operative in the mid 18th century were unsuited to the task of large-scale capitalist property development. Possibly the first published English language work to examine the mechanics and economics of pre-industrialised brick production in the urban context, as well a the crucial role of infrastructure, particularly paviours, and the pyramidal leasehold system that was employed throughout London and most British towns and cities during the late 17th to the late 19th century. | Britain, London, 18th, 19th, urbanisation, development, economics, leasehold, contract, trade, artisan, materials, landowner, agent, slum, infrastructure, drains, paving |
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Figueres, M.P., Mananos, A.P., & Garcia, V.B. | 2018 | The development of pre-fabricated envelopes by GO.DB Architects Studio. Construction History Vol. 33 No. 2 pp 109-128 | The article analyses the introduction of pre-fabricated modular components in large-scale housing projects in Spain in the 1960s, examining where the ideas came from, the materials used and the construction methods employed. | Spain, 20th, pre-fabricated, prefabricated, high-rise, concrete, plastics |
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Zheng, H., Pan, Y., & Campbell, J.W.P. | 2019 | Building on Shanghai soil: A historical survey of foundation engineering in Shanghai, 1843-1941. Construction History Vol. 34 No. 1 pp 1-20 | The paper explains how high-rise Western buildings were constructed on the alluvial mud substrate of Shanghai village during the late 19th and early 20th century, using Western foundation technology adapted to local conditions by Western and Chinese builders. | China, Shanghai, 19th, 20th, foundations, piling, piles, concrete, timber, raft, economics |
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Reeder, L. | 2019 | Case studies in resource efficiency: design and construction in the Grand Canyon, 1921-28. Construction History Vol. 34 No. 1 pp 21-42 | The paper uses the engineers’ and owners’ archives to examine the resource-efficient strategies enforced upon the designers and builders of two suspension bridges and a tourist resort in the base of the Grand Canyon between 1921 and 1928, without powered transport. | USA, 20th, Grand canyon, suspension bridge, tourism, draught animals, resource efficiency, National Park Service, Mary E.J. Colter, Kaibab Suspension Bridge, Phantom Ranch, Fred Harvey |
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O’Brien, M.J. | 2019 | Federalized prefabrication: Southeast Missouri Farms Self-Help Housing in the 1930s. Construction History Vol. 34 No. 1 pp 43-58 | The paper explains how the US government, under the second New Deal, developed industrially-produced prefabricated buildings for self-assembly by economically distressed farmers in the bootheel counties of southeast Missouri during the 1930s, achieving completion rates c. 30 times faster than for standard construction. The paper also examines the political context of the programme and its discontinuation. | USA, Missouri, 20th, FSA, Resettlement Administration, unskilled labour, self-help, owner-built, pre-fabrication, prefabrication, farms, politics, economics, depression |
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Li, H. | 2019 | Environmental adaptability of Building Mode: A typological study on the technological modification of Hoffman Kiln in China since the 1950s. Construction History Vol. 34 No. 1 pp 59-84 | The paper demonstrates how the Hoffman Kiln, introduced to China at the end of the 19th century, was adapted by Chinese designers and brick-makers to suit local environmental, material and economic conditions. | China, 20th, brick, kiln, Hoffman, environment, modification, prototype |
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Diaz, J.G. & Garcia, D.E. | 2019 | Design and construction of structures for stadiums in Colombia: the contributions of the engineer Guillermo Gonzalez Zuleta (1947-89). Construction History Vol. 34 No. 1 pp 85-102. | The paper examines the introduction and adaptation of thin-shell canopies with minimum structural supports for use as sports stadia in Colombia during the second half of the 20th century, with particular reference to their experimental and innovative designs. | Colombia, 20th , thin-shell, concrete, sports stadium, civic. |
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Stracchi, P. | 2019 | Pier Luigi Nervi and Harry Seidler’s Australia Square Tower: Italian structure, Australian design. Construction History Vol. 34 No. 1 pp 103-128. | The paper demonstrates the fundamental role played by Nervi in the design of the ground-breaking cylindrical Australia Square Tower in Sydney (1962-7) with an exposed load-bearing concrete structure. | Australia, Sydney, 20th, high-rise, skyscraper, Nervi, Seidler, precast concrete, reinforced concrete, ferro-cement, exoskeletal. |
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Liu, Y. | 2019 | Building woven arch bridges in southeast China: carpenters’ secrets and skills. Construction History Vol 34 No. 2, pp 17-35 | The woven arch bridge in Southeast China is a particular type of traditional wooden structure. Composed of interlocking beams, the arch-shaped structure can reach a span of over 40 m. This bridge building tradition developed in a less-developed mountain area, isolated from and unknown to the outside world for centuries. Bridge carpenters whose expertise is the product of more than two centuries of family traditions are actively using this technique today. They work with primitive and simple design and construction tools. Bridges over high cliffs and deep waters are built using the simplest scaffolding system, and the sophisticated composition is designed and calculated using a sketch with only a few lines. The techniques for designing and constructing the bridges are family secrets and are handed down through generations. Of all the knowledge and skills, the wooden joint is a key for understanding the world of bridge carpenters’ techniques. The use of a systematic set of wooden joints enabled carpenters to assemble the structure on a dangerous building site with limited facilities. The selection of joint forms and the design method reflect the fundamental technical features of the bridge construction, and differences among carpenter-groups are indicators of family pedigree. | China, woven arch bridge, reciprocal frame structure, timber, scaffolding, joint, carpentry |
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Loeffler, B. | 2019 | Thwarted innovation: The Western discourse on earthquake resistance in Japanese architecture- an historical view. Construction History Vol. 34 No. 2 pp 35-52. | The construction principles of traditional Japanese architecture are of considerable interest today. They appear to have a long history of academic scholarship in the West and one might assume that knowledge about them has reached an advanced state. This assumption is incorrect, however. Today’s knowledge about Japanese construction principles is still comparatively limited outside Japan, since the topic was largely ignored by European civil engineers and architects during the late nineteenth century, when modern academic research on Japanese architecture began. The paper uses the discourse regarding the earthquake resistance of Japanese buildings as a means to gain insight into the formation of modern Western building sciences and their intentional dissociation from craft tradition. It traces actors and their patterns of argument through popular and specialized journals and shows the discourse to be a complex negotiation of cultural expectations, claims about the hegemony of Western civilisation, specialists’ rivalries, and contemporary topics in European politics. The paper argues that this linking of building practices and building knowledge with paradigms of culture and civilisation had a lasting effect on the academic perception of Japanese architecture in general and wooden building construction in particular, and indeed impeded further research. | Japan, earthquake, pagoda, Josiah Conder, Christopher Dresser, 19th, scholarship, history of science. |
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Martinez, M.M. | 2019 | Origin of equilibrium methods applied to the structural calculation of long cylindrical shells. Construction History Vol. 34 No.2 pp 53-74 | Assessing the state of stress of a cylindrical shell, according to elastic theory, originally consisted of formulating hypotheses about the conditions surrounding it, which were impossible to determine beforehand, and the type of structural material used, which had to be ideal, uniform and isotropic. However, even when it was possible to solve complex second-degree equations, there was no guarantee that this state of stress represented the ‘real’ state of the shell. Plastic theory emerged as a consequence of the shortcomings of elastic theory. It was also the twentieth century’s most important contribution to structural theory. This study looks at a specific episode, which has barely been studied and is part of the history of plastic or breaking load calculations, and concerns the origin and subsequent application of the plastic method as an ideal tool for the structural calculation of long cylindrical shells. It meant that they could be calculated easily and accurately, as will be discussed below. | Limit analysis, K.W. Johansen, equilibrium, cylindrical shell, calculation, beam method, shell structures |
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Marfella, G. | 2019 | The zipper gasket: a flexible link between cars and curtain walls. Construction History Vol. 34 No. 2 pp 75-98. | The zipper gasket was an innovative glazing method introduced after World War II to overcome problems of safety and installation in curtain walls. Invented at first for automotive windshields in the United States, the technique used neoprene compression gaskets to secure glass in window frames without wet sealants. The first application of zipper gaskets in a building dates from the mid-1950s in the curtain walls of the General Motors Technical Center, near Detroit. The glazing method was subsequently used in several prominent American high-rise commercial towers, most notably in the headquarters of glass manufacturer Libbey-Owens-Ford, in Toledo, Ohio. Zipper gaskets found discrete international success also outside the United States in Australian and British buildings of the 1960s. The technique was a transient but significant step forward on the development of curtain walls. The zipper gasket represents a case of successful technology transfer between the automotive and construction industries. The origin, technical characteristics, and construction implications of the technique highlight the successful alliance between architects, builders and glass manufacturers and their shared stake for innovation in sealing and glazing methods of modern curtain walls. | USA, Australia, 20th, curtain walls, glazing, neoprene, gaskets, tall buildings, Libby-Owens-Ford (LOF), Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG). |
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Pedreschi, R. | 2019 | The church of San Pedro Durazno (between the rational and the mystical). Construction History Vol. 34 No. 2 pp 99-130. | The church of San Pedro located in, Durazno, Uruguay, suffered severe damage following a major fire in 1967. The engineer Eladio Dieste, became responsible for its subsequent re-construction. The project presented significant challenges, working with the existing fabric to a very limited budget. Despite this Dieste proposed and completed a remarkable transformation, to produce a contemporary, modern design. The work is almost entirely of reinforced brick, adapting and developing new techniques of masonry construction he had pioneered in numerous projects. The paper presents a short history of the church, background to the fire and describes the reconstruction; the design concept, structure and construction. To assist in understanding Dieste’s approach reference is made to some of his key writings, new contributions from his collaborators on the project and previously unpublished images from various archives. Key elements of the structure and construction are described in detail, such as the novel pre-stressing systems used in both the roof and walls of the nave and the remarkable rosette window of minimal brick structure. The discussion is supported by further structural analysis and prototype construction studies at the University of Edinburgh. The church occupies a particular place in the work of Dieste, as an outstanding exemplar of his search for ‘cosmic economy’, in which architecture, structure and construction are integrated seamlessly. | Uruguay, 20th , church, Dieste, brick, pre-stressed, fire |
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Villate-Matiz, C., et al | 2019 | Construction innovations in a suspension structure: The Domenico Parma bridge. Construction History Vol. 34 No. 2 pp 131-148. | This article describes and analyses the construction process of a suspension bridge built on the Chinchiná River (Colombia) in 1986, which is characterised by having only one tower, shaped like a tuning fork, located at the midpoint of span. The designer, an Italian engineer resident in Colombia, Domenico Parma, was also at the forefront of the construction process, in which he introduced innovations that were learned and replicated by other Colombian engineers. Special attention is paid to the construction equipment that Parma himself designed and assembled during the construction of the bridge. | Colombia, 20th, Domenico Parma, bridge, suspension, equipment. |
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Summerson, J. | 1985 | What is the history of construction? Construction History Vol. 1 pp 1-2. | ||
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Tough, A. | 1985 | Sources for construction history in the Modern Records Centre at the University of Warwick. Construction History Vol 1 pp 3-5. | A summary of the business records of the main trade and employers’ organisations of the British construction industry from the 19th to the late 20th century, held by the Modern Records centre at the University of Warwick. Also holds business records of some building firs, such a Parnell of Rugby, who worked for the LNWR, Butterfield and Lutyens. | CBI, FBI, BEC, NFBTE, EETPU, ISTC, TGWU, UCATT, PTU, SPU, OSM |
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Trowell, F. | 1985 | Speculative housing development in Leeds and the involvement of local architects in the design process 1866-1914. Construction History Vol. 1 pp 6-12 | Based on thesis examining the process in which agricultural land was urbanised in the 2nd half of the 19th century in Britain, using the Leeds suburb of Headingley as a case study, and the extent to which the emerging profession of architect and early local government were involved. A good study of the industry at that time. cf, Clarke, 1993. | Britain, 19th, housing, speculative, pattern books, approval, bye-laws, designer, architect, government, control. |
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Powell, C.G. | 1985 | Case studies and lost tribes: the Bristol firm of James Diment and Stephens, Bastow& Co. Construction History Vol. 1 pp 13-24. | Detailed analysis of the business life of a small building firm in Bristol (Britain) during the 19th century, examining reasons for success and failure. Catalogues the scale and nature of contracts undertaken, their economic value and geographic spread. Lists a large number of other firms operating in the area at that time. | Britain, 19thC, Bristol, firm, failure, success, workload |
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Donnelly, T. | 1985 | Structure, technology and demand in the Aberdeen granite quarrying industry 1880-1914. Construction History Vol 1 pp25-25. | ||
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Cooney, E.W. | 1985 | Innovation in the postwar British building industry: a historical view. Construction History Vol. 1 pp36-51. | Examines the lack of innovation evident in the British construction industry by the mid 20th C and the steps taken to redress that. | Britain, 20th, innovation, costs, investment, pre-fabrication, prefabrication, housing, high-rise |
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Finnimore, B. | 1985 | The A.I.R.O.H. house: industrial diversification and state building policy. Construction History Vol. 1 pp52-. | ||
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Coates, C. | 1986 | Sources for construction history in the library of the Trades Union Congress. Construction History Vol. 2 pp 1-2 | Britain, 19th, 20th, TUC, Burns, housing, Ritzema, Tuckwell, labour, union | |
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Calabi, D. | 1986 | Construction history and urban sites:recent work by the Venetian school on the construction history of Venice during the Long Renaissance. Construction History Vol. 2 pp3-12. | A study of the processes, people and organisations that created Venice | Italy, 16th, Tafuri, Foscari, Spavento, Bon, Lombardo, Samnsovino, Giacondo, Guberni, Vignola, arsenal, naval, ship-building, Fausto |
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Yeomans, D.T. | 1986 | Early carpenters’ manuals 1592-1820. Construction History Vol. 2 pp 13-33. | The definitive study of the influence of literature on the development of structural carpentry in Britain during the 16th to 19th centuries. | Primat, Neve, Gerbier, Digges, measurement, calculation, Leybourne, Stirrup, Hoppus, Moxon, Halfpenny, geometry, Price, langley, pain, trusses |
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Houldsworth, H.K. | 1986 | Changing practices in labour relations: the Society of Master Carpenters, London 1783-99. Construction Hstory Vol. 2 pp 34-47. | A study of the painful transition from artisan to wage-based labour in London during the 18th century. | strike, wages, artisan, combination, capitalism, London, Britain |
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Roger, R. | 1986 | Structural instability in the Scottish building industry 1820-80. Construction History Vol. 2 pp 48-60. | ||
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Powell, C.G. | 1986 | He that runs against time: life expectancy of building firms in nineteenth century Bristol. Construction History Vol. 2 pp 61-67. | Detailed analysis of the construction industry of Bristol during the 19th century, examining the number and size of firms, their life expectancy and the reasons for their success and failure. Applicable to all larger British towns. | Britain, 19thC, Bristol, provincial |
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Russell, I. | 1986 | Researching a company history: the McAlpine project. Construction History Vol. 2 pp 68-75. | History of the McAlpine construction dynasty, examining its business life and the challenges facing historians of such organisations. Traces company from origins in Lanarkshire, Scotland in c. 1868, through bankruptcies and other crises, examining the important role of public works, railways, government and war in the expansion of the company. | Britain, Scotland, 19th, contractor, civil. |
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Davison, K. | 1986 | Sources for the construction history of the Second World War. Construction History Vol. 2 pp 76-80. | ||
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Dunkeld, M. | 1987 | Approaches to Construction History. Construction History Vol. 3 pp 3-16. | ||
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Morley, J. | 1987 | Building Themes in Construction History: recent work by the Delaware Valley Group. Construction History Vol. 3 pp 17-30. | Historiographical review article | USA |
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Louw, H. | 1987 | The Rise of the Metal Window during the Early Industrial Period in Britain, c.1750-1830. Construction History Vol. 3 pp 31-54. | ||
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Charlton, T.M. | 1987 | Innovation in Structural Theory in the Nineteenth Century. Construction History Vol. 3 pp 55-60. | ||
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Cusack, P. | 1987 | Agents of Change: Hennebique, Mouchel and ferro-concrete in Britain, 1897-1908. Construction History Vol. 3 pp 61-74. | Examines the introduction of reinforced concrete to Britain in the late 19th C, identifying the principle people, systems, agents, contractors and buildings. | |
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Abram, J. | 1987 | An Unusual Organisation of Production: the building firm of the Perret Brothers, 1897-1954. Construction History Vol. 3 pp 75-94. | A history of the Perret Brothers company, from Burgundian builders to architects and main contractors specialising in civic buildings. identifies the principal people, systems and buildings. A good evocation of the construction industry in late 19th and early 20th C France. | |
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Hellgardt, M. | 1987 | Martin Wagner: the work of building in the era of its technical reproduction. Construction History Vol. 3 pp 95-114. | An examination of the professional life and influence of the German architect (1885-1957) on the design, economics and construction management of buildings, with particular attention to pre-fabricated and modular buildings, including large residential Grosssiedlung buildings, and the importance of site layout to efficient construction. | Germany, 19th C , modular, management |
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Cooney, E.W. | 1987 | Innovation and Contracts in the Postwar British Building Industry. Construction History Vol. 3 pp 115-124. | The second of two articles on this theme, examining the influence of different types of pro-forma contracts on the construction design and management. | Britain, JCT,. RIBA, contracts |
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Yeomans, D.T. | 1988 | Managing Eighteenth-Century Building. Construction History Vol. 4, pp 3-20. | Examines the changes imposed on the British construction industry by the demands of the Great Fire rebuilding of London, the expansion of London and govt-funded projects such as the Queen Anne churches; and the emergence of the architect as a profession in Britain. | Britain, Enlnand, London, 17th, 18th cnetury, Wren, Vanbrugh, Hawksmoor, contracts, trades, supervision, surveyor, architect, quality control |
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Picon, A. | 1988 | Navier and the Introduction of Suspension Bridges in France. Construction History Vol. 4 pp 21-34 | Examines the changes imposed on the French construction industry by the introduction, from America via Britain, of the suspension bridge in 1820-30. Cites the principle institutions, people and structures and the instructive failures. | France, USA, Britain, 19th, Basse-Chaine, Roche-Bernard, Seguin, Tournon, Invalides, failure, Cubzac, Vicat, Dutens, Gauthey, Pope. |
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Stratton, M. | 1988 | Science and Art Closely Combined: the organisation of training in the terracotta industry, 1850-1939. Construction History Vol. 4 pp 35-52. | Examines the changes imposed on the British construction industry by the adoption of moulded terracotta as a decorative cladding material in the mid 19th century. Cites people, institutions and the principal buildings. | Britain, 19th, faience, terracotta, Hathernware, Coade, ceramics, Blashfield, Blanchard, caryatids, training, education, mass-production, artistry |
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Bonshek, J. | 1988 | The Skyscraper: a catalyst of change in the Chicago construction industries, 1882-1892. Construction History Vol. 4 pp 53-74. | Examines the challenges imposed on the American construction industry by the demand for tall building, initially in Chicago; the emergence of specialist contractors and materials suppliers and the de-skilling that accompanied the systematised construction under challenging timetables and budgets. Presents a short history of the skyscraper, then cites the principle people, organisations and buildings. | USA, America, 19th, 20th, unions, elevator, Otis, fire-proof, manhattan, chicago, auditorium, division |
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Erhlich, M., & Goldberg, D.J. | 1988 | Work not Relief: Massachusetts carpenters, craft unionism and the Great Depression. Construction History Vol. 4 pp 75- | Examines the effects of the Great Depression on craft and union organisations in the world’s largest and most rapacious capitalist economy and the role of government in normalising the working lives of craftsmen such as carpenters. | USA, 20th, unions, trades, New Deal, Roosevelt, government schemes, work-creation |
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Louw, H. | 1989 | Demarcation Disputes between the English Carpenters and Joiners from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century. Construction History Vol. 5 pp 3-20. | Analysis of the causes and consequences of the separation of carpenters from joiners in late 16th C Britain, how the division was first manifest in civic processions, the influence of Renaissance artistic imperatives and the difference between London and the rest of the country. | Britain, England, London, 16th, carpenter, joiner, craft, demarcation, organisation, dispute. |
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Gasparini, D.A., & Provost, C. | 1989 | Early Nineteenth Century Developments in Truss Design in Britain, France and the United States. Construction History Vol. 5 pp 21-34. | The influence of the railways on truss development in Britain, America and France. A short summary of the history of the truss as a mechanism, followed by the specific imperatives of railway and engineering requirements. The principle people, publications, structures such as the Gaunless Viaduct and truss forms such as: the Lattice truss, tube girders, Warren’s girder, bowstring bridge. | Galileo, Stevin, Newton, Varignon, Bernoulli, Lagrange, Navier, Polonceau, Stephenson, Long, Whipple |
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Brooke, D. | 1989 | The Railway Navvy-a reassessment. Construction History Vol. 4 pp 35-46. | Analysis of the working lives and importance of the manual excavator to the development of railways in Britain and Europe before the advent of mechanical excavators; their emergence from agricultural and canal contracting and their eventual decline in the early 20th C. Also examines the efforts of philanthropists to limit the worst excesses of the ’lump’ and ’truck’ systems. Essentially a summary of Coleman’s 1965 book ’The Railway Navvies’ . | Britain, Europe, railways, 19th, contractor, sub-contractor, welfare, fatalities, tunnel, excavation, docks, cuttings, labour. |
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Spencer-Silver, P. | 1989 | George Myers, 1803-75, Stonemason, Builder, Contractor. Construction History Vol. 5, pp 47-58. | A rare example of a detailed history of a British building contractor in the 19th C, charting his entry into the trade and eventual success as a contractor for Pugin and others; presenting a comprehensive picture of the social and economic circumstances and the importance of public/government works to the success of contractors. | Britain, England, 19th, contractor, firm, sub-contractor, asylum, workhouse |
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Chrimes, M.M. | 1989 | The Institution of Civil Engineers’ Library and Archives: a brief introduction. Construction History Vol. 5 pp 59-66. | A guide to the historical sources curated by the ICE in London, comprising: books and serials, tracts and treatises, government publications, biographical information, archives and drawings. The sources cover civil engineering projects undertaken around the world | |
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Guillery, P. | 1990 | Building the Millwall Docks. Construction History Vol. 6 pp 3-22. | An analysis of the challenges facing promotion, financing and construction of Millwall Docks in London, c. 1860-1868. An object lesson in how not to do it, involving an over-ambitious project, inexperienced developers and contractors, fraud and macro-economic failures. Provides an important counterpoint to the otherwise celebratory history of Victorian enterprise. | Britain, London, 19th, docks, speculation, financing, crash, fraud, development, corruption |
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Lawrence, J.C. | 1990 | Steel Frame Architecture versus the London Building Regulations: Selfridges, the Ritz and American Technology. Construction History Vol. 6 pp 23-46. | Explains the challenges to the British commercial and construction industries and the regulatory frameworks under which they operated, caused by the introduction of large, open-plan department stores and hotels from the US in the early 210th century. Principle people, organisations, buildings and legislative instruments. | Britain, America, 20th, Selfridge, Selfridge’s, Ritz, concrete, steel, regulation, fire |
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Korvenmaa, P. | 1990 | The Finnish Wooden House Transformed: American prefabrication, war-time housing and Alvar Aalto. Construction History Vol. 6 pp 47-62. | Describes the industrialisation of pre-fabricated timber buildings in Finland during the early 20th C and the involvement of America in that process. Presents a short history of timber construction in both countries and then focuses on research and exchanges during 1935-45 and their legacy. Names the principal people, organisations, events and projects. | Finland, America, 20th, prefabrication, timber, housing, Aalto, bemis |
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Kenney, A. | 1990 | Sources for the History of Housing in English Provincial Towns in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Construction History Vol. 6 pp 63- | Methodological paper summarising the sources available and where they can be examined. | Britain, England, 18th 19th, housing |
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Schofield, J. | 1991 | The Construction of Medieval and Tudor Houses in London. Construction History Vol. 7 pp 3-28. | Britain, England, London | |
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Cooney, E.W. | 1991 | Eighteenth Century Britain’s Missing Sawmills: A Blessing in Disguise?. Construction History Vol. 7 pp 29-46. | Britain, timber, materials | |
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Louw, H. | 1991 | Window-Glass Making in Britain c.1660-c.1860 and its Architectural Impact. Construction History Vol. 7 pp 47-68. | ||
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Darnell, V.C. | 1991 | The Pioneering Iron Trusses of Nathaniel Rider. Construction History Vol. 7 pp 69-82. | ||
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Loader, R., & Skinner, J. | 1991 | Management, Construction and Architecture: The Development of the Model Factory. Construction History Vol. 7 pp 83-105. | ||
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Carvais, R., & Negre, V. | 2006 | The Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers and the preservation, dissemination and innovation of construction know-how (1794-1971). Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1, pp 7-34. | Keynote lecture at the 2006 Cambridge conference that summarises the history of the CNAM as a medium of knowledge curation and transfer and a font of innovation. | France, 18th, 19th, Abbe Gregoire, teaching, knowledge transfer, Dupin, Gourniere, Rouche, Trelat, Mesnager, Ache, Poupee, Prouve, Liet-Veaux, Morin, Ragey |
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Clarke, L. & Wall, C. | 2006 | Omitted from history: Women in the building trades. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 35-60. | Keynote lecture that demonstrates that, despite the dominance of the construction industry by men, there have been episodes when women made significant contributions to the industry. It explains why and how women were included or excluded from the industry and from historical accounts of it. | women, wage labour, capitalism, wartime expediency |
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Giron, J. | 2006 | Drawing and construction analysis: from Piranesi to Choisy. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 61-88. | Keynote lecture to the 2006 congress demonstrating the historical importance of drawing and drawings as an analytical tool. | Viollet-le-Duc, Choisy, Piranesi, Spini, geometry, Cuvier, graphic, Vitruvius, Belidor, Perronet, Gaudet, |
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Ochsendorf, J. | 2006 | Engineering analysis for Construction History: opportunities and perils. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 89- 110. | Keynote lecture at the 2006 Congress demonstrating the special insights that engineering analysis brings to history, often identifying themes not hitherto recognised by social, economic or architectural histories. Using flying buttresses, Inca suspension bridges and Guastavino’s thin shell vaults as case-studies. | |
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Abbate, F. | 2006 | The planning and building instruments of architects in the late Middle Ages. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 111-126. | Using inferences from documentary and graphic sources, the few architectural treatises that refer to drawing instruments, and examination of the buildings, the author demonstrates the range of measuring and drawing implements available to the medieval designer and builder and how they were used. | Villard de Honnecourt, Hugues Libergier, compass, Stevin Hipomnemata Mathematica, catenary, Gauzon, Druid’s Rope, Plumb rule, anthropometric unit |
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Addis, B. | 2006 | The use of scientific calculations in design procedures for heating, ventilating, day-lighting and acoustics from the eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 127-152. | The paper explains how methods of scientific calculation were developed from the 16th century; and then how these were applied to the design of building services and environments. | calculation, arithmetic, logarithms, slide rule, graphical calculation, nomography, Facit, BRE |
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Alonso, P. I. | 2006 | Diagrams of a universal system of construction in the work of Konrad Wachsmann: between representation and technology. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 153-166. | Germany, 20th , pre-fabrication, prefabrication, modular | |
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Amici, C.M. | 2006 | The basilica of Maxentius in Rome: innovative solutions in the organisation of construction process. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 167-178. | Rome, roman, 4th, concrete, formwork, scaffolding, setting-out, control | |
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Antuna, J. | 2006 | The evolution of the work of Eduardo Torroja: shell roofs with and without reinforcement rings. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 179-194. | Freyssinet, Istres, Bagneaux, Bauersfel and Dischinger, Jena, Flugge, geodesic, thin shell | |
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Arce, I. | 2006 | Umayyad arches, vaults and domes: merging and re-creation. Contributions to Early Islamic Construction History. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 195-220. | The paper demonstrates how the Umayyads merged Late Roman and Partho-Sassanian construction techniques, a process initiated by the disappearance of the Levant border under Alexander the Great, to create a new ’aulic’ imagery and architectural framework for their new empire. This is exemplified by their structural roofing systems, which represent one of the most remarkable stages of technical development in the key transitional period from Late Antiquity to Early Medieval. | Levant, Arab, Muslim, Islam, Syria, Egypt, diaphragm arch, vault, ribbed, horsehoe, centerings, Persia, Mesopotamia, squinch, Byzantium, dome, pendentive, |
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Arciniega, L. et al | 2006 | The representation of architecture in construction during the Hispanic Early-Modern period. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 221-238. | The paper explores the manner in which construction as an activity is represented in Spanish graphic art of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. | Spain, 16th, 17th, 18th, Esturmio, El Escorial, Montufar, Avila, Tibaldi, Alegre, art, graphic, painting, sculpture |
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Arellano, J.F. | 2006 | Earthen industrial buildings in the Canal of Castilla: Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 239-250. | The paper explains how and why upcast materials from canal construction were used to produce industrial and wharfage buildings along the Spanish Canal of Castilla in the 18th and 19th centuries. | Spain, 18th 19th, canal, adobe, earthen,warehouse, mill |
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Bachmann, M. | 2006 | Divine staging. The civil engineering peculiarities of the Hittite Spring Sanctuary Eflatun Pinar. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 251-266. | The paper describes the recently-discovered religious sanctuary of Eflatun Pinar near Konya in Turkey, and postulates how it was constructed. | Turkey, cyclopean |
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Bardati, F. | 2006 | A building site in early sixteenth century Normandy: the Castle of Gaillon, organisation, workers, materials and technologies. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Cambridge, Vol 1 pp 289-308. | Detailed contemporaneous accounts allow an analysis of how the castle was built, the people involved, the sources of materials and the techniques employed. | France, Renaissance, 15th, 16th, archives, d’Amboise |
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Barthel, R., Maus, H., Jagfeld, M. | 2006 | Artistry and Ingenuity of Gothic Vaults at the Example of St Georg in Nordlingen. Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1, pp 309-324 | An historical and statical analysis of the gallery vaults of the parish church of St Georg at Noerdlingen in Germany, built 1427-1519, and the reasons for their failure and historical repair.. | Germany, vaults, statics, 15th, 16th, Weyer |
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Beckh, M. | 2006 | Traditional construction techniques of the Newars at the Itum Baha monastery in Kathmandu. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1, pp 325-340 | Describes the vernacular buildings and construction methods of this area of Nepal, with specific reference to the various types of Buddhist monasteries. | |
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Larena, J. B. | 2006 | The iron-wood composite section of the Carrousel Bridge in Paris (1834). Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1, pp 341-356. | An historical and engineering analysis of Polonceau’s innovative combination of iron and timber in the tubular beams of the Carrousel Bridge, in which the sectional iron tubes are filled with timber sealed with bitumen. The article identifies subsequent bridges influenced by Polonceau and the physical properties and performance of the metal and timber components. | France, Paris, bridge, 19th, Polonceau. |
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Bernabeu, A. | 2006 | Origin of the collaboration between engineers and architects in Great Britain in the Thirties. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1, pp 357-378. | An examination of the development of collaborative working in Britain during the early 20th century, focussing on the engineers and the structures they created. | Mendelsohn, Arup, Samuely, Williams |
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Bertels, I. | 2006 | The contractors’ intellectual profile: knowledge and training in nineteenth century public works contractors in nineteenth century Antwerp, Belgium. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1, pp 379-392. | An analysis of the importance of education and training in the improvement of contractors’ lives and building design in 19th C Belgium. | Nijverheidsschool, Industrial School, Belgium, 19th |
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Sabatini, P.B. | 2006 | Antoine Chrysostome Quatremere de Quincy (1755-1849) and the rediscovery of polychrome in Grecian architecture: colour techniques and archaeological research in the pages of Olympian Zeus. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 393-408 | The birth of modern archaeology in Sicily in the 18th century. | |
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Bodolec, C. | 2006 | Uncommon public buildings with vault and abutments in the Chinese landscape of wooden construction (sixteenth - eighteenth centuries). Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 409-416. | An explanation of the rare 16th, 17th and 18th century masonry ’wuliang diam’ - or ’beamless hall’ - buildings of China. | China, Miaofeng, |
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Brucculeri, A. | 2006 | Renewal and tradition in the teaching of building construction at the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Paris: the course of Edouard Arnaud, 1920-1934. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 417-440. | An analysis of the manner in which architecture and construction were taught at the Ecole des Beaux Arts during the early 20th C; the principle persons, techniques and example buildings . | France, 20th, Monduit, Arnaud, |
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Buonopane, S. | 2006 | The Roeblings and the Stayed Suspension Bridge: its development and propagation in nineteenth century United States. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 441-461. | A study of the involvement of two generations of the German Roebling family in the development of suspension bridge design and construction in 19th C America. Presents the engineering background, especially the involvement of Navier (Fr) and Telford (GB); Roeblings’ design methods; analysis of load distribution between cables and stays, the role of the ’stiffening truss’ and their selection criteria for cable and stay sizes. Examines their design of the Lowelville Bridge using archive sources and assesses their influence in the work of others, spec. Thomas Griffiths and James W. Shipman. | USA, 19th, suspension bridge, cable. Brooklyn Bridge |
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Bustamante, R. | 2006 | Similarities and differences in barrel vaults of traditional stately houses in the historic centre of Arequipa, Peru. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 461-472. | Analysis and description of the distinctive 16th, 17th and 18th century aristocratic houses of central Arequipa that are based on the barrel vault as the standard roof and floor structure, most of which were destroyed in an earthquake of 1868. Presents a geometrical analysis of the vaults, a spatial analysis of the floor plans, buttress configurations, decorative treatments and natural lighting. | Peru, 16th 17th 18th, traditional, vault |
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Calderini, C., et al. | 2006 | Structural framework evolution from the seventeenth to the twentieth century in the Genoan Replublic’s shipyard. Architectural archaeology investigates the layers of the structure. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 473-492. | An archaeological, historical and finite element analysis of the 17th - early 20th century shipyard and arsenal at Genoa, revealing the structural and technological evolution of this substantial structure and the people involved. | Italy, Genoa, arcate nuove, D’Oria, Assereto, Giustiniani, Senarega |
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Lopez, J.C. | 2006 | Sixteenth century Spanish cranes and Lazaro de Velasco’s translation of Vitruvius. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 493-508. | An analysis of the professional life of Lazaro de Velasco (b. 1520-1526) and his speculative reconstruction of cranes and lifting devices described by Vitruvius. Includes reproductions of his graphical reconstructions and a comparison with the cranes shown in Hatfield’s drawing the Escorial Palace under construction. | Torno, tryspast, cabrita, cabrilla, |
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Camino, S., et al | 2006 | The subsoil network of bridges and vaults which cover the Esgueva River crossing ih the town of Valladolid in Spain. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 509-524. | An archaeological, historical analysis and description of the 18th and 19th century fluvial and drainage infrastructure of Valladolid in Spain. | Spain, rain, plain, drain |
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Campa, M.R. | 2006 | "Le Nouvelles Inventions pour Bien Bastir at a Petits Fraiz" by Philibert de L’Orme: a new way to conceive wood roof covering. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 525-542. | A summary of the innovative timber structures of Philibert de L’Orme’s (1514-1570) that examines the political and intellectual context of his work, and its influences. | France, Italy, timber, 16th, roofs, lamination, laminated, modular, pre-fabrication |
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Garcia, J. L, C de G, | 2006 | Juan Bautista de Toledo, architect and master builder at Monastery of Escorial (1563-1567). Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 543-560. | An analysis of construction management practices in 16th century Spain as exemplified by El Escorial, based on documentary sources such as government regulations, diaries and contract documentation. | Spain, 16th, Escorial, contaduria, veeduria, aparejadores, tenedor, mayorales, sobrestantes, capataces, obrero, maestro |
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Cantabene, G., Dodaro, L., Lippiello, M. | 2006 | The repairs to the dome of the Chapel of St, Gennaro’s Treasure: the eighteenth century dispute between F. Sanfelice and G. Lucchese. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 561-578. | Historical, archaeological and static analysis of the challenges attending the addition of a classically inspired dome to the gothic chapel of St Gennaro at Naples in the early 17th century, designed by the architect Francesco Grimaldi, and how those challenges were overcome. Illustrates the state of engineering knowledge in Italy at that time. | Italy, naples, 17th, Grimaldi, Lamberti, church, dome |
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Caston, P. | 2006 | Historic roof trusses between 1500 and 1700 in German-speaking central Europe: documentation, analysis and development. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 579-598. | The definitive analysis and description of the development of large timber roof structures within the Deutschersprachraume during the late Middle Ages and 17th century, based on documentary research, measured survey and tree ring dating. Well illustrated, including scale models. Principle examples: Church of St Andreas in Leoben-Goess (Austria); Church of St Martin in Baar, Canton Zug, (CH); Church of St. Saver, Leoben (Austria); Castle Weissenstein, Pommersfelden, Bavaria; | Germany, Austria, Switzerland, 16th 17th , roof trusses, Wilhelm,timber |
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Ceraldi, C., Ermolli, E.R., Tempone, V. | 2006 | The Riding School in the Royal Palace of Naples: transformations in the timber covering structure. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 599-618. | Historical, archaeological and engineering analysis of the 19th century repair of the 17-19th century roof structure of the Riding School of the Royal Palace at Naples, designed by landscape architect Antonio Niccolini (1772-1850). It presents a short introduction to the design of riding schools throughout Europe and then shows how the replacement trusses were built and how they performed in comparison to their predecessors. Well illustrated with copies of primary sources, 3D graphic models and analytical drawings. | Italy, Naples, 19th, Fontana, Noccilini, BIM |
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Fusco, A.C. | 2006 | Giuseppe Venturoli (1768-1846) hydraulic engineer in the Papal State. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 619-630. | The paper illustrates the history of the applied sciences, architecture and civil engineering in the early years of the Papal State, using the life of Giuseppe Venturoli as an example. Cites the principle people, institutions and types of structures erected. | Italy, 18th, 19th, Bologna, Rome, Papal State |
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Chamorro, M.A., Cuernca, B. | 2006 | Ignasi Bosch Reitg and the construction of ’timbrel’ vaults during Post-War Girona, Catalonia. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 631-640. | An historical biography of the early 20th C Spanish architect Ignasi Reitg, focusing on his adoption of the mediterranean thin-shell tile brick vault as a practical solution to shortages of steel and Portland cement in Spain after the Civil War. Cites the principal buildings, explains the operation and construction of the vaults and his patent for double curvature vaults. | |
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Chieti, V. | 2006 | The role of the three-dimensional virtual model in the ’Replica’ project of architectural elements: the case of the Athenian Academy by Th. Hansen. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 641-656 | Methodological study of ’plastico muraria’ architecture focusing on the 19th C Athens Academy of the Danish Hansen arcvhitects, and the value of 3D virtual models to understanding a structures history and performance. | Greece, Danish, 19th, reconstruction, CAD, virtual. BIM |
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Chiou, B-S. | 2006 | Traditional master carpenters’ manuals in Taiwan. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 657-674. | The paper considers four of the late medieval to 18th C master carpenters’ manuals of Taiwan that reflect the diversity of masters’ knowledge and concerns. The traditional apprenticeship of carpenters in Taiwan is outlined, followed by a brief outline and tabular comparison of the contents and key aspects of the manuals, including references to the role and importance of carpentry, rituals, animism,’fengshui’ and the different carpentry traditions of the southeast Asian nations. | Taiwan, China, medieval, carpentry, Luban, Wang, Liu, animism, geomancy, |
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Chrimes, M.M. | 2006 | British and Irish civil engineers in the development of Argentina in the nineteenth century. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 675-694. | One of a series of studies by the ICE examining the working lives of British and Irish engineers working abroad during the 19th century. Presents a summary of the emergence of the civil engineer as a recognised profession from the late 18th C and the importance of emigration to individual careers and the host countries, then focuses on those working in Argentina. Cites people, countries and projects and provides numerical analyses. | Britain, Ireland, Argentina, emigration, engineers, railways, hydraulic, harbour, |
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Cipriani, B., Lau, W.W. | 2006 | Construction techniques in Medieval Cairo: the domes of the Mamluk Mausolea (1250AD-1517AD). Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 695-716 | Analysis of the masonry domes constructed in Cairo between 1250AD and 1517AD, a period of exceptional experimentation and productivity in the construction of funerary and charitable complexes, focusing on the funerary complexes of Umm Sultan Sha’ban (1369), Sultan Farag Ibn Barquq (1398-1411) and Amir Khayer Bek (1502). Presents metrical, structural, statical and aesthetic comparisons and suggests that domes might have been built without centring. | Egypt, medieval, post-medieval, Mamluk, dome |
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Clarke, J.C. | 2006 | Cones not domes: John Nash and Regency structural innovation. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 717-740. | Conference paper (cf. CH Vol 20) describing and explaining Nash’s innovative tent-like structure The Rotunda at Woolwich in London of 1820, which combines aesthetic elegance and military allusion with structural efficiency. Originally built as a temporary ballroom, it now houses the RA’s artillery museum. The paper examines precedents, the principal people involved, and successor buildings. | Britain, London, 19th, Nash, temporary, Carlton House, Polygon, Brighton Pavilion,laminated, prefabrication, pre-fabrication, modular |
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Cleary, R. | 2006 | Lessons in tenuity: Frank Lloyd Wright’s bridges. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 741-758. | Conference paper illustrating FL Wright’s collaboration with the engineer Jaroslav Joseph Polivka (1886-196) in the design and construction of aesthetically and structurally innovative bridges. Names the other people involved and the principal structures. | America, USA, bridge, span, |
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Como, M. et al | 2006 | Historical statical analysis of the Coliseum. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 759-777 | Conference paper examining the statical performance of the roman Coliseum at Rome; evidence of failure and repair, the reasons for that failure, particularly seismic activity and the structure’s capacity for movement. | Italy, Rome, Roman, statics, masonry, earthquake, repair, |
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Como, M.T. | 2006 | Analysis of the statics of the Mycenaean tholoi. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 777-790. | Conference paper examining the statical behaviour of the enigmatic Bronze Age tholoi tombs of Mycenaean Greece. Summarises foregoing archaeological and architectural analyses; analysis the statics of an exemplar tholoi and concludes that, contrary to received wisdom, tholoi suggest that dome construction preceded the masonry arch. | Greece, Crete, Bronze Age, tomb, tholoi, dome, statics |
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Conchon, A. | 2006 | Road construction in eighteenth century France. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 791-798 | Conference paper discussing how technical improvements and standardisation of road construction in 18th C France lead to changes in the organisation of labour. It examines: the institutional and financial arrangements; the techniques of road construction; and finally posits that improvements in fact affected a minority of roads because the system of feudal tolls and statute labour prevented widespread adoption. | France, 18th, roads, corvee, Tresaguet, Perronet, Saint-Andre, labour, roadworks, Navier, Schwilgue, Coriolis |
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Condorelli, S. | 2006 | The reconstruction of Catania after the earthquake of 1693. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 799-816. | Conference paper using a wide variety of archives (government, institutions, families) to explain how the city of Catania was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1693 that killed 80% of its population and destroyed nearly all of its buildings. The paper examines: the conditions prior to reconstruction; the reaction and strategies of the various civic groups and social classes; duration of reconstruction; comparison with the reconstructions of Lisbon (1755) and London (1666). | Italy, Sicily, Catania, 17th, 18th, earthquake, reconstruction, seismic |
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Copani, P. | 2006 | Ancient wooden roofs in Sicily: the heritage of Taormina. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 817-836. | Conference paper examining the structural and decorative characteristics of late medieval timber roofs, floors and wall frames in Sicily, using the Corvaja Palace and the principal churches of Taormina as examples. . | Italy, Sicily, Taormina, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, roof, floor, timber, carved, ancones |
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Corradi, M. | 2006 | A short account of the history of structural dynamics between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 837-854. | Conference paper summarising the historical development of the science of structural dynamics from Aristotle (384-322BC) to the present day. | Science, Aristotle, Aristarchus, Hipparchus, Ptolomey, Brahe, Kepler, Newton, Leibnitz, Euler, Lagrange, Bernoulli, Laplace, Poincare, Lie, Strutt |
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Cossu, G.P. | 2006 | Technologies in comparison. Glass tube production, project and implementation: from S.C. Johnson & Son’s research laboratory tower by Wright to today’s experimentations. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 855 - 876. | Conference paper examining the manner in which different structural forms, materials have interplayed to drive architectural development., I think!. Focussing oh the work of F.L.Wright. | |
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Croize, J-C. | 2006 | A time when France chose to use prefabricated panel construction systems: the ’4000 Logements de la Region Parisienne’ Programme (1952-1958). Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 877-886. | Conference paper examining the political decision, and consequences, of the Post-War French government to use mass produced prefabricated construction for housing, against the advice received at the time. | France, 20th, prefabrication, pre-fabrication, mass housing, INSEE, SERPEC, MRU, CPTG, |
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Cross-Rudkin, P. | 2006 | Centres for large span masonry arch bridges in Britain to 1833. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 887-902. | Conference paper with excellent illustrations explaining how bridge centring was undertaken in Britain prior to the railway age. | Britain, 18th, 19th, bridge, centring, temporary works, striking |
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Guerrieri, C, D’A., & Fallacara, G. | 2006 | Helicoidal construction geometry and oblique architectural arrangement. The spiral staircase of the Belvedere and the argument between de L’Orme and Bramante: digital models compared. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 903-916. | Conference paper examining the cultural and methodological changes imposed by the adoption of stereotomy in France in the 16th C, which required more than just a nice drawings, using 3D digital models of celebrated spiral staircases such as the Belvedere in Rome and Saint-Etienne-du-Mont in Paris to examine the efficacy of the ’Italian’ and ’French’ schools. | France, Italy, 16th, 17th, de L’Orme, Bramante, stereotomy, BIM |
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Dahmen, J. | 2006 | Moorish bridges of Andalucia. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 917-934.. | Conference paper examining the contribution of Islamic builders to developments in post-Roman bridge design, using those of southern Spain as exemplars. Cited bridges: Nogales, Cantarranas, Guadiato, Quebrado, Guadalbacar, Pinos Puente, Tejera. | Spain, Umayyad, Abbasid, medieval, bridge, horseshoe arch. |
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Dominguez, L. de V., & Cossio, F.V. | 2006 | The horseshoe arch in Toledo. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 935-951. | Conference paper presenting the results of a survey of horseshoe arches in the Spanish city of Toledo, that characterised their geometry, uses and dates. | Spain, medieval, Visigoth, arch |
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Defilippis, F. | 2006 | Architecture and stereotomy: the relation between the ’construction apparatus’ and the ’decorative apparatus’ of the cut-stone vaults and domes of Philibert de L’Orme and Andres de Vandelvira. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 951-9658. | Conference paper examining the cultural and methodological differences between the French engineer and the Spanish architect in their use of stereotomy. Uses the Chapel of Salvador at Ubeda and the Chapel at Anet as case studies. | France, Spain, 16th, stereotomy, dome, vault. |
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Delemontey, Y. | 2006 | The MRU experimental building competitions (1947-1951): the birth of industrialised building in France. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 969-988. | Conference paper examining the role of the French government department Ministere de la Reconstruction et de L’Urbanisme in the rebuilding of France after the Second World War using mass-produced and industrialised systems. | France, 20th, prefabrication, pre-fabrication, industrialised, mass-production. |
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Durbin, L. | 2006 | Nineteenth century tiles. Industrial mass production and construction methods of interior tile schemes in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 989-1006. | Conference paper illustrating the manufacturing methods and architectural consequences of industrialised tile production in 19th C Britain. Cites the main manufacturers, exemplar buildings and the architects responsible for them. | Britain, 19th, tiles, mass-produced, industrialised, Minton, Carter, Wright, Maw, Godwin |
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Arsan, Z.D. | 2006 | The use of Saint-Gobain glass roof tile in the new urban districts of turn-of-the-century Izmir. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1007-1022. | Conference paper examining the cultural and trade links between France and Turkey in the late 19th century as exemplified by the use of Saint-Gobain glass tiles in private housing in Izmir. | Turkey, France, 19th, 20th, glass, glazing, tiles, trade, mediterranean |
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Eggemann, H. | 2006 | Simplified design of composite columns, based on a comparative study of the development of Building Regulations in Germany and the United States. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1023-1042. | Conference paper proposing a method for determining load resistance of early columns of composite construction, based on the analysis of historical sources, specifically building regulations and codes, and citing exemplar buildings in the US and the German-speaking world. | USA, Germany, 19th, 20th, composite columns, McGraw, Ericsson |
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Gallo, E. | 2006 | Jean Simon Bonnemain (1743-1830) and the origins of hot water central heating. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1043-1060. | Conference paper exploring the life and influence of the French inventor Jean Simon Bonnemain on the invention and development of hot water central heating and other heated devices. | France, 18th, heating. |
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Ewen, S. | 2006 | The problem of fire in nineteenth century British cities: the case of Glasgow. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1961-1074. | Conference paper examining improvements in fire prevention and fire control in British cities from the late 18th C. Presents data on fire frequency, building control and fire control mechanisms. | Britain, Scotland, 19th, fire |
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Fallacara, G. | 2006 | Digital stereotomy and topological transformations: reasoning about shape- building. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1075-1092. | Methodological conference paper exploring the use of 3D digital modelling in the analysis of complex curt-stone structures. Presents a brief summary of the subject history, the principal people and buildings and then uses 3D modelling to compare the structures as-built with the historical designs. | France, Spain, 16th, stereotomy, Curabelle, Desargues, de L’Orme, Vandelvira, Arenas, Frezier, Truchet, Abeille, BIM |
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Fedorov, S. G. | 2006 | Construction History in the Soviet Union-Russia 1930-2005. Emergence, development and disappearance of a technical discipline. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1093-1112. | Conference paper examining the relatively long history of Construction History as an academic and technical discipline in the former Soviet Union; it’s role in fomenting national consequence and the industrialisation of construction. | USSR, Soviet Union, Russia, 20th, history, nationalism, industrialisation. |
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Ficarelli, L. | 2006 | Town morphology: the relationship between form and building. Preservation and recovery of dwelling houses in historical centres and in particular the ’Double-Reservoir’ building type of Corato (Bari). Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1113-1124. | Conference paper proposing an archaeology-based methodology for town-planning analyses of historic towns, using Corato in Italy and its problematic water supply as a case study. | Italy, archaeology, town planning, spatial analyses. |
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Fleury, F., & Lacroix, A. | 2006 | Analysis of the sub-rafter (sous arbaletrier) in French medieval timberwork. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1125-1136. | Conference paper presenting an historical and structural analysis of a French type of roof truss, specifically the ’sous arbaletrier’ or secondary rafter | France, medieval, roof truss, rafter, carpentry. |
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Fontana, L. | 2006 | Molding earth outline: typology, technology and morphology of earth building. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 1 pp 1137-1154. | Conference paper presenting an historical, structural and chemical analysis of earth-based construction techniques around the world. | Global, Europe, America, Africa, Asia, cob, adobe, pise, earth. |
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Franco, J.A, et al | 2006 | Vaults and other constructive singularities in the monastery of San Martin Pinario. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1155-1170. | Conference paper presenting an historical, archaeological and engineering analysis of the medieval monastery of San Martin Pinario in Santiago de Compostela. | Spain, medieval, church, monastery, vaults, statics, stereotomy |
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Friedman, D. | 2006 | Building Code enforced evolution in early skeleton buildings. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1171-1188. | Conference paper examining the factors that influenced the evolution of framed high-rise buildings in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including a detailed comparison of construction costs for the different types of frame. | USA, America, 19th, 20th, sky-scraper, high-rise, bearing-wall, cage, skeleton, costs, |
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Garcia, R. | 2006 | Concrete folded plates in the Netherlands. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1189-1208. | Conference paper examining the use of complex ’folded plate’ concrete structures in Dutch buildings in the late 20th C. Summarises the history of the technology in Germany and identifies exemplar buildings, particularly the Delft PS Auditorium, and people. | Netherlands, Germany, 20th, Ehlers, Glanerbug, Den Helder, Zeist, Hoensbroek, Scheveningen, Delft, |
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Gargiulo, M.R, and Bergamasco, I. | 2006 | The use of earth in the architecture of Hassan Fathy and Fabrizio Carola: typological and building innovations, building technology and static behaviour. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1209-1220 | Conference paper examining the use of earth as a wall and vault material in 20th century buildings in Egypt and Mali designed by the Egyptian Hassan Fathy and the Italian Fabrizio Carola, including a brief history of its use in the Middle East. | Earth, Africa, Egypt, Mali, adobe, pise, 20th |
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Mascarenhas-Mateus, Joao | 2020 | Construction History and the History of Construction Cultures: Between Architecture and Engineering in PortugaL | This paper aims to debate the epistemological boundaries of construction history, in relation to the fields of history of architecture and the history of engineering, using Portugal as a case study. The concept of construction culture is used to broaden the analysis, avoiding the old dichotomy between architects and engineers. Instead, construction history (understood as the history of construction cultures) aims to integrate the contributions of all actors in this sector of activity, such as contractors, materials and machine producers, traders, and public and private institutions. The history of architecture and the history of engineering in Portugal serves to illustrate the extent to which the study of how a community built in a particular space, at a particular time, is fragmented in the present age. The conclusions highlight the limits of a history that has been interpreted mainly from the point of view of the activity of architects and engineers. This paper also explores the potential of a history of construction cultures as a constructum in constant transition and under constant discussion, capable of explaining the set of problems involved in this millennia-old human activity. | Epistemology, Architecture, Engineering, Construction History, Portugal |
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Gasparini, D.A., & Provost, C. | 2006 | The Prestressing of Structures: a Historical Review. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2 pp 1221-1232. | Conference paper examining the historical use of pre-stressing from ancient Egypt to the present. Identifies the use of the technique in ancient Egyptian boats; 19th C trusses and the Ferris Wheel; the Wright Brothers’ Flying Pratt truss in their aeroplanes; reinforced concrete; Roebling’s San Marcos Bridge; and then presents a short analysis and explanation of how it works. | Pre-stressing, prestressing, pre-stressed, prestressed. |
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Giacomini, L. | 2006 | The Management of Private Building Yards in Milan between 1550 and 1650: a History Reconstructed through Building and Supply Contracts. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2 pp 1233-1250. | Conference paper examining 40 building contracts from mid 16th to mid 17th century Milan, mainly for patrician houses, villas and chapels of the Medici di Melagnano, Cicogna, Cusani, Visconti and Trivulzio families. The buildings were designed by architects such as Galeazzo Alessi (1512-1572), Giovanni Ambrogio Alciati (/-1590), Vincenzo Seregni (1509-1594), Pellegrino Pellegrini (1527-1596), Martino Bassi (1542-1591), Giuseeppe Meda (/-1599), Fabio Mangone (1587-1629) and Francesco Maria Richini (1583-1658). The contracts are between the client and the contractors: no record of the relationship between client and architect has been identified. The paper examines the different types of contracts and payment criteria; the hierarchies and relationships between the designers/architecdts, master builders, masters, labourers and garzoni. | Italy, Renaissance, 16th , 17th, contracts, payment |
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Giglio, A. | 2006 | The Decorative Use of Concrete in an ’Other’ Modernism: Italian Architecture of the Dodecanese (1912-1943). Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2 pp 1251-1270. | Conference paper examining the attempt of the Italian government to create a local architectural style for the Aegean Islands under its occupation between 1912 and 1943, that was neither wholly Italian or Greek, and the role that concrete played in that architecture. | Aegean, Italy, Greece, mediterranean, Fascism, 20th C, concrete |
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Giustina, I., Tomasoni, E., & Giuriani, E. | 2006 | The Early Dome of Sant’ Alessandro in Milan (1627): a First Study of the Behaviour of the Structural Core with a Dome Resting on Four Free-Standing Pillars. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2 pp 1271-1292. | Conference paper examining the statics of quincunx plan buildings, specifically the church of S. Allessandro in Zebedia, of the Barnabite Order, built at Milan from 1602 to the designs of Lorenzo Binago(1554-1629), the dome of which failed and was demolished within a year of completion. | Italy, 17th C, quincunx, failure, dome. |
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Godier, P., & Tapie, G. | 2006 | The Contemporary French Model of Architecture and the Construction Professions (1970-1990). Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2 pp 1293-1305. | Conference paper examining changes in the working lives of construction professionals during the last quarter of the 20th C. | France, 20th C, professions, collaboration. |
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Gonzalez-Tascon, I., Cardiel, I.B., & Velazquez, I | 2006 | The organization of building work and construction of siphons in Roman aqueducts in Hispania. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2 pp 1305-1322. | Conference paper examining, in detail, how the siphons of Roman water supply systems in Spain were designed, procured and constructed. Explains and names the roles and offices; the materials and how they were supplied; the components; the tools and machines employed and then describes key surviving examples at Almunecar (Roman Sexi), Cadiz (Gades), Saelices (Segobriga), Zaragoza (Caesaraugusta) and Toledo (Toletum). | Spain, Hispania, Roman, infrastructure, water supply, siphon, civil engineering, sur4veying. |
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Gonzalez, J.L. | 2006 | The square cube law: from Vitruvius to Gaudi. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2 pp 1323-1340. | Conference paper examining the meaning, origins and application of the so-called ’square cube law’ in historic construction and architecture, with special reference to the work of Gaudi. | Vitruvius, Galileo, Gaudi, Guell, Sagrada Familia |
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Gonzalez-Longo, C. | 2006 | Giacomo Boni at the Musee Forense: Construction History as a source for architectural innovation. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2 pp 1341-1362. | Conference paper examining how the archaeological work of Giacomo Boni (1859-1925) at the forum in Rome, and his friendship with John Ruskin and correspondence with members of SPAB, influenced his innovative structural conservation of the monastery of Santa Francesca Romana-Santa Maria Nova in Rome. The paper explains his brief, his outline proposal, his preliminary studies and surveys, procurement, changes to the strategy and design, the consolidation and temporary works, conservation techniques and materials, and the criteria and cultural context that informed the decisions made. | Italy, Rome, 20th, conservation, professionals, philosophy |
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Vitti, P. | 2016 | Building Roman Greece. Innovation in Vaulted Construction in the Peloponnese | This book discusses a selection of 29 vaulted Roman buildings in the Peloponnese dating from the 1st century BC to 3rd century AD. The study fills a gap in the studies of Roman construction, which have generally failed to seek innovation in the building techniques outside Central Italy. The research revealed the importance of Roman architecture in the Peloponnese and its contribution to the development of construction techniques. | vaulted roman building, construction techniques |
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Amici, C.M. | 2016 | Architettura romana. Dal cantiere all’architetto: soluzioni concrete per idee progettuali. (with english abstracts) | It was standard practice in Roman times for the architect’s construction program to be taken over and given material form by the foreman and his workers, who adopted a distinctly operational process. It was a seemingly one-way process, which appeared to give a purely technical, marginal role to those in charge of the construction site, who were entrusted solely with the practical aspects of the project. Actually, it was in many ways an authentic dialogue, generally in a lower key in the case of the role played by the construction site, with the building itself as the true response to the design. However, a reversal of this trend can be seen in those cases where construction requirements led to innovative technical solutions, with some special measures formulated on the ground being taken up and adopted by the architect, who would then make use of them, adapting and converting them, in later projects, providing an extremely clear indication of the vitality and dynamism of Roman architecture. The conditions for innovations of this type to come about were the result of a very particular cultural climate, in which the considerable economic power of the patrons was coupled with extraordinary skills applied to projects that were demanding in terms of both size and techniques. 1) The use of metal grids; 2) Modular ceiling slabs; 3) The introduction of metal chains; 4) Use of columns and reinforced flat arches; 5) Technical innovations in vaulting systems. | technical solutions,iron devices, logistical organization |
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Amici, C.M. | 2015 | “Unusual Examples of Sophisticated Iron Technology in the Heating System of Roman Imperial Baths” | In Roman imperial times, metallurgy reached a high degree of specialization and complexity. The use of iron extended even to building technology, leading to some very particular results, achieving a sophisticated mastery of the technology with a complete understanding of metal properties, in a social and economic context characterized by large financial resources and a high level of creativity applied to architectural projects. | heating system, iron device |
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Amici, C.M. | 2016 | "The Roofing System of the Tripartite Building at Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli (Italy)". In Further studies in the Construction History, vol. 1, Cambridge 2016, pp. 109- 118. | The reconstruction of the roofing system of the three large halls of the Edificio Tripartito at the Villa Adriana, Tivoli, has always been problematic because they have spans between 7.0 and 9.0 meters with supporting walls only 60 cm thick. Lying on the ground are fragments of very peculiar flat concrete ceiling slabs up to 90 cm thick, apparently built on wood formworks, which have provoked several unsatisfactory attempts to resolve the roofing problem. However, a careful analysis of the slabs, made in several layers of opus coementicium, opus spicatum and cocciopesto, and a final layer of mosaic, allows for a new reconstruction revealing an innovative system for building a flat concrete roof. Moreover, remains of lead sheets, inserted in one of the best preserved specimens of the slabs, show the provision for the drainage of rain water on the exterior terrace. The technique employed is very unusual, and at the moment is not documented elsewhere in the context of Roman architecture; clearly, this arrangement was conceived and tested during the construction of the building by a particularly skilled group of workers, once again highlighting the role of Villa Adriana during Emperor Hadrian’s time as a laboratory for technical and architectural experimentation. | |
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Lancaster,Lynne | 2005 | Concrete vaulted construction in Imperial Rome | Merthod and techniques that enabled builders to construct some of the most imposing monuments of ancient Rome, focusing on structural innovative vaulting and the factors that influenced its advancement. | vaulting construction, vaulting technique |
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Martin-Talaverano, R., and Murillo-Fragero, J.I. | 2020 | Construction materials and scaffoldings during the Middle Ages: A comparative analysis of case studies in Castile and Leon, Spain (XI XVI centuries). Construction History, Vol 35 No 2, pp 1-24 | The construction technology of the Middle Ages has been analysed in several researches and, except for some studies regarding the early medieval period, most of them are generally focused on the vaults and they cover just a particular historical period. For this reason, this work has two main objectives. Firstly, to study other complementary issues of the constructive process which are also related between them, namely the amount of stone which was used in the building and the scaffolding system. Secondly, to understand the evolution of the constructive techniques during the Middle Ages thanks to a diachronic approach over several historical periods. For that purpose, a comparative analysis of six buildings has been developed, including an on-site inspection and three-dimensional modelling. Thus, specific data has been obtained and it is worth underlining that on the one hand, the constructive benefits carried out by the evolution of the vaulting system since the use of ribbed vaults (from the XIII century) have a direct relationship with the saving of material in comparison with the use of Romanesque barrel vaults. On the other hand, such a reduction in the amount of material used, together with the advances in the development of lifting machinery, could have allowed the use of lighter scaffoldings. | |
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Yazgan, E.O., and Boothby, T.E. | 2020 | Describing the historical and technical context of mill buildings around 1900: The Whiting Foundry Equipment Company Complex in Harvey, Ill. Construction History, Vol 35 No 2, pp 25-42. | This article aims to analyze a 19th century mill building in a historical and technical context. The former home of the Whiting Foundry Equipment Company is a significant industrial complex, representative of the history of manufacturing in south suburban Chicago. The nucleus of the plant, built in 1894, underwent a number of additions and modifications throughout the first half of the 20th century. The complex is significant in three categories: industrial architecture, industrial construction, and industrial expansion. It is also among the few major industrial buildings in this area that are still used for some form of manufacturing, with the majority of such buildings having been vacated and razed. A particular focus will be a linear complex known as the machine shop, built in five phases from 1894-1916. With data obtained by archival research, site surveys and comparative study, this study examines the construction history, key features, construction type, and structural components of the machine shop of this unique building complex. Beyond the details of the case study, this paper also comprises methods used for analyzing an industrial heritage site. More general conclusions concerning industrialization and industrial construction result from these studies. | industrial heritage, industrial construction, 19th century, mill building, Chicago, Harvey, Illinois |
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Cruise, R. | 2020 | The 300m Eiffel Tower: The role of a structural principle. Construction History, Vol 35 No 2, pp 43-66. | The Eiffel Tower has an iconic curved silhouette which was declared by the Tower’s designer, Gustave Eiffel, to have been determined by the pattern of wind loads acting on the Tower, using a structural principle. Adherence to this principle removed the need for cross-bracing to achieve stability, increasing the structure’s efficiency. When proposed, nothing equalling the Tower’s 300m height had ever been built and there was concern over whether wind loads at this height could be resisted, as well as the visual impact of the Tower. The principle was used to address both concerns, portraying the unusual profile as a technical necessity, rather than an aesthetic choice. However, cross-bracing has been used in the Tower’s top two-thirds, so the role of the principle in the Tower’s design isn’t completely clear. The analysis presented here demonstrates a lack of adherence to the principle in the initial proposals, a good adherence later on, but the final design shows a fundamental deviation from its use. Eiffel’s proclaimed use of the structural principle for reasons of structural efficiency can therefore be seen as a justification of the feasibility and aesthetics of the proposal, masking the uncertainties inherent in designing the tallest Tower at that time. | Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel, 1880-1900, wind loading, iron structures, design processes. |
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Kroll, D. | 2020 | Speculative House Builders as Designers: The Case of the Reader Brothers 1898-1939 in Greater London. Construction History, Vol 35 No 2, pp 67-88. | Speculative house building in the early 20th century has significantly shaped the London we know today. Yet, the design of that housing, and who was responsible for it, is still an under researched topic. One assumption expressed in the literature is that much of London’s housing before 1939 was built from pattern books without the need for architectural drawings or design. Recent studies, however, have begun to question that assumption and have shed more light on the roles, relationships and processes in housing design at the time. This paper contributes to this body of research with a case study of the Reader Brothers, a small family business of builders that constructed housing 1898-1939 in today’s Greater London. The Readers are a rare example of a firm involved in the design of speculative housing at the time and for which substantial archival material is available. This paper discusses the role of the Readers in the design and development of their houses and shows how they crossed occupational boundaries of builder, developer and designer. | Readers, builders, London, speculative, housing design, inter-war, Edwardian |
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Leslie, T. | 2020 | Fluorescent Lamps: Visual and Thermal Comfort in Modern Interiors. Construction History, Vol 35 No 2, pp 89-112. | Air conditioning’s impact on the modern office interior was immediate and profound but lost in historical concentrations on thermal comfort has been the importance of fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lamps and fixtures were key components of what Reyner Banham called “power-membrane ceilings,” key counterparts to the glass curtain walls of the 1950s and 1960s. Fluorescent lamps relied on 19th century advances, but they were spurred on by the expiration of incandescent patents in the 1930s. Keen to find new markets to corner, General Electric and Westinghouse developed commercially viable lamps that offered greater electrical and thermal efficiency. Avoiding the heat gain of incandescent lamps, however, was only part of fluorescent lamps’ impact on thermal comfort. Their cool operating temperatures allowed the use of easily-formed plastics to house them, leading to reflectors and diffusers that distributed or focused their light with precision. Fluorescent lighting’s success can be measured by the evolving standards for light levels—which leapt from 3-4 foot-candles (32-40 lux) for clerical work in 1918 to 100 foot-candles (1,000 lux) in 1960. This matched air conditioning’s influence on comfort standards as well as its ability to homogenise office floor plates,tuning light levels to tasks below and adding regimented, gridded order to open plan office floors. | Lighting, Office Planning, Interior Design, Fluorescent, Air Conditioning. |
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Madrid, J.F. | 2020 | Some notes for the history of rain-screen wall: Precedents of this constructive assembly (1950-1965). Construction History, Vol 35 No 2, pp 113-132. | This paper presents the state-of-the-art construction technology from the 1950s and 1960s (in western architecture) for the prevention of water ingress through building façades, as well as more traditional construction solutions that can be considered antecedents of the ventilated façade. Three different construction systems have been combined in the development of the rainscreen wall as a new independent façade system. The tabique pluvial, the cavity wall and the curtain wall, successively provided the mechanisms to control water ingress and condensation in a façade exposed to wind driven rain. This paper offers some case study examples - Crane (1952), Rogers (1955), Ortiz Echagüe (1956), Schaal (1961), Eichler (1969) - which exemplify the state-of-the-art technical solutions to protect façades against water, not always with the same purpose, but with designs very close to a ventilated façade. Finally, a careful chronology is established which helps to order the contributions of specialists and professionals from different cultures, who helped the invention of the ventilated façade as a new and definitive construction assembly. | Construction history, rainscreen wall, ventilated fa.ade, construction assembly, tabique pluvial, cavity wall, curtain wall. |
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Guy Lambert et Franz Graf | 2004 | The Sheds of the Voirin-Marinoni Factory in Montataire. | Industrial architecture in the Perret brothers’ work between the two wars has been well documented in the past few years. In the economic context of reconstruction, this aspect of their activity is predominant in their professional strategy. It differs markedly from the usual running of the “Perret entity,” which rests on the close association between the building firm and the architecture practice. | Perret, Reinforced Concrete, Interwar Years |
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Addis, B. | 2014 | The contribution made by the Journal Construction History towards establishing the history of construction as an academic discipline in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. iii-x | This short paper takes a look back at papers published in Construction History, the peer-reviewed journal of the Construction History Society, presenting the range of subjects covered under headings such as main theme, period of history, location of subject, type of building or other structure and aspect of the building design and construction process. In an important sense, the 179 papers published in the journal have greatly helped to define the scope of the subject during the 29 years since its first publication. Finally, this paper comments on the state of development of the history of construction in Britain, and in the wider context of the EU, towards being a fully-fledged academic discipline in the way that history of science now is. | |
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Aprea, S. | 2014 | The early German production and use of modern hydraulic binders: between English influences and the search for a scientific approach, 1817-1839 in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 1-8 | The preface to the first issue of the periodical Sammlung nützlicher Aufsätze und Nachrichten, die Baukunst betreffend published by the Preußisches Ober-Bau Departement from 1797 to 1806 can be considered as a manifesto of the technical approach to architecture. Art and science should merge together in architecture otherwise “the artist risks weirdness”, asserts one of the focal concepts of this preface. It is in such a context that the interest in hydraulic binders increases and it was driven by the need for more efficient and durable mortars in hydraulic engineering as well as for plasters and artificial stones. The ability to produce and apply efficient hydraulic binders in Germany seems to have lagged behind France and England. | |
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Beech, R. | 2014 | Form v function: the structural development of early fifteenth-century hammer-beam roofs in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 9-16 | The earliest hammer-beam roofs were carpentered in the south of England at the turn of the thirteenth century. Whether to provide clear circulation in a busy kitchen, (Bishop’s Palace, Chichester), or to provide an open area in an aisled hall (Pilgrims’ Hall, Winchester), the intent behind the new construction was to create a space uncluttered by vertical posts. Yet despite its ingenuity and utility, patrons seemed little interested in the new construction, and only five hammer-beam roofs are known to predate the 1390s. By contrast, the fifteenth century saw an explosion in hammer-beam construction. Carpenters constructed 161 such roofs in Norfolk and Suffolk alone. This paper examines what propelled this sudden upsurge in construction, and considers subsequent developments in hammer-beam carpentry. | |
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Bell, P. | 2014 | early fifteenth-century hammer-beam roofs in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 17-24 | The nineteenth century in England was a time of reaction in architecture, particularly church architecture. The Gothic Revival was a reversion to traditional patterns in liturgy, in decoration and in construction. A large part of the work of the architectural profession was the design of churches, while non-architects produced secular buildings, employing all the technical innovations that had become available during the Industrial Revolution. However there was cross-over between these two worlds, often when maverick builders with their own area of expertise were able to influence or interfere with the design of a particular church. There were also Architects, who were prepared to be more innovative than the mainstream. Cost played a part, when a cheaper method of achieving the desired architectural effect was acceptable. So advances in technology were able to leak into even this most conservative area of construction. The examples of structural innovation are categorised and examined by the material used, dealing with laminated timber, with iron and with concrete. Where possible, connections are made between the builders and engineers working elsewhere in these materials and their use in the church buildings illustrated. | |
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Byng, G. | 2014 | ‘Fabric wardens’ and the organisation of parish church construction in the late Middle Ages in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 25-34 | Between the artistic skills of medieval architects and the glamorous munificence of their patrons, the managers of late medieval and early modern church construction are a quotidian and mysterious group. Although the recent researches of Beat Kumin, Eamon Duffy, Katherine French and numerous others have thoroughly surveyed the administration of parishes in this period, they have only rarely looked beyond the financing of church construction. Historians have largely focussed their attention on the work of churchwardens, who only occasionally ran building work, and the manor court. Clive Burgess stands as an important exception to this rule, and has suggested the importance of the ‘masters’ of the parish in running construction, a point which will be further explored in this paper. | |
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Calderón-González, A. | 2014 | Strategies for the accord of Gothic and Classical stone construction systems in 16th- and 17th-century buildings in Northern Spain in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 35-46 | It is an increasingly attested fact that Gothic architecture, rather than fading away into irrelevance, kept developing through the whole sixteenth century and remained in existence much longer. Thus, the introduction of Classical aesthetics – together with a new constructive logic based on surface definition – far from causing the disappearance of the line-defined Gothic system, meant that both would reach their peak simultaneously, coexisting well into the seventeenth century. Although purely stylistic overlapping and incidental juxtaposition abound, deliberate conjunctions of both systems are rarer and have generally been overlooked. This paper will focus on these, showing how formal concerns become inextricable from construction-related issues, particularly in the need to address the accord along contact surfaces of two stereotomy systems with oft-conflicting logics, work strategies and singular points. A case study will be undertaken of buildings in Northern Spain showcasing these features. These demonstrate a range of solutions, with specific technical and aesthetic implications which will be discussed. Strategies of varying complexity have been recognized, ranging from simple instances of vault juxtaposition to the remarkable case of the Villasidro parish church, in which the search for formal continuity through the use of shared vault elements triggered a learning process, with multiple solutions being tried and perfected over time. | |
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Cardellicchio, L. | 2014 | Pier Luigi Nervi vs Fazlur Khan: the developing of the outrigger system for skyscrapers in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 47-58 | The structural development of tall buildings has been a continuously evolving process. There is a distinct structural history of tall buildings similar to the history of their architectural styles. In this structural history it might be interesting to investigate how one of the most popular system used nowadays to build super tall skyscrapers, the outrigger structure, was designed for the first time. The paper focuses on how this particular structural system was first developed, trying to link the experience of two outstanding engineers who worked after the Second World War, the Italian Pierluigi Nervi (1891–1979) and the Bangledeshi-American Fazlur Rahman Khan (1929–1982). | |
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Carvais, R. | 2014 | A digital edition of the didactic knowledge of construction: a critical edition of the courses of Antoine Desgodets, professor at the Académie Royale d’Architecture (Paris, 1719-1728) in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 59-70 | For a long time, the history of architecture was based on analyzing published treatises, rarely were there hand-written or unpublished courses. These, however, represent the first and fundamental part of knowledge passed on to future architects. Our contribution aims to present the digital edition of the courses taught at the Académie Royale d’ Architecture by Antoine Desgodets from 1719 to 1728. | |
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Chou, Y. & Theodossopoulos, D. | 2014 | Building material migration: imported brick and localization in Taiwan in the seventeenth century in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 71-80 | In certain circumstances, the evolution of architecture is highly connected with construction technique development, which in turn may be generated by external cultures. This paper gives insight to such developments by discussing how brick was established as a new imported building material into Taiwan in the 17th century under Dutch influence. Taiwan’s architectural system was essentially started by the Dutch from 1624, who built the first major permanent structures, three fortresses with associated burghs. Research into archives shows that the Dutch East India Company (VOC) brought for this purpose a new building material, brick, first by importing finished products from Southern China, then gradually moving to local production in Taiwan, which spread to several places within the island, even exporting to their strongholds in Japan. However, after the VOC left in 1662, the brick making industry supported by the VOC seems to have ended in Taiwan, as did the brick architecture. Studies in this field have concentrated on the historic aspects of the VOC presence rather than their architecture. This study attempts for the first time a comprehensive dating of the key stages based on archival research. In addition, analysis of the masonry techniques of the scant remains serves to frame the technology transfer process within the context of Dutch construction of the time. | |
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Clarke, L. | 2014 | Building by Direct Labour: the significance of Direct Labour Organisations (DLOs) in the provision of public housing in the UK 1890-1980 in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 81-90 | “When the honourable member says that the number of completed houses is not so great as he had hoped it would be, he must enquire for the reason into the organisation of the building industry, and not in the government’s plan for housing” Aneurin Bevan 1946 This statement by Aneurin Bevan well expresses some of the innate limitations of the private construction industry under capitalism to meet housing need and hence the reason why, at different periods of time in Britain over the past 120 years since 1894, local authorities have taken the responsibility for building with their own direct labour forces – or Direct Labour Organisations, DLOs, as they came to be known. These periods have tended to coincide with major social housebuilding programmes, including the first social housing under the Housing of the Working Classes Act in the 1890s, and then again after the first and second world wars, and – to an extent – with the Labour government in the 1960s. The role of the local authorities and the building workers they employed has thus been critical to the successful realization of public sector investment in social housing and public infrastructure construction, including the repair and maintenance of the public building stock. | |
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Dekeyser, L. & Verdonck, A. | 2014 | Knowledge transfer of vernacular finishing techniques in the interwar period: on the history of cimorné render in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 91-100 | This paper sheds light on cimorné render and technique, the cimorné company and its founder. Moreover, the geographical spread of this technique and accompanying transfer of know how amongst contractors is questioned and investigated. | |
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Domin, C. | 2014 | Hang the roof: building the aerial site in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 101-12 | A technologically innovative culture of architecture developed along the West Coast of Florida, USA immediately after World War II. Sarasota, FL became the epicenter for a regionally specific and technologically astute strain of post-war modernism in the United States. Paul Rudolph (1918-97) and Victor Lundy (1923-) both established architectural practices in Sarasota in the 1950s after graduating from Harvard University Graduate School of Design under the direction of Walter Gropius. Each separately began to produce a body of work that was fed by healthy competition and critical friction supplied by a robust cohort of young architects in the area. As a result, Lundy and Rudolph forged a unique trajectory for their generation and continue to inspire innovative work. | |
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Fleming, P., Singler S. & Ramage M. | 2014 | Construction history and alteration of the oak roof structure of the Sidney Sussex College Hall in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 113-20 | In the following paper we present a study on the roof structure of the Sidney Sussex College Hall in Cambridge. The tie-and-collar-beam roof was originally constructed in the last decade of the sixteenth century as an exposed oak structure. Since its construction, however, the roof has undergone significant alterations, in part to address structural concerns, but also to attract more students by remodeling the College to make it appear more ‘fashionable’ in the eighteenth century. The original Elizabethan timber structure was at that time hidden behind a Rococo ceiling that still defines the space today. To better understand the roof’s original construction and later conversion, we have performed on-site measurements, including the location and dimensions of key structural components and joints. Archival drawings also provide valuable insight into the roof’s history and complement observations made onsite. The documentation and analysis of this roof presents a case study for the transitional period in English carpentry in the seventeenth century and brings to light a little-known but wonderfully wrought timer roof. | |
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Fuertes Dopico, O. & Madrid, J. F. | 2014 | The traditional wooden shipyards on the northwest coast of Spain in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 121-30 | Wooden boat building (known in Portugal and Spain as “Carpinteria de Ribera”) is today a traditional activity with a craft characteristic carried out by small companies dedicated to the construction, repair and maintenance of small boats where wood is the major element of construction. The traditional shipyards are located in strategic places along the northwest of Spain and in the Atlantic seaboard. All countries of the Atlantic seaboard have a similar historical evolution of boatbuilding, but only in Galicia (Spanish autonomous community in the northwest) are there shipyards that still build wooden boats for the fishing industry. The shipwright built their shipyard with the same tools and technology used to build a boat. Originally the shipyard started as a small facility to store tools and materials, but finally become a building which provided shelter during the process of building the craft. In this way the traditional shipyards are directly linked to the conservation of the local culture and landscape, and are part of the ethnographic heritage of the Galician coast. It was in the late nineteenth century when they started to settle down and build their own shipyards: wooden structures, primarily large airy decks like upside down ships, perfectly prepared to withstand strong gusts of wind and to shelter both the carpenter and the boat from the rain in winter and the sun in summer. This paper presents a study of the shipyards still present in Galicia and focuses on the analysis of the structural similarities of both constructions: the boat and the shipyard. | |
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García-Ares, J. A. & Tellia, F. | 2014 | Some instances of arch and vaulting construction at the New York Public Library in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 131-44 | On May 24th, 1911, the main branch of the New York Public Library opened its doors to the public. Its architects John Merven Carrère and Thomas Hastings had both studied architecture in Paris at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and met later in New York when working for McKim Mead & White. From there they moved on to set up their own practice and become well established architects. In 1897, with a bold design in their own fresh Beaux-Arts style, they won the competition to design the New York Public Library building beating their former employers. This was to become their masterpiece and, as their best works, coupled monumentality with practicality. | |
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Gelder, J. | 2014 | Two Egyptian curves revisited in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 145-56 | Construction drawings of two vault curves survive from ancient Egypt. One has been described in the literature as an arc of a circle, with most authorities agreeing on a 5 cubit radius, and the other as an arc of an ellipse constructed using a pair of 3:4:5 right-angled triangles. Again, this has been accepted by most authorities. The contention here is that both curves actually describe arcs of a circle of 6 cubit radius. This would mean that there is no hard evidence that the ancient Egyptians understood the construction of true ellipses. | |
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Gilento, P. | 2014 | A proposal for cataloguing the building techniques in Roman-Byzantine and Islamic Jordanian Hawr!n. Stratigraphy and Chrono-typology: the Umm as-Surab village in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 157-68 | The Building Archaeology in Jordan project is focused on the study of Roman-Byzantine and Islamic architecture in Jordan. [3] Directed by Professor Roberto Parenti, this multidisciplinary project is funded by the University of Siena and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan. One of the project’s topics is the analysis of building techniques and materials of the Provincia Arabia from the Nabataean period to Umayyad times. One of the goals is to compare the large ‘local’ eastern building traditions with Roman building techniques. In three seasons (2009, 2011, 2012) we focused our research on the Umm as-Surab site and on the northern area of Jordan (Mafraq governorate), studying building techniques and materials with archaeological and archaeometric tools (mortar analysis) and developing a new approach to the building survey of complex sites with photogrammetric tools to obtain high-definition 3D models of buildings and surfaces. | |
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Gonzalez-Longo, C. | 2014 | The transformation of Drumlanrig Castle at the end of seventeenth-century in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 169-80 | The transformation of Drumlanrig Castle between 1679-98 makes it one of the most original and interesting buildings of its time in Britain. It was carried out at almost the same time as the Royal Palace of Holyrood, whose design, construction and procurement influenced the making of Drumlanrig. James Smith, one of the mason-contractors at Holyrood, went to work at Drumlanrig as an independent architect for the first time, providing a unique design that was in continuity with local practices but also aware of contemporary Continental architectural developments. The careful selection of craftsmen, techniques and materials make this building one of the finest in Scotland. Although the original drawings and accounts of the project have now disappeared, it is possible to trace the history of its design and construction through a series of documents and drawings at Drumlanrig Castle and by looking at the building itself. This paper will unravel the transformation of the building at the end of seventeenth-century, identifying the people, skills, materials, technologies and practices involved and discussing how the design ideas were implemented during the construction. | |
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Govaerts, Y. et al | 2014 | The introduction of ready-mix rendering mortars for stone imitation in Belgium [1920-1940] in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 181-90 | In the late nineteenth century, the introduction of Portland cement led to innovative compositions towards decorative rendering mortars. These finishes were often developed as a substitute for other, more expensive materials, like sandstone. In order to create an almost perfect imitation of a natural stone masonry, imitation renders were frequently applied on façades. After roughening the texture, simulated joints were drawn into the wet surface. These artisanal imitation mortars were prepared on site by craftsmen, according to their own formula and skills. Generally such mortars contained lime, white cement, crushed stone and mica particles. Due to variations in composition and application technique, almost none of these façade finishes had an identical appearance. According to Belgian architectural periodicals and plasterer’s manuals (1900-1940), ready-mix mortars gained popularity after World War I. Adding water to these dry prefabricated mixtures resulted in a uniform stone-like surface, which met the standard requirements. This paper sheds light on successfully imported foreign ready-mix mortars, such as Terranova, but also on innovative Belgian renders like Dura and Supra. Knowledge of how these stone imitating renders have been used, manufactured, mixed and applied is essential to propose viable restoration strategies. By means of written historic sources such as journals, patents, manuals and advertisements, this paper will focus on the technical aspects of the mentioned ready-mix renders and their related socio-cultural background. | |
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Greco, L. | 2014 | The evolution of building techniques in the Italian Alpine context from the 1950s-1960s. The case of the Church in Corte di Cadore by Edoardo Gellner and Carlo Scarpa (1956-1961) in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 191-200 | Alpine architecture in Italy underwent a powerful development in the twentieth century consequent to the diffusion of winter sports. During this period, the repertoire of architectural types and construction techniques revealed a renewal that took into account the general evolution in the Italian context. The phenomenon was more intense in the Alps during the period from the 1950s to the mid-1960s, affecting both the residential sector and hotels, in concurrence with the advancement of tourism. The progress of building construction dealt with the utilization of steel, the employment of cast in situ reinforced concrete elements and precast processes, the improvement of systems, and the development of exterior wall insulation methods. In this frame of reference the use of reinforced concrete techniques increased, whose effectiveness in renewing the aesthetic and technical paradigms of buildings was predominant over other issues, which for several reasons were less significant. | |
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Heath, J. & Miller, J. | 2014 | A history of structural defects and repairs, the Iron Bridge, Shropshire in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 201-08 | The Iron Bridge at Ironbridge in Shropshire was the first cast iron highway bridge in the world. The idea and form were conceived by the architect Thomas Farnolls Pritchard in 1773, inspired by the revolution that had been unfolding in Coalbrookdale, and encouraged by John Wilkinson, an ironmaster. However, Pritchard died in 1777 just as construction of the bridge started. As the project proceeded, the responsibility of financing and for the delivery fell progressively upon the ironmaster and shareholder, Abraham Darby III, whose grandfather had first used coke instead of charcoal to fuel the production of pig iron in the valley. The iron structure of the bridge was raised in the summer of 1779, although delay in completing the very substantial stone abutments, constructed after the ironwork, meant that the crossing did not open until New Year’s Day in 1781. The structural form of the bridge, with its concentric semi-circular skeleton, is widely accepted as an icon of the industrial revolution. However, as a prototype for cast iron it suffered from shortcomings in the original structural concept, features that were better resolved in the cast iron bridges that followed within twenty years. In particular, there was excessive redundancy and this, coupled with the inherently inflexible material, made it unable to easily accommodate movement. The result has been a structure that has accumulated extensive defects. | |
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Heyman, J. | 2014 | Wren’s domes in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 209-18 | Wren introduced domes into England, and three different features of these may be distinguished in his designs. First, masonry domes could be used to roof very much larger areas than was possible with Romanesque or Gothic vaults, and Wren (with Hooke) was concerned to find the correct structural shape for such domes. A prime example is of course to be found in St Paul’s Cathedral. Second, smaller spaces (but still relatively large) could be given the appearance of having a domed roof, when in reality the dome was non-structural and depended from a timber framework above. Two examples are to be found among the 51 parish churches in London rebuilt by the Wren practice after the Great Fire. Finally, in several of the rebuilt churches, the dome has no structural function, and is used as a decorative element. | |
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Holzer, S. M. | 2014 | Mixing concrete – remarks on the early history of modern concrete in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 219-30 | The early history of concrete, that is to say, the development from 16th century Vitruvianism to the middle of the 19th century, has received very little attention since Collins’ groundbreaking monography. This present article aims to provide some additional insight into this topic | |
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How, C. | 2014 | The British cut clasp nail in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 231-38 | The cut clasp nail was the most common type of cut nail in general use in Britain for more than a century, and its different forms provide clues to dating building stages between 1815 and 1920. Nails found in a building present a useful matrix of dating information arising from their individual chronologies. This paper, based on field and literature research, identifies the various forms of British clasp nails with the aim of adding to the various dating spectra that nails provide. British cut nails owe some aspects to American ingenuity, but they quickly took a different developmental path. During the 1790s, the Americans had concentrated on developing a range of lighter cut nails suited to softwoods. These offered possible ways to resolve nailed connections in Britain where there was an increasing reliance on imported softwoods. Cut nails, however, for some time posed a problem for both the British home market and the growing demands of the colonies, since the American product lacked the necessary strength for use in hardwoods. Australia in particular rejected these American cut nails as they broke in the hard eucalypt timbers. The British solution to the common problems then went through several datable stages, traced below. | |
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Lucey, C. | 2014 | The developer, the builder, his contractors and their tradesmen in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 239-48 | Since the publication of Sir John Summerson’s seminal Georgian London in 1945, our understanding of the ‘typical’ eighteenth-century terraced house and its construction has grown exponentially. In recent decades historians have addressed its myriad social, material and economic contexts including, but not limited to, emerging capitalist modes of building production and the corresponding impact on labour process; the methods and materials of individual building and decorating trades; and the financial independence and social mobility achieved through property speculation. Others have endeavoured to broaden the scope of enquiry beyond aristocratic housing, or have considered the historical implications of house building for early modern urbanization. However, beyond describing the principle of contracting labour, and the importance of site organisation and managerial competence, the particulars of the contracting and subcontracting system – the social mechanism by which houses and terraces were actually realized – have yet to be fully elucidated. With particular reference to Dublin’s Mountjoy Square and tributary streets, this paper will consider the following questions: how were houses built by contract – who contracted with whom? Did commerce or mutuality define these working relationships? How did the practice of contracting and subcontracting impact on the scale of business portfolios? Who were the most successful figures in the city’s house-building industry? Synthesizing archival evidence from a variety of sources, in particular the accounts of the measurer Bryan Bolger (c1758–1834), this paper will examine the correlation between building networks and building houses. | |
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Mändel, M. | 2014 | Dreaming of a cementless future: the story of silicalcite in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 249-56 | Today calcium silicate boards are mostly known as fireproof insulation material. However, in the Soviet Union, calcium silicatewas were widely used for large construction elements as an important alternative to concrete panels. After World War II, the acute shortage of building materials in the USSR, resulting from the devastation of war and the rapid growth of industrial cities, contributed to the developement of low-cost and local materials. Building materials made of lime and sand became a promising field of developement. Lime and sand were cheap and their deposits plentiful all over the USSR. Besides widespread calcium silicate bricks, large blocks, panels and other products came into use. Silicalcite, a new material invented in Estonia, was perhaps the most intriguing and ambitious among other sand and lime–based materials. Despite its significant role in the Soviet Union at the time, silicalcite has remained unknown among researchers of construction history outside of the Eastern Bloc. The aim of the current paper is to fill in this gap and to provide insight into the fascinating story of silicalcite, its rise and fall, and to explain the novelty of the technology, as well as to discuss its position in construction history. | |
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McWilliam, R. C. | 2014 | Transferring construction technology and conflicts of interest - a century ago in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 257-62 | The paper arises from the author’s role in the Editorial Board of the Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers, which is currently examining the period from 1890 until 1920. Many ambiguities seemed to have been tolerated through this period. Individual biographies bring out interesting examples. The example selected is Thomas Aitken (1856-1918). He was able to have four concurrent careers all associated with building and maintaining highways at a time when catering for motor vehicles began to be considered. His achievements in the “silent majority” of British civil engineers, who had little to do with the elites in Westminster with their influential imperial connections, were remarkable. His four careers as County Surveyor, technical author, consultant and contractor resulted in certain ‘conflicts of interest’ – but it was a very effective way of transferring technology in a hurry. Was he simply a man of his time or is there a case for more contemporary changes in construction technology being accelerated by concentrating on outcomes while ignoring bureaucratic niceties? | |
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Méndez, F. J. R. | 2014 | Spatial unification of Romanesque churches in Zamora and its influence on the buttress system in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 263-72 | In addition to the Cathedral in Zamora there are twenty-two Romanesque churches registered, erected between the eleventh and the thirteenth centuries. The most common typology – visible in twelve of these churches – is a single nave, with the body wider than its chevet and without a visible transept. Of the other ten churches, originally with three naves, only one has remained intact. The other nine at some point underwent what we refer to as "spatial unification" by removing the interior columns in the interests of providing more light and clarity. The churches of San Juan and San Ildefonso showcase this perfectly, because of their size and the diversity of solutions. The purpose of this paper is to study the consequences brought about by "spatial unification" of the buttress system, the tectonic structure and the configuration of Zamora´s churches. Ultimately, this research includes archiving and planimetric activity, as well as focusing on structural stability. | |
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Mobus, M. | 2014 | Surviving late payments: strategies of Christopher Wren’s masons from Burford in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 273-80 | This paper looks at the problem through the experience of three dynasties of stonemasons from Burford, Oxfordshire: the Strongs, Kempsters, and Beauchamps. After the Great Fire, these stonemasons went to London and took on many late paying contracts. The Strongs, working two quarries near Burford, were established masons and stone suppliers of regional importance. By contrast, Christopher Kempster, also in possession of a Burford quarry, was the first of his dynasty. Ephraim Beauchamp, born in 1661, was the latecomer to this group. The outstanding masons were Thomas Strong and his brother Edward, whose son Edward succeeded him; Christopher Kempster and his son William; and Ephraim Beauchamp. They rapidly rose to become Wren’s foremost masons. Of the fifty-one churches rebuilt in the City of London after the Great Fire, these three dynasties were involved in almost half of them. All were mason-contractors at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Strongs for over forty years having the distinction of laying the first stone and the last. | |
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Moksnes, J. | 2014 | Concrete Platforms in the North Sea – a golden era for development of advanced concrete structures in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 281-88 | A total of 25 concrete Gravity Base Structures of different designs and sizes, supporting large drilling, production and storage facilities, have been delivered to international oil and gas industry in the North Sea from 1973 to 1995. From the early stages of being prototype structures with no history related to offshore oil and gas production, the concrete GBS is now a proven concept with known characteristics and impressive service records. National and international Codes and Recommendations for design and construction have been developed over these years, and much progress has been made with respect to design, materials and construction methods to ensure satisfactory performance and durability in very severe marine environments. The early North Sea platforms have been in operation for 40 years and the concrete hulls will perform with little maintenance for many years to come. The history of the concrete GBS illustrates the ability of the construction industry to recognize opportunities and meet new and challenging demands, to adapt to a new set of clients to work together to develop Codes to ensure safe and predictable performance. | |
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Nozhova, E. | 2014 | Timber hyperbolic lattice structures: Shukhov revisited in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 289-300 | In 1899 the polymath engineer Vladimir Shukhov (1853–1939) was awarded a patent in Russia covering the principles he had devised for hyperbolic lattice towers. In their construction, these hyperbolic towers are an assembly of straight elements connected together by complex three-dimensional joints, whose full geometry is difficult to discern in the extant (orthographic) drawings. Until now, only structures made of metal were thought to have been built. A research group at the IDB ETH Zurich has found presumably the only surviving wooden structure built according to Shukhov’s structural principles. In the course of investigations into the design of timber structures in Soviet Russia, another (unrealised) project for a timber hyperbolic water tower from 1932 was unearthed. This paper sets out to analyse these unique structures. | |
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O’Dwyer, D. & Cox, R. | 2014 | Old Ennisnag Bridge in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 301-12 | This paper begins with a brief synopsis of previous work on Irish medieval bridges, particularly the work of O’Keeffe and Simington on stone bridges, before detailing some recent discoveries. The evidence for the forms of Irish medieval bridges and the techniques used in their construction comes from a variety of sources, including surviving structures, archaeological investigations and, in some limited cases, early texts. The paper presents a case study of the medieval bridge at Ennisnag. Ennisnag is approximately six miles south of Kilkenny on the old road from Kilkenny to Waterford. The bridge crosses the King’s river close to where it flows into the river Nore. The paper considers the situation of the bridge and relates the characteristics of the bridge to features found in other early medieval bridges. The bridge is one of very few bridges that retain evidence of the wattle centring used to form the barrel vault. This technique was also used to construct vaults in ecclesiastical buildings, castles and keeps. The link with ecclesiastical buildings is of particular importance given that many surviving medieval bridges are located close to monastic sites. | |
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O’Dwyer, D., Cummins, J. & Cox, R. | 2014 | John Rennie’s Dublin cast-iron trusses in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 313-22 | This paper examines the genesis of the early cast-iron trusses designed by John Rennie (1761-1821) for the Stack A Warehouse, in Dublin’s Dockland. The Stack A building (now known as the CHQ building) is located beside George’s Dock near Dublin’s International Financial Services Centre. The building was erected in 1820 and the trusses used to support the roof are an early example of the use of iron for roof trusses. The building was designed as a fireproofed warehouse and was used as a bonded tobacco store for many years. The Stack A trusses are of particular interest for two reasons. Firstly, they illustrate the move from timber to cast iron, shown by the adoption of joints that are derived from traditional timber construction. Rennie had designed and constructed similar warehouse buildings with both timber and iron roof trusses previous to his Dublin designs and a comparison with these earlier structures gives an insight into the development of the later cast-iron trusses. Secondly, the Dublin trusses were constructed before the widespread use of truss analysis techniques, such as those developed and publicised by Bow and others. However, static equilibrium was well understood by 1820. John Rennie had received lectures from John Robison (1739-1805) when he attended the University of Edinburgh and remained a friend and correspondent until Robison’s death. Robison published on methods of calculating the internal forces in wooden frames and on the static analysis of masonry arches and there is evidence that Rennie collaborated with Robison on some of these works. This paper investigates the extent to which Rennie is likely to have applied calculation in the design of the Dublin trusses. The analysis and design of Rennie’s trusses is considered against the development of similar structures and the general advent of engineering calculation that was underway at that time. | |
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Pan, Y. & Campbell, J. | 2014 | Timber supply in colonial China, 1840-1940 in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 323-32 | After the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century, the British brought many of the ideas of the Industrial Revolution to Imperial China. The Treaty Ports, as the intersection of Chinese and Western cultures played a crucial role in introducing Western technology. This article shows that, perhaps surprisingly, the supply of timber provided the impetus for the wider adoption of western forms of carpentry construction such as purlin roofs with king-post trusses. It also illustrates the story of how the competition between timber suppliers ultimately led to Chinese nationalist back lash. This article brings together four sources for the first time: (a) the Chinese literature and visual records for Chinese timber trades; (b) the accounts on forestry published in the early 20th century by R. Rosenbluth (1912), N. Shaw (1914) and Y. Tang (1935); (c) early articles from the China Year Book (1912-1939), etc.; (d) and Chinese building construction manuals published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The last few decades since 1985 have witnessed an increasing interest in the architecture of the Treaty Ports. Although general works on the appearance of the colonial buildings in China are abundant, how these buildings were constructed — and the relationship between Chinese and Western techniques— remains largely unexplored. The combined construction methods, which marked the one hundred years’ Chinese building history under Western influence, had its origins in the two parallel systems: the Western and Chinese building construction traditions. This article concentrates on one aspect of this broader question: the relationship between the supply of a particularly important building material, timber, and its use in building construction. | |
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Pérez-de-los-Ríos, C. & Rabasa-Díaz. E. | 2014 | Stretched templates in Gothic tas-de-charge construction in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 333-42 | A tas-de-charge is the springing of Gothic vaults, where ribs are not yet separate, and their mouldings may intersect or interpenetrate. Tas-de-charge form part of the wall or the support, and consist of several pieces with horizontal courses, except the last one which ends with a sloped surface in order to connect with the rest of the arch. In theory, the horizontal and sloped cross-sections are different; however, this does not seem to have been a problem for Gothic builders, who either used or avoided stretched templates for the horizontal courses depending on each specific case. The presence of this topic in treatises is not common; the only historical drawings of a Gothic tas-decharge with stretched templates are contained in the manuscript of Joseph Gelabert, a Spanish treatise from the 17th century. Archaeologist Robert Willis made a fundamental contribution in this field: he was the first to explain the construction of this part of the vault. His analysis was based on the observation of the shape of the pieces in the vaults and their location. When dealing with disassembled details, he could also measure and study traces that still remained in the pieces. The example measured and explained by Willis will be critically analysed in this paper; as will other cases where the use of stretched templates has been attested or would have been necessary. Variables making the use of stretched templates either essential or unnecessary will also be pointed out. Some are the result of practical experiences in tas-de-charge building, and others of full station surveys of actual, historical buildings. | |
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Pliego de Andrés, E. & A.S. Álvarez | 2014 | Robert Willis’ contribution to understanding the Gothic Flamboyant style in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 343-54 | Our paper analyses the contribution of the British scholar Robert Willis to the knowledge of the Flamboyant style. His early interest in this architectural style has scarcely been considered until today. In 1832 Robert Willis travelled across a great part of France, Germany and Italy. He published the results of this trip in 1835 as Remarks on the architecture of the Middle Ages, especially of Italy. Trying to determine the origin of the Gothic style, Willis offered observations that provide an interesting comparative review of the characteristics of the Gothic style in Europe, mainly in France, Germany, England and Italy. Probably this travel and publication led him to develop this subject further in his 1840 essay On the Characteristic Interpenetrations of the Flamboyant Style, that has remained largely unnoticed in the historiography of the Flamboyant style and even in the research on Robert Willis’ writings until now. | |
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Pugnale, A. & Bologna, A. | 2014 | Dante Bini’s air structures (1964-1979). From early Italian prototypes to the Australian experience in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 355-66 | The construction of concrete shells has always been a difficult and expensive procedure. Preparation of complex formworks, as well as placement of curved reinforcing rods, requires experience and increases the overall cost. Building concrete shells is even more of a concern within the Australian context, where the use of simple and rapid technologies has always been a priority. In the Sixties, Italian architect Dante Bini developed and patented a form-finding and construction technique that aimed to solve this issue, the so-called “Binishells”. This paper investigates Dante Bini’s system, from its conception within the Italian environment until its international success in the USA and Australia | |
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Robson, K.F. & Ghosh, S. | 2014 | Lean principles in the design and construction of the Empire State Building in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 367-76 | The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world when it was officially opened on May 1, 1931. It held that distinction for over 40 years. In 20 months the building was designed, engineered, permitted, demolition of an existing building completed, and the building constructed. At the peak of construction, framework rose 4 ! floors a week. Starrett Bros. & Eken was the general contractor for the Empire State Building, and the project was completed on time and under budget. In order to complete the Empire State Building under the allotted 18 months schedule, Starrett Bros. & Eken employed innovative construction methods and techniques. Many of these construction methods qualify as tools of lean construction practiced in today’s construction industry. Comparing the design and construction processes adopted in the Empire State Building with the underlying concepts of lean construction, it is evident that several lean construction principles were employed in the project, a quarter of a century before lean concepts were formalized by Engineer Ohno at Toyota. Using books, archives and historical records, this paper examines the design and construction processes of the Empire State Building and compares them with the lean construction methodologies that are increasingly employed in the construction industry today. | |
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Smyth, F. | 2014 | Acoustic Design in the 1930s: Robinson and Keefe’s Church of Corpus Christi, Dublin in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 377-90 | Bagenal’s early survey work was particularly concerned with ecclesiastic buildings. Documenting the acoustic response of each building and its component materials with respect to octaves of the musical scale and to different vocal ranges was a critical aspect of his work. He was adamant that in buildings where music formed an integral function, the practice of averaging acoustic analysis to mid-frequency values was insufficient, arguing that “the whole frequency range must be considered.” The practical implications for acoustic design which emerged from this research path were to find expression in a number of civic and ecclesiastic buildings across Britain and Ireland. One of these buildings is the Church of Corpus Christ on Griffith Avenue in Dublin. Hope Bagenal was contracted as an acoustic consultant for the landmark church by its architect John Robinson in 1938,Thus acoustic behaviour was graphed in a manner which displayed the “reverberation characteristic”. This was essentially a time-frequency curve which recorded fluctuations in reverberation time across a frequency range which extended from 60 to 30,000 cycles (Hertz). | |
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Stoppioni, B. | 2014 | New technologies for a new society: German museum architecture after 1945 in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 391-402 | WWII reduced Germany to a pile of rubble. The situation got worse with the painful division of the country into two sister, but antagonistic republics. In both states a spiritual search into a new identity was propelled, an identity that would be able to erase the shameful Nazi past and the misery of the present. In the German Federal Republic (GFR) these issues became reflected within the design of the museums that were being built since the fifties, during the so-called “economic miracle”. The new requirements of exposition and conservation of the artworks induced a virtuous alliance between socialanthropological needs and technical innovations, with which architects and engineers were experimenting in the numerous construction sites of this period. The aim of this paper is to inquire how the museum architecture in the GFR – spanning between 1945- 1968 – could be considered a mirror reflecting the rebirth of this country, both in the exterior shape of the museums and in the technological solutions adopted. The museum Wilhelm Lehmbruck in Duisburg, the subject of my doctoral thesis, represents a useful instrument to explore this field. Its rich and unpublished archival documentation can explain the motivations behind the choice and adjustment of some construction systems, that were typical of German architecture after 1945, such as raw concrete and large glass walls. This page of the history of architecture has been mainly investigated by German scholars since the eighties. My intention is to look at these studies with a new perspective, that could highlight the role of the new technologies in this context. | |
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Theodossopoulos, D. | 2014 | Stone barrel vaulting in late medieval churches in Scotland in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 403-12 | This paper explores the construction characteristics and structural design of plain stone barrel vaults built to roof a new type of single-nave churches in Scotland in the 15th century, such as Dunglass Collegiate Church in 1423, Seton Collegiate Church in 1492, St. Salvator’s Chapel in St. Andrews in 1450, Corstorphine in 1429 and Ladykirk in 1500. Four case studies are surveyed (Dunglass, Seton, Corstorphine, Ladykirk) and their geometry is analysed to assess their design, construction quality and structural efficiency. The analysis demonstrates a very good quality control and a consistent approach to the simplification of the pointed profile developed in cross vaults. | |
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Toso, F. C. | 2014 | An alpine hydroelectric construction site. Works for the utilisation of hydraulic resources in Alta Valtellina 1907-1930 in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 413-22 | In 1906, in the wake of the municipalisation of the electric supply for urban lighting and tramway networks in the city of Milan, the municipality opted to expand the city’s productive capabilities by buying the rights for the utilisation of the hydraulic resources of the river Adda, in the Alta Valtellina valley. For the aptly founded company, Azienda Elettrica Municipale (AEM), it was the start of a century-long process of infrastructure building, which shows the evolution of technical and construction systems in hydraulic engineering and has had a defining impact on the landscape of the valley. The research has involved examining the surviving correspondence, technical and photographic documentation, offering an overview of the construction techniques and of the organisation of the construction site. It shows the rapid introduction of new technology in relation to the hydraulic works, especially under the supervision of the first national committee on large dams, while highlighting a reluctance to the introduction of new languages for the architecture of the power station. | |
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Van de Voorde, S., Bertels I. & Wouters, I. | 2014 | The emergence of a new generation of building products in post-war Belgium. The case of lightweight concrete in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 423-34 | According to a survey in 1969, only two per cent of the houses in Belgium were constructed using industrialized building techniques. This percentage is significantly lower than in other countries such as the UK, France, Germany and Eastern Europe, where 10 to 30 per cent of the houses were constructed with industrialized building methods. The reason for this low percentage in Belgium is often sought in ‘the habits, the everyday routine and the scepticism of the people towards everything that is new and hasn’t proven its worth yet.’ If we take a closer look at the Belgian building industry, in particular the house building sector, we can find underlying and related causes to account for this. As we will explain in the first part of this paper, one of the main reasons can be found in the general structure and organization of the Belgian building industry; in addition, also the government policy, the traditional Belgian housing typology and the interaction between public bodies, owners, architects and builders lead to the use of certain types of building products and methods. The second part of this paper will elaborate on how knowledge of the new or improved building materials and techniques was disseminated through architectural journals, being one of the most appropriate mediums to reach a wide audience. Finally, we will focus on one specific category of this new generation of building products, namely lightweight concrete. Starting from articles in the periodical press, we will elaborate on how, why, when and where lightweight concrete was developed, marketed and used in the Belgian house building sector. | |
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Wall, C. | 2014 | Recording the ‘building world’: how oral history transforms construction history in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 435-44 | What emerges with great clarity from the oral histories is the high esteem given to site managers who were able to turn their hands to solving practical problems on site. All the interviewees remembered, and praised, J.P. Morgan, the project manager, as someone who spent most of his time out on site with the men and who frequently grabbed tools from people if he thought he could make a better job of it. He was also renowned for his skill in ‘faking’ the grain on concrete in order to cover up the very few areas which were spoilt. By using the life-history approach to interviewing it was possible for each respondent to recount the way in which they entered the building industry, again revealing the importance of early years spent as manual workers in a trade and education received from technical college. It was this specific skill and knowledge that enabled them not just to become effective site managers but also to innovate at site level, for as Glan Davis put it, the architects and engineers were responsible for, ‘where the walls were, they designed the cavity, they designed the pattern, but not how to do it. We had to find the way of doing it’. | |
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Weber, C. | 2014 | »Ich traue der reinen Rechnung nicht, wenn diese nicht am Modell überprüft werden kann (I cannot trust the pure calculation, if this cannot be verified with a model)« Frei Otto and model testing in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 445-58 | The Südwestdeutsche Archiv für Architektur und Ingenieurbau at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) took over the collection of architect, designer, researcher, and visionary Frei Otto in June 2011. The inventory comprises more than 400 models, and is thus among the most comprehensive twentiethcentury model collections in Germany. Since 1980, approximately twenty of Otto’s models have been the property of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum. This abundance of models is evidence of Otto’s passion for model making, which was so greatly admired by his colleagues. Since it was nearly impossible to draw the forms of the structures that he developed with precision, he needed the models as a medium “to materialize the idea”. Models were thus employed at all phases of the design process: as presentation models, as form-finding models, and finally as measurement models on which the forces within the structure could be measured. Yet in what way did models define Frei Otto’s work? His model-based designs meant that he was just as much at home in the art of architecture as he was in the science of civil engineering. The following will examine the extent to which he adopted and applied methods developed in the field of civil engineering. | |
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Wendland, D., Alonso, M.A. & Kobe, A. | 2014 | The vault with curvilinear ribs in the “Hall of Arms” in the Albrechtsburg Meissen: studies on the concept, design and construction of a complex late Gothic rib vault in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 459-68 | During the 14th and 15th centuries, the challenge of creating vaulted ceilings lead to ever more complex solutions in late Gothic architecture. These ambitious, astonishing and sometimes daring constructions rank amongst the finest masterpieces of architecture – extremely demanding from the structural point of view and particularly challenging in their geometric design. Their builders managed to overcome the difficulties of planning the complicated meshes of ribs soaring along spatial curves, providing instructions for the production of their single components and their assembly on the building site, and achieving a curved vault surface which corresponds to the equilibrium condition of shell structures. The discussion on how the design and planning of these structures was performed and how their construction process was organized, has been so far largely based on sources (some of them dating from long after late Gothic architecture was practised), and in particular on their interpretation as established in the 19th century. At this point, it appears necessary to formulate hypotheses on the design directly from the built artefact, and on this basis attempt a re-interpretation of the known drawings and treatises century. However, this current state of research can be shown to be in contrast with the evidence of many of the actual built objects. For this approach it is also necessary to deal with the methodological challenges of using the building as source. One of the objects analyzed in this on-going research is the vault with curvilinear ribs in the Albrechtsburg at Meissen (Germany), which is presented here as work in progress. | |
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Wouters, I. & Bertels, I. | 2014 | Production and assembly marks in wrought iron structures in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 469-74 | Literature covers carpentry marks in timber structures from medieval times to the twentieth century. In timber structures one can distinguish marks related to the shippers and importers who would add marks referring to the quality or the cubic content of the balk. The master adds assembly marks and direction tags to ease erection. Although information on marks in iron is scarce, we can find a similar pattern: marks related to the place of fabrication indicating the quality, marks related to the ironworks and to the assembly of the structure. | |
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Yeomans, D. & Harrison, H. | 2014 | The construction and structure of medieval gates in Campbell, J. et al, Proceedings of the First Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 475-83 | The construction of doors and large solid gates from the medieval to the Tudor periods has received little attention except for a brief survey by Cecil Hewett. These are sometimes very heavy timber structures and the structural problem is to prevent their racking. Early doors were of plank construction and the change to framed structures seems to be associated with an understanding of the performance of frames and how they might be strengthened by the addition of bracing members. Three types of door can be distinguished: early planked doors, framed doors and triple skin doors. This paper provides an outline of their development and discusses their structural behaviour. | |
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Addis, Bill | 2015 | The epistemology of engineering design as a contribution to construction history in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 3-10 | This paper describes an approach to studying the history of building design methods and processes which draws together various strands of construction history and which helps understand how building design methods have progressed. In the paper the term ‘building designer’ is generally used, rather than the more specialised terms ‘architect’ and ‘engineer’. This makes it easier to look back across the last two or three millennia and to avoid the distracting and often specious arguments about whether someone in ancient Rome or Renaissance Florence was an architect or an engineer or both. The following discussion focuses attention largely on the design of buildings, although it could equally apply to the design of fortifications, harbours, bridges and other civil engineering works. Also, the discussion tends to consider the design of structural elements of buildings rather than the building envelope and heating, ventilation or internal room acoustics, since there is more historical material relating to the former than the latter. | |
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Giron, J. | 2015 | Understanding Roman construction before A Choisy: Piranesi and his influence on Rondelet in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 11-22 | This paper is an introduction to a more extensive article that attempts to demonstrate that throughout the 19th century Piranesi’s work was regarded as a valuable and reputable reference on ancient Roman construction. His influence can be detected in the work of his early successors and even in the first ever published book that displayed a systematic approach to representing the history of Roman construction by A. Choisy. The article argues that contrary to what some critics have believed, Piranesi’s drawings were perfectly understood as bonafide scientific illustrations within the cultural and conceptual context of the Late Baroque period. It further contends that the generations following Piranesi drew on his models as an inspiration for begetting new forms of illustration, effectively redrawing, modifying, and rearranging his images in a format called "parallels". | |
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Hayes, R. | 2015 | The Role of Construction Drawings in the Lutyens Memorial Volumes in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 43-56 | One of the most significant commemorations of an architect was the four-volume Lutyens Memorial published in 1950 by Country Life in association with Charles Scribner’s Sons of New York. The volumes were intended to celebrate the prolific career of one of England’s greatest architects: Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens (1869-1944). Six years in preparation, the Memorial consists of a biography written by Christopher Hussey and three volumes of architectural drawings and photographs assembled by A.S.G. Butler. An important feature of the multi-part folio of drawings and photographs is the inclusion of construction drawings. These consist not only of the expected plans and elevations of Lutyens’s houses and public buildings, but actual constructional details of selected elements such as chimneys, staircases, cabinetry, window surrounds, masonry, and metalwork. The incorporation of such technical drawings is noteworthy, for they contrast with the typical presentation drawings-such as renderings or perspectives views-through which most architects make their work understandable to the general public. Butler’s pointed use of construction drawings is an important aspect of the volumes which has not yet received sustained analysis. This paper enquires into the role of these technical drawings in the Memorial and what they contribute to our apperception of Luytens’s designs. What will emerge, I hope, is a portrait of Lutyens’s architecture in which constructional knowledge-as evidenced through the published drawings-is essential to understanding the design effects he achieved. My analysis thus forms a pendant to previous studies by Allan Greenberg, Peter Inskip, and Robert Venturi, who emphasized the intellectual and compositional aspects of Lutyens’s designs, as I place him as much in the chantier as the atelier, as an architect who was able to enter imaginatively into the bric of construction. | |
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Stephenson, J. | 2015 | The organisation of labour and craftsmen in 17th century London building trades in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 57-66 | This paper uses a comprehensive study of building records of some of London"s key late seventeenth century building sites to begin to piece together an understanding of the organizational models or techniques used, and deduces from those the types and deployment of skill. The records are mostly account books, which generally give descriptions of work contracted in both ’day work’, and ’measured work’, but they include here Christopher Kempster’s day books and Edward Strong’s bill book. The main sources are St Paul’s Cathedral 1675 – 1710, Middle Temple from the mid seventeenth century, Westminster Abbey 1712 – 22, and Greenwich Hospital 1698 – 1707, although other projects will be referenced. Most of the discussion pertains to masons. Records in London over this period cover extraordinary work, but also ordinary work. I will refer to the records at Bridge House, which show payments to land and tide carpenters, masons and others for routine repair and maintenance work at Bridge House and surrounding estate property [4]. The analysis will show that there was conscious management of resources to meet cost and profit considerations, but that contractors operated flexible hybrid organisational forms, and can be considered neither ’firms’ in the modern sense, nor ’artisans’ in the traditional one. | |
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Guerra-Pestonit, R. & Fuentes, P. | 2015 | The grand staircase of the Colegio del Cardenal in Monforte de Lemos (Spain): revisiting a daring structure in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 67-80 | Little is known about the trade techniques applied in the construction of stone staircases in sixteenth and seventeenth century Spain. For those supported on vaults -one of the most widespread type- only the intradoses are visible. The vault thickness, the characteristics of the fillings, or any other constructive features remain uncertain, sealed in the space between the vaults and the steps. Since lifting these steps would imply major work -they are normally monolithic pieces of stone- the study of this type of staircase, and in particular of their structural performance, must rely on educated guesses of the nature of their hidden structural components, and is thus difficult to verify. In this paper, we attempt to shed new light on the understanding of the correlation between the construction singularities found in the Colegio staircase and its structural performance, this time under the theoretical frame of Limit Analysis for masonry structures. | |
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How, C. | 2015 | Early Steps in Nail Industrialisation in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 81-90 | The history of wrought iron nail manufacture in Europe is dominated by the influences of three machines: the reckhammer, the slitting engine, and the “oliver”. The first two produced thin filaments or “wands” of rectangular section iron, which in English have become known as “nail rod”. The oliver, a late adaption from the cutlery industry, appeared as a nail header in the early 1800s. None of these were designed for the process of nail making as such but were adopted from allied industries as means of facilitating production. In England, in particular, the introduction of machine slitting marked out nails made from “rod” and gave rise to new types of nails. The principle on which the slitting engine was based anticipated later inventions that changed the path of technology, notably rolling devices by Payne in 1728, Purnell in 1766 and Cort in 1778. For the last century the widely accepted view that the slitting engine was a foreign import into Elizabethan England has come under challenge from several researchers as being at odds with both written evidence and historical events. This paper puts the engine into contemporary context and the events behind its development are re-examined. It was seen in Kent seven years before its first recorded Continental use and it would appear to be a home engineered device, albeit the product of several inventive minds. | |
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Andrews, W. | 2015 | Wallpaper’s role in Construction History: innovations in wallpaper manufacture in the 19th and 20th centuries in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 91-104 | Wallpaper is often overlooked in the history of construction, yet wallpaper, paints and other surface finishes are immensely important in charting the phases of a building’s structure. Wallpaper is a material of paradoxes: in its many forms it can be both luxurious and affordable, exclusive and popular, imitative and original. The history of wallpaper design, production, trade and usage has been well documented. This paper will consider instead wallpaper’s significance as an interior surface finish that can provide useful evidence of materials used as part of building construction. | |
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Thorne, R. | 2015 | Railway Engineering and the Picturesque in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 105-20 | That sense of the railway journey as a picturesque experience will be evident to anyone who has travelled along the Great Western line through Bath to Bristol or along the North Midland Railway line as it threads up the Derwent valley from Derby towards Chesterfield. Although now denuded of some of their original features these routes and the structures along them still seem to represent an engineering aesthetic of a particular kind which cannot be explained solely as the result of basic engineering necessities. It is these two lines which are the main subject of this paper, though no doubt there are others which could be used to illustrate the argument presented here. Also there are questions to be asked in examining the historic railway network as a whole about why that engineering aesthetic did not endure, a point taken up in the conclusion to this paper. | |
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O’Dwyer, R. & Cox, R. | 2015 | Early Irish Railway Construction in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 121-32 | This paper treats the planning, design, and construction used to build the core Irish railway network between 1830 and 1860. The paper also considers the transfer of railway technology into and out of Ireland during this period. Ireland’s flat central plain also gives rise to wide slow moving rivers and the early Irish railways required a number of long-span bridges. The paper details some significant early Irish examples, including bridges by Fairbairn and Fox Henderson, and pays particular attention to the development of long-span lattice truss bridges in Ireland. The paper makes particular use of the technical reports of Charles Blacker Vignoles and Sir John Macneill to the 1838 Irish Railway Commission. These reports, by Irish Engineers who were at the forefront of international practice, provide a valuable insight into the then state of the art. The paper also makes particular reference to papers published by William Bald, George Hemans and others on the construction of roads and railways over bogs and several papers on lattice bridges that were published in the Transactions of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland. | |
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Burgos Nunez, A. et al | 2015 | Lorca- Baza Railway Line. British civil engineering in Southeast Spain 1890-1894 in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 133-42 | In the 1860s the Spanish administration began to consider the construction of a railway line joining the cities of Granada and Murcia. It was expected that it could articulate the fledgling system of transport in the southeast of the Iberian peninsula. Technicians worked to determine the most favourable route during these years. Eventually in 1865, it was defined by engineer Juan Moreno 2 who set its final stretch to run from the city of Baza and in E-W direction through the valley of the river Almanzora until almost reach the Mediterranean coast next to the town of Huércal-Overa. From there it would go up North, parallel to the coast until reaching the city of Lorca and finally Murcia. Great Southern commissioned the completion of the railway line to the construction company HettMaylor Company Limited, created a couple of years earlier. The main person in charge was engineer Neil Kennedy. Following a common practice in the construction of the Spanish railways at the time, railway line design and all its elements were made outside Spain, in this particular case, they were made by the British technicians belonging to Hettmaylor& company. Likewise, were British technicians who travelled to Almera the ones that directed the works although the carrying out was subcontracted to Spanish companies. | |
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Patiño, G. & Gimeno, P. | 2015 | The transfer of a British Victorian architecture of smoke to the industrial brickwork chimneys of Eastern Spain in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 143-56 | In 1849 the English arrived in the area of Linares and its region to take advantage of open wells which were previously abandoned because of water. Steam machines, necessary to drain the mines, were also brought, as the available resources in our country at that time were worthless. Moreover the building construction techniques, engine rooms and chimneys were transferred. The mined ore was basically lead, copper and silver; therefore, from extraction to its cast, the whole process needed different techniques and facilities. For this reason, a couple of chimneys can be found associated with each well. One was for the pump house in charge of water extraction from the galleries. The other was associated with the powerhouse that housed the steam engine which powered the transport cage for personnel and material resources and production (Fig. 5). In both cases the fireplace involved features of Cornwall chimneys. Construction materials are basically two: stone and brick. The stone is a sandstone called asperon, found in the most superficial layer and easily removed compared to granite, which was the building material of English chimneys. The chimneys attached to houses or pumping machines are usually completely executed in masonry made of sandstone, baseless, and stands a few meters from the height of the powerhouse, as the case of Pozo Ancho in Linares (Jaén, Andalucia). In other places, chimneys with stone basis, 2/3 of stone stack and 1/3 brick ending can be seen. Such Cornish chimneys and buildings are widely extended in the province of Jaen, in the Santa Catalina mine Berlanga (Badajoz), in Blanca mine in La Union (Murcia) and Alcaracejos, north of Córdoba. | |
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Zhao, J. | 2015 | The architecture of the not-quite –well-tempered environment- on the making of the new houses of Parliament in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 157-66 | The project for the new Houses of Parliament in London was commissioned at the beginning of the 19th century, when the boom in science allowed new technologies and associated social groups to be involved in many established industries, forcing a paradigm shift in the construction industry. The mechanical engineer as a new professional field had just emerged from various backgrounds and started to define its position in architectural collaborations. This change in turn created a type of cooperative social network that was different from the tradition where the project was predominantly run by architects. The reaction, collaboration, conflict and compromise these groups made during construction stages affected the final result to a great extent. Previous research has addressed the problem of communication between these two parties, but focused more on the personalities of the individuals (the architect Sir Charles Barry and the mechanical engineer Dr. Reid) rather than on the organizational level. This research will firstly try to depict the new Houses of Parliament construction process as it happened in the 1830s, in order to address the organizational issues involved and their possible implication for the modern architectural collaboration. Secondly, it will apply the SCOT (Social Construction of Technology) approach in setting up a controllable boundary to thoroughly study all the relevant social groups in order to explain their intertwined relationship in the construction industry in the Victorian era. The findings give a new angle to analyse innovative technology and new social groups in construction projects, indicating that similar to todays architecture industry, problems occur not only when the social groups conflict with each other, but also when this conflict has been dealt with inappropriately. | |
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Schoenefeldt, H. | 2015 | Reid’s short-lived ventilation system for the Permanent House of Commons, 1847-54 in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 167-82 | Between its inauguration in February 1852 and its full destruction by German air raids in 1941, the ventilation system of the Houses of Commons underwent a series of transformations. The original system, designed by the Scottish physician David Boswell Reid, was only used for fourteen months before it was radically transformed by another physician, Goldsworthy Gurney. The design of Reid’s short-lived ventilation system in the Houses of Commons has not previously been studied by historians. Studies by Sturrock, Brucemann, Riding, Banham, Collins, Hawkes and Bruegemann, Cook and Port situate the ventilation of the Palace of Westminster within the broader history of environmental design and provide broad overviews of its development, but none of these studies discussed Reid"s design for the Permanent House of Commons. Archival research undertaken by the author has shown that its design was distinct from those Reid had deployed in the Temporary House of Commons or the system by which it was replaced in 1854. It was a more sophisticated system, designed to overcome some of the limitations of the simpler stack ventilation system previously tested in the Temporary House. Over two years, the ventilation had been continuously monitored and subject of numerous scientific studies, yielding detailed insights into its performance. This is the first study to reconstruct the design and performance of Reid’s design for the Permanent House of Commons and the influence of the Temporary Houses. This paper presents a brief overview of the findings of a larger research project undertaken by the author, entitled Inquiries into the Historic Ventilation System of the Palace of Westminster, 1837-1924. | |
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Bill, N. | 2015 | Building the Domed Reading Room of the Melbourne Public Library in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 183-98 | When opened in 1913, the Domed Reading Room of the Melbourne Public Library was the largest reinforced-concrete dome in the world and was described as a "monument to the wonders of successful concrete construction". Octagonal in shape, it was formed of 16 reinforced-concrete ribs with an internal diameter of 120 ft (36.58 m) and covered 20,750 sq. ft (1,928 m²) in area. Although it was well documented at the time, its significance has become largely forgotten. Nevertheless, it represents a significant achievement in early reinforced-concrete construction and helped shape current practices in Australia. Building upon the work of Saunders and Lewis, this paper will explore the engineering behind the dome. It will document how its design changed with different engineers involved and will also explore how the original design for the supporting structure was adapted by the Contractor. It will also document how the dome was erected, drawing upon contemporary reports and record drawings. | |
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Weber, C. | 2015 | Les Bains Municipaux at Strasbourg (1905-1908) – an example of cultural and technical transfer between France and Germany in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 199-208 | In Strasbourg in Alsace, France, a municipal public bath has survived till this day almost in its original form: Les Bains Municipaux. The complex was conceived as a "municipal public bath" in the years prior to World War I. | |
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Slivnik, L. | 2015 | The seismic isolation of the first skyscraper in Ljubljana, Slovenia in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 209-18 | The first skyscraper in Ljubljana, called Nebotičnik, was designed by the Slovene architect Vladimir Šubic and was built in 1931-33. With its 14 stories and the height of 70.35 meters, Nebotičnik was the first building that stood out of Ljubljana baroque silhouette and because of its height it crossed all boundaries of the prescribed regulations. Due to its seismic isolation Nebotičnik is one of the first earthquake-resistant buildings in the world. The basic idea of Nebotičnik’s seismic isolation was to use a horizontal seismic dilatation. The entire building sits on 16 columns which are used as deep foundations that reach the solid rock basis at the depth of 18 meters. A horizontal seismic dilatation between the basement floors and the basement walls is made of several bituminous layers separated with steel or zinc and lead plates. This different layers allow horizontal differential movements of the building’s structure against the foundations, and thus the absorption of seismic energy. This innovative structural design of the seismic isolation was invented by the Slovene structural engineer Stanko Dimnik. To the best of our knowledge Nebotičnik represents the first application of the base isolation of the buildings in practice in the world. With the construction of Nebotičnik, the reinforced concrete skeleton have been used in Slovenia for the first time and it has remained the prevailing technique in Slovenia ever since. Although the design of its seismic isolation has not been used for many decades, it is lately being studied again for a potential use in practice. | |
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MacInnes, R. | 2015 | Architecture, Materials and Construction in the UK at the turn of the 20th Century: the Strange Case of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow School of Art in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 219-34 | The architectural achievement of Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) continues to be debated. From the mid-twentieth century, the architect/artist was hailed as a harbinger of modernism. With the collapse of the modernist orthodoxy in the 1970s, he was variously repackaged as an architect of the Free Style, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and even a Postmodernist avant la lettre. Many scholars have examined Mackintosh’s architecture from the point of view of style, identifying its sources within contemporary and historic architecture. Focusing instead on the design and construction of Mackintosh’s masterpiece, Glasgow School of Art (1896–9; 1903–6; 1907–9), what can a new, closer examination of the architect’s working methods and his relationship with the contemporary construction process tell us? An ad hoc, ‘hands-on’ designer who worked on an individual basis with a mixture of traditional materials, crafts and industrial processes, Mackintosh came to maturity at a crucial time in the history of construction in the industrial city of Glasgow when building itself had come under intense scrutiny from both a philosophical and a practical point of view. While some architects embraced new materials and methods, others made a new distinction between decorative and utilitarian elements of construction. In 1893 Mackintosh cleverly summed up the debate in the phrase ‘dillianteism (sic) and drains’. | |
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Yeomans, D. | 2015 | The welded structure of the De La Warr Pavilion in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 235-42 | The De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill is significant both as a major monument of Modern Movement architecture in Britain and also as the first major building in welded steel. It is the latter that we are concerned with here. Commissioned through a competition, it was a foregone conclusion that this would be a Modern Movement building because of the way in which the competition was set up. However, it was not certain that it would be a welded structure, nor even that the architects’ intentions could be fully realized. When Mendelsohn and Chermayeff submitted their entry for the competition they assumed that it would be a reinforced concrete structure. But it was built using welded steel to achieve the architects’ intentions. | |
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Draper, K. | 2015 | The military hutting programme in Britain during the Second World War: A brief survey of development, uses and building materials in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 243-52 | Today, the phrase ’Nissen hut’ is applied to virtually any type of prefabricated semi-circular hutment used in the Second World War. This is a misnomer for in actuality there were nearly sixty different types of huts designed to meet wartime needs from 1939-1945. It is perhaps an understandable mistake to the average layman without the keen eye to notice such details as building materials and form, but it takes credit from the many builders and engineers of the period whose ingenuity and resourcefulness provided vital support to the Allied cause. The subject of wartime building has been broadly addressed most recently by Jean-Louis Cohen in his book Architecture in Uniform (2011) but does not give any details of British hut developments. A few books have been written on specific huts, namely the Nissen and Quonset. Paul Francis, of the Airfield Research Group, published British Military Airfield Architecture (1996) that gives the best survey to date in his chapter on wartime huts and sheds, but his work is limited to only those most prevalently found on airfields. Keith Mallory and Arvid Ottar published Architecture of Aggression (1973), which provides a useful chapter on the British armed camp covering some hut designs but not all. This paper seeks to correct the Nissen hut misconception by providing a brief history of hut development, including a full list of all huts and sheds designed during this period. As this list is quite extensive, this paper will only highlight the earliest designs and their materials and briefly discuss a few of the more successful huts. It is interesting to note that this wartime period pushed the construction industry to make giant leaps in innovation with methods and s in just a few short years, where otherwise it may have taken decades, and thus is most worthy of further stud | |
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Cassinello, P. | 2015 | Eduardo Torroja’s 1949 International Housing Competition on Industrial Design in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 253-62 | The huge housing demand existing in Spain in 1949 could not be met by traditional construction systems. The severe social problem thus generated was not exclusive to Spain: all the countries that had participated in World War II were facing the same challenge, i.e., the need to build large numbers of housing units in record time. Industrialised systems consequently underwent intense development, generating a wide range of alternatives specific to the material and industrial resources and policies in place in each country. In that year, Eduardo Torroja, director of the institute that now bears his name, organised an unprecedented international competition around industrialised housing. A total of 89 designs were submitted by authors from 17 countries (Germany, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, United States, Austria, Netherlands, Japan, Morocco, Sweden, Belgian Congo, Argentina, Ireland, India, Finland). Although no British proposals were submitted to the 1949 competition, the U.K. made a significant contribution to the objectives pursued. Eduardo Torroja designated Robert Fitzmaurice, at the time Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser to the British Ministry of Works, as a member of the jury. Fitzmaurice had engaged actively in solving London’s post-World War II housing problem. That valuable information was to help Torroja to chart the course toward Spanish industrialisation, based on decisions on what and how to manufacture in Spain. | |
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Maendel, M. | 2015 | Stagnation and innovation in prefabricated large-panel technologies in the USSR: A case study of production in the Tallinn house-building plant in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 263-74 | Most studies that deal with mass housing in the USSR focus on urban planning and housing typologies rather than on the material and technological aspects of standardised buildings. A common understanding is that both backwardness and stagnation characterise prefabricated panel technology in the Soviet Union. However, an in-depth examination indicates that several exceptions can be made. This study aims to present an overview of both ordinary products and experimental technologies in a typical Soviet prefabricated panel plant by using the Tallinn house-building plant (HBP) as an example. The focus is set on surface finish technologies, as these had a great influence on the visual appearance of mass-housing areas and data from historical sources could be complemented with information gained from field studies on this topic. | |
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Mornati, S. & Greco, L. | 2015 | The Galfa Tower by Melchiorre Bega (1956-1959): the renewal of building technologies in the face of Italian tradition in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 275-86 | This study concerns the evolution of building techniques with reference to the Italian history in the second part of the 20ᵗʰ century, represented here through the design and construction process of the Galfa tower, built in Milan from the project by Melchiorre Bega, a key-figure of the Milanese cultural milieu of the time. The tower is one of the finest examples of the technological innovation that took place in Northern Italy during the 1950s which found in skyscrapers a field of investigation as spectacular as it was atypical in the national context. The Milanese towers are in fact still considered an exemplary case in the cityscape, as confirmed by the attention reserved for this architectural typology by the Italian Pavilion at the XIV Biennale of Venice, which put the skyscrapers among the key - examples of modernity in Milan. In the Lombard city, the architectural and technological research carried out on high-rise buildings offered an avant-garde interpretation of the building activities that gradually expanded to the entire national economy. The industrial clients promoted this occurrence, choosing this architecture as a symbol of the economic success of their companies. The Galfa tower, on which there are no detailed studies in literature, is analyzed in an original way by the authors through the archive documents that investigate the design and construction process, placing it in the cultural context of the time, also represented by the contemporary and more famous Milanese skyscrapers the Pirelli Tower and the Velasca Tower. The building, 102.37 metres high, has a reinforced concrete structure. It represents an exemplary case of technological innovation (curtain wall and integration of systems). | |
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Zordan, M. & Fragnoli. F | 2015 | The curtain wall experimentation in italian building office: the sixties in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 287-96 | Experimentation with steel frames that took place in Italy during the second half of the last century, with particular reference to the use of the curtain wall element, constitute an absolutely unique study, full of interesting ideas. These undoubtedly representative works highlight an interesting planning specificity, and at the same time allow us to frame a historical path that is specifically Italian (although featuring marked references to the international context), with particular reference to the use of steel in the years of economic growth. Although relatively short, this is a period full of experiments, often signed by authoritative figures of designers, just as Marco Bagicalupo, Luigi Moretti and Adalberto Libera. | |
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Rosellini, A. | 2015 | Joint, growth and ornament of Kahn’s cast-in-place concrete in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 297-308 | Through sheer determination and courage, Kahn has researched the nature of concrete. Each of his renowned works in exposed concrete is itself an important chapter in the history of architecture for the exploration into concrete"s formal expression, beyond the lesson of Le Corbusier. Kahn’s obsession on concrete fabrication processes, and the values of joint, growth and ornament, are systematically examined in the paper. Moving through the many construction systems experienced by Kahn, from the discovery of exposed concrete in the form of béton brut at the Yale Art Gallery, the paper culminates in the reconstruction of the artistic and technical characteristics of two great worksites: the Salk Institute and the Dhaka Parliament. Kahn’s path to the true "nature of concrete" and the main techniques and poetic discoveries, such as the "liquid stone" of the Salk Institute and the expression of "growth" at the Dhaka Parliament, are examined. | |
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Taub, M. & Prater, K. | 2015 | Re-envisioning Historic Catalan Vaulting Techniques: A case study in Medellin, Colombia in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 309-22 | In recent years, thin-tile vaulting has re-emerged as an effective construction technique, gaining recognition for its structural efficiency, use of sustainable materials, application in passive design projects and propensity for building skilled capacity among the local workforce. Thin-tile vaulting is a construction technique for building compression only masonry structures, which originated in the Mediterranean region in the 1300s. In the last decade, thin tile vaulting construction technique has been furthered through advances in digital design and applications in resource poor communities. This article describes a public pavilion built at the World Urban Forum VII in Medellin, Colombia in April 2014, which used elements of traditional thin-tile vaulting techniques in the creation of a complex, compression only structure. The project demonstrates the potential for thin-tile vaulting to promote community engagement and meet basic housing and infrastructural needs through the use of local materials and labor. It positions thin-tile vaulting as a method for uniting the past and present, reimagining historic construction techniques by applying new forms of computation and analysis to age-old construction knowledge to create beautiful, efficient and complex structures that will long outlast the software that was used to design them. | |
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Ginovart, J. et al | 2015 | Hooke’s chain in the Spanish Enlightenment of the XVIIIth century in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 23-32 | In Spain it has been believed that the catenary arches are one of the main characteristics of modernist architecture, developed as a consequence of the theory of the masonry arches, applied to the graphic estate of the XIX century, whose main exponent is the work of Antonio Gaud (1852-1926). But, as we will prove below, it was the teaching in the Mathematics Academy of Barcelona (1720), and the emigration of the Catholic families coming from Scotland and Ireland, who were the first to build this kind of arch fifty years before Antonio Gaud would build them. | |
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Pan, Y. & Campbell, J.W.P. | 2015 | The influence of English books on building construction on ealry 20th century Chinese Building Manuals in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 33-42 | As already stated, it has been generally assumed that the source for Jianzhu xinfa was Japanese, and the sources for Yingzao xue were a number of different English books, but an exhaustive search of separate editions of English building construction books published between 1840 and 1940 carried out for this paper, reveals for the first time that these two Chinese books were largely based on two English ones. In fact in each case they drew heavily on just one book: Jianzhu xinfa relies heavily on Gwilt’s An encyclopedia of architecture (9ᵗʰ edition, 1888) [3] while Yingzao xue is largely drawn from Mitchell’s Building construction and drawing (10ᵗʰ ed., 1926) . Constrained by the length limit, this paper concentrates on Jianzhu xinfa and the 9ᵗʰ edition of Gwilt’s Encyclopaedia. It compares the purpose and organization, illustrations and text, side by side in each case. | |
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Isaacs, N. | 2015 | How Britain made the New Zealand house in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in Construction History: the proceedings of the Second Construction History Society Conference, pp. 323-33 | Nikolaus Pevsner visited New Zealand in 1958 and reported on his visit in the "Architecture Review". Amongst his many observations he noted for New Zealand architects "their roots are in Britain, but their eyes are on the United States". More recently, New Zealand Architect William (Bill) Toomath identified an "unexpectedly constant, if clandestine, liaison" with the USA with respect to the development of the design of the New Zealand house to 1940s. But what about underneath the style? Where did the materials of the New Zealand house originate? Did this country, which may have considered itself in the 19th century as more British than Britain really take its materials from the mother country? This paper examines imports of seven materials from 1870 to 1965: asbestos cement sheets; cement; window glass; galvanised iron; wood nails; gypsum and gypsum board; and slates. These were selected, in part, as they are specific products that could be easily tracked through the import statistics. The first five were at some time locally made, the sixth (gypsum) is the raw material for plasterboard and the last had a full life cycle within the period of interest. Firstly galvanised iron provides an example before examining the other materials. | |
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Rabeneck, A. | 2016 | The Place Of Knowledge In Construction in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 3-10 | In this paper I explore shifts that I perceive in the control of the intellectual capital of construction as it relates to materials, to products, to processes and to organization. I think this should be a fruitful area of research for construction history. I believe that the last hundred years have witnessed a wholesale move of intellectual capital away from the demand side of construction, those who control the decision to build, and towards the supply side, those who respond to that decision and do the building. | |
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Baker, N. | 2016 | Have the effects of its history resulted in a Scottish construction industry that differs from its counterparts in the rest of the UK? in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 11-24 | The construction of buildings and infrastructure constitutes one of the most important of economic activities of a country. Without this initial effort, little else beyond the most basic of subsistence agriculture can progress. Since the rebirth of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, many types of data, not previously available at all in a form that allowed extraction of information about Scotland, are now gathered by the Scottish Government. The legal, financial and educational systems in Scotland all differ structurally from those in the rest of Britain, so its construction industry might also be expected to show structural differences, both historically and currently. | |
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Bertels, I. | 2016 | Picturing Construction. Photographical documentation of Belgian construction sites by late nineteenth and early twentieth-century contractors in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp.25-36 | In the past two decades various historians have addressed in different ways the use and abuse of photographs within architectural discourses and studied how the new nineteenth-century medium of photography not only documented, but also imagined and represented architectural and urban realisations and their histories. Yet the analysis of this set of valuable images leaves many construction historians unsatisfied. Indeed, most of nineteenth-century architectural photography depicts buildings in their completed form at the time of inauguration or shortly after their occupation. Construction, demolition, maintenance or restoration works were only accidentally pictured as for many late-nineteenth-century photographers ‘men at work’ posed important technical problems for example, the need for long exposure times. Artistic arguments also played a role with the dominance of portrait photography, while most clients and architects were simply interested in the final masterpiece. However, recently scholars have shed light on valuable unknown and unstudied archival finds and photographic collections and revealed how photography can chart the architectural, conservation and engineering process. Their research clearly demonstrates how nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century photographic reportages or close-ups of the construction process are highly valuable to understand ephemeral construction processes and techniques, and also enable us to understand how architects and engineers advertised and promoted their business via photographs. Building upon earlier research into the history of the Belgian construction process and the principal actors involved,[4] this papers questions if, in a similar way to architects and engineers, contractors were also interested in this new nineteenth-century invention. Henceforth, the paper analyses a set of recently discovered late-nineteenth and early twentieth-century photographical reportages collected or ordered | |
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Addis, W. | 2016 | Following the traces of engineers: but the traces of what? in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 37-46 | One reason for studying the history of structures is to understand how a building, especially an icon such as St Paul’s Cathedral or the Crystal Palace works as a structure, and how it was constructed. No less important an objective in studying the history of structural engineering is to evaluate the standing of a particular engineer or the significance of a particular structure. This may be with regard to the development or progress of the art of structural engineering; it may also concern the sheer originality of a structure and the creativity of the engineer. This paper considers what evidence relating to a structure and the work of its engineers is likely to remain and be available to study in order to address the issues mentioned above. | |
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La Spina, V.,Vegas, F,. & Mileto, C. | 2016 | Gypsum in Spanish Levant: history of its production and use in local architecture in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp.47-58 | The aim of this article is to succinctly examine the process of transformation of raw gypsum from extraction to its use in various specific areas of the Spanish Levant. Special emphasis is laid on the geological features of the terrain which have encouraged the existence of deposits for extraction and on the traditional production process for powdered gypsum from medieval times until the mid-twentieth century, concluding with a detailed explanation of its multiple applications in local construction. | |
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Le Dantec, T. | 2016 | Gypsum External Renders of Paris: History And Fabrication in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 59-72 | A research programme started in 2015 within the Laboratoire de Recherche des Monuments Historiques (LRMH) aimed at a better understanding of a very common material found on the facades of historical buildings in Paris and its surroundings: gypsum renders. The research programme aims on one hand to establish the true materiality of gypsum renders and find a way to replicate it or to repair it better; and on the other hand, it aims for a better understanding of the history of these renders and of the design of the Parisian facades. The gypsum external renders of Paris are well known by the architects carrying out their restoration and by the city administration working on their conservation. However, nobody agrees on the composition of these ancient gypsum plasters, leading to numerous pathologies after ill-carried restorations. What everyone agrees on, however, is the general strength of this old material to resist weather erosion. Some renders are centuries old when restoration work begins. Why were these traditional renders so resilient? Was it the way the gypsum was produced? Was it the way masons used gypsum on the facade? Was it the way the facade was designed? Or was it a combination of all those reasons? This article will shed some light on these questions. To write this article, historic written literature was compared with a corpus of facades with gypsum renders and numerous visits of ruined buildings and restoration work. A geographical and historical review will set the context first. Then fabrication of ’Plaster of Paris’, its application and architectonic details will be analysed to clear up the mystery of its strength. | |
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Tonna, S. & Chesi, C. | 2016 | Earthquake-resistant systems in traditional masonry construction: two examples from Mediterranean vernacular architecture in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp.73-18 | The research presented here addresses some structural solutions developed within the context of vernacular architecture, which have proved effective in withstanding seismic actions. The issue is discussed with reference to a couple of examples that represent this ambivalence, Castelvecchio Calvisio (on the southern slope of the Gran Sasso Mountain, Italy) and Lefkada (one of the seven Ionian Islands, Greece). Both are characterized by high-level seismic hazard, yet associated with different return periods: 200 and 30 years, respectively. This situation led, in the former case, to alternately forgetting and rediscovering tradition and, in the latter, to the development of a structural system able to simultaneously withstand two kinds of criticality, namely, geotechnical and seismic. | |
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Rababeh, S. & Al Rabady, R. | 2016 | Stone Architecture: Stone Dressing in Petra, Jordan in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 87-98 | Petra is well known for its rock-cut architecture, a style of architecture that generated what could be termed ‘flat’ or ‘shallow’ architecture. Although the existing 800 rock-cut monuments were influenced by other civilizations and incorporated elements and treatments from the Assyrian, Egyptian, Anatolian, and Classical architecture it was the building engineering that distinguished Nabataean architecture. | |
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Mancini, R. | 2016 | Some considerations on Roman building techniques in the early fifth century AD in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 99-108 | The aim of this study is to expand our knowledge of the building techniques practised in Rome in the first decades of the fifth century. Starting with an analysis of the largest construction project in the city at that time – the great Honorian heightening of the imperial wall of Rome – comparisons are made with other buildings of that era in order to reconstruct the building process. We are particularly interested in the materials used (mainly bricks and tufa blocks), their origins (whether new or spolia), how they were used, how scaffolding was constructed (through observing putlog holes) and recognising the various tasks of labourers put to work on this construction project. This study is part of a body of research on Roman construction techniques, a matter of interest to architects and archaeologists, particularly those that focus on Rome’s Aurelian Wall. | |
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Amici, C. M. | 2016 | The roofing system of the Tripartite Building at Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli (Italy) in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 109-18 | The tendency to experiment with building design, which was typical of Roman architecture, is closely related to the experimentation that took place on-site, in the great building sites in the Late Roman Republic and Empire. There was an extremely close interaction between innovative spatial designs and the creation of the technical solutions needed to achieve them. From this point of view, a situation that was highly conducive to the development of new construction devices came about in Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, Italy, the residence that Emperor Hadrian had built in the second quarter of the second century AD. Careful analysis shows that this was actually a gigantic building site that never stopped working. One particularly interesting case can be seen in the flat roofing system created for the three large rooms, between the Three Exedras and the so-called Stadium in Hadrian’s Villa, known as the Tripartite Building. | |
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How, C., Bolle, C., Léotard, J.-M. & Lapins, A. | 2016 | The Medieval bi-petal head nail in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 119-28 | Generally, the paucity of medieval nail finds in identifiable condition sets up seemingly impassable obstacles to researching nails in Middle Ages building construction. In this case, however, the peculiar ground conditions in the Latvian capital and painstaking analysis by the Walloon Region archaeological team in Belgium have combined to allow this unusual find to relate part of the story of early nail development. This paper relates the story of the various finds and tentatively proposes a chronology of changes in use, reflecting the wide distribution of the bi-petal nail type. It also explores the probability of technological transfers or trading exchanges across Europe. | |
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Gil-Crespo, I.-J. | 2016 | Wooden reinforcing chains in the Spanish medieval fortification in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 129-40 | Nowadays, we can still visit some Spanish Medieval fortifications in which the wooden reinforcement is clearly visible. The ruination of castles often reveals the building ‘section’ of the walls, and so, we can see the reinforcing system, study it and trace it. Usually, wood has rotted and fallen away through with time, and the only thing that remains is the imprint it has left on the wall mass. Despite this loss, there are some cases in which wood itself has been preserved, or the reinforcement design can be recorded. | |
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Sainz Esteban, A. | 2016 | Constructive similarities and differences in the walls in “Comunidades de Villa y Tierra” in the Diocese of Segovia, Spain in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 141-52 | The most important similarity found in these walls is the use of formwork. This system is used in all of them and, although it is found in defensive architecture in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula, it is interesting that it is also found in the walls of these towns, together with other common elements. Although there are differences in the dimensions of the formwork, they are still very similar, with relatively constant dimensions, 250-300cm in width and 120cm in height. One noteworthy similarity is that, in all the cases, formwork with three horizontal timbers was used. On the other hand, although the construction system is the same, there are differences in both the execution of the formwork and in the way it was filled, ordering the contents in different ways and making the putlog holes using different construction methods. The execution of the formwork shows notable differences, both among the walls of different towns and sections of wall in the same town. This begs the question of why, in one section of wall, in formwork of close proximity, are there different methods of formwork being used. The answer may lie in the presence of several teams of builders working at the same time, with different techniques and methods of formwork, going from one job to another. The use of formwork itself could indicate the construction of the wall without the need for specialised professionals, as happens in the case of dressed stone, where master masons were needed. The lack of order may indicate the absence of calculations at the time of building, the absence of a figure that could plan the work and coordinate the builders. In this sense, the construction by sections detected in Coca may indicate planning, where the sections were divided up beforehand or where the construction was previously limited to a particular length. | |
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Tutton, M. | 2016 | Brick Staircases: the Rye House Group and Beyond in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 153-64 | There are probably no more than two dozen spiral, or winding, staircases made entirely of brick surviving in England. Most are concentrated in the eastern counties where the 14th Century renaissance in brick took hold, having leapfrogged over the channel from the Low Countries where it had a longer pedigree. If we compare this figure of 24 with the many thousands of similar staircases in stone or timber to be found in churches, castles, fortified and unfortified houses of the late 14th and 15th Centuries, it becomes clear that the brick spiral staircase is rare indeed. Even in substantial early brick buildings such as Queens’ and St John’s Colleges in Cambridge, Eton College, Herstmonceux and Tattershall Castles and many more, the stairs are of stone. Why are these brick stairs so rare? And what is the rationale behind their procurement and commissioning? The answers to these questions are: Exacting and high levels of bricklaying skills and status respectively. This paper brings together the strings of previous research and investigations and thus draws on secondary sources, although not exclusively so. | |
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Wendland, D. | 2016 | Load bearing matters: considerations on geometrical and structural design in Late Gothic vaults in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 165-78 | In late Gothic architecture, the design of ornate vaulted ceilings is a guiding theme. Vaults were built which were extremely complex and apparently, from the structural point of view, often very audacious. They were realized over large spans, sometimes with remarkably low fleche, creating extremely intricate spatial figurations. Although these masterpieces of architecture have fascinated generations of scholars, there are still open questions on how they were designed and built, and, in particular, how their builders conceived their mechanical behaviour in order to achieve structural safety. Some particularly clamorous examples are vaults that have no ribs at all – “Diamond Vaults” consisting only of a folded shell with sharp arrises – or vaults with ribs that have spatial curvature. In the latter, the looping ribs obviously deny their original structural function (due to their curvature they cannot take relevant normal forces) – let alone such examples where their intersections occur in different levels and some ribs even end suddenly in plain cuts (Fig.1). Looking at these daring vault constructions, one often wonders how these structures can withstand even their own weight. In this paper, we want to ask how their builders might have thought that these structures could stand safely. Our aim is to propose some hypotheses for discussion. | |
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Costa Jover, A. | 2016 | The construction-deconstruction process of the Cathedral of Tortosa in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 179-90 | The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Tortosa (1345-1757) is one of the most important Gothic buildings of Catalonia. Its construction involved the progressive replacement of the existing Romanesque Cathedral (1178), in a process of construction-deconstruction. Both buildings co-existed until the early eighteenth century, as did the near examples of Girona (1312) and Barcelona (1317), among others. | |
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Ampliato Briones, A. L. & Rodríguez Estévez, J. C. | 2016 | The first design project for the church of Santa María in Carmona (Seville, Spain): hypothesis on the creation of a new architectural typology in the Spanish Late Gothic in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 191-202 | In the last third of the fifteenth century, embracing the initiative of other major towns in the archbishopric, Carmona embarked on the construction of a large Gothic building to house its main church, inspired by the monumental cathedral in Seville. Following the Christian conquest of Carmona in 1247, the parish of Santa María had taken up residence in the town’s old mosque. Like the cathedral in the city of Seville, the new Gothic project was conceived as a modernising initiative and triumphant expression of the church. The close ties between the local and ecclesiastical elites of Seville and Carmona, coupled with the involvement of the cathedral master builders, meant that the new work was a particularly mature interpretation of the cathedral model. As part of an interdisciplinary investigation into the church of Santa María in Carmona undertaken by a research group that has spent the last decade analysing the Gothic cathedral in Seville and its influence in south-west Spain, this paper presents the key results relating to the first design project for Santa María.[1] First of all, we delimit the various sections of the work built according to the successive design projects and offer a hypothesis about the typology that was originally conceived and then radically altered. We then interpret the work in light of its model, the cathedral in Seville, through a dialogue that enables us to clarify important aspects about both buildings. | |
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Hawkes, D. | 2016 | The environment of the Elizabethan House: Hardwick Hall in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 203-214 | Hardwick ‘New’ Hall was built between 1591 and 1599 and is one of the most important houses of Elizabethan England. It was the home of Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury, familiarly referred to as “Bess of Hardwick”, and the work of the architect Robert Smythson (1536-1614). It stands on a hilltop and is immediately adjacent to the “Old’ Hall that was itself under construction between 1587 and 1598 [1]. The appearance of the house is remarkable, with walls of local stone pierced by enormous mullioned windows and six turrets that rise high above the roofline. The exterior observes and dramatically demonstrates the principles of strict symmetry that were an important aspect of the architecture of the English renaissance, but this conceals a surprising asymmetry and complexity of interior organisation. An examination of the plans of the house shows how this organisation is founded on the observation of what we may now recognise to be principles of environmental design. This paper presents an environmental analysis of the house with particular emphasis on the conditions of Bess’ personal first floor apartments, as they might have been experienced when they were occupied by Bess between 4th October 1597, when she moved into the house, until her death there on 13th January 1608. | |
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Heaton, M. | 2016 | Spolia Britannica: the historical use of salvaged building materials in Britain in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 215-30 | Using case studies from the author’s professional work as an archaeological surveyor of historic buildings in southwest England, the thesis examines evidence for the historical use of salvaged materials in British buildings; compares it with accounts of the same in architectural, economic and cultural histories; and argues that the material is more common and of greater archaeological potential and historical significance than the limited anglo-centric literature would suggest. The thesis demonstrates that salvage was culturally endemic throughout England and probably the whole of Britain throughout the later Middle Ages and the early Modern periods and was facilitated by sophisticated markets, distribution networks and possibly customary ‘linear’ exchange; that, in addition to its iconographic and economic value, salvage was an important vector of technological and stylistic diffusion and development; and that salvaged architectural details – or spolia – were employed creatively by Catholic and other minority owners as expressions of cultural affinity and political legitimacy. That creative use reaches its ultimate expression in the ’ruins’ of Bradenstoke Priory in Wiltshire , which were re-sculpted using salvaged materials by a succession of Catholic and latterly antiquarian owners during the late 17th , 18th and 19th centuries, before partial demolition – for salvage – by William Randolph Hearst in 1929. | Britain, England, spolia, Catholic, non-conformity |
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Romero Medina, R. & Romero Bejarano, M. | 2016 | Traces and architects in the 16th century architecture of Spain: the case of Hernan Ruiz in Jerez De La Frontera in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 231-40 | Hernan Ruiz the Younger (c. 1515-1569) was one of the leading architects of the Spanish Renaissance. As a master builder of the Archiepiscopacy of Seville he was in charge of a large number of works, so high that it seemed impossible that anyone could take on so much work. This paper examines one of the aspects of the labour organization of the period that has received little attention to date, namely that of the auxiliary architects. Thanks to a document located in the archive of Protocols of Jerez de la Frontera, we now know how an architect who lived more than 100 kilometres away from some of the works he was responsible for was able to control them. In 1567, the architect Francisco Rodriguez signed a contract in which he agreed to work as the assistant of architect Hernan Ruiz in all the works that the latter was in charge of in Jerez; five churches altogether. In it, he agreed to take the responsibilities of the senior master, which included drawing plans, building according to the plans that Hernan Ruiz sent and outsourcing to other stonemasons. Meanwhile, Hernan Ruiz would make an annual one-day visit to make sure that the five works were progressing as planned. As we can see, the chief architect left all the work in the hands of the assistant architect, therefore the concept of authorship of the works is seriously undermined by the discovery of the document mentioned above. In fact, one can speak of a co-authorship of the building plans and full responsibility of the assistant architect. Thanks to our knowledge of the work of Francisco Rodriguez as a senior architect of the Episcopacy of Cadiz, we can establish the characteristics of his style and determine to what extent the works so far attributed to Hernan Ruiz are really his. | |
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Mazzanti, C. | 2016 | A multidisciplinary study on the exposed brick walls of the baroque architecture of Penne in Italy in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 241-50 | Penne, an historic town in the Abruzzi Region (Italy), has several baroque churches and palaces built or transformed between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: the main examples of this architecture are the Cathedral, the churches of Santa Maria del Carmine, Santa Maria di Colleromano, San Panfilo, Sant’Agostino, San Giovanni Battista, the Santissima Annunziata, San Domenico, San Giovanni Evangelista, San Ciro and Santa Chiara; among the noble residences: the palaces de Dura-del Bono, Titone-Abbati, Aliprandi, Ferdinando Castiglione and Teseo Castiglione. All these buildings, which stand out for their original Baroque expressive language, can be interpreted as an ‘scenic apparatus’ carefully designed in the urban system of this city (Fig. 1), almost exclusively characterized by the use of brick as building material. In the façades of some of these churches and palaces there are eye-catching effects that was possible to realize through details in exposed brick. | |
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Capecchi, D. & Tocci, C. | 2016 | Three technical reports of R.G. Boscovich on the statics of domes in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 251-64 | Boscovich devoted to the statics of domes three reports written on the occasion of his intervention in the debates developed in the eighteenth century on famous structural disputes: Parere (Opinion) which was followed by Riflessioni (Thoughts) for St. Peter’s dome, Scrittura (Writing) for the Imperial Library of Vienna and Sentimento (Impression) for the Cathedral of Milan. The most important of the three reports is Parere, not only for the intrinsic value of its mechanical content but also because of the difficulty of the topic. Boscovich was in fact asked to express his judgment on the stability of the immense Vatican dome – which showed signs of distress – and to propose interventions that could control the progression of cracking phenomena. In the case of the Cathedral of Milan, the problem consisted of evaluating the response of an existing structure to a new load. For the Library of Vienna, the problem was, in some ways, similar to that addressed for St. Peter’s dome, but it occurred on a significantly different scale. The three reports, while showing significant differences – due also to Boscovich’s personal scientific growth (more than twenty years separate the first report from the last) – are all characterized by the explicit assumption of mechanics as a tool for analysing structural problems of architecture. Therefore, in addition to their scientific value, which can be summed up in the methodological cogency and the thorough discussion of mechanical issues, the three reports allow for reflection on the complex relationship between science and architecture which, in the eighteenth century, shows a growing involvement of expertise in statics in building design. | |
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Carocci, C.F. & Tocci, C. | 2016 | The Giulio Cesare Hall in Palazzo Senatorio in Campidoglio. Notes on the late XIX century construction-site in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 265-76 | After a brief historical outline of the main building phases regarding the Palazzo Senatorio, the paper describes first the late nineteenth century construction-site and then offers some basic details of the recent survey with the aim of integrating the knowledge framework emerging from the archive documents. | |
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Stoyanova, I. | 2016 | The roof of the Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan: reconstructing the original building technology in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 277-94 | The main goal of this paper is to reconstruct the original building technology of the roof through a virtual model. This three-dimensional model puts together all the available technical data about the main roof components, technical solutions, and construction details. These data have been collected and analysed by the author in her doctoral dissertation. The research draws on original drawings and archival sources dealing with the technology of the Gallery’s roof, as well as nineteenth-century technical texts and previous academic research. Gaps in this information were then filled with information obtained from five graphic plates – detailed drawings of the Milan iron roof – that were prepared for the World Exhibition of 1867 in Paris. They are reproduced as technical drawings in the appendix to this paper. These plates supply more precise information on the wrought-iron and cast-iron components of the roof, especially about the glazing bars, and on the various assemblies of the roof components. Based on these sources, the main characteristics of the roof’s components and assemblies as originally built can be reconstructed, illustrated, and analysed. | |
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Cox, R. & O’Dwyer, D. | 2016 | Education for construction: engineering education in Trinity College Dublin in the 1840s in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 295-308 | The School of Engineering in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) is among the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although this paper deals specifically with engineering education in TCD it can be taken to be representative of the moves across the UK in the middle of the nineteenth century to provide university courses in engineering. These developments were part of a general movement of the profession away from the master and apprentice system of tuition that had previously been the model in the UK, resulting in the gradual closing of the gap between the analytical treatment given to engineering in continental Europe and engineering practice in the UK. | |
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Dobbels, J., Bertels, I. & Wouters, I. | 2016 | The professionalization of Belgian general contractors (1877-1914): an analysis of the construction journal La Chronique des Travaux Publics, du Commerce et de l’Industrie in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 309-20 | In Belgium, nineteenth-century industrialization caused - together with Belgian independence and the associated public building projects - a booming Belgian construction industry with ever larger architectural and infrastructure projects. Henceforth, there was a growing need to standardize the process of work organization, meaning more projects were put out to tender. In this context ‘general contractors’ emerged who gradually took on complete construction projects and became increasingly responsible for the work organization and execution. This caused a redrawing of working relations on site, with an increasing polarisation between clients and designers on the one hand and executors on the other. This nineteenth-century construction industry has been studied mainly through the eyes of ‘traditional’ building actors, such as architects and engineers, with a focus on their position and professionalization, leaving the (hi)story of general contractors largely untouched, undeservedly because they played a pivotal role in the evolving construction industry | |
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Pérez de la Cruz, F. et al | 2016 | An English Company’s Role in the 19th Century Water Supply to Cartagena n Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 321-32 | Throughout its history, the city of Cartagena has had to face many problems related to regional water shortages and ensuring sufficient water to meet the needs of the local population. This is a situation that dates back from the time of the first settlers and has continued to the present. This has led to a number of different measures being taken in order to alleviate this problem and seek available water resources. The absence of permanent water resources and the poor quality and shortage of the water drawn from the subsoil have frequently marred the development of the city and presented a challenge which was not overcome until the middle of the 20th century when water was brought from the river Taibilla. | |
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Flores-Sasso, V. | 2016 | Timbers, palm boards and construction materials at eighteenth and nineteenth century’s architecture in Dominican Republic n Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 333-44 | The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were very difficult times for the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo, characterized by a great austerity, conflicts, pirate’s attacks, loss of most of the territory, illicit trade, abandonment and finally the struggle for independence. Despite these events, the population of the colony always tried to maintain a social and economic level inside the colony. However, the presence of these empires generated a strong trade between the Caribbean islands. According to customs documents in the eighteenth century, 70% of the vessels that touched port on Hispaniola came from an insular or continental Caribbean port. During these times the merchandise trading was diverse, but one of most Timbers, palm boards and construction materials of eighteenth and nineteenth century architecture in the Dominican Republic commonly traded products was the Caribbean timber that became an important part of the economy in those centuries. Amongst them were lignum vitae, mahogany, logwood and oak. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, mahogany logging was an extractive industry that largely relied on two main modes of production: clear cutting and selective cutting. Clear cutting is the procedure in which all the trees across a wide area are felled Selective cutting is a more selective method in which a distinctive species of tree is selected and only those in particular are removed. The arrival of the Industrial Revolution, with new machines that streamlined and changed the way of building as well as increasing trade between islands and the European powers, transformed the landscape and the way of life | |
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Vandenabeele, L.,Bertels, I. & Wouters, I. | 2016 | From de l’Orme’s to Hetzer’s arch roofs: engineering the elegance in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 345-56 | As can be seen, most research on the origin of glulam focusses on the renowned trinity of de l’Orme, Emy and Hetzer.[5] Nevertheless, the study of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century technical literature on timber construction reveals that many other timber arch roofs were developed before Hetzer’s invention, as improvements or alternatives to de l’Orme’s and Emy’s systems, especially after the criticisms levelled by Captain Ardant against laminated arches in 1840. Therefore, this paper sheds light on these less known yet remarkable timber arches designed between 1840 and 1910, based on their representation in the historical technical literature. By positioning these arch roofs in their chronological and technological frameworks, the present research aims at nuancing, detailing and broadening the historical background preceding the glulam invention by Otto Hetzer | |
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Clarke, J. | 2016 | The exception, not the norm: pre-1940 concrete-framed commercial offices in England in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 357-70 | The intention of this paper is to document the employment of concrete-framing in commercial offices in England up to 1940, a building type that early on realised the advantages of iron and steel-framing. Beginning with the early pioneers in London and other cities, this paper looks at how and why concrete was selectively used in commercial office buildings, at the effect of building regulations and codes, and at why concrete framing increased markedly in the late 1930s, prefiguring post-war developments. | |
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Smyth, F. | 2016 | Fine-tuning and Demolition: the First Acoustics Laboratory at Britain’s Building Research Station in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 371-80 | The first government laboratory in Britain specifically dedicated to building science research in acoustics was at the Building Research Station (BRS). The laboratory, which operated from 1923 until 1925, was the site of significant research in materials testing. However, despite its significance for twentieth-century building science and construction, neither the location nor the physical construction of the laboratory have been addressed in the published literature. The details of the building and its site have become somewhat occluded over time. The majority of BRS laboratories, prior to 1926, were located in reconditioned army huts housed on a plot of land in East Acton. They were leased from what was then known as the Acton Urban District Council (UDC). Extant BRS land files (1920-1927) contain no specific reference to the lease of a supplementary site during this time, and in later years it seems to have been assumed that the acoustics laboratory was amongst the central cluster at East Acton. However, separately archived documents which include unpublished letters, memoranda and an acoustics research report (marked “confidential” at the time of its issue in 1925) clearly demonstrate that the acoustics laboratory was not located on the main BRS campus at Acton. It was a satellite laboratory housed in a disused munitions factory in Harlesden, and it had to be very particularly reconditioned for experimental work in acoustics. This paper draws on recent archive work to present details of that forgotten laboratory. It discusses the necessity of locating the acoustics lab offsite, the modification of the factory building for use as an acoustics laboratory, and the inherent impact of both site and structure to the evolving building science research in acoustics. | |
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Sanabra-Loewe, M. | 2016 | Why did modern post-tensioned floors flourish in the US and not in Europe –a matter of tradition? in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 381-92 | Unlike in Europe, prestressed concrete with post-tensioned reinforcement came to be a standard technique in building construction in the US. Kenneth Bondy has been the only one who has made a significant contribution to clarify why this occurred, by writing about his insights on the origins of post-tensioned floors in the United States. His vision is completed here with new data and put into context. Moreover, the American and European situations are compared in an attempt to explain why things developed so differently on each side of the Atlantic. | |
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Muñoz, F. J. | 2016 | Home delivery: English temporary prefabricated housing in Bilbao: the testing of a new construction system in 1947 in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 393-406 | After the Spanish Civil War, during the 1940s, housing shortage was one of the most important problems of the industrial metropolitan area of Bilbao and other urban sites. It was a period of deep economic crisis, in which the few construction works carried out were delayed or paralyzed due to a lack of financial support, energy, transportation, skilled labour and, especially, construction materials, whose prices were constantly rising. Housing policies, mainly fostering private initiatives with public resources, were also managed by different public institutions with no coordination, when not in direct conflict with one another. As a result, the housing problem was not resolved, and became worse in the following years with the intense growth of Bilbao and its metropolitan area; so much so that living in crowded slums or in shacks became more common than in previous years. In the context of a harsh dictatorship, this situation motivated an increasing, but silent, social unrest, and debate on the housing shortage became more active and dynamic than in years before. Some architects, entrepreneurs, religious organizations, local institutions and newspapers asked for direct and higher aid for housing, proposed alternative and smaller sized houses, as well as the use of new construction systems, such as the prefabricated houses used in the USA and the UK. A local entrepreneur Antonio Menchaca de la Bodega, who wanted to provide affordable housing to the workers of his factories, asked the architect Eugenio de Aguinaga for new and quick solutions. In 1947 the architect decided to try the Uni-Seco prefabricated housing system which, together with other proposals, was being used to mitigate the housing shortage after the Second War World in the UK. Prefabricated housing was also a profitable business with high public investment that Aguinaga thought might be possible in Spain. | |
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Greco, L. | 2016 | Motel: building techniques and architectural features of the Italian repertoire (1954-1969) in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 407-18 | Motels in Italy were part of the motorway architecture developed as consequence of the construction of the national motorway system. Autogrills, bars and motels became the icons of the modernization process which affected the country in the 1950s. Studies of the architectural and construction characteristics of motels in Italy highlighted the evolutionary outlines of the phenomenon, the main promoters and the building techniques used. | |
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Mornati, S. | 2016 | Building Technology and Corporate Image: a case study of ENI, a leading Italian company in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 419-28 | Though much has been written about ENI, very little has been said about the building techniques and construction practices adopted in the realisation of its architectural and industrial legacy. The investigation of these aspects is intended as a contribution to the understanding of Italian post-war construction and as a tool useful in the preparation of possible restoration programmes. | |
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Van de Voorde, S. | 2016 | Glass and glazing in post-war Belgium (1945-70). The rise of double glazing in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 429-40 | This paper will shed light on the development and application of innovative types of glass and glazing used in 1945-70 in Belgium. Key aspects such as advances in production techniques, popular glass products, the structure of the glass industry, and the introduction of new types of glass and glazing in post-war architecture, in particular double glazing, will be discussed. The research is based on archival research (in particular company catalogues and technical documentation from important glass manufacturers[13]), literature study (focusing on contemporary architectural and technical journals), on site research (visits to post-war houses in Brussels in which the original glass was preserved) and interviews with glaziers who were active in the post-war period. | |
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McLean, W. | 2016 | Building with Air: The Pneumatically Powered Construction Systems of Dante Bini in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 441-50 | The paper will explore the development of the Binishell construction process as well as the subsequent family of pneumatic construction systems developed by Bini including the Binix, Binistar and Minishell systems. I will also examine the relative industrial success of these systems and the perceived difficulty in the commercial acceptance of such novel technological inventions and innovations. The paper has been written using primary sources including site visits, interviews and conversations with Dante Bini, and original documents including previously unpublished photographs, and commercial ephemera such as brochures. | |
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Yeomans, D. | 2016 | Better than Bucky: ‘domes’ for sports halls in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 451-60 | Buckminster Fuller’s advocacy of domes as an ideal form of construction hardly had much practical effect. It was supposed to be economical but, although his ideas had some influence on students in the 1960s, they were hardly taken up by the building industry at large. Although it was hardly ‘architecture’ there might have been more occasions in which it could have been used as a cheap form of enclosure. Perhaps one of the difficulties was that Fuller did not explore variations on the form that might have made it a more practical proposition for a variety of situations; a circular dome has only limited applications. However a firm of architects in Ipswich took up the idea and, in collaboration with Felix Samuely and Partners, developed it through a sufficient number of projects to show how it could be used effectively. The architects eventually produced a spiral bound book that has been deposited in the RIBA library and which gives full details of their buildings.[1] The majority of these still survive and this is reappraisal of their development following a visit to the survivors in April 2011. | |
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Melsens, S., Mangaonkar-Vaiude, P., Joshi, Y. | 2016 | Architect-entrepreneurs in post-independence Pune (India) in Campbell, J. et al, Further Studies in the History of Construction: the Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 461-72 | Building involves a collaborate effort of patrons, designers, contractors and suppliers. Based on interviews with senior practitioners we have listed the noteworthy Indian actors in these categories practicing in Pune between 1947 and 1982. This paper focuses on the role of architects in particular. From the group of 36 architects, the (family members of the) most senior architects were approached. In this manner we narrowed down on three practices that were willing to collaborate and could provide study material for this paper: U.M Apte, V.V. Badawe and Architects United (a partnership between V.V. Ghotge and A.B. Sharma). | |
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Matthews, L. & Richards, J. D. | 2017 | Built Legacy: Digital Preservation of Historic Building and Structure Recording in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 3-14 | In 2015 the ADS embarked on a short project to investigate current digital archiving practice amongst professionals conducting research into historic buildings and structures outside academia. The study was broad in its approach and included an online survey, telephone interviews, a dedicated workshop, and attendance at a number of historic building related conferences and events. A full account of the project, including survey data can be found in the Project Report. This paper focuses on the results of the online survey of professionals involved in studying historic buildings and structures, including both architects and structural engineers. It then discusses this practice in the context of a second survey of Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) and their preservation practices. | |
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Hayes, R/ | 2017 | Teaching Building: Practical Training at the Architectural Association during the Post-War Years in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 15-26 | Previously unstudied, the Architectural Association’s practical training course offers valuable insights at a number of levels. It documents a salient episode in the internal history of the Architectural Association, long one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious and influential schools of architecture, during a critical period. The course illuminate’s important aspects of the annals of post-war Britain, when intensive rebuilding efforts were envisioned following the Allies’ victorious conclusion of six years of global hostilities. The course exemplifies specifically local responses to the post-war moment, due to the German bombing campaign that had destroyed extensive swaths of London. Faculty members mobilized quickly to see the advantage in having an open plot of land directly adjacent to the school made temporarily available as a result of Germany’s aerial bombardment of London. In a larger context, the positive, optimistic and constructive set of intentions intrinsic to the course reflects the generally upbeat mood of the country that led to the 1945 election of Clement Attlee’s Labour government and when “Build Now” seemed to be a country-wide rallying cry. Finally, the programme may offer lessons for today, as architectural faculty and students periodically address the degree to which actual building experience should be a part of an architect’s education. | |
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Melsens, S. Mangaonkar-Vaiude, P. & Bertels, I. | 2017 | The Emergence and Impact of Vocational Training in the Building Trades in Pune (India): An Analysis of Three Institutes in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 27-42 | The end of the nineteenth century saw the first experimentation in formalised vocational training. Over the next century, a number of technical schools offering practical courses leading to occupational jobs in the building trades were established in Pune. This paper analyses the origin and motives behind the establishment and early development of these institutions and studies the impact of growing government involvement and the growth of Pune’s industries on construction training. Moreover, we analyse the profile of students enrolled and success of building related courses in these schools. | |
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Styhler-Aydın, G. & Döring-Williams, M. | 2017 | The Fortification Walls of Hisn al-Bab on the Southern border of Egypt: An Analysis of Structures and Building Techniques in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 43-54 | This paper builds on previous research and focuses on a detailedanalysis of the structure and construction process of the well-preserved early medieval fortification walls of Hisn al-Bab, with the objective of broadening the ongoing discourse on historic fortification structures in the area. | |
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Gelder, J. | 2017 | Comparing ‘as Documented’ with ‘as Excavated’ in Ancient Egypt in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 55-68 | In researching a history of building documentation in the ancient world, it is found that in some cases surviving documents can be compared with the corresponding surviving structures. The discrepancies can be instructive. As an example, twenty contemporaneous construction documents describe several royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. They can be reliably compared with the tombs thanks to the work done by Theban Mapping Project (hereinafter ‘TMP’). This paper compares three tombs – KV 2, KV 9 and KV 6 – with seven related documents, some of which are well-known. | |
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Tutton, M. | 2017 | Stout Trees and Putlogs: Tales of Early Scaffolding up to C.1600 in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 69-80 | This paper is part of wider research for a larger monograph and explores early scaffolding through depictions in paintings. These will range from Roman wall painting, through Medieval and Renaissance illuminations in manuscripts, frescoes, drawings and paintings to the end of the 16th century. | |
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How, C. | 2017 | Sporadic appeatrances of the ‘Oliver’ in Nail Production in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 81-88 | A rarely investigated aspect of the history of iron nail manufacture concerns the different historical uses of the Oliver or “Tommy hammer”. Its use as a heading tool in the mid-1800s is often referred to, mainly because of its frequency in museum displays, yet the tool was also used for a variety of other tasks in nail making and other trades. This paper reviews its better-known applications and looks at evidence of much earlier uses from various sources. It tentatively sets some transition dates and suggests that the Lining Nail conversions produced by the Oliver may have influenced later Lining Nail designs. | |
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Magnus Melin, K. | 2017 | Techniques of Cleaving Wood with an Axe And Mallet- Deconstructing Present Craft Knowledge, in order To Reconstruct Historic in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 89-100 | Recent analysis of cleaved wood in historic constructions has enhanced our knowledge about the historic making and use of cleaved timber that contests previous assumptions. The results will be shared in this paper. The complexity of possible used methods that commonly leave few or no traces will be shown in the three cases that are presented in this paper: the cleaving of rafters and boards for the Södra Råda reconstruction, the cleaving of boards for the medieval tithe barn in Ingatorp and the experiment of cleaving eight 13 metres long rafters out of one felled timber in order to understand the original cleaving methods used at Hardemo church (Almevik & Melin 2015 & 2016, Melin 2014, Eriksson 2016). | |
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Lapins, A. | 2017 | Cesis Castle, Latvia: Historical Techniques in the Medieval Structural Ceramics Revealed in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 101-08 | The building of masonry castles, undertaken during the 13th and 14th centuries in the territory of present Latvia by the Livonian Order, was one of the few large-scale construction activities of the period. In addition to using readily available locally available stone, brick produced from clay were also in use. Variously shaped ceramic items were utilized, especially for the construction of most of the critical castle elements like aisles, vaults and stairs. In this paper, the wide spread use of ceramics in Cesis Castle, in the region of central Latvia, is reviewed for the first time. | |
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Döring-Williams, M. & Albrecht, L. | 2017 | The Kufic Inscription Of The Maiden Tower In Baku Building Processes Indicating The Date Of Construction in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 109-20 | Although the Maiden Tower represents Baku’s most significant architectural landmark, the origin and the history of the complex are still shrouded in downright fantastic mystery even today. Even from a scientific point of view, the time of its erection as well as the different construction phases of the complex have remained in the dark - until recently. The Maiden Tower complex is situated in the historical centre of Baku, in the most eastern part of Icheri Sheher, the Old City. It was erected on a morphologically exposed part of the city, on a plateau of rock. Today, only the Neftciler Prospekti and the coastal boulevard separate the complex from the Caspian Sea coastline to the east. The structure called the "Maiden Tower" is in the shape of a number 9 lying on its side, with the round body of the tower (A) and its mighty shield wall (B) forming a structural unit. | |
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Markley, S/ | 2017 | Filling the Void – Earth Mortared Masonry Buildings; Unearthing Ireland’s Medieval Settlement Record in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 121-32 | Medieval buildings and their construction has always been an essential area of study to medievalists in understanding the diverse settlement record of the period. Archaeological excavation and building recording are fundamental tools in this regard. In Ireland, a largely missing domestic medieval settlement record has stimulated research into understanding its absence. | |
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Halgren, M. & Almevik, G. | 2017 | The Craftsmanship in Construction and Transformation of Historic Campaniles in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 133-44 | This paper aims to bring new information on the historic construction of wooden campaniles in central Scandinavia during the medieval period. In the research we investigate significant qualities of the construction and craftsmanship, how this type of medieval campaniles were built and raised and later restored and transformed. The medieval campanile in Grevbäck from about AD1300 is used as a case for in deep investigation. A model at 1:10 scale has been produced as a part of the investigation. The model is constructed with the same dimensions of material and with the same skewness and irregularities as recorded. Furthermore a working seminar was held with craftsmen specialised in the restoration of medieval wooden constructions to assess the ‘inner logic’ of the building process. | |
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Buchanan, A. & Webb, N. | 2017 | Tracing Tiercerons: An Evaluation of the Significant Properties of Thirteenth and Fourteenth-CenturyTierceron Vaults in England in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 145-58 | The present research is part of a larger project, entitled ‘Tracing the Past’ (www.tracingthepast.org.uk), which sets out to examine the vaults of thirteenth and fourteenth-century Britain in order to explore their two- and three- dimensional geometries and to test the hypotheses put forwards by Professor Robert Willis regarding their design. To date, the following tierceron vaults have been scanned: Chester Cathedral chapter house and Lady Chapel, Wells retrochoir side aisles and St Mary, Nantwich, north transept chapel; Exeter cathedral, and Ely presbytery. This sample has been one of convenience, as our main focus is on lierne vaults (those with additional ribs not springing from the capital nor marking the ridge), and therefore any conclusions drawn from this data remain provisional. Our aim in this paper is to communicate our preliminary findings and to share the method we have used to document the vaults, which provides a more detailed means of classifying such vaults than has hitherto been proposed and has supported our methods of analysis. | |
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Wendland, D. & Degenève, F. | 2017 | How to Order Fitting Components for Looping Ribs: Design Procedures for the Stone Members of Complex Late Gothic Vaults in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 159-72 | In a collaboration between the research group working on the design principles of late Gothic vaults at the Technische Universität Dresden, and expert stone masons specializing in historical working techniques and practical stereotomy at the Cathedral Workshop Œuvre Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, the essential phases of the design process are currently being investigated in practical experiments – in particular, the execution of full-scale drawings on the tracing floor and the production of full-scale models and samples of ribs and keystones. These experiments are carried out mainly using the example of the vaults built by Jacob Heilmann in the Hall of Arms in Meissen (1521)[1] and in the Sacristy of St. Anna’s Church in Annaberg (1519) – for the first, the complete executive drawing, double-curved rib voussoirs and selected keystones are reproduced. The result of our work is the proposal of a complete picture of the design process from the general concept to the setting-out of the single stone elements. Further, we are able to draw general conclusions about the Late Medieval and Early Modern design practice for stone structures and trace a new interpretation of the early treatises of stereotomy. | |
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Campbell, J. W. P. | 2017 | Three Oxford Roofs from the Late Seventeenth and Early Eighteenth Century Attributed to Dean Henry Aldrich in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 173-86 | In general little systematic recording has been carried out on seventeenth and eighteenth century roofs. As David Yeomans has shown this was a critical period for the development of roof structures. This paper looks at three roofs in Oxford built at the turn of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. All three show a similar structure and the designer of all three is uncertain, but all have been associated with Dean Henry Aldrich. The paper publishes measured drawings of these roofs for the first time, enabling comparisons to be made between them and opening up the possibility that future researchers might identify similar roofs elsewhere. | |
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Calame, F. &Hyde, A. | 2017 | Nicolas Fourneau - Master Carpenter and Author of the First Modern French Treatise on Geometrical Carpentry Drawing in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 187-98 | Nicolas Fourneau (b. Rouen 1722, d. Paris 1792) completed an apprenticeship and became a guild Compagnon Carpenter, at the age of 18. The setting-out methods used by carpenters in the C18th, were those inherited from medieval times. Fourneau realised the inadequacies of these ancient methods and set about improving them, ‘testing’ them out among his fellow Compagnon carpenters of the Rouen confraternity. Despite being initially illiterate, he wrote the first modern treatise on geometrical carpentry drawing, L’Art du Trait de Charpenterie, published 1767. This year being the 250th anniversary of the publication of Fourneau’s treatise, affords us an especial opportunity to set the development of the art of geometrical carpentry drawing in its historic context, as a development of practicing trade carpenters, with particular reference to the importance of Fourneau’s role in its development. We will refute the commonly accepted idea that geometrical carpentry drawing was developed from scientific descriptive geometry. | |
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O’Dwyer, D. &Cox, R. | 2017 | George Semple and the Construction of St. Patrick’s Hospital Dublin (1749-1753) in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 199-212 | Jonathan Swift, also known as Dean Swift, because he was Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest satirists in the English Language. He is remembered for many works including Gulliver’s Travels and A Modest Proposal and was a friend and contemporary of Alexander Pope [1]. When Swift died in 1745 and bequeathed the bulk of his estate (£12,000) to establish a hospital for the mentally ill. The architect eventually chosen by the trustees was George Semple an enlightenment engineer, architect and builder. Semple is best known for his seminal text On Building in Water, which describes the construction of Essex bridge over the river Liffey in Dublin. Semple is also well known for his involvement in Dublin’s Wide Streets Commission, which was one of the first bodies in Europe to look at city planning. This paper details Semple’s plans for St. Patrick’s hospital and describes Semple’s proposal for the construction of public offices to act as repositories for public records. Detailed specifications and drawings for both the hospital and the proposed Four Courts buildings survive and give valuable information on both construction practices and the materials in use in Dublin in the mid-eighteenth century. These documents also give further evidence of Semple’s innovative approach to solving construction problems. | |
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Vandenabeele, L., Bertels, I. & Wouters, I. | 2017 | The Timber Roof Of The Gothic Revival Broodhuis (Brussels, 1873-1895): Design, Construction And Collaboration in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 213-24 | The daunting reconstruction which cost the city over 1,800,000 Belgian francs can be traced in detail through the numerous documents preserved in the Brussels City Archives (A.V.B.). These documents, including the architect’s personal correspondence, but also drawings, working plans, city reports and even photographs were first analysed in 1978 by art historian Guy Paulus. They also provided the basis for a publication depicting the overall history of the original and reconstructed Broodhuis in 2013. Building on these studies, the present research focuses on the yet largely-unexplored archival material related to the construction of the main roof structure executed by carpenter E. Masson in 1882-83. (Fig. 2.b) The consecutive design and construction stages of the roof are analysed, while pointing out the respective contribution of the different building actors. Doing so, it echoes and extends previous research on the role of the architect and the carpenter in the design of timber roofs during the eighteenth century and contributes to the ongoing investigations on Brussels’ timber roof frames from the twelfth to the nineteenth century. | |
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Wibaut, R., Wouters, I. & Coomans, T. | 2017 | Construction of Church Roofs in the Brussels Capital Region, 1830-1930: Ahead of Technology? in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 225-36 | This paper focuses on the construction of church roofs in the Brussels Capital Region. This Region presently includes the historic centre of Brussels and surrounding municipalities, which became urbanized from the 1860s to the 1930s (Fig. 2). The timespan of the research covers the period from 1830 to 1930. As a starting point for the research, the independence of the Kingdom of Belgium was selected. From the point of view of the relationships between church and state, 1830 concluded a turbulent period. During the French anti-clerical regime, all Catholic churches were confiscated. This was followed by the Concordat of 1801 and the 1815 annexation to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which stipulated that parish churches had to be erected with public money and designed by state architects. The year 1930 marks the end of the period studied in order to include churches whose construction was delayed by World War I. | |
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Chemolli, G. | 2017 | The Ӧsterreichischer Ingenieur- und Architekten-Verein’s Tests on Vaults 1890-1895 in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 237-46 | In its first applications in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, concrete based on Roman cement was poured and tamped in layers (Stampfbeton), creating a mass which acted like a monolith. Later, the use of Portland instead of Roman cement permitted an increase in its resistance. In a second phase, reinforced concrete came into use. However, in both cases, the lack of a building tradition and of a complete theory was an obstacle to the correct design of the structures, particularly of vaults. Loading tests were sometimes organized to build single vaulted objects, until the Ӧsterreichischer Ingenieur- und Architekten- Verein (Austrian Association of Engineers and Architects), took the initiative to program and supervise a complete series of tests on vaults and on their materials. | |
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Shotton, E. | 2017 | Port Oriel: God’s Own Dock, or Abomination? The Shifting Value Systems of Civil Engineers in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 247-58 | In 2002 the Underwater Archaeology Unit of the National Monuments Service in Ireland completed a desk study of Irish harbours as a step toward defining the scope of this cultural infrastructure. From this work the current project identified 83 minor harbours on the east coast of Ireland, from County Louth to County Waterford, on which limited research had been undertaken. Many of these structures embody technologies dating to the seventeenth century, which were more dependent on the peculiarities of their geomorphological setting and the whims of the landlords responsible for their inception than traditional engineering strategies, and thus offer an alternative understanding of maritime engineering than can be derived from studies of major ports. Port Oriel is one such harbour, first developed by local interests as early as the seventeenth century on a rocky and sparesly populated headland in County Louth called Clogher Head. Its development was intimately tied to the landscape, consisting of the enlargement, through excavation, of one of the many natural rocky coves along the headland. This excavation was later extended through government-funded works from the 1820s onward until the rational for the original basin was to be challenged by conventional engineering attitudes in the late nineteenth century. | |
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de Fossé, M., Bertels, I. & Wouters, I. | 2017 | The Choice of Construction Materials in Historic Urban Warehouses in Antwerp and Brussels in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 259-70 | Antwerp and Brussels, two major historic (harbour) cities in Belgium, boomed and expanded in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as a consequence of which a wide variety of urban warehouses were built. This paper examines these urban warehouses, identifies the construction materials employed and analyses the prevailing selection criteria for construction materials. | |
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McGuinness, J. | 2017 | Early Concrete Housing in Maidenhead and Elsewhere in The British Isles in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 271-82 | The following paper seeks to list known patents and to identify early concrete houses, based on information collected by the author over a number of years. However this is manifestly by no means an inclusive list. A further problem is that there is no certainty that systems described in the books were actually used, also even where houses were in fact built it is frequently not known when this took place. | |
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Kuban, S. | 2017 | The Introduction of Reinforced Concrete in Berlin - A Close Reading of Historic Statistical Data in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 283-94 | By 1816, Prussian authorities performed a first population census, intermittently repeating it. Already in 1867 a first uniform and consistent census was carried out in the area of the designated German Empire, which after 1871 was repeated every 5 years. The amount of data collected is comprehensive, especially since the city of Berlin [2] had its own statistical authority executing additional polls and censuses. Thus, this paper concentrates on the context of the introduction of reinforced concrete in Berlin by analysing historical statistical data. A retrospective study of documented statistics allow one to investigate the challenges of introducing reinforced concrete as a new construction method. The analysis will focus on three selected topics: the abundance of raw materials, the labour market and the development of building contractors. In conclusion, the competition between reinforced concrete and traditional building techniques will be characterised and the influence and effects from establishing reinforced concrete on the Berlin building market will be evaluated. | |
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Espion, B. | 2017 | The Beginnings of the Blaton Company: From the Trade of Construction Materials to Established Contractor in Belgium, 1865-1914 in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 295-306 | Archives from Belgian contractors are very rare; family run construction companies founded in the 1800s or 1900s often did not survive over three generations, and no archives were preserved. The Blaton Company is an exception; it began its existence in 1865 and today, after five generations, a Brussels based company bearing the name Blaton is still very active and is chaired by a direct descendent of the founder of the Company. The Blaton Company was known to be a major actor in the History of Construction in Belgium, but its history has not yet been documented. In order to publish a comprehensive book on the Blaton Company, it will be necessary to reconstruct from other sources the history from its foundation in 1865 up to the first documents available in the AAM archive. This is the period that is overviewed in this paper, formed from a collection of information from many contemporary sources (press, trade advertisements and catalogues, official documents...) on the activities of Blaton before 1905. For historical significance, it makes sense to include the development and realisations of the company up to the eve of the 1ˢᵗ World War, from which it is documented in the archives. | |
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Chrimes, M. | 2017 | George Stephenson & Son: Consulting Engineering on the Cusp of the Railway Age in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 307-18 | On the cusp of the railway age George Stephenson & Son briefly offered an alternative model for a consulting engineering practice to that which had been established in the eighteenth century by John Smeaton, [1] and was to prevail generally through the nineteenth century. Intended to exploit the railway expertise of George and his son Robert, his partners intended to use it to manage the demands on George’s time and ensure their investment in the manufacturing business of Robert Stephenson and Co. was not wasted. By the early 1830s the model had clearly failed. | |
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Dobbels, J., Bertels, I. & Wouters, I. | 2017 | The Belgian General Contractors’ Struggle for Legal Recognition in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 319-30 | Although the introduction of the Belgian engineers’ and architects’ laws has been studied extensively, the general contractors’ legal context is still a relatively unexplored field. It is generally assumed that in February 1947 the Erkenning van de aannemer (Licensing of the contractor) was introduced and that this was further supplemented with the so-called Vestigingswet, the law on business licenses, in 1958. But how was this regulation created? Did the Professional General Contractors’ Association play an important role in this process, as was the case with the Belgian architects? Which aspects were put forward in this professional delineation? Should the general contractors’ legislation be seen as a direct response to the engineers’ and architects’ regulations? And did they put forward the same standards as their construction colleagues? To answer these questions, we carried out an extensive analysis of the laws, royal and ministerial decrees and other regulations relating to the professional demarcation of general contractors, published in the Official Belgian Gazette Moniteur Belge/Belgisch Staatsblad from 1870 onwards. These findings were combined with information from the general contractors’ journals, professional journals issued by the National General Contractors’ Association and distributed to its members. Taken together, it allowed sketching outlining the stepwise step by step realization of the Belgian general contractors’ professional delineation with attention to the diverse actors involved and placed against a background of the broader Belgian construction industry. | |
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Putzolu, R. | 2017 | The Monteponi Society: A Mining Company that Changed a Territory in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 331-44 | This paper aims to present the history and the development of the Monteponi mine, in Sardinia (Italy), by an analysis of mining works and exploitations as they were realized by the Monteponi Mining Company. The Company was founded in 1850 in Genoa. Starting from an examination of the historical background we will pass to the history and the architectural features of mining buildings and infrastructure in this southwest area near Iglesias. Here, in order to exploit its deposits of galena, lead and zinc, the Monteponi Company built buildings in both the Eclectic and Neoclassical styles with the peculiar structural characteristics of Nineteenth Century Industrial Architecture. The remains of this huge mining complex are evidence of a strong mining presence in the area. There are examples of both production and service buildings, i.e. pits, foundries, washes on one side and residential, sanitary and transporting facilities on the other. | |
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Van de Voorde, S., Kuban, S. & Yeomans, D. | 2017 | Early Regulations and Guidelines On Reinforced Concrete in Europe (1900-1950). Towards An International Comparison in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 345-56 | Building is and always has been a craft activity but with the coming of iron, then steel and finally reinforced concrete some science had to be introduced into the design and construction process. Because public safety was involved, the design and possibly construction of these structures became of concern to public authorities. Regulations were thus established within the existing framework of building control. However, because the technology was advancing, it meant that regulations often lagged behind and failed to take account of tacit knowledge that was being used. This paper presents an outline of the subsequent regulatory frameworks in six European countries (Switzerland, the German Empire, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Belgium) focusing primarily on the first edition of the regulations. The comparative analysis reveals social and cultural differences, for instance on the relation between building practice and theory, the organisation of the building site or the relation between various actors in reinforced concrete construction. Yet regulations in any given country were also influenced by developments in other countries. | |
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Ericsson, J. | 2017 | Procuring School Buildings: The Case of Uppsala, Sweden 1870-1970 in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 357-64 | The significance of schooling is well acknowledged in the literature, but the important question of how school buildings have been provided is less well known. In this paper, the city of Uppsala, Sweden between 1870 and 1970 is used to analyse the development of school project procurement from a long-term perspective. Focus will be on four aspects: organization, contracts, tendering procedures, and design process. This will allow an analysis of how the city coped with providing school facilities as well as shedding light on the relationship between public clients and private contractors during a hundred-year period characterized by the expansion and modernization of the public sector as well as the construction industry. | |
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Rinke, M. | 2017 | The Domes of the University of Zurich and the SUVA Head Quarters in Lucerne: Early Glulam Construction in Switzerland in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 365-74 | Glulam construction arrived comparatively late in Switzerland. The technology of artificially composed timber components has been used in many places in Europe, especially in the UK, throughout the second half of the 19th century. It played an important role in countries with limited timber resources and therefore offered an engineered surrogate from timber sizes available more easily. In 1906, after patenting methods of composing timber beams from smaller components, the German master carpenter Otto Hetzer (1846-1911) developed an industrial fabrication process of including a robust long lasting glue between the layers. He also developed a practical method of shaping the fabricated components during the lamination process and patented the technology for producing ‘curved structural timber elements’ in Germany (1907 in Switzerland and the United Kingdom). This development responded to an increasing shortage of large-sized timbers due to the extensive building activity in Germany at the end of the 19th century and was conceptually based on earlier developments from De l’Ormes (1567), Wiebeking (1817) and Emy (1837). Only a few years after Hetzer’s technological invention of robust industrially fabricated glued timber elements the Swiss engineers Bernhard Terner (1875-1960) and Charles Chopard (1879-1954) acquired the patent and the exclusive right in Switzerland. During the following 24 years they developed many extraordinary timber structures which have been acknowledged internationally and belong to the most distinguished architectural examples in timber construction of that time. Among their most notable projects are two exceptional timber domes. This paper examines the development and the construction of these domes in detail. Also, it will be discussed why their structural approaches are so different and how they were altered during the building process. | |
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Raafels, L., Bertels, I. & Van de Voorde, S. | 2017 | Constructive Experiments in Architects’ Houses. The Case of Louis Herman De Koninck’s House in Brussels in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 375-86 | Within this paper, experimental architects’ houses will be treated in greater detail to shed light on the construction process and materiality. Some questions that have guided the research are: Does an architect tend to take more risks when he builds for himself? Which experiments were set up and which innovative materials were used? Is the (innovative) use of materials a prejudge for the later oeuvre? Do the materials and techniques used correspond to the contemporary building practice? In this paper, these questions are studied in detail by means of a particular case, namely the private house of Louis Herman De Koninck in Ukkel (near Brussels). Starting from the importance of De Koninck for Belgium, his initial design of 1923-24 is elaborated in detail, as well as the multiple alterations made between 1924 and 1968. This paper therefore builds upon our research within the framework of a master thesis in 2016: Architects’ Houses in Brussels: Late 18th until the 20th Century. Valorisation of the Private House of Louis Herman De Koninck. It is complemented with additional literature and archival research, and includes a comparison to De Koninck’s complete oeuvre and within an international frame of reference. It will be demonstrated to what extent an architect’s house can be deployed as a tool to strengthen the architectural profession through experimentation and how it can augment the value and meaning of architects’ houses. | |
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Devos, R. | 2017 | Building prestige: Victor Horta’s Palais des Beaux-Arts (1922-8) as Blaton’s breakthrough for building in reinforced concrete in Belgium in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 387-98 | This text presents a fragmentary case study of the building process of the Palais des Beaux-Arts, unravelling, with the aid of this newly available archival material, the interaction between the architect and the contractor. A main point of attention is the role taken by the latter and his engineering office. This case study is a first detailed investigation into the methods, tools and responsibilities in the historic collaboration between the main actors in design and building: architect(s), engineer(s) and contractor(s). It takes into account legal issues, economic demands, design tools, technological progress, personalities, as well as architectural tendencies in order to highlight the factors that have defined the collaboration between ‘builders’ during the twentieth century. Complex buildings from the ‘modern’ interwar period, especially those relying on relatively new technologies, have already proven to be challenging cases, mainly because of the apparent absence of their engineers in literature.[6] This text focuses on the execution of the set of plans delivered by Horta in the original call for tenders, the changes that were introduced during the detailing of those plans and their consequences on the collaboration between architect and contractor. | |
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Stoyanova, I. | 2017 | Disappearing Tobacco Warehouses in Plovdiv: Building Technology and an Important Legacy in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 399-414 | Therefore, this paper aims to cast light on the main features of the building technology of the warehouses, on some characteristics that contributed to their anti-seismic behavior and on certain aspects that suggest the influence of foreign know-how. This paper draws on a comparative methodology in order to obtain information that the original architectural drawings in many cases do not provide. At that time Bulgarian construction employed common building techniques, and information about them can be retrieved from Bulgarian technical literature. The paper uses information from these sources -- design drawings, on-site investigations and Bulgarian technical manuals -- in order to fill in gaps in our understanding of how and why the warehouses in Plovdiv were designed and built as they were in the 1920s. | |
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Mulvey, M. | 2017 | ‘Digging for Gold’: Irish Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the Post-war Reconstruction of London in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 415-24 | The paper seeks, in overview, to establish whether these Irish migrant entrepreneurs had commonalities in their cultural and socio-economic backgrounds which shaped their success; and tries to see how their entrepreneurial activities impacted upon: • The existing organisational structures, socio-economic and cultural patterns of the British construction industry • The socio-economic problems of ‘lump’ and labour-only subcontracting in Britain? • Ireland’s emergence from post-independence agrarianism? After contextualising the dominance – in terms of numbers - of Irish labour in post-war reconstruction, the leading Irish construction entrepreneurs are identified, along with brief profiles of their companies and the people who made them, using relevant primary source materials as well as the documented histories of the businesses themselves. Elements of British construction history, transnational Irish socio-economic history and London-Irish folklore are synthesised to give a broader picture of the Irish contribution to post-war reconstruction. | |
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Greco, L. | 2017 | The Rehabilitation of the Mirafiori Factory in Turin. The Case of the Northern Extension of the Officine Principali by Nervi & Bartoli (1954-1955) in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 425-34 | This paper analyses the northern extension of the building known as Officine Principali (the main workshop of the complex), built in the Fiat Mirafiori factory (1954-55). As stated before, Fiat selected Nervi & Bartoli to design and build the new mechanical workshop. The study uses archival documents illustrating the building phases. This paper is part of the research that the author is developing on Fiat building heritage dating back to the second half of the twentieth century to analyse the relationship of these events within the framework of Italian national building programme and to identify their contribution to the evolution of building processes. The research aims to increase knowledge on the topic, as some of the major achievements have been studied, however, many others, including the Fiat built heritage, are still little known. At the same time, the paper investigates Nervi’s relationship with Fiat’s technical department. | |
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Ladinski, V. | 2017 | Residential Construction Following the 1963 Skopje Earthquake in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 435-46 | This study is based on the research undertaken in the 1990s into the area of the 1963 Skopje earthquake and the post-earthquake reconstruction. It encompasses a review of literature, access to archive materials, site surveys, eyewitness accounts of the earthquake and discussions with participants in the reconstruction efforts. Building on the review of the limited literature available on this topic, research and personal contribution to the housing construction efforts, this study contributes to the increasing interest in the pre-transition architecture and housing construction in the territories of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in general and in particular into the post 1963 Skopje earthquake housing reconstruction efforts. | |
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Mendoza, M. | 2017 | Construction of the 21 Hyperbolic Parabolid Concrete Shells to Roof the Queensgate Market Hall, Huddersfield in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 447-56 | The Queensgate Market Hall –grade II listed- in Huddersfield- west Yorkshire, is considered an architectural landmark in Britain not only because of its striking reinforced concrete inverted hyperbolic paraboloid shells ‘inverted-hypar shells’ and the masterful integration of public art but also because it is a totemic figure of the long history of trade in the town. Considering that very few previous inverted-hypar shells were constructed in the UK for markets and warehouses (Texas Instruments, Bedford and John Lewis warehouse, Stevenage) the design and construction of the inverted-hypar shells at Huddersfield could be considered pioneering. The inverted-hypar shells at Queensgate Market were inspired by the work of the Spanish born architect Felix Candela, who had also worked as a consultant for the John Lewis Warehouse at Stevenage and previously collaborated with O’Neil Ford in Texas before the construction of the Texas Instruments factory at Bedford. The paper will contribute to the present literature on this market by presenting relevant facts of the history of the Queensgate Market Hall which replaced the ‘Old Market’ as well as the interview with the resident engineer and his report submitted to the Institution of Engineering in 1969 giving account of the construction of the invertedhypar shells of the Queensgate Market Hall. Finally the paper will also discuss the present condition of the market. The paper contributes to the existing knowledge of design and construction of 20th Century concrete shell structures and in particular building form and construction processes. | |
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McLean, W. | 2017 | Building with Glass: Tim Macfarlane and the Development of Glass as a Load-bearing Structural Element in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 457-68 | During the UK recession and associated construction downturn in the early 1990s, there were a series of small-scale, but important innovations in the way that glass was employed as a structural material. Experimentation in the application of glass was no longer limited to the building skin, but began to be extended to frameless glazing and ultimately, to structural glazing that relied on no other support than the assembled laminations of glass held in place with structural silicone. Structural engineer Tim Macfarlane sits at the forefront of these innovative approaches to the use of glass as a structural load-bearing element. | |
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Mornati, S. | 2017 | The Contribution of Italian Engineering in the Design and Construction of the Jubilee Church by Richard Meier (1996-2003) in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 469-80 | Three years behind schedule, the Dives in Misericordia Church was finally inaugurated on October 26, 2003. Retracing the most significant stages of this complex undertaking gives us, even today, the opportunity to evaluate the role that the Italian school of engineering, including its most recent adherents, has had on the international architectural scene. The narrative of the project reveals a truly unique episode in the panorama of the history of construction (not only Italian) due to the creativity involved in tackling the most difficult operating phases, the complex solutions adopted and the site organization, which all refer back to the technical testing and constructive ingenuity that belonged also to the great buildings of the past. | |
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Alberti, S. | 2017 | Construction Aspects of the Church of Santa Lucia in Cagliari, Italy in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 481-92 | In the history of 20th century Italian architecture and urban centers it is very important to analyze the aspects of construction. Worksite craftsmanship (and the scarcity of steel, and, in certain cases of wood, as in Sardinia) often forced architects to come up with original solutions by exploiting to the fullest extent possible the structural capabilities of the materials that were available. Although Italian engineering, with its studies and experiments on reinforced concrete, reached a remarkable technical excellence (in particular in civil engineering structures: bridges, viaducts and dams), the construction of many types of building resulting from the autarkic policies of the Fascist era lasted until the 1960s. The ban on imports of foreign materials, and in particular the shortage of steel, which in the period between the wars was used exclusively for the war effort, gave rise to building techniques that were entirely peculiar to Italy (with the production of innovative or “autarkic” materials). These hybrid materials tended to add to wall construction some essential elements of reinforced concrete, such as the brick and cement-like floors and in many cases the foundations. After World War II, with the end of restrictions on the use of steel, Italian construction sites (run mostly by small specialized firms) used fundamentally simple labor, skilled in the technique of masonry mixed with horizontal elements of reinforced concrete. Thus the Fanfani low satisfied the urgent need to rebuild and expand Italian cities through projects of social housing with the vast availability of labor and construction sites managed by small firms. This type of organization was used even at the sites of major projects, such as churches. The church of Santa Lucia in Cagliari (Fig.1), in the San Benedetto district, built to replace the 17th-century church of the same name (originally located in the historic Marina district),fits perfectly into this context. | |
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Garn, M. | 2017 | The Clay Tile Repair: Form, Function and Value in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 493-504 | This paper explores the use of clay tile repairs in historic stone churches in the UK from the end of the 19c to the present day. This was a repair method introduced by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (the SPAB) as an alternative to replacing eroded stone with new stone, or “like for like” repairs. I approach this work as a Master mason and building conservator in an attempt to understand more clearly the underlying logic of using tile repairs, and by extension their widespread use. This paper is based on a very local observation of this repair method, particularly examples that are found in the parish churches of the East Riding and North Yorkshire. For the sake of developing arguments, I shall refer to buildings elsewhere but only in order to shed light on the examples nearby. | |
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Røstvik, H. | 2017 | Reconstructing Ludwig Wittgenstein’s House in the “Quiet Seriousness” of Skjolden, Norway in Campbell, J. et al, Building Histories, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 505-14 | In the following, I will describe the character of the place, give the actual data of the house and discuss how the Wittgenstein house project in Norway is intended to be used in education to train students of architecture to consider the challenges related to refurbishment, re-use and all the technicalities that go along with preservation of a wooden house. | |
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Hawkes, D. | 2018 | After Banham: “I do not like pipes, I do not like ducts" in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp xiii-xxix | The Architecture of the Well-tempered Environment may truly be regarded as a seminal book. In it Reyner Banham brought the environmental function of architecture into the realm of architectural history. My aim in this paper has been to celebrate Banham’s achievement and, almost half a century after the first edition, to offer a broad critique of its content and argument. Perhaps inevitably, pioneering work will have shortcomings. As I have suggested, one of Banham’s most important omissions were the treatises on ‘warming and ventilation’ that appeared in great numbers from early in the century and both influenced and reported on the practice of numerous architects and their collaborations with the new profession of consultant engineers. Many of these men collaborated with leading architects, in Britain alone, Soane, Barry, Waterhouse, Mackintosh and many others, to transform the essential nature of buildings from the earliest years of the century. These events were paralleled in Europe and America. Again, Banham noted little of this. | |
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Burchardt, J. | 2018 | The hidden system: How district heating came to town in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 3-16 | District heating, where a building is kept warm by heat produced often a long distance away, has become a very common heating system. In many countries, half of the homes are heated this way. The first plants of this type were seen in the 1800s; in the early 1900s, several major systems were installed; but only in the 1950s did development begin to evolve significantly. This article will discuss this development phase, as well as the specific installations used for district heating. Local installations in buildings will not be discussed, for the most part, as many installations are similar to central heating. The special facilities associated with the heating of the buildings are few. Examples are taken from Danish history and based on documentation of the Danish district heating sector carried out at the National Museum of Science and Technology. In many ways, historical development is different from country to country, but the basic technical conditions have become international standards, so this knowledge is also of interest outside Denmark. | |
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Feyaerts, J. | 2018 | Building services in nineteenth-century Belgian cellular prison architecture in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 17-30 | This paper explores the heating, ventilation, lighting and sanitary systems applied in individual cells in Belgium’s prison patrimony during the heydays of the cellular regime. These developments are contextualised within the historical development of environmental techniques, as well as within the discourse on health and hygiene in reformed penal design. Sources include contemporary publications, official prison construction programmes, circulars, measuring states and correspondence of the Ministry of Justice. | |
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Gelder, J. | 2018 | Roman building services and architectural manuals John in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 31-42 | This paper collects and compares material on a selection of building services – aqueducts, water pipes, hypocausts, sounding vessels in theatres, sundials and water clocks – across these architectural manuals from the Roman and Renaissance periods. Transmission between these manuals of ideas about building services is considered. Comparison is briefly made with the architectural record, to determine the extent to which these ideas were put into practice. Services not covered include water supply tunnels and siphons (Vit. 8.6), wells (Vit. 8.6.12-13), cisterns (Vit. 8.6.14-15), latrines and sewers (not in Vitruvius), hearths and artificial lighting (not in Vitruvius), the analemma – a chart used in the preparation of sundials (Vit. 9.7), and water-raising devices (Vit. 10.4-7). | |
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Groaz, S. | 2018 | Ducts and Moldings: the Ambiguous Inventions of Franco Albini and Franca Helg in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 43-56 | It was the La Rinascente store in Rome, built between 1957 and 1961, an Italian example of investigation of the role of services in the design of the façade and of appropriate forms for walls and moldings, that would be capable of integrating, hiding, or revealing them.[3] In the design of La Rinascente structure and services competed to find a new balance in which the ducts, once part of a design that turned them into a new kind of rib or molding, stood out to the point of overshadowing the lines of the structure. For Albini and Helg that work marked the beginning of a research program, conducted over a series of buildings, into the creative potential inherent in the intrusive presence of ducting. From La Rinascente in Rome to the SNAM office building at San Donato Milanese, Albini and Helg demonstrated the desire of Italian architectural culture to take the principles of the Modern Movement and Rationalist architecture in the direction of a recovery of historical figures, that would be in keeping with the most sophisticated technical and technological developments. All the “trapezoidal forms” and “bulging fairing” studied by Albini and Helg to wrap service ducts and integrate them into the architecture’s design ended up turning into moldings, in some cases reproducing those of the past | |
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Hamzeian, Boris | 2018 | The Evolution of the Pompidou Centre’s Air-Conditioning System. Toward a new figure of architecture in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 57-70 | The integration of technical services in architecture played a crucial role in the history of post-war construction. The Centre Pompidou, conceived and realized between 1971 and 1977 by the architecture studio Piano and Rogers and the engineering firm Ove Arup and Partners, is an excellent example in this regard. Instead of reverting to traditional solutions such as service areas or suspended ceilings, Piano and Rogers chose to exhibit all the services of the building – from the air conditioning ducts to the movement system of people and goods – both in the interiors and exteriors. Exiled outside the envelope and placed within the “three dimensional walls” of the building, or rather clipped onto them, the Centre Beaubourg services were designed to serve the principle of “the maximum flexibility of use”. During the design process the refinement of these elements and the surrender to the pioneering audiovisual screens intended to animate the Centre’s main facades, created an unprecedented aesthetic value. Initially conceived as simple functional tools, the Centre Beaubourg services became symbolic and didactic devices designed to make the building a man-scale machine, both joyful and understandable. This paper focuses on one of the main services of the Centre Beaubourg, the air conditioning system, and aims to retrace the genesis and evolution of this element thorough all the phases of the design process, from the first ideas animating the preparation of the competition’s proposal to the prefabrication of the built solution. | |
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Hegazy, H. R. | 2018 | The open-air school as an environmental Typology, 20th Century in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 71-86 | This paper discusses the historic background of the Open-Air school as an environmental typology in the 20ᵗʰ century. The aim of the research, is to understand the design and the control regimes that were historically deployed to fulfill their thoughts and concerns at that era. The paper will evaluate the performance of the past environmental strategies and solutions taken in the 20ᵗʰ century to challenge the traditional and neoclassical styles dominated the school architecture. | |
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Itani, M. | 2018 | Case Study Analysis of the Baer House in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 87-100 | The 20th century was the rise of renewable energy alternatives and passive architecture. It is the beginning of experimental thinking in solar buildings and technologies when innovative minds tried to use the sun instead of fossil fuels and oil as a means of heating buildings. This paper will be discussing a specific type of solar technology, the drum wall or the water wall which was prominent at that time. It sheds light on the history of the drum wall which is when it was used in a simple residential building. This technology is basically a set of steel barrels filled with water and placed behind a transparent glazed façade. Thus, this “wall” will act as a thermal mass with a much higher thermal capacity than a regular wall. The first recorded solar building is the experimental MIT Solar House built in 1947. It was the first to use this approach as a space heating technique inside a residential building. In 1972, the Zome House, or also known as the Baer House is the next residential building that integrated this concept into the house’s heating system. This innovative building at its time is the case study described in depth and analyzed in this paper and if it is possible to use the drum walls as an alternative for un-renewable sources of residential heating. | |
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Khan, A. | 2018 | Sanatoria for treatment of tuberculosis and the aftercare colonies (Early 20th century) The Papworth Village settlement, Sanatorium Zonnestraal and the Paimio Sanatorium in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 101-14 | Tuberculosis has been a growing public health concern during the 19th and 20th century. It was widespread all over urban Britain, as well as other parts of Europe and America. The quest for cure lead physicians to explore the therapeutic power of the sun, and the relation of fresh air in the prevention of disease. The medical and architectural profession, in concert, have created some notable examples of healthy architecture, over the years. Giving a brief account of the evolution, the paper discusses sanatoria architecture in detail, through analyzing the designs of three different sanatoria; the Papworth Village settlement, Sanatorium Zonnestraal and the Paimio Sanatorium. Focusing mainly on the patient wards and treatment areas it will explore how sanator ia, from the 20th century, were designed as environmental buildings for the treatment of tuberculosis. In addition, this paper also concentrates in distinguishing the role of indoor and outdoor therapy depending on the requirements and developments with time. | |
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Lawrence, R. | 2018 | The environmental role of transition spaces in Victorian architecture in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 115-28 | It is possible to describe a hierarchy of microclimates, from outdoors to indoors. Transitional microclimates serve as intermediate spaces, which permit “a progressive adaptation to a new environment. Whereas environmental determinism creates uniformity, environmental diversity increases the morphological possibilities of architecture and urban form”. | |
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Leatt, S. | 2018 | Owen Williams’s Boots’ “Wets” factory - a case study on the daylight factory typology in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 129-140 | The Boots’ “Wets” factory (D10) is situated in Browtowe, Nottinghamshire, NG90 (Latitude: 52.9241 / 52°55’26"N Longitude: -1.1923 / 1°11’32"W). It is located on a large open site which was purchased by Boots in 1927 to provide a suitable premises for the company’s pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. Designed by Sir Owen Williams (1890 – 1969), the factory building was constructed from 1930 to 1932. It received Grade 1 listed status in 1971.[1] Williams commented that it was built for “ten bob a square foot” (£5.55 per m²), making a total construction cost in 1932 of £18,500.00;[2] it is perceived to be his finest work.[3] Published literature on the building’s environmental design features, such as its innovative use of glass and concrete in Britain to benefit its environmental performance is limited. Authors such as Alan Powers in his book, Britain, modern architectures in history (2007 1st Ed) and William J. R Curtis in Modern architecture (1996 3rd Ed), write about its clad glass ˊcurtainˋ wall façade as a design feature signifying the start of the modernist movement in Britain, rather than it being the factory’s specific environmental engineering design intention. This paper will investigate the influences behind the D10’s architectural typology and why Williams used a continuous glazed wall system separated by exposed concrete floors, and not the traditional method of masonry arches, piers and windows, which was heavily influenced by the work of Albert Kahn and the daylight factory typology. | |
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Liang, K. | 2018 | Case Study: The Norris Cotton Federal Office Building in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 141-56 | The Norris Cotton Federal Office Building, located in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA, was designed by Isaak and Isaak Architects Professional Association with a number of recommendations from NBS (National Bureau of Standards) and other architects. The building is located at an altitude of 104 m above sea level and is surrounded by some two-storey building and a high building located in the south. In 1972, the General Services Administration(GSA) assigned a contract to Nicholas Isaak hoping he could design a Federal office building. The design phase of this building began in 1973 and construction completed in 1976. This building is a 7-story government office building with about 11,000 ㎡ total floor area. In 1970s, people were troubled by the oil crisis. Therefore, architects were aware that they need to develop a effective method to build a construction without high energy consumption. One of the measurements was applying some new energy-efficiency system. The figure 1 represents the climate data from 1977 to 1979 in Manchester, it showed that the range of temperature in this place was large so how to preserve heat was an important point in energy system design. The Norris Cotton Building as an experimental building played an important role in testing various energy-efficient systems. Moreover, The data of monitoring and analysis which majorly collected in the first three year after building accomplished would become an important reference for other similar building of 1970s. The immature energy-efficiency system as one of the special features in this building, which was combined with mini-computer, mechanism, solar and lighting system. Energy wastage could be decreased through operation of these system. And the performance of this building would be evaluated through energy consumption, user acceptance and cost analysis. | |
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O’Dwyer, D. | 2018 | The Drainage of the Fucine Lake in Antiquity and in the Nineteenth Century in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 157-70 | The draining of lake Fucino, (the Fucine lake, or lake Fucinus, of antiquity) has been achieved, or partially achieved, twice. First during the Roman era, when a scheme initially considered by Julius Caesar was implemented by Claudius and later repaired by the emperors Trajan and Hadrian, and more recently in the nineteenth century when the lake was finally drained successfully. The lake was the largest lake in central or southern Italy. It was elliptical in shape, 20 kilometres long and 11 kilometres wide and was completely enclosed by mountains so that the level of the lake fluctuated whenever the rates of precipitation and evaporation were dissimilar. The successful nineteenth-century drainage was undertaken by Prince Alexander Torlonia between 1854 and 1876. These works, which comprise the Torlonia tunnel and the water collection canals used to drain the lake, are described in this paper. The English Civil Engineers William Parker and Charles Hutton Gregory were involved in the project at an early stage but the detailed design was carried out by M. De Montricher assisted by M. Henri Bermont and M. Alexander Brisse. | |
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Pandurangi, S. | 2018 | Understanding Preservation and Comfort in the British Museum Reading Room in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 171-84 | The British Museum underwent significant changes throughout the nineteenth century. The museum had housed two galleries dedicated to books. The King’s library on the east and the Library of the printed books on the North. With the Public Library Act and the great acquisition in 1850, the trustees decided for the enlargement of the building to accommodate additional books and people.[1] This paper retracing the design development of the British Library Reading Room with a focus on environmental technologies. The context of the paper being nineteenth-century public libraries, the study concentrates on the design interventions which were carried out keeping preservation and comfort in mind. This involves examining new construction materials and methods which facilitated preservation, re-visiting the historical ventilation and heating system, comprehend the evolution of lighting and its implications on the people’s perception of the space. In a larger framework, the study identifies the importance of collaboration between the Architect, the Librarian and the Engineer. | |
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Smyth, F. | 2018 | “Symphony for Full Orchestra and Asbestos”: Tuning Albert Hall during WWII in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 185-94 | Very little has been published on the wartime acoustic intervention at Royal Albert Hall. The little reference that exists is largely contained in books on music history, which make brief reference to the existence of the problem and the fact of its resolution and do not engage with the process of design and intervention.[7] With the exception “of one contemporaneous report published in the RIBA Journal,[8] no meaningful examination has been made of the acoustic design process, its implementation, or its broader implications for subsequent work in auditorium acoustics in Britain. This paper draws on primary source material in the form of archived documents, contemporaneous press coverage and the personal papers of the acoustician involved. It explores the wartime modification of acoustics at Royal Albert Hall and brings to light the work methods of the acousticians involved in aligning architectural intervention with musical intent. It presents the experimental work in the acoustics of Albert Hall as a prelude to the philosophies of design manifested in Britain’s post-war concert halls, with particular reference to London’s Royal Festival Hall. | |
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Wang, K. | 2018 | Case Study: The Temperate House at Kew—Controlling the climate under a glass sky in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 195-206 | In the royal botanic garden, Kew, the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world still exists — the Temperate House. It is one of the listed building of the world UNESCO heritage site. In 1859 the Temperate House was begun by the Architect, Decimus Burton, who was also involved in the Palm House designing process at Kew. After a gap of 30 years, work resumed on the Temperate House. Eventually, after the bankruptcy of one contractor, a rectangular building with glass-iron structures was finally finished in 1898 and opened in May 1899 as the world’s largest plant house. At that time, along with the full completion of the building, the Temperate House became a topic of public discussion. However, due to a lack of technology, there remained many problems after it was put into use. This paper, taking the Temperate House as a case study, focuses on analysing the environmental controlling of the five zones of the building, relating to the functional requirement of each part. Moreover, this paper will explain how the Temperate House created various climate situations by the use of direct sunlight, ventilation and heating systems for plants from different countries. In addition, this paper will also outline the challenges faced in the building process and analyse how these problems affected the buildings performance after its opening. | |
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Pierattini, A. | 2018 | The beginnings of stone construction in archaic Greece in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 207-20 | In this paper, I explore the origins of Corinthian stone construction and reflect on whether this was a genuinely local innovation or rather one inspired from abroad, as well as on why it manifested itself in this area around the mid-seventh century B.C. Moreover, I will re-examine features of the blocks that shed light on aspects of the Corinthian building process and on the early stages of crane technology, which represents a major Greek contribution to ancient construction. | |
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Calvo, J. et al | 2018 | The Vault over the Crossing Tower in Lincoln Cathedral in the Context of European Gothic Architecture in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 221-32 | All this has led us to survey both the Lincoln crossing vault and a significant number of vaults of this type in the Continent, using automated photogrammetry to measure both their plan layouts and their spatial configurations with precision. In this paper, we shall explain in detail the results of our Lincoln survey, also including a general, schematic view of its Continental counterparts, in order to analyse the influence of English vaulting systems in Europe and the mechanisms of knowledge transfer. | |
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Wood, M. D. | 2018 | King’s College Chapel Vault; Movement, Restraint and Foundation Loading in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 233-48 | It is now known that the vault of King’s Chapel has suffered small distortions in geometry in the five centuries since it was built. The distortions are small, in the region of ten to fifteen centimetres in a span of ten metres. The article investigates the loading which must be supported by the ground beneath each buttress, by considering the gravitational forces acting on various parts of the structure and the reactions required for stability. It is then shown how the vault movements may be qualitatively correlated with the loading. George Gilbert Scott inserted transverse iron ties in the wooden roof structure in 1860. Their importance is demonstrated, showing that they limit undesirable loading on the structure. | |
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Melin, K.-M. | 2018 | Medieval counter rebated doors. A door from the Diocese of Lund compared with the English examples in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 249-62 | This paper is about medieval counter rebated doors in general and particularly about a door in the collections of Lund University Historical Museum. Counter rebated doors have been seen as an English phenomena but the actual door in question is from St Olofs church in Skanör, built in the diocese of Lund in medieval Denmark. In England there are a number of extant counter rebated doors, made in the 11th and 12th century, but the door from Skanör is the first example to be found and described outside of England.[1] In order to understand this unique door’s eventual connection to the English examples investigations were done both from a Scandinavian and an English viewpoint. The features of the Skanör door were compared with the features of the English doors. The door was investigated from a carpentry/craft research perspective where the tool marks, the material and the manufacturing techniques were interpreted. The features and ironwork were also analysed through style orientated, historic eyes. The church and the door´s original location were investigated in the search for clues. These investigations led to the hypothesis that the door was most probably younger than the English examples. The hypothesis was tested with a dendrochronological analysis of the ledges that not only dated the door but also gave further information about the provenance of the timber and timber trade connected to the hanseatic league. Yet one of the main questions remains unanswered, why is there a counter rebated door in Skanör 874 km and 200 years away from the closest known example in England? | |
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López Piquer, M. & Lluis i Ginovart, J. | 2018 | Trace Methods of the Romanesque Churches of Val D’aran (11th-13th Centuries) Orientations in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 263-74 | Val d’Aran is a region of Spain located on the north slope of the central Pyrenees, the Catalan Pyrenees, and is limited on the north by France. Val d’Aran preserves twenty-nine Romanesque churches, whose date of construction range from from the 11th to the 13th century. The first studies and topography surveys of Val d’Aran churches were done by the construction historians Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879), Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850-1923) and Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1867-1956), in their expeditions in 1833, 1905 and 1907, respectively, but they did not take into account the orientation of these Romanesque churches. A topological study of the data and information obtained from the mass data capture, with a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS), of the Romanesque churches of Val d’Aran has been done. Topology, from the Greek words τόπος ‘location’, and λόγος ‘study’, is the mathematical frame that is dedicated to the ’study of the location’ and its properties, from the geometrical point of view. Through the topological and visual analysis of these religious buildings, several hypotheses have been raised, the one studied in this paper is whether clerics and lay people had some knowledge of orientation and astronomy. This achieved by analysis of the methods used to align the Romanesque buildings from the 11th to 13th centuries, and its relations between the methods and sources used, such us: Vitruvius (c. 80-20 BC) in his treatise De architectura (c. 30-15 BC), the orientation techniques used by the Roman gromatics or surveyors in the 1st and 2nd centuries, as for example Hyginus Gromaticus (c. 98-117), in his De limitibus constituendi, the texts written by Gisemundus at the monastery of Santa María de Ripoll, Ars gromatica siue geometría Gisemundi (c. 880), near the Val d’Aran and, finally, the hypothetical use of the compass, which is mentioned in documents dating as far back as the 12th century. | |
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Hallgren, M. & Gullbrandsson, R. | 2018 | Transformation of the interior of Gökhem, a Swedish romanesque church - results of an investigation of the attic in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 275-88 | During 2017, the authors made a damage inventory and archaeological cleaning prior to a forthcoming restoration of the attic of Gökhem church from the 12th century.[1] This revealed several interesting traces from the transformations of the church interior throughout the ages: from the open romanesque nave-roof which was part of the sacred church room, to a secluded attic behind a flat wooden ceiling that later was remodeled into limestone vaults. Covered in dirt and bird nests, several traces have never been seen before. Due to the lack of written detailed technical references, the church itself become the reference when we interpreted its construction. The article both adds to, and partly revises, previous knowledge. [2] | |
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Markley, S. | 2018 | Earth Mortared Masonry Construction – Its Symbolism and Functionality – An Irish and United Kingdom Perspective in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 289-300 | Pioneering research in Ireland and Britain has identified the extensive and selected use of earth mortar in masonry construction across social classes from the early medieval to the post medieval periods [1]. The durability and structural stability of earth mortared masonry construction is borne out in the survival of earth mortared masonry buildings both in standing structures and in the archaeological settlement record. This paper looks at the prevalence and choice of earth mortar in upstanding ecclesiastical stone buildings with a view to presenting the potential imbued symbolic, sacred function which promoted its use. Historically, earth embodied sacred, curative, protective and spiritual properties. The paper proposes that the use of earth mortar in stone church construction across time periods may have provided a tangible associative link to a founding saint. It is hoped that future researchers may add evidence substantiating this theory. | |
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Prosser, L. | 2018 | The Roofs of Inigo Jones Revisited in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 301-14 | Dendrochronological analysis at Hampton Court Palace has dated two hitherto overlooked roofs to the mid-1630s, placing them firmly within the tenure of Inigo Jones as Surveyor of the King’s Works. These lie above the ante-chapel to the Chapel Royal, and the historic Tennis Court. Both roofs comprise king-post trusses, but display remarkable differences in carpentry and jointing while also retaining residual vernacular techniques of construction. These discoveries have prompted a re-evaluation of Jones’s other surviving roofs at the Queen’s House Greenwich and the Queen’s Chapel at St James’s Palace. Previous study was forced to rely largely on the interpretation of antiquarian drawings and extrapolation, but the new discoveries provide us with a greater sample and allows close examination of Jones’s carpentry. This paper will present and describe these roofs in detail for the first time, comparing differences and similarities. It will show that, as previously suggested, Jones may have used specific printed prototypes, but that later, a degree of experimentation was employed to perfect and refine his trussed roof form. | |
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Chalvatzi, A. M. | 2018 | Theatre Construction in Eighteenth-Century France: The Opera of the Palais-Royal in Paris and its Impact on Theatre Construction in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 315-26 | This research attempts to reconstruct the context, in which the Theatre of the Palais-Royal was built. On the one hand it is positioned rather late in the career of the architect Victor Louis (1731-1800), who had already designed and constructed a major theatre in Bordeaux. The direct comparison of the two theatre projects, these examples in Bordeaux and in Paris, reveal both the intention of the architect and the evolution in construction techniques. This article focuses on the example of the Opera in the Palais-Royal in Paris and on the work of the architect Victor Louis on theatre construction. The example in Paris is representative of the evolution of theatre structures in France and is a reflection of the factors that influenced and determined to some extent theatre design in the nineteenth century. | |
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Samuel, M. | 2018 | The Dry Dock at Ramsgate: Smeaton or Rennie? A developmental history in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 327-44 | The developmental history of the Dry Dock at Ramsgate has never been examined although the published reports of the famous Civil Engineer John Smeaton[1] and the unpublished notebooks of John Rennie still exist.[2] The Dry Dock represents one of Smeaton’s last works in a long career; his most famous task, the Eddystone Lighthouse. No attempt has previously been made to relate the surviving designs to what exists today. An important paper on the “No. 3 Dry Dock” at Chatham made no mention of Rennie’s near-contemporary commitments at Ramsgate.[3] This paper therefore amalgamates archaeological technique and source criticism to clarify how Rennie used his experience at Ramsgate as a technological forcing ground. The paper is developed from a report originally commissioned by Thanet District Council in 2014. This was intended to provide background information for an application for EU Community funding. The Yacht Valley Project was an act of international cooperation between the coastal regions of France (Nord-Pas de Calais), England (SW, SE, and E), Belgium (Flanders) and the Netherlands. It was partially funded by the EU-based INTERREG IV A2 programme for seas. The funding was to allow the histories of individual North Sea harbours to be researched; the aim - to improve these old harbours as amenities for tourism and leisure use. | |
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How, C. | 2018 | The First Wire-Nail machines & their origins in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 345-56 | This paper examines the manual processes that led to the first patents for wire nail-making machines. It introduces a recent discovery, backed by provenance and analysis, dating the first proper wire nail machine to 1816, some 30 years earlier than previously accepted. It shows how the assemblages, hence much of the technology that we enjoy today, are pre-eminently French, and dispels some of the myths that have accumulated in the accepted literature concerning wire nails. The paper is based on research into the original patent dossiers from 1808 to 1825 held in Paris. As part of this analysis, errors relating to the so-called wire nail-making machine of James White of 1810 are identified. The paper shows how early reporting had distorted the inventor’s own claims | |
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Lampariello, B. | 2018 | Cells and Epines-Contreforts for a New Kind of Vaulted Roofing: The Church of Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre in Paris in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 357-68 | In the second half of the nineteenth century cisterns and tanks began to be constructed in the form of shells covered by depressed vaults, using a mixed system of metal and concrete to ensure a fire-resistant and waterproof structure that was quick and cheap to build. This led at the end of the century to a spread in the use of slender vaulted roofing made out of concrete reinforced in various ways for industrial buildings, public buildings and monuments. Many structures were built, patents applied for, studies and research carried out, sometimes with the aid of tests of tensile strength, with the aim of clarifying theoretical aspects, the composition of the material, the configuration of the structures and the modes of their construction.It was in this context that the French engineer Paul Cottancin (1865-1928) proposed a system of construction with metal, concrete and bricks, known as ciment armé from the late 1880s, when the first small-scale works were realized and a patent filed for the configuration of the metal reinforcements,[1] until the beginning of the twentieth century with the construction of the roofing of important buildings and the invention of a method that aimed to reduce the amount of centring. The most important applications of ciment armé in the construction of vaulted roofing were developed at the end of the century together with the architect Anatole de Baudot (1834-1915). Cottancin contacted him at the beginning of the 1890s and they worked together on several buildings, the most outstanding of which was the church of Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre in Paris. | |
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Stoyanova, I. | 2018 | Scaffolds for the iron-and-glass roof of Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II: challenges, design and evolution in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 369-78 | Although the Gallery has been the object of extensive studies, less attention has been paid to the scaffolds for the construction, and especially to those for the maintenance of the roofs. What scaffolds were used to lift and install the heavy prefabricated pieces of the iron vaults and dome? Who designed them and what challenges needed to be addressed? What were the scaffolds for the maintenance campaigns like? Did their design resemble the scaffolds that were employed for the installation of the roofs? The answers to these questions will add to an understanding of the construction history of the Gallery and of scaffolds more generally. This understanding could also be relevant for the future design of scaffolds for the roofs. | |
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Thorne, R. | 2018 | The Rise and Fall of Fox Henderson 1840-1856 in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 379-400 | Gone are the days when it was acceptable to refer to the Crystal Palace as being solely the work of Sir Joseph Paxton. The erection of the exhibition building in Hyde Park and its subsequent removal to Sydenham in south London made the names Fox Henderson household names. Although those names later faded from people’s minds they have been resurrected in most recent accounts of the Crystal Palace. The Paxton side of the story is beguiling and will always merit retelling, but his reliance on Fox Henderson as engineering contractors is integral to that story; indeed without it the story is half told and unconvincing. | |
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Gil-Crespo, I.-J. | 2018 | Military reports about the walls and fortification projects in Havana, 19th century in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 401-12 | The bay of Havana in Cuba was one of the most important harbours in America during the Spanish Empire. Its defence was always under review and progressively increased. The access tothe bay was defended by several forts: San Sebastián de la Punta, la Real Fuerza, El Morro and, after the English attack in the 18th century, San Carlos de la Cabaña. However, the west side of the city towards the interior was a weak point. For this reason, from the 16th century, governors and engineers designed a strong wall from the open sea to the bay, enclosing the city. Nevertheless, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the population increased, and many people lived outside the walls, so that governors were afraid of a raid. So, in 1815 a debate about its utility as defence began. Between 1817 and 1861, several defence systems were designed to replace the wall with forts and entrenched fields. Each fortification design developed new defence theories. In the middle of the 19th century warfare was highly improved and fortified systems had to be adapted. The designs of 1817, 1855 and 1861 show perfectly the evolution of warfare and fortification in this epoch. The final result was in 1863 the walls were demolished and forts were not built. | |
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Baudry, A. | 2018 | From the drawing to the wall: the operational chain of building stone on the restoration worksite of St. Martin’s church in Liège during the nineteenth century in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 413-26 | The present article focusses on the use of building stone during the first interventions carried out on the site, which involved the reconstruction of much of the masonry and buttresses of the choir loft and transept. The observations made here concern the years 1839-1845, the period for which the documentation is by far the most varied and abundant: debates and surveys by architects, building specifications, contracts, general accounting, yardage, receipts, invoices, orders etc., although some details are sadly lacking – including the architects’ plans. The material remains of this period also allow archaeological observations in situ. This wealth of documents makes it possible to recreate, with a high level of certainty, the operational chain of the materials used during the first years of one the most prestigious and earliest building works carried out in the city of Liege and on a broader scale, the Kingdom of Belgium | |
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Degraeve, M. et al | 2018 | Spatial analysis of timber construction SMEs in Brussels (1880-1980) in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 427-42 | Although much historical research has been done on timber constructions in Brussels, both from pre-industrial and modern times,[4] the many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that were involved in realising these constructions remain largely unexplored. In researching actors in the building process, the focus of attention within construction history has namely often been directed towards the few large and prominent enterprises. Nonetheless, the high labour intensity and the high degree of specialisation in the construction process generally obstructed economies of scale, which compelled most construction enterprises to organise their production on a small scale.[5] There is a high need for profound knowledge on this multitude of small contractors, craftsmen and material suppliers that have persistently formed the backbone of the (timber) construction industry.[6] This study’s objective is to obtain new insights into the evolution of the organisational flexibility and activities of these small actors in the timber construction industry. This can benefit not only business historical insights within construction history, but also historical research into timber constructions.[9] The paper focuses on the spatial management of the timber-SMEs in Brussels by analysing their economic-geographical logics (the location where they settled) as well as their architectural logics (the building types they used). In this way, we can assess how they were able or unable to spatially maintain their business activities in the urban fabric, precisely during the period when their embeddedness was challenged by comprehensive urban developments (such as functional zoning policies and rising real estate prices) that eventually drove many of them out of the city after the Second World War. The scope of the research starts well before these developments initiated (1880) and ends when their consequences had become clear (1980). | |
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Mulvey, M/ | 2018 | ‘Once Hard Men Were Heroes’: Masculinity, Cultural Heroism and Performative Irishness in the Post-war British Construction Industry in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 443-50 | Recruiting Irish labour to resource British engineering and construction projects was by no means a post-war phenomenon, particularly as the Act of Union of 1800 made Ireland part of the United Kingdom. Irish navvies were present in big numbers throughout the nineteenth-century industrial landscape and helped construct the canal and railway networks and most of the great infrastructure tunnel, bridge and dock projects of the Victorian era. Contrary to popular cultural perception, however, they were not dominant in terms of numbers and were equally matched - if not often outnumbered - by indigenous English navvies together with plentiful numbers of Scots and Europeans. In the interwar period, despite the cultural and political tensions created by the Irish War of Independence of 1919-21 which gave rise to the Irish Free State, Irish labour was again called upon in large numbers to resource major UK infrastructural and hydro-electric projects in England and Scotland [2] and such significant London projects as the original Wembley Stadium and the Craven ‘A’ Factory in Mornington Crescent. Notably many of these jobs were undertaken by leading British contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, which -certainly up to the mid-twentieth century – was the prime recruiter and employer of Irish labour to the British construction industry. | |
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Rinke, M. & Haddadi, R. | 2018 | The riding arena in St. Moritz and the locomotive depot in Bern – a comparative study of early glulam construction in Switzerland in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 451-62 | Glulam construction technology arrived in Switzerland only a few years after Hetzer’s technological invention of robust, industrially fabricated, glued laminated timber elements, in Germany in 1906. The Swiss engineers Bernhard Terner (1875-1960) and Charles Chopard (1879-1954) acquired the patent and the exclusive right in Switzerland in 1909. During the following 24 years, they developed many extraordinary glulam timber structures, which have been acknowledged internationally and belong to the most distinguished architectural examples in timber construction of that time. Among those are many halls for cultural and sports activities, but particularly for industrial and infrastructural purposes.[1] Outstanding examples of such different applications of this “new material” are the riding arena in St. Moritz (1910) and the locomotive depot in Bern (1912), both still existing almost unaltered. | |
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Draper, K. L. & Campbell, J. W. P. | 2018 | Armstrong Huts in the Great War (1914-1918) in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 463-74 | Despite the large number of books and research into nearly every facet of the First World War, there is a distinct lack of literature on the design and construction of temporary military buildings that were shipped and used during this period. The Crimean War in the nineteenth century had seen a shift from tented accommodation to the introductory use of huts (temporary buildings) on campaign during wartime. The twentieth century saw increasing experimentation in design leading to a huge expansion of types.[1] Not surprisingly wartimes proved to be particularly intense periods of development and production as the escalating demands of war created huge pressure to solve problems and provide the armed forces with whatever was necessary to win. With the outbreak of the First World War, the need to provide better accommodation for troops, especially in winter, was a driving force in new designs. Initially, this requirement of accommodation was only a consideration for the Home Front in Britain during the build up of forces. With the assumption that the war would be short-lived, there was an expectation that troops in France would live in tents, billets, empty buildings, open fields or in trenches. As it became clear that victory would not be secured so quickly, it was recognised that better accommodation in France needed to be provided. This would require huts that could not only be easily and quickly constructed, as in Britain, but also have an element of portability, packaged compactly, allowing them to be easily shipped across the English Channel and transported to selected sites, and to be moved again if or when the front moved. | |
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Ng, M. S. & Campbell, J. W.P. | 2018 | The Unpublished Carpentry Archives of Cecil Hewett (1926-1998): A survey of his letters and drawings in the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 475-86 | Hewettt’s work is controversial because it is frequently inaccurate. While Deneux was an architect and took painstaking measurements of all the buildings he surveyed, Hewett’s drawings were often done entirely by eye (albeit an extremely good eye). As long as this is known by the reader then the limitations of the drawing can be clearly understood, but Hewett never discussed his methods and this led to subsequent completely justified questions about their reliability and usefulness, still much debated today. His works are still often the only easily accessible published records of particular historic roof structures, but they are not dimensionally accurate and historians need to treat them with caution. They have misled those that are unaware of his methods, but they can still be immensely useful. Hewett published only a fraction of his output and on his death in 1988 the remainder was deposited at Essex Country Record Office. It is these records, which have never been examined, that form the subject of this paper. | |
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Ladinski, V. B. | 2018 | Immediate Housing Construction following the 1963 Skopje Earthquake in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 487-98 | On Friday 26th July 1963 a magnitude 6[1] and intensity IX MCS[2] earthquake devastated Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia (than constituent republic of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), killing 1,070 and injuring 3,300 people[3]. This paper examines the post-earthquake housing reconstruction efforts covering the period between 1963 and 1964 through analysis of the housing development activities related to the construction of the 18 new intermediate housing estates. Building on the review of the literature available on the subject and research, this study contributes to the growing interest in pre-transition architecture and housing construction in the territories of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as to the area of post disaster intermediate housing provision. | |
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Audefroy, J. F. | 2018 | History of Early Twentieth Century Anglo-Caribbean Wooden Houses in Chetumal City, Quintana Roo, Mexico in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 499-510 | Chetumal’s architectural heritage is a historical legacy that unfolded throughout the twentieth century, as of the city’s foundation as Payo Obispo in 1898. What makes Chetumal particularly interesting is its unique Anglo-Caribbean-style wooden architecture that does not appear in any other coastal town on the Peninsula of Yucatán. | |
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Lucente, R. & Greco, L. | 2018 | The Montreal Stock Exchange Tower by Luigi Moretti and Pier Luigi Nervi (1961-1965) in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 511-24 | The Stock Exchange Tower complex was the result of the investment program promoted and managed by the St. James Place Victoria Real Estate Co. Inc. which was established in 1960 and consisted of a group of investors such as the Mercantile Bank of Canada and Società Generale Immobiliare of Rome (SGI), as well as other Italian investors. Luigi Moretti (1906-73) and Pier Luigi Nervi (1891-1979) received a commission to design the Stock Exchange Tower complex from the SGI of Rome in March 1961. The partnership continued until 1965, when the construction of the single tower was completed. A Canadian project management group flanked the two Italian master builders. The architectural office Greenspoon, Freedlander & Dunne, and the engineers D’Alemagne & Barbacki belonged to this group. The first project hypothesis, developed by Moretti and Nervi between February and July 1961, concerned the construction of a complex consisting of three towers with 51 floors connected by a low building. The initial plan was revised in favour of a solution with two towers and a common platform, but only one was built. After an intensive two-year design process, the building site opened on 14 June 1963. The structures were completed on 27 July 1964 and the tower was inaugurated in the spring of 1965. With a height of 190 meters it was, at that time, the highest skyscraper with a reinforced concrete structure in the world. This paper, considers the studies developed overall by Italian scholars involved in Moretti’s work, investigates the genesis of the Stock Exchange Tower, with reference to the combination of Moretti’s morphological research and Nervi’s construction system and optimization process. According to the authors’ hypothesis, the tower contributed to the links between architectural design and structural engineering in the Italian scenario abroad. In fact, the authors consider the relationship between the architectural space and the structural system as a key topic | |
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Cardellicchio, L. | 2018 | The Italian engineering contribution in the technical development of the new Hertziana Library by Juan Navarro Baldeweg in Campbell, J. et al, Studies in the History of Services and Construction, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 525-34 | This paper aims to retrospectively discuss the contribution of the structural engineers in delivering this challenging conservation project in central Rome, analysing how the new structural systems was developed, and how it was built. The ultimate aim is to disseminate an untold story, which can unlock the potential impact of this case study for similar constructions. This case study is generally unknown. The author of this paper delivers the major research contributions on the subject. | |
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Gelder, J. | 2019 | Ptechai and Oropos: Two ancient Greek drainage contracts compared in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 3-18 | Two contracts from ancient Greece, for outdoor drainage, have been translated and their structures and content compared (Table 7). The first (Ptechai) was for the drainage of a marshy lake on the island of Euboea, and the second (Oropos) was for the construction of a drainage channel on the mainland. Though they both dealt with works of a similar nature, the two contracts show the range of contracting practiced in ancient Greece – large-scale (Ptechai) and small-scale (Oropos), unconventional and conventional, and sophisticated and simple. In particular, the Ptechai contract anticipated, by over 2000 years, several recent contracting ‘innovations’ such as design-build, negotiation, the contractor as developer, and public-private partnership. These novelties may explain the unusual allocation and sequencing of its content, which contrasts with those of the more traditional Oropos contract. | |
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Colajanni, S. | 2019 | The effect of Water on passive cooling systems in the Arab-Norman architecture of the Zisa Palace in Palermo in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 19-31 | Many historical buildings from the Mediterranean and Middle East include features designed to control humidity and temperature through water passive systems. The architecture of Mediterranean Basin area is particularly rich of these examples, as the weather requires a mitigation of its effects to improve the indoor living conditions [1]. Many historic monuments use systems and techniques for passive cooling, such as a room [2] equipped with a water basin or a fountain, often located in the central position of the house, and therefore with an important symbolic meaning for social life. The Zisa Palace in Palermo features an outstanding surviving example of this kind of water system. The building is locally referred to as Castello della Zisa. It was built in 1160 by Arabian craftsmen. It incorporates includes a system of evaporative cooling and natural ventilation that continues to guarantee satisfactory comfort today. The building is formed around a square room which is the core of the structure, located at Ground Level. It is named "Sala della Fontana" and constitutes the main hall within the building with its stone Salsabil (that is open stone channels presenting rivers connecting open basins of water). With its considerable headroom, the rich wall decorations and the presence of water, this room, is a distinctive feature of the Islamic legacy. The research presented here aims to show the relationship between water supply and Castello della Zisa in Palermo. The design methods used by Arabian craftsmen in the development of hydraulic systems are explained and the techniques used by ancient Arabian designers to control water systems inside historical buildings are described. Through the use of an advanced Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model [3], the presented research intends to verify the theories argued by some historians with reference to the working of the natural water passive cooling systems employed in the Zisa Complex. Although those pre | |
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Mair, R. & Weber, C. | 2019 | Lechmeister and Brunnenmeister – the men behind the historical water management in Augsburg, Germany in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 32-44 | The fact that Augsburg’s historic water management is the subject of an application for the UNESCO World Heritage Site shows the importance it had for the rise of the free imperial city to a pre-industrial economic metropolis. The Lechmeister and Brunnenmeister were responsible for the technical implementation and maintenance of the hydraulic structures. Their work can be documented by entries in account books dating back to the 14th century. In the 18th century the municipal reports, protocols and contracts were supplemented by the numerous writings of the Brunnenmeister Caspar Walter, which draw a vivid portrait of the work of the water engineers. A unique testimony to this period is a collection of models, mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries, which is directly related to the historical hydraulic engineering and its protagonists | |
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Boyington, A. & Campbell, J.W.P. | 2019 | The Influence of the de Caus brothers on Hydraulic Engineering and Fountain Design in Seventeenth-Century England in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 45-60 | This paper looks at the work of the De Caus brothers: Salamon de Caus (1576-1626) and his younger brother Issac (1590-1648). Their work is now almost entirely lost but their ingenuity is recorded in their publications which brought them fame at the time and needs to be seen in the wider context of contemporary hydraulic treatises and garden design. They provide a powerful reminder of the intricacy and sophistication of seventeenth century animated fountains which were once widespread in Europe but which are now almost entirely lost. | |
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Heaton, M. | 2019 | Watermeadows: the Largest Works of Civil Engineering in the Pre-Modern World? in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 61-74 | This paper attempts an archaeological analysis of one British manifestation of the technology – the ‘Bedwork Watermeadow’ – as works of historical civil engineering. Using the southern English examples and the published work of, amongst others, Cook, Bettey and Stearne, it explains what a watermeadow is, how it works, how and when they were constructed and operated and concludes with a brief assessment of their contemporary potential for mitigating pollution and climate change. | |
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Holzer, S.M. | 2019 | The Ludwig-Donau-Main canal in Bavaria (1836–47) in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 75-86 | Today, the Ludwig-Donau-Main canal in Bavaria (1836–47) is an outstanding technical monument because it has survived unchanged in large portions due to its lack of commercial success, even though truncated and mutilated by 20th century infrastructure such as a motorway and, above all, the new Rhine-Danube canal opened in 1992, itself an equally controversial project. | |
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McGuinness, J. | 2019 | Some drainage and sanitary provisions for 19th/early 20th century British housing in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 87-102 | Today, when most houses have an adequate supply of water, modern sanitary appliances and access to either main drains or to a suitable sewerage processing device, it is difficult to imagine the problems of disposing of waste without them. Even where there was access to public drains this frequently only made things worse by passing the problem into streams and rivers which became polluted with the consequent risks to health. Nevertheless, even in the post WW2 era proper provisions for the disposal of waste were not universally available in England and Wales. This paper seeks to identify some of the solutions relied upon in the absence of either an adequate water supply or access to main drains. It will also show that even where domestic waste could and should have been disposed of in a sanitary manner, this was often not the case. | |
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Santos, A., Seoane, H. & Martinez-Gonzalez, C. | 2019 | Nineteenth-century Water books and their use in understanding the irrigation systems of villages in Galicia in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 103-16 | Water management is implicit in the design of the infrastructure and through understanding the fruit of an evolution over many centuries since its beginning in the Middle Ages, the water books open up a very interesting avenue of research given that starting from an understanding of the sharing of water it is possible to identify the original plots of land which were successively divided over time. The water books not only have value as historical documents, they also provide a code which offers a set of instructions for enabling a territory to be made habitable. The water books set out how to live in a way that generates life; they witness the profound links that exist between the land and the life of a community which is reflected physically in that land´s geomorphology. | |
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Chen, Y. | 2019 | Trading Ports in the Modern East Asia in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 117-30 | This paper aims to clarify the harbour construction process and the establishment of trading ports in Modern East Asia. It focuses on the ports of Amoy in China, Hong Kong, Yokohama in Japan and Takau in Taiwan from the 1840s to the early twentieth century. These four ports in different locations were under the jurisdiction of different governments operating in different political systems, each demonstrating different methods of harbour construction with the water systems designed by harbour engineers from all around the world. | |
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Rostvik, H. N. | 2019 | Water supply - the Wittgenstein way in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 131-42 | A previous presentation described the building procedures and challenges faced in the new 2019 building project [1]. This particular paper described how Wittgenstein found the site and why he established it as a base. It also explored the processes in which the original materials were transferred to the original location, focussing also on the roles of volunteers and students from TU Berlin, Manchester and Cambridge universities - all universities where Wittgenstein studied. This paper focuses specifically on the water supply system which relied on a multifunctional cableway, and debates on how Wittgenstein’s cableway might have preserved the water quality. This cableway was also used to deliver materials and food up the steep hill. The findings of this paper are based on fieldwork findings and research from secondary sources, now described here in its entirety for the first time. | |
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Campisi, T. & Saeli, M. | 2019 | Public wash-houses in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Architectural solutions for social hygiene in Italy and Portugal in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 143-54 | This paper analyses the relationship between water, human health, and construction with a focus on the public wash-houses that, despite their architectural simplicity, played an extremely important role especially in the working-class neighbourhood and suburban areas. Indeed, such buildings were subjected to simple but effective constructive and architectural principles. Among those, simplicity, cleanliness, aeration, low cost, and, most of all, free use to all the people. At the same time, washhouses were also designed in order to assure a sort of urban decor without denying, as shown by many successful examples, their refined appearance. This study investigates the constructive and architectural features of such a unique typology, especially in view to the novel health requirements that spread in Europe between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. European and Italian cases will be introduced, intended as precursors of the Portuguese experience. In Portugal the wash-house was commonly used till the 1980s, due to a diffuse and general poverty of the State and people. Even today, across the country, old people still prefer using public wash-houses rather than the modern washing machines, as will be discussed. Building design, structure, “modern” washing techniques, construction materials and finishes (e.g. washable paving, majolica wall or waterproof plasters), will also be discussed. | |
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Sánchez, P. et al | 2019 | Sterilization and Filter House in Coruña, Spain (1900-1925): an example of early drinking water treatment buildings in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 155-72 | The first industrial hydraulic installations in Europe were implemented around 1900, when the change from steam engines to electric motors and submersible pumps took place. However, although more than a hundred years have passed, there are few studies that analyse the building typology of water treatment plants from a historical-architectural standpoint. The aim of the following study is to analyse the typologies of drinking water treatment plants, by taking a specific and still functioning case in A Coruña. The research method has been to study its regional and time-frame contexts, and to identify its values so that this typology be acknowledged as part of Spain’s Industrial Hydraulic Heritage. | |
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Albrecht, L. | 2019 | The Foundations of the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome: A Study of Late Antique Building Practices in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 173-88 | Although building foundations are a fundamental construction element, our knowledge of ancient foundation systems is limited, since they are usually covered in accordance with their intended purpose. This article broadens the understanding of the foundations of a specific building, the Basilica of Maxentius, in Rome. The basilica can be considered an exceptional building in some respects: It was not only one of the largest monuments in Rome but also the only large-scale building since Emperor Hadrian’s time to be newly constructed in the northern vicinity of Palatine Hill, directly in the heart of the city. [1] | |
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Amici, C. M. | 2019 | Vaulting Ribs in Roman Architecture: Invention, Use and Evolution in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 189-201 | From a technical point of view, the formulation of ribs as external structures with respect to the intrados of the vault, documented from the end of the second century AD, has significant impact on the methods and processes of construction. Different types of centering were needed, of which only those relating to the ribs were truly challenging. The vault systems were of reduced thickness, made of concrete or stone blocks, not necessarily of high quality, the reciprocal connections of which, in the case of compound systems, were facilitated and regularised by the presence of protruding ribs. These made it possible to lighten the load-bearing walls, applying a complex system of carefully calculated external buttresses, which paved the way for the construction of flying buttresses. | |
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Gelder, J. | 2019 | Ancient doors: Written documentation from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 202-12 | Gateways and doorways to cities, temples, palaces and houses were important in the ancient world, for example as thresholds from the profane to the divine. [1] Perhaps the best-known example of such an entrance is the 12 m high Great Gate of Ishtar, one of the eight entrances to Babylon, built by Nebuchadrezzar II in 575 BCE and relocated in the 1920s in part (the rest is in storage) to Berlin’s Pergamonmuseum. [2] Made of brick, it was finished in polychromic glazed bricks, featuring depictions of lions, dragons and bulls. This gateway marked the start of Babylon’s Processional Way, which contributed to its importance. The associated limestone inscription reads: I placed wild bulls and ferocious dragons in the gateways and thus adorned them with luxurious splendour so that people might gaze on them in wonder. [3] But it says nothing about the construction or dimensions of the gateway and indeed, such information is rare in the written sources. This paper collects extracts from a number of technical written documents that do discuss, often only briefly, the construction and dimensions of doorways and doors in the ancient world of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Greco-Roman Egypt. They are given in chronological order, from ca. 1953 BCE to 98 CE. | |
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How, C. | 2019 | Historic ‘Magic’ Nails: Their typologies and their ritual uses in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 213-26 | This article deals with the form, typology and identification of nails used for ritual purposes. To understand the curious applications to which ritual nails were put, it is helpful to know something of the quasi-religious beliefs of the ancient world. There is a surprising amount of information written about these, emanating from the Roman patriarchs and their Greek predecessors. Roman writings have also left observations of the beliefs and practices involving nails that were adopted by the Celts. Such references are minimalised here to concentrate on the nail forms, but some explanation of the background of rituals is needed to lend plausibility to the strange features exhibited by certain nails. | |
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Lapins, A. | 2019 | Door and Gate Related Artefacts in Cesis Castle, Latvia in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 227-39 | During the archaeological excavations of 1974 – 2006 in Cesis castle a relatively large number of items related to the closure of openings such as doors and gates has been uncovered. Meanwhile new considerations have been derived during the architectural investigation, performed during the latest decade of the still upstanding parts of the castle. Although archaeological research has lasted for more than 30 years and its scale has made Cesis castle one of the best excavated mediaeval castles in Latvia, detailed analysis of the artefacts found during the works has only begun relatively recently. The present study assesses the items both from the perspective of their function and their manufacturing technology, and also dealing with the issues of terminology between Latvian and English. Through theoretical reconstruction drawings the usage of the principle hardware items has been explained. The results of the preliminary research have already been presented in the Archaeological Conference in Cesis in 2013 and published in 2017 in the conference proceedings [1]. Since then new parallels and international connections are being researched. The research’s benefits are an in-depth analysis of the castle’s hardware, and it also provides a scientific base for the on-going conservation and reconstruction works of the castle. The opening hardware can be grouped according to their function - the ones on which a door or gate leaf opens, plus hardware used for locking, and finally fittings for joining of separate wooden elements. Additionally we look at hinge pintles, hinges, and deadbolts. | |
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Lluis i Ginovart, J. & López Piquer, M. | 2019 | Medieval geometry of gothic cathedrals in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 240-53 | The Arxiu Capitular (Chapter Archive) of the Cathedral of Tortosa (hereinafter ACTo) contains a large collection of codices and manuscripts. This paper does not intend to offer an exhaustive analysis of those sources but aims to present the mathematical and geometrical knowledge applied in the construction of the cathedral that appears in them. The cathedral is a synthesis of the knowledge of both the clergy and the builders. | |
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Pan, Y. & Campbell, J. W.P. | 2019 | 12th-Century Chinese Soft Doors and English Medieval Tracery Doors: Useful Reminder of the Dangers of Visual Comparison in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 254-70 | Based on a survey of existing Chinese studies on ancient timber doors, this paper gives a brief overview of timber doors in 12th-Century China. It focuses on the ‘soft doors’- a particular type of timber doors written in Yingzao Fashi, making the comparison with their Medieval counterparts, the cover-fillet tracery doors in England. This paper seeks to compare the similarities and differences between their purposes, forms, dimensions, and construction. | |
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Wendland, D. | 2019 | Construction of the Vault in St.-Catherine’s Chapel in Strasbourg Minster (1547) in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 271-84 | An opportunity to better understand the precise use and function of scale drawings within the process of designing and planning of complex stone structures, is provided by a case study on the vault in Ste-Catherine’s chapel in Strasbourg Cathedral, where an original drawing of the plan [3] can be compared with the existing structure as it was actually built – a vault with looping ribs completed in 1546. | |
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Yeomans, D. & Harrison, H. | 2019 | The Construction of Medieval and Tudor Doors and Gates in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 285-98 | This has, of necessity been a partial and incomplete account of doors and gates within this period. It has been so because of limitations on space and also because of the lack of data. Jane Geddes illustrated a number of doors in her study of English ironwork but that was about decorative ironwork and she was not concerned with the carpentry. [9] Hewett’s drawings vary in the extent to which they show the details of the carpentry and he was not concerned with structural behaviour. Here we have considered a limited range of types and have said nothing about the use of metal fasteners either for joining timbers or for attaching hinge straps. This can only be considered an introduction hopefully introducing structural considerations to provide some framework within which to place the various types of doors and gates. | |
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Guardigli, Luca | 2019 | Long span timber construction in Northern Italy from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 299-312 | The paper discusses some controversial issues related to the practice of timber roof construction in Northern Italy from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. New considerations are made on the basis of recent studies on long span trusses, conducted by our research team at the University of Bologna [1]. In the history of building construction long span timber trusses, those of more than 12 metres in length, always represented challenging experiences for architects and builders trying to cover naves, theatres and great halls in the most efficient and durable way. Since the Middle Ages they were developed in different shapes not only to carry vertical loads, but also to avoid horizontal thrust on lateral walls. | |
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le Dantec, T. et al | 2019 | Plaster Nails: an Unexplored Aspect of Construction History in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 313-29 | The integration of reinforcements (bones, wooden rods, etc.) in wall plasters goes back to ancient times. The specific use of nails in plasters and stucco in north-western Europe would appear to be more recent and would have come from Italy. Indeed, during the Renaissance, thanks to the study of antique monuments, the techniques for applying plasters and stucco evolved and would involve the use of these new reinforcements. In France, it was not until the sixteenth century that they were used, probably thanks to the arrival of Italian stucco masters invited by King Francis I [28] and later by other aristocrats, such as Albert de Gondi at the Château de Noisy. In Belgium, this method was observed from the last quarter of the seventeenth century, also concomitant with the arrival of Italian stucco workers; but the privileged links with Italy already in the sixteenth century give hope for further discoveries. However, this technique was very successful in the eighteenth century, until the end of the industrial period and the appearance of new processes using less or no lime or gypsum. It would seem that this type of reinforcement has not been observed in Britain, probably due to its particular climate, or that it would have been less influenced by Italy. Thanks to the samples studied — apart from the specific decorated nails of the Noisy Grotto — we have found nails of variable dimensions (depending on the thickness of the plasters or decorations) but whose head and manufacturing process would have been similar. We also observed the use of crampons, bars, etc., which offer a wide range of wrought iron reinforcement. These artefacts should be studied in depth, particularly by characterizing their composition. The diffusion of this technique reflects the political, artistic, economic and technical influences and exchanges that were parti | |
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Stampfer, L. | 2019 | From Plant to Turf: Determining qualities at the intersection between pedology, botany and building construction in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 330-39 | Comparison of information obtained through a questionnaire with data from scientific research provides some insights into the characteristics and availability of construction turf in Iceland. | |
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Kosykh, A. | 2019 | A Feat of Russian Engineering from the 1740s, the Iron Roof of theChurch of St. Sergius in Sergiev Posad in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Door and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 340-59 | The wrought iron roof covering the Refectory Church of St. Sergius is a unique example of early load-bearing iron structures. Erected in the important religious centre of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra during the “golden age” of Russian metallurgy, the roof was assembled by pioneering Moscow architects and blacksmiths. These masters combined their knowledge and propensity for experimentation to realize this engineering masterpiece. | |
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Piccoli, E. et al | 2019 | Building on water and the Modern State. Eighteenth century foundation techniques in the fortifications of Alessandria in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 358-76 | When the city of Alessandria was chosen, around 1725, to become one of the main fortresses in the Kingdom of Sardinia (Fig.1), complex problems had to be faced for the construction of a new citadel on weak and flood prone soils flanking the Tanaro, a river subject to extreme seasonal variations. A pile foundation system was recognised as unavoidable, and since the very first constructional operations, a process began aimed at improving the ancient techniques in order to standardize procedures and to control costs. This paper aims to make use of the archival documentation deposited at the State Archives of Turin, as well as of the observation of the buildings in their present state, in order to examine an episode of this long-lasting construction process: a mid-century moment of crisis that led to a close scrutiny of procedures and to a debate on their ‘improvement’, as well as on the competence and authority of those held responsible for the construction’s successes and failures. | |
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Baudry, A. | 2019 | The stonecutters’ workshop on the restoration worksite of the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross in Liège (1845-1859) in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 377-91 | The archives of the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross in Liège constitute an exceptional source for understanding in detail the functioning and the human, logistical, material, technical and economic aspects of a big restoration project in Belgium in the 19th century. The approach taken here is merely a first approach and will, it is hoped, become more systematized during the coming years to include other trades and materials, by creating a dialogue with the material remains, for the benefit of a building-archaeology campaign made possible by the imminent complete restoration of the monument | |
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Bekers, W. & Fivez, R. | 2019 | The visual, the accidental and the actual in the historiography of the fort of Shinkakasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, 1891-1909 in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 392-406 | The reading of Shinkakasa’s construction photographs reveals a far more complex and layered social microcosm that goes into the simplistic black-and-white hierarchy that is generally accepted in the context of the colonial building site. The juxtaposition of the photographs to Moulaert’s description of the fort’s construction and other archival fragments supports an alternative narrative, from which the one-directional knowledge transfer from white military personnel to the unskilled native labourer can start to be questioned at least. | |
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Komiyama, Y. | 2019 | Materiality of the Crystal Palace – Timber in relation to Iron and Glass in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 407-20 | Contemporary drawings of the Crystal Palace were identified, and detailed investigation discovered where exactly timber was used and why it was used. It can be concluded that timber was used as a (less expensive) substitute for iron and glass, it was more reliable than other materials (for Paxton), and it could introduce lightness and elasticity to supplement rigid iron structures. This finding can be expressed as the phrase ‘right material in the right place,’ but the decisions (sometimes constructively and sometimes aesthetically) were neither straightforward nor automatic. The shape of the innovative trellis form of the cast-iron girder determined the image of the Crystal Palace. The form was originally constructively rational, but also determined the form of the wrought iron trusses and wooden trusses in advance, that cannot be explained by constructive rationality alone. However, the way timber was chosen to preserve the uniform appearance can be explained constructively again, as it was inexpensive and light. Therefore, the constructive aspect (material and construction) and aesthetic aspect (form) were inseparably related. | |
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Kuban, S. | 2019 | Survival of the Fittest? – Success Strategies of the Early Reinforced Concrete construction companies of G. A. Wayss in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 421-34 | This paper highlights the development of the different companies that were founded by Gustav Adolf Wayss (1851-1917) and in that aims to distinguish the successful strategies applied by Wayss. The characteristics of the local building market will be discussed, and their influence on his success evaluated. By comparatively analysing the economic strategies of different contemporary reinforced concrete companies’, patterns of success will be revealed. | |
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Potgeter, W. | 2019 | Facing Bricks in the Nineteenth Century. Developments in Manufacture and Construction of Brick Façades in German-Speaking Countries in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 435-50 | The article outlines the history of the rise and fall of facing bricks in the nineteenth century in German- speaking countries with a focus on aspects of manufacture and construction. Its main sources are the numerous preserved buildings as well as the rich inventory of written sources from a period, in which all technical innovations were widely discussed in treatises and journals. | |
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Bosch Gonzalez, M. & Putzolu, R. | 2019 | The European construction culture of mining buildings in the 1800s: linguistic and technical expressions between Sardinian and French-Belgian contexts. in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 451-62 | Theses case studies have been chosen because they offer a reasonable field of analysis of the construction and formal languages of the 1800s industrial heritage: the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area and the island of Sardinia feature important cases of mining edifications expressing the linguistic and technical culture of that time. Monteponi is a mine in the Southwest part of Sardinia that has been heavily exploited since the mid 1800s. Its architectural and historical features are linked to those of other sites in Europe, thanks to foreign-trained managers who directed this mine since the 1850s. They promoted interactions with foreign technicians in terms of architecture and technology, leaving important traces of these contacts. While in the early years of the 19th century mining buildings were facilities merely at the service of working activities, the further arrival of engineers, trained in the territories of Northern Italy or in German and Hungarian Schools, testifies a strong linguistic and construction change. | |
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Rabeneck, A. | 2019 | Thomas Edison and Modern Construction: the longue durée of the Long Kiln in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 463-76 | Thomas Edison is admired mainly for inventions that touch our lives on a daily basis. A less remembered aspect of his life is his part in the advance of cement production technology at the turn of the twentieth century, a development that arguably has had as much global impact as his more popular inventions. Edison invented the modern integrated flow-line cement plant that turns rock and fuel into bagged Portland cement at high volume with minimum human intervention. Edison’s plant design was built around his invention of the 150- foot long rotary kiln, patents for which became standards that quickly dominated the cement industry at a global scale and which continue at the heart of cement-making more than a hundred years later. This astonishing achievement has been so far eclipsed by Edison’s popular inventions that he is not mentioned in the Wikipedia article on Portland cement, an omission that would be unthinkable in any popular article on phonographs, motion-pictures or electric lights. Edison’s integrated cement plant and the way it came into being, drawing on his own earlier work and the experiences of many others, at a time when the chemistry of cement was beginning to be scientifically understood, is an example of technological innovation as the evolutionary synthesis of multiple forces. This paper aims to correct the Edison literature’s persistent indifference to his industrial accomplishments, which prefers individual ’flashes of genius’ - fascination with the creativity of the independent inventor, to the reality of Edison as a pioneer of industrial research. | |
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Jalia, A. | 2019 | Ceramic Fuses: An Indo-European history of tubular vaulting modules in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 477-93 | Ceramic fuses have existed since at least the third century B.C. [1], albeit in different avatars. Their predecessors were used extensively across a wide geographic region around the Mediterranean that included present-day Spain, southern France, Tunisia and large parts of Italy where most of the Roman construction activity was concentrated. This paper seeks to fill the dearth in scholarship on the sporadic occurrence and inconsistent use of tubular vaulting elements outside on and beyond the European continent. | |
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Beckh, Matthias | 2019 | Building with air: Heinz Isler’s bubble houses and the use of pneumatic construction techniques in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 494-506 | It is unfortunate that the different bubble house projects developed by Heinz Isler between 1975 and 1980, did not achieve the hoped for success, with the Ponthierry project becoming the only example that was realized. On the other hand, reading the documents related to the internal discussions within the design team, the considerations on the construction technique are similar to the annotations found in other projects using a model making technique. The methodological approach had a lot of similarities with Isler’s more usual experimental method. Reading the bubble system from this perspective, it could be described as an excursus from Isler’s more successful industrial shells. He started exploring industrial shells in the 1950s with his pneumatic model he then developed the concept of pneumatic formwork in real-scale in the 1970s with the bubble system, and returned to his pneumatic models with the Balz House at the beginning of the 1980s. This trajectory reveals the limited success in the actual realization of the bubble system as it was originally conceived. | |
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Burchardt, J. | 2019 | Innovation in the modern Australian concrete building business: The introduction of pre-stressed concrete, 1945-1970 in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 507-24 | By the 1930s the technology for building strong structures using pre-stressed concrete was ready to be introduced worldwide. This technology brought new possibilities. It saved on raw materials (skyscrapers could be built in a few months) and the pre-stressed concrete provided a lighter construction. With this came more substantial bridges and halls for industry, made possible by wider roof beams with longer spans. Especially in large bridges, the use of pre-casted concrete beams made the construction work at the building site much easier. In this paper the development of the Australian industry will be compared to that in Europe, where the technology originated. | |
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Fleming, P. H. | 2019 | The Application of Wayss’ Rohrzellendecke System in the Kongresshaus Zurich (1937-1939) in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 525-34 | Within the context of the buildings’ current on-going restoration and extension project (2017-2020) [2], this article focuses on one specific type of historical construction technique discovered in areas of the The Application of Wayss’ Rohrzellendecke System in the Kongresshaus Zurich (1937-1939) 526 Kongresshaus’ original late 1930s construction. This construction involves the use of unique hollow, cellular tubes to build ribbed reinforced concrete floors, cast in-situ. Unlike more common forms of ribbed concrete floor construction from the 1930s involving clay bodies or inserts, which are still in partial use sometimes today, the hollow bodies discussed herein were made of wooden frames, wrapped in woven mats of reeds or canes, and tensioned together with simple, thin steel wires. In older German-language publications, this type of hollow body is known as a ‘Rohrzelle’, which can be simply translated as ‘cellular tube’ [3]. | |
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Greco, L. & Spada, F. | 2019 | The Invulnerabile prefabricated construction system for Italian temporary buildings in the 1930s in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 535-48 | Indeed, the Italian experimentation was affected by an artisan production organization that influenced the development of building techniques [2]. In the field of steel construction, the production of structural steelwork was ensured by an organization of small specialized workshops, which often used imported materials and rudimentary machines [3]. This circumstance, together with the limitations imposed by the autarchy, restricted the use of prefabrication and steel structures, circumscribing the discussion of these issues to the theoretical debate and to the realization of demonstration buildings or of buildings intended for specific uses. This economic and technological framework strongly influenced the commercialization of solutions, as the history of the l’Invulnerabile system demonstrated. The existing literature on this construction solution is partial and mainly concerns studies on colonial architecture. This paper, based on archival documents, aims to analyse the l’Invulnerabile system, relating its developments to the national context and to the building activity in the Italian colonies in the 1930s. The Milanese case. Mass production for modern houses and the | |
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Ladinski, V. B. | 2019 | The ‘Golden Age’ of Housing Construction (1948-1980) in the Republic of North Macedonia in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 549-62 | The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in 2018 hosted an exhibition entitled “Towards a Concrete Utopia: Architecture in Yugoslavia, 1948-1980” [1] in which the works of the leading architects in socialist’s Yugoslavia were presented to the international audience. Inspired by the exhibition, this paper examines housing construction over the same period within the Republic of North Macedonia, then one of the six constituent republics of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. | |
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Lucente, R. & Greco, L. | 2019 | Building Industrialization and aesthetic research in the Esso and SGI headquarters in EUR (Rome) by Luigi Moretti and Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo (1960-66) in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 563-76 | In 1960 the Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI) entrusted Luigi Moretti (1907-73) and Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo (1890-1966) with the preliminary design for a complex consisting of two symmetrical office buildings located on Via Cristoforo Colombo (Fig. 1), at the entrance of the EUR district designed for the Universal Exposition of Rome of 1942 [1]. One of the blocks was for the Italian offices of the Esso oil company, while the other accommodated the SGI headquarters. The twin buildings have a basement and a pilotis ground floor. The T-plan of each volume is formed by a main block (141 x 22 meters) of seven floors and another, arranged transversely, of four floors (Fig. 2). The plan was organized on a 150x150 centimetres module that guided the layout of the structural grid, of the curtain wall and of the internal partitions. The flexibility of the spaces was obtained by means of mobile walls, plant ducts integrated into the floors and a regular double-span structural grid arranged on a 9 x 9 meter module. Stairs, elevators and toilets were concentrated in two cores placed in the central part of the main block. The Esso headquarters, completed in 1966, is representative of the features of the complex and it is analysed in this paper, based on the documents from the Moretti archive and the SGI archive. The existing literature on this building concerns the architectural genesis in relation to the work of Moretti and the characteristics of the curtain wall with reference to the Italian construction framework [2]. In this paper the authors concentrate their investigation on the relationship between the aesthetical research deployed by Moretti and the techniques used for the steel structure and the curtain wall. | |
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Melsens, S., Bertels, I. & Srivastava, A. | 2019 | India’s Architects Act, 1972: the triumph of identity work? in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 577-90 | In India qualified architects were the ‘youngest’ amongst several building professions in charge of the design and construction of buildings. Yet, this relatively small group of professionals, only active in major cities, campaigned for an Architects Act that would legitimise their monopoly on practice from early on. Analysis of the Journal of the Indian Institute of Architects shows that the J.J. School of Art and the architects’ professional organisation, the IIA, were important forums for the preparatory identity work that would give native architects the conviction to plead for such an Act. It is there that Indian architects cultivated their social and cultural capital, and gained exposure to the international status of the profession. | |
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Mornati, S. | 2019 | Originality and Lightness in the Work of Riccardo Morandi: the Metronio Covered Market in Rome in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 591-603 | The Metronio Covered Market is one of the minor works of Riccardo Morandi (1902-1989) but it is the only significant and spectacular architectural-structural composition that faces the street. This paper seeks to illustrate the original character of the building within the context of the usual building typology of the local market and place the constructive choices adopted in the panorama of the extensive experimentation on structural solutions conducted by the engineer. | |
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Presland, T. | 2019 | The Power and Glory: A Study of John Laing & Son Limited through its Photographic Archive in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 604-18 | This paper seeks to offer an alternative view by presenting early research for a PhD in Architectural History into the history of John Laing & Son Limited (henceforth John Laing) through an investigation of the John Laing Collection, an archive of approximately 230,000 photographs, held by Historic England, documenting a wide range of the company’s activities from its early work in the late 1890s to the 1970s. Historic England’s report on the collection notes that there are few records created by a single company which have such scope and breadth in this field of endeavour [4]. Whilst the collection covers almost a century of the company’s history, the scope of research to date has been limited to the period from the end of World War II to 1965, a period in which John Laing delivered a very wide range of projects and can make some claim to have participated in the building of ‘Modern Britain’, as the country reconstructed itself after the shattering impact of the war. | |
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Raaffels L. et al | 2019 | The Construction Details Of Lucien-Jacques Baucher’s Personal Residence (Brussels, 1965-66): Collaboration With René Sarger And Specialized Craftsmen in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 619-35 | Ongoing research regarding architects’ houses in Brussels, gathering more than 300 houses built by and for the architects themselves between 1830 and 1970, has already proven that this particular project often becomes the full-scale business card of the architect or is considered as a test bench for new materials or construction techniques. [1] Nevertheless, international surveys on architects’ houses often have a strong focus on the interior and exterior design qualities, while little attention is given to their technical aspects. Therefore, this paper investigates to what extent the underlying personal relationships stimulated the creation of innovative constructive principles in the own residences of architects. Furthermore, it is questioned which drawings were then required to manufacture these elements and whether the techniques used were also proposed to future clients. | |
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Reeder, L. | 2019 | Accidental Environmentalists: Building Construction on the Rim, 1931 – 36 in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 636-50 | Passive cooling and ventilation strategies; daylighting; local, repurposed, and salvaged materials; reused buildings; and minimized site disruption are among the environmentally-beneficial strategies employed on the Desert View Watchtower and Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins projects. But these strategies were not implemented for the environment’s benefit. Instead these design and construction approaches were used to achieve aesthetic goals, promote user comfort, and save time or money. These concerns—aesthetics, comfort, schedule, and budget—are still primary concerns for building professionals and owners today. We have advantages over our predecessors, including an understanding regarding the impact of buildings on the climate and a number of tools to mitigate it. If building professionals in the 1930s could reduce the environmental impact of buildings without even trying, then we should be doing far more than we are today. | |
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Rinke, M. | 2019 | Mechanization and early hybrid material use in glulam construction – The tram depot in Basel from 1916 in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 651-60 | The Basel depot is a significant example of the early glulam development, not only in Switzerland but in general. Beyond its recognition as an extraordinary case of industrial architecture that has been published and celebrated nationally and internationally, it represents a turning point in the formation process of modern timber engineering. While in the first glulam applications the design focused on the precise articulation of the members making use of the new technology [7] to variably adjusting the cross section, the form decisions were driven by looking at the ideal path of the structural forces, i.e. the parabolic shape, which was then directly translated into glulam components with a regular cross section. But not only is the shape of the glulam components themselves based on the regime of structural form ensuring maximum control of the internal forces but also there are iron devices used for each of the three hinges of the arch, borrowed from contemporary steel bridge design. This way, they control precisely which forces would be transferred to the supporting structure. Accordingly, there are movable bearings on the exterior walls to only transfer vertical loads and fixed bearings on the interior concrete columns. Consequently, the structural system is not only the conceptual but also the constructional starting point ruling both the form of the principal glulam members and the structural material below, the layout of concrete columns and brick walls. What is thus entirely different from earlier glulam structures designed by Terner and Chopard, or the Schweiz. A.G. für Hetzer’sche Holzkonstruktionen respectively, is the constructional clarity. No site joints, no improvised footings, no integration of other functional elements in the structural system, such as the skylight. The tram depot in Basel from 1916 is a significant example for consistent hybrid material use in glulam construction and for the mechanisation of const | |
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Santa Ana Lozada, L. & Santa Ana Lozada, P. | 2019 | Creating a Modern Image of Mexico at the first decades of Twenty Century: Milliken Brothers Co. of New York in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 661-72 | As result of the expertise of Milliken Brothers and the savings in time and budget they produced the firm obtained contracts to produce, furnish and erect the National Theatre (1904-1934), design of Adamo Boari, the Legislative Palace (1903-never finished) (Fig 8), design of Emile Benard, and the Ministry of Communications and Public Works (1904-1911), design of Silvio Contri, among other oeuvres in the country. Unfortunately, as the Revolution Wars of 1910 started and the Porfirio Díaz regime was overthrown, Milliken Brothers would finish only the Ministry of Communications; in other cases, such as the National Theatre at the time when the finishing works started, around 1930, Mexican steel was used to complete the work. | |
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Stoyanova, I. | 2019 | Comparing Plovdiv and Greek tobacco warehouses: comprehending a historic local construction type in Campbell, J. et al (Eds), Water, Doors and Buildings. Studies in the History of Construction. The Proceedings of the Sixth Conference of the pp.673-688 | The architecture of the Greek warehouses had a microclimatic dimension. Comparing them with Plovdiv warehouses reveals that the architecture of the latter had a microclimatic dimension too. Thus, the definition of architecture for tobacco warehouses goes beyond grand building dimensions and lavish decorations on the façades. It is a system of architectural techniques that contributed to the natural regulation of microclimate inside the warehouses so that tobacco manipulation and fermentation could take place. The comparison between Plovdiv and Greek warehouses as examples of Balkan tobacco warehouses, with American tobacco warehouses, shows different design priorities resulted in different construction types for the same architectural typology that evolved in similar historical period yet in different parts of the world. The application of anti-seismic techniques and especially their combination in a system that can be better seen in the Greek experience was a distinctive feature of the local construction type in the Balkan region. | |
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Vandyck, F., Wouters, I. & Bertels, I. | 2019 | On the architecture, use and embedding of small-scale construction workshops in Brussels Capital Region (1894-1969) in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 689-702 | This paper aims to further develop and contextualise these preliminary outcomes by deploying a similar methodology to construction workspaces in two of the region’s urban districts that developed from the late nineteenth century onwards. Rather than focusing on one specific subsector, this geographical demarcation aspires to broaden the palette of studied construction actors. Thereby, a case-based comparison is drawn on the architectural, locational and functional features of the legacy structures built by (and for the use of) historical bricklayers, general contractors, electricians, plumbers etc. within similar geographical contexts. These insights, abstracted from a process of inventorying and categorization, resonate with the idea of an industrial vernacular where local cultures of building, economic influences and functional needs govern the design [7]. This ‘common-sense’ of building was - apart from the research on timber workshops - also revealed in the governing impact of stored goods on the architecture of historical urban warehouses [8]. Well-aware of the way new-built constructions met such demands, it is assumed that the workshops of carpenters, bricklayers or contractors were - more than other artefacts - ingrained with locational motives and infrastructural needs. Accordingly, the typological analysis thereof is mobilized as a knowledge instrument in ‘getting to know’ their spatial strategies [9]. | |
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Ye, J. & Fivet, C. | 2019 | The ancient Chinese opera spiral wooden domes in Campbell, J. et al, Water, Doors and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 703-14 | This paper focuses on the spiral zaojing in the Ningbo area, Zhejiang province (South China). The field practice of surviving traditional wooden construction in rural China is discussed by looking at surviving examples (Figs 1-3), examining a newly-built example (Fig.8), its renovation process (Fig.9), the involved construction technology (Fig.7) and its evolution (Fig.8). | |
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Maggi, C. | 2020 | Iron reinforcements in the medieval and modern attics of Belgium in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 3-14 | ||
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Kosykh, A. | 2020 | Building with Iron in Eighteenth-Century Tula: The Armory Capital of Russia and Its Iron Roofs in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 15-30 | The first metallurgical centre of Russia, the old city of Tula is situated 180 km to the south of Moscow. Known as the country’s centre for the production of armaments and metalwork, Tula was also famous for the local blacksmiths that were considered the best in the country. The ingenuity of these masters was praised in the Russian tale “Levsha” which tells the story of a left-handed gunsmith from Tula capable of putting horseshoes on an English-made steel flea. More substantial examples showcasing the high level of Tula’s blacksmiths can be found in the building structures from the past that have survived to the present. This paper focuses on the iron roof over the Nikolas-Zaretskij Church. By summarizing the results of archival research, on-site investigations, and material testing, the article analyzes the structure and the historical and technical background that enabled its emergence. By comparing the roof over the Nikolas-Zaretskij Church with iron roofs that were built in the city at the same time, this work aims to describe the iron construction techniques used in eighteenth-century Tula. | |
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Chalvatzi, K. M. | 2020 | Early iron in Theatre Construction: the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction. The Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 31-44 | This research focuses on the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, at the north-western corner of the palace. Constructed shortly before the Théâtre-Français, this structure has a roof that combined wrought iron and hollow pots. Published and archival material as well as contemporary publications regarding the structure are scarce. This study of the theatre includes a precise documentation of the structure and its joints, using both hands-on and laser scanner techniques. Based on the survey, pertinent questions concerning the structure are addressed, including dating and technical particularities. The Théâtre du Palais-Royal is one of the oldest iron structures in France and certainly one of the few known examples, where the roof consisting of wrought iron and hollow pots is preserved in a good state. The structure allows the analysis of the details of the structure, its context and influences. A relatively small theatre thus becomes a key example in understanding early wrought iron roof structures in the eighteenth century. | |
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Peters, T. F. | 2020 | Louis Bruyère’s innovative iron bridges and their contribution to the development of modern iron construction in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 45-58 | The engineer and architect Louis Bruyère (1758-1831) built the first modern wrought-iron truss bridge in 1808 and he proposed several others that demonstrated his innovative preoccupation with the systematization and standardization of iron construction. The influence that his built work and projects as well as his teaching at the École des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris exerted on the development of modularized iron systems and their use in construction has remained unacknowledged. This paper presents his work and uncovers his role in the genesis of industrialized construction. | |
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Espion, B. | 2020 | Iron bridges in Belgium before 1853 in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction. The Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 59-72 | There is no major study of the history of civil engineering in Belgium. In particular, very little is known about the history of iron and steel bridge construction in Belgium in the 19th century. Belgium, and Wallonia in particular, are keen to remember the rich heritage, both tangible and intangible, of an iron industry that has been very successful. Very early, from 1835 onwards, a dense network or railway lines was constructed across the country which necessitated the erection of bridges and viaducts. Did the iron industry and the development of railway lines and other communication routes lead to innovations in the construction or design of bridges or to remarkable bridges? The purpose of this research is, by starting a systematic inventory work, to give elements of answer to this question. The results of this study are arranged here in three chapters essentially based on the structural typologies of bridges resulting from the use of materials: suspension bridges – cast iron arch bridges - Neville type truss bridges. | |
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O’Dwyer, D. | 2020 | The development in the design of beams from 1820 - 1860 in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 73-82 | This paper considers the developments in beam design during the period from approximately 1820 to 1860. While the paper tracks the development of elastic analysis and the analysis of continuous statically indeterminate multi-span beams, this is not the focus of the paper. The paper is primarily concerned with how the pragmatic design of beams evolved in parallel with the contemporaneous theoretical advances. The development and pragmatic adoption of bending theory by the engineering profession provides a very early example of how new knowledge is taken up and deployed by industry. | |
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Sire, S. & Ragueneau, M. | 2020 | Hybrid wrought iron and steel connections. The example of the electric arc welding reinforcement of the swing bridge in Brest (France) in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction. Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 83-92 | The arsenal of Brest (western Brittany, France) is notable for a high level and acknowledged technological innovation. During its development and expansion, the townscape of Brest, particularly the port landscape, has evolved significantly. New communication lines were opened to enable industrial and economic development outside the constricted boundaries of the city. Among these, a mobile, wrought iron bridge was built over the River Penfeld between the two cities of Brest and Recouvrance and inaugurated in 1861. At that time, the hot riveting process was the preferred joining method in metal constructions. In addition, wrought iron was the material used in these constructions, as steels were not yet produced. Due to the ageing of the bridge, particularly explained by the increase in traffic, it was decided to repair and reinforce the structure at the end of the 1920s. But how can a structure be repaired and reinforced when its constitutive material is no longer manufactured? During the 1930s, another joining process replaced progressively the hot riveted technique: the electric arc welding. It was the chosen process for the repairs and reinforcement of the Brest bridge. This was therefore a major scientific and industrial challenge: the welded metal structures were still recent and the welding of the hybrid wrought iron and low carbon strengthening steel assemblies had been studied very little. | |
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Wermiel, S. E. | 2020 | Introduction of the Rolled I-beam in the U.S.A. in the 1850s, Revisited in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction. Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 93-104 | Of the new construction materials introduced in the nineteenth century, the rolled I-beam – a solid, metal structural element with a cross-section in the shape of a capital ‘I’ – was one of the most important. In the mid-1850s, two American rolling mills began to manufacture wrought-iron I-beams. These beams were rapidly adopted, and from an early date, beams in a range of sizes and weights, rolled in American mills, were available in the U.S. market. They were components of metal building frames, which evolved into skeleton-frame construction – one of America’s principal contributions to construction technology. The story of the beginning of I-beam manufacture in America has been treated in several texts [1]. This paper revisits the history, expanding on and correcting earlier work. It also revisits the beginning of I-beam production in France and Great Britain. | |
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Stoyanova, I. | 2020 | Plan B or learning about Construction History from reconstructions and repairs: the iron roof of Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 105-16 | Finally, the iron roof of Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan is an example of how studying reconstruction and repairs can fill in gaps in construction history and enrich the understanding of even a well-researched structure. Thanks to the reports on reconstructions and repairs, the value of this particular roof for the history of iron construction can be found in its hybrid nature. The iron roof in the case of ‘Vittorio Emanuele II’ is actually a structure built with 1860s wrought and cast iron, then reconstructed with 1940s steel, and finally repaired with 1980s steel. The multiple roof parts produced with these materials co-exist in one structure through building techniques characteristic of iron construction from the respective historical periods. Therefore, the iron roof in the case of ‘Vittorio Emanuele II’ stands out as one single testimony of several episodes from the evolution of structural iron as a building material and techniques for connecting iron to iron and steel and iron to glass. | |
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Wolf, K. | 2020 | Rautennetze by Emil Hünnebeck – steel lamella roofs of the interwar period in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 117-28 | This paper deals with the so called Rautennetz Bauweise, a structural latticework of cold-pressed sheet steel lamellas in a rhombic pattern, developed by the German inventor and engineer Emil Hünnebeck. As I will argue on the following pages, Hünnebeck’s approach and construction method turns out to be more closely related to the Zollinger timber construction than to the Junkers steel lamella system. Hünnebeck designed three different versions of his latticework pattern in quick succession. After a brief phase of working with a double latticework pattern constructed from timber lamellas and their somewhat unsuccessful translation into steel profiles, Hünnebeck went on to fundamentally redesign the logic of his lattice work and lamellas. The result was a somewhat counter-intuitive, self-contained construction system of comparatively small steel lamellas with reinforced joints that needed no stiffening purlins. | |
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Gillet, V. | 2020 | An iron-mounted stoneware façade in Paris: Charles Klein’s apartment building at rue Claude-Chahu 9 in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction. Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 129-42 | The apartment building on rue Claude-Chahu embodies the acme of a construction technique previously experimented on Avenue Rapp by the architect Jules Lavirotte in 1901 [38]. The exorbitant costs, almost three times higher than the equivalent conventional Parisian dressed-stone façade, prevented this construction material from being widely adopted. The manifest lack of success makes the building on rue Claude-Chahu a fascinating, unique specimen for construction history today. A few months later, the kind of construction adopted for the façade on rue Franklin opened new perspectives, as it significantly reduced both the building costs and the surface devoted to construction [39]. The infill wall of the concrete frame consisted of a single layer of bricks coated on the outside with stoneware tiles embedded in a layer of wet cement [40]. This highly efficient solution provided the providential archetype for a generation of architects who sought to make use of reinforced-concrete frames for housing and commercial buildings in Paris during the first quarter of the twentieth century. | |
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Burchardt, J. | 2020 | The Wire Nails Revolution: The History 1898-2000 in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 143-56 | The increased production of wire nails is not only a Danish concept but an international one. For instance, each person in New Zealand used around 2.2 kg per person in 1871, with a rise to 4.4 kg in 1900. This higher consumption than in Denmark can be explained by the widespread use of wood and the need for houses for many immigrants [21]. In contrast, the dominant building method in Denmark was with bricks. Traditions among carpenters created cultures with some special profiles. For instance, the typical Danish nail was square and not round as in many other countries. The nail market seen from Denmark was at first totally dominated by German companies. The Danish company NKT was established to form a national counterweight. This succeeded, but the national and international cartels disappeared after World War II, and for the last decades, the market has been global, with most nails produced away from Europe. | |
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McGuinness, J. | 2020 | The use of light-weight steel sections etc. in low status housing in England in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 157-70 | The introduction of non-traditional building methods in England was hampered by the restrictive nature of the Model Byelaws introduced by most local authorities. These restrictions limited the use of steel and cast iron by requiring structural walls to be of a stated thickness according to the height of the wall. However, a significant number of housing systems were developed and constructed up to the end of the post-World War II housing drive. The range of designs can be divided into three main groups:- 1) those where the steel was used to create a structural frame which could be clad with a range of sheet materials, 2) where steel sheeting was applied to a frame and 3) where the steel was primarily a support for walling of another material. | |
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Mornati, S. | 2020 | Construction and Business Industrialization in Italy in the Second Post-War Period: the FEAL in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 171-84 | Among the companies that were committed to promoting the scientific organization of construction, FEAL (Fonderie Elettriche Alluminio e Leghe) certainly stood out and from 1945 - the year of its foundation - it quickly established itself in the sector of prefabricated buildings. The company was founded by Giovanni Varlonga, an engineer who distinguished himself for his propensity for theoretical-experimental research in the field of industrialized building components. He was engaged not only in design and study but also participated in conferences and published articles in specialized magazines. | |
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Spada, F. | 2020 | Aspects of constructive innovation in the activity of the Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI) in Italy (1950s-1970s) in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 185-96 | This paper is part of the Ph.D. research carried out by the author on the activity of Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI) in Italy from 1950-70 in order to investigate the relationships between major construction companies and technical developments in Italy in the twentieth century. Similar studies have, only in some cases, proposed systematic visions, but have nevertheless highlighted relations between these companies and fundamental evolutionary changes in the relationship between architecture and construction in Italy | |
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Nagel, E. | 2020 | Made from steel. Good as gold? The 1950s detached steel houses by MAN in Germany in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 197-212 | Formerly spreading in hundreds all over Germany, steel houses designed by the Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Nürnberg (abbreviated MAN) now belong amongst the endangered species of architecture. In 2015 and 2019 the opportunity arose not only to record steel buildings largely preserved in their original condition but also to draw them in detail and to document them photographically and textually. Unexpectedly, the comparison between the two examples showed that prefabrication did not outweigh individual design. Now it is time to find out why the highly praised design was not able to assert itself on the market. | |
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Gelder, J. | 2020 | Roman building services and architectural manuals: Part 2 in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 213-26 | This paper extends a previous paper [1], collecting and comparing material on a further selection of Roman building services – timber flumes, water supply tunnels, inverted water supply siphons, terracotta water pipes, and the analemma – across architectural manuals from the Roman and Renaissance periods. Transmission between these manuals, of ideas about these building services, is considered. Comparison is again made with the architectural record, to determine the extent to which these ideas were put into practice, and whether the manuals had a role in this. The two papers could be read together. | |
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Lapins, A. | 2020 | Water Management in Medieval German Castles in Latvia in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 227-34 | Medieval castles, like today’s modern households, cannot be imagined without access to water. As medieval castles were also defensive fortifications, the issue was of utmost importance. Castle builders paid attention to both the location of water sources as well as the management of water for drinking, household purposes and for drainage. Solutions differ from site to site, and not all Latvian medieval castles have been researched. Nevertheless some similarities can be observed and definite conclusions drawn. There is scarce information from documentary sources and even fewer historic illustrations, so this study is made from archaeological evidence, and on site survey observations. Modern instrumental surveying techniques also provide data for architectural research and analysis. | |
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Veloudaki, C. & Theodossopoulos, D. | 2020 | Oria Kastro on Kythnos: analysis of the built remains in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 235-48 | Oria Kastro on Kythnos in the western Cyclades (Fig. 1) belonged to this type of insular strongholds. Built on a remote cliff in the north-western part of the island, it has traditionally been considered Kythnos’ medieval capital, founded in the early Byzantine period (ca. seventh century AD) [2]. What we currently see, however, is predominantly the Latin phase as in the early thirteenth century Kythnos was among the islands conquered by Marco Sanudo and his comrades following the Fourth Crusade [3]. At first, the island was under the direct rule of the Duke of Naxos, but later it was ceded to the Gozzadini, a noble family from Bologna. The Gozzadini held Kythnos for almost three centuries (1336-1617) leaving their mark on its built environment [4]. This study is part of a wider attempt to document and analyse the remains of the Kastro. Through detailed surveys, it aims to record the range of building techniques in the most prominent and well-preserved buildings in an attempt to distinguish the possible western influences and the way these new Latin elements were integrated into the local building practice. | |
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Maissen, M/ | 2020 | On the Subsequent Vaulting of Churches in the Late Gothic Period: The Collegiate Church of San Vittore Mauro in Poschiavo, Switzerland in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 249-60 | The most remarkable example of subsequent vaulting in south-eastern Switzerland is the collegiate church of San Vittore Mauro in Poschiavo, whose original substance of the predecessor building actually necessitated a complete new construction. However, through the implementation and further development of already known and proven techniques, a unique solution could be created here, which solved both the structural as well as the design problems. Since subsequent vaulting has hardly been acknowledged in research on vault constructions, and the phenomenon itself was often just considered a marginal note, comparative examples outside the region discussed above are missing. It would be interesting to see whether the solutions described were also applied in other church buildings and whether there were regional differences. Until these questions can be addressed, however, more in-depth studies on further objects are required. | |
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Mair, R. | 2020 | The pumping stations of the historical Augsburg drinking water supply in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 261-74 | An essential part of Augsburg’s historic water management system, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019, was the drinking water supply for the upper city. From the early fifteenth century onwards, a system of pumping stations and up to nine water towers was created, which was replaced by a central waterworks as late as 1879. While these facilities are well documented from the seventeenth century onwards, knowledge about their early period is often based on circumstantial evidence and still requires a great deal of research. | |
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Burgassi, V. & Volpiano, M. | 2020 | Tradition and innovation: the construction of court palaces and the role of professional figures in eighteenth-century Piedmont in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 275-86 | It is against this background that our research group at the Politecnico di Torino undertook the study discussed in the present article. Comparative studies on this material are particularly fruitful, especially in light of the coherence that characterizes all the sites examined: the recurrent presence of workers not only from Piedmont but also, typically, from the area of the Lombard and Swiss lakes; the use of recurrent decorative models and techniques associated with particular families or workshops; the role of ducal and royal architects, who are actively involved in multiple projects at the same time; and – underpinning the process – the complex administrative apparatus by which the state exercised rigorous control over these projects – as can be understood from the archival data – which is a fundamental factor in our understanding of how construction actually worked in this context [2]. | |
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Grazia D’Amelio, M. & Grieco, L. | 2020 | Gunshots, wind, melodies, water jets and bubbling: hydraulic valves for the Teatro delle Acque of Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 287-302 | ||
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Wheeler, W. R. | 2020 | Post-Colonial New World Dutch Framing Innovations and the Development of the Balloon Frame in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 303-16 | This paper presents adaptations made to NWD framing strategies in buildings constructed in New York and Ontario that anticipate the principal innovations attributed to the balloon frame method of construction, including thru-studding, sawn structural elements, and second floor joists supported by girts and nailed to the side of studs. The westward transmission of this building tradition has been mapped to 1825, and supports a case for attributing an influential role in the development of the balloon frame to carpenters following NWD practices. This contribution does not discount the potential influence of building traditions originating in France or England (by way of New England); in fact it is likely that the convergence of building traditions in the mid-west—a region that lacked a dominant established European-American culture—created an atmosphere of experimentation and adaptation that resulted in the balloon frame and its variants. | |
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Mazzone, G. | 2020 | The rise of Stereotomy. The evolution of geometric applications in architecture from the Renaissance to the Baroque in France and Italy in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 317-30 | During the Baroque, before leaving its role as material par excellence in architecture, stone knew its most refined applications through Stereotomy, the French art of stone cutting. The article follows the historical trends leading to this complex construction technique, combining notions from Architectural history, to principles and advancements in other disciplines such as Mathematics, Geometry and Astronomy. The article describes the main approaches to Stereotomy highlighting their intrinsic difficulties. Examples from French architectural history—still in the lead for stereotomy—are accompanied by Italian experiments on the topic by the Baroque architect Guarino Guarini. Additional questions approached throughout the article inquire about the possible revitalization of stereotomic principles in contemporary practice | |
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Campbell, J. W.P. | 2020 | The Significance of John Theophilus Desaguliers’s Course of Experimental Philosophy to the History of Hydraulics and what it reveals about the First Pump-driven Fountains in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 331-46 | The design of water features and fountains, and the use of waterwheels for power were well advanced in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, but the scientific and engineering literature generally lagged behind practice. Those involved in water engineering in the late Medieval and Renaissance periods had generally trained by working under existing experts and must have relied on rules of thumb and while there were books produced on fountain design they were notably lacking in technical detail. The problems associated with fountain design were to do with problems of flow. Fountains up until the end of the seventeenth century were invariably driven by reservoirs at some height above the gardens. The pressure was created by potential difference and the problems the fountain designer was interested in were how many spouts could be fed from the reservoir at a time, how dramatic they would be, and how long they would operate for before the reservoir ran dry. There were also, of course, much more practical matters to do with the design and manufacture of pipes and of spouts and valves to control them and dealing with air pockets and the surges in pressure caused by turning the system on and off, and then for those places not blessed with a high hill on which to place a reservoir above the garden, there were problems of pumping water into cisterns that could carry out the same purpose, albeit for a shorter time. Histories of Hydraulics and Fluid Dynamics tend to dwell on those books and writers whose work moved the theory forward [1]. Thus they tend to discuss Simon Stevin (1548-1620), Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), Benedetto Casteli (1577-1644), Evangelista Torrecelli (1608-1647), Isaac Newton (1642-1727), Gottfreid Leibniz (1646-1717), Daniel Bernouli (1700-1782) and Leonhard Euler (1707-1783). While there is no doubting the long-term significance of these figur | |
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Chrimes, M. | 2020 | Jesse Hartley in 1797: evidence on the making of the Liverpool Docks Engineer in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 347-64 | The diary gives a picture of the busy life of a.trainee mason and surveyor of the 1790s. As with the young Telford there is nothing to suggest an awareness of a career in civil engineering. The diary shows little of the thoughts of the young Jesse, suggesting a private person. If one wonders how much a teenage engineer might know about the works of their locality, the answer suggested here is a great deal. Likewise he would have known who the leading local designers and reliable suppliers were. While there is nothing to suggest the knowledge of engineering science that might have appeared in a more academically trained engineer, he was evidently literate and numerate. Of particular interest are his sketches of the Lune aqueduct and Skerton Bridge, which George Stephenson visited when Hartley was advising the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. At an early age he learned what good bridge design looked like, and also what was involved in managing a major bridge project. | |
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Herrero-García, E. & Gil-Crespo, I-J. | 2020 | Industrial technology and brick vaults construction in Spain, 18th century: The Royal Glass Factory in La Granja in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 365-78 | La Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja (The Royal Glass Factory in La Granja, Segovia) was built and enlarged along the 18th century. The construction process reveals how the builders made decisions about the distribution of the works for glass manufacturing, considering the position of the kilns, the expulsion of smoke, the lighting, the construction techniques and even places for the workers relaxation. Brick vaults were erected to avoid fires, and several of them were built without centering. Two large domes function as chimneys. There were 32 sets to temper the glass, and the surplus heat was used to warm the rooms for the workers. The position and orientation of the glass polishing tables were very important because this machinery needed the force of water for moving material and the glass had to be near windows oriented towards West, to facilitate the detection of defects and irregularities. The wooden warehouses were placed closer to the kilns. The authors have drafted the Master Plan of this building and have studied its history, its construction, its operations, its relationship with other similar factories in Spain and Europe, as well as other issues such as cultural heritage, management, conservation, maintenance, and architectural proposals [1]. This piece will examine both the technical requirements and the construction process of this building. | |
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Romano, L. | 2020 | Fighting fires. Jean-Far Eustache de Saint-Far’s contribution to the debate on fireproof constructions in France at the end of the eighteenth century in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 379-88 | In the light of these considerations, the paper deepens Saint-Far’s contribution to the debate on fireproof constructions in France at the end of the eighteenth century. The study reconstructs the genesis of his inventions through the critical reading of documents preserved in the Parisian archives (Archives Nationales and Archives du Musée des Arts et Métiers) providing a small advancement in the history of fire engineering in France [3]. Moreover, the proposed subject fits within the current literature on the figures of architects-engineers-artisans and on the role of the technical invention in the Age of Enlightenment [4]: both are themes of interest for Architecture but also for human and social sciences. | |
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Holzer, S. M. & Knobling, C. | 2020 | The laminated arch in the first half of the 19th century: A status report from Switzerland in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 389-404 | Switzerland has a unique cultural heritage of about 130 still preserved wooden bridges, which were built before 1900 [1]. Being a transit country for hundreds of years, bridges were therefore a location factor that had to be preserved and further developed. The fact that many bridges were built of wood may have been due to the local availability of this building material. Also, a wooden bridge was faster and cheaper to build than a stone bridge. Highly specialized carpenters were available in sufficient numbers and quality - a development that favoured bridge building and was in turn encouraged by it. The admiration for these structures and the relief they brought to travelers led to the fact that the names of outstanding master builders, first and foremost Hans-Ulrich Grubenmann (1709-1783), but also Joseph Ritter (1745-1809) or Blasius Baltenschwyler (1752-1832) are known far beyond the borders of Switzerland. | |
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Bulckaen, L. & Devos, R. | 2020 | The engineer as mediator in complex architectural projects at the turn of the nineteenth century: the case study of Louis Cloquet in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 405-18 | This paper wants to highlight the fact that because of this heightened complexity in building at the end of the nineteenth century, the way that professionals in building collaborated also needed to become much more efficient. Ironically maybe, this demand for efficiency resulted also in an increase in building bureaucracy: the paperwork necessary to organize the design and execution of a building and with it, a paper trail for historians today. The reason for this use of paper was the fact that particular knowledge and information needed to be communicated to the actors in the building process. The increased complexity also induced a further differentiation of responsibilities resulting in the professionalization of certain groups [2]. The latter was reflected in the rise of multiple organizations for building professionals that emerged in Belgium. Already in 1872 the Société Centrale des Architectes de Belgique (S.C.A.B.) was formed, defending the position of the architect. Next to that, the contractors founded the Fédération des Constructeurs Générales in 1881 [3] and the engineers assembled in 1885 in the Société Royale Belge des Ingénieurs et des Industriels [4]. One of the general questions on collaboration is the issue of authorship in building. Throughout architecture and construction history, the authorship of buildings has been attributed habitually to “the architect”, making abstraction of not only the many collaborators, but also his factual tasks and roles, training and profile. Looking carefully at the case study of Louis Cloquet, being an engineer, reveals exchanges with many other actors. | |
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Weber, C. | 2020 | Professional organisations of Architects and Engineers and their journals in nineteenth century German States in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 419-32 | The Berliner Architektenverein was in its form of scientific communication ‘prototypical’ for all further German speaking architectural and engineering associations, which subsequently emerged in numerous Prussian provinces and the other German States; such as the Württembergischer Verein für Baukunde in Stuttgart (1842), the Sächsischer Ingenieur- und Architektenverein in Dresden (1846), the Architekten- und Ingenieurverein im Königreich Hannover (1851), or the Bayrischer Architekten- und Ingenieurverein in Munich (1867) [29]. Following the Berlin example, these other architects’ associations in the individual German-speaking countries also published their own journals during the nineteenth century, e. g. the Austrian engineersʼ association: Zeitschrift des Österreichischen Ingenieur-Vereins since 1849. The association of the Kingdom of Hanover, independent until the annexation of Hanover by Prussia: Notizblatt des Architekten- und Ingenieurvereins für das Königreich Hannover since 1851, published together with the association of Saxonia since 1896 [30]. Most of the associations, formed in the different German States and in individual industrial cities, all had their own publication media. In contrast to these regional and locally organised architects’ associations, the VDI pursued professional politics from the beginning, one being the “intimate cooperation of the intellectual forces of German technology” [31]. Thus, in the case of the German States in the nineteenth century, it can be concluded, that the professional associations and their journals made a contribution to nation-building on a scientifically discipline-specific level. | |
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Stampfer, L. | 2020 | Do As The Romans Do: possible Roman influences on the construction of Nordic settlers in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 433-42 | This paper explores parallels between Icelandic turf construction and Roman masonry. While many of the constructional principles show strong similarities, there is also enough reason to doubt that either one served as a model for the other. Let it be clear right from the start that it is not this paper’s aim to prove a connection between the two, but rather to present a comparison of parallels to see what can be learned from them for future research. | |
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Thuy, A. | 2020 | The ‘Pilzdecken’ of the Federal Granary in Altdorf: “a paragon facility for the modern art of building” in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 443-56 | The paper investigates the mushroom structure of the Altdorf granary and contextualises it within Maillart’s œuvre. A military building, the development of the project and its remote location in a mountain valley in the canton Uri and its cultural historic role in the overall strategic considerations of Switzerland is reconstructed. The paper follows the development of girderless slabs from Maillart’s patent to the application in Altdorf. The two technologically crucial aspects – the form of the mushrooms and the reinforcement layout – are explained and discussed in detail. | |
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Guagliardi, V. | 2020 | Building reconstruction following the 1905 Calabria Earthquake in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 457-64 | Calabrian building heritage is an expression of the many seismic events that have affected its different provinces. In particular, the earthquake that occurred on the night between 7 and 8 September 1905 produced considerable damage to the municipalities of Vibo Valentia and Cosenza, which appear to range from being "slightly damaged" to "totally destroyed". To manage the crisis situation and deal with the reconstruction, special "Committees" were organized to respond to the emergency with the construction of houses adopting different construction techniques. Through the analysis of a case study, the town of Gasponi in the Vibonese area, which is the third among the inhabited areas of the municipality of Drapia to suffer damage from the earthquake, is intended to show the construction technique used for the construction of semi-stable houses. The semi-stable buildings made entirely of timber, easy to execute and with a planned duration of five to six years, were preferable to barracks, which were also made of wood, but which were more expensive and with significant hygienic problems. Plans, elevations and sections, derived from bibliographical and archival sources, help to highlight the design scheme adopted and underlines the use of wood, which, thanks to its performance capabilities, has regained interest both on a structural and on a physical-technical level. The reconstruction proved to be interesting as it offered a valid alternative to emergency buildings, responding to the opportunity for rapid construction procedures, but also to the necessary criteria of sustainability and energy efficiency. | |
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Theodossopoulos, D. & Gratsia, I. | 2020 | Andreas Dracopoulos and Ergoliptiki, and the Introduction of Reinforced Concrete in Greece in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 465-76 | This work aims to understand the particular technology used by Ergoliptiki in their early concrete buildings in the Greek context, framing them in the UK and Italian contexts, which have been more deeply studied and had concrete regulations from the first 20 years of the century. The major early concrete frames Ergoliptiki built in Athens in the 1920s will be discussed, which were behind some very large scale buildings for the period but still in eclectic styles that do not reveal the tectonics of the material (mainly because they were created before the advent of Modernism). As there is little in general on the introduction of reinforced concrete in Greece, a reflection will be made on further stages for research. | |
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Haddadi, R. & Rinke, M. | 2020 | Early glulam for temporary large scale structures in Switzerland in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 477-88 | This paper examines early temporary large-span structures in glulam. Four case studies are chosen from the early examples of temporary glulam structures: a footbridge in Lausanne, a skating rink in Geneva, both from1910, a singing festival hall in Zurich from 1911 as well as an aeroplane hangar in Frauenfeld from 1913. In the following, the focus will be on the criteria of choice of construction material, the construction process and typologies as well as performance. Furthermore, this paper seeks to explain how the short lifespan influenced construction strategies and detailing and how the construction techniques allowed for a secondary market of the components. We will note how construction strategies of temporary structures influenced the developing industrialisation and mechanisation of glulam construction. | |
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Dimitriadi, L. | 2020 | The geometry and structure of an early freeform roof: the Europe 1 Transmitter Building in the Saar in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 489-500 | French engineer Bernard Laffaille is considered as a pioneer who has used the geometry of negatively curved surfaces in construction and has introduced innovative structural solutions such as suspended and tensioned roofs. Bernard Laffaille worked on the study of the structure of the Europe 1 Longwave Transmitter Building in the Saar (Sauberg), designed by the architect Jean-François Guédy and built in 1954 for the Société Sarroise de Télévision. | |
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Verdonck, A. | 2020 | The history of Hasco-Relief: a Dutch decorative render that found its way to Belgian craftsmen in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 501-12 | The Dutch paint manufacturer S. A. Hermann A. Schreuder & Co. developed and patented Hasco-Relief in the 1930s at their plant in Schoonhoven (Province of South-Holland) [1]. This modern interior finish - recommended as an ideal wall covering with exceptional effects - was a pasty mixture of oil binders and pigments that was embossed after application. Hasco-Relief is related to cement-containing cold glaze [2] - a solid, glossy and waterproof wall finish based on cement mortar - which was very popular from a hygienic point of view [3]. Hasco was available in a wide variety of colours and found its way to the international market. Even a verb was generated to describe the new application technique, the so-called Hasconeren (Hasconizing). This decorative finish went out of fashion and since the application and formula of both Hasco and also cement-containing cold glaze were mainly transferred orally among contractors, the know-how of this craft has been lost | |
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Greco, L/ | 2020 | Mountain Buildings: Prefabrication in Italian Alpine Shelters (1925-44) in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 513-26 | The previous work on Italian Alpine architecture has considered the shelters, analysing their typological evolution in the context of mountain construction in the period between the two world wars and in the 1940s [6]. This paper intends to examine the effects that some of these attempts to advance knowledge had on the slow evolution of the Italian building sector nd its move towards industrialization of the processes and products. With this purpose in mind, the analysis aims to consider the organization of the design and construction process, the phases of transport and the assembly of the prefabricated components used for these buildings to evaluate them with reference to the general development of prefabrication in Italy during the interwar period. | |
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Sowder, A. M. & Sowder, E. | 2020 | Indestructible: The Construction of Stormproof Concrete Hurricane Houses in the 1930s Florida Keys in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 527-40 | Hurricane Houses have “much to tell about rebuilding community and modern construction techniques adapted to the imperatives of building and living in a hurricane environment [25].” In design and materiality, Hurricane Houses were meant to withstand worst-case weather scenarios, a novel departure from other Florida Keys residences built for comfort under average conditions and removal or abandonment under extremes. Over 80 years later, at least 20 still stand and none are known to have been destroyed in subsequent hurricanes. This paper expands on the environmental, political, and technical influences leading to the construction of Hurricane Houses. | |
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Nannini, S. | 2020 | Icelandic Concrete Surfaces: Guðjón Samúelsson’s Steining (1930–50) in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 541-52 | In the United Kingdom, pebbledash has been associated either with the experiments of the arts and crafts movement, or with the dull and grey legacy of Postwar housing [43]. Despite the technical similarities, the Icelandic Steining stemmed from a distinct history and was granted a completely different future. When it was first employed in the 1930s, it physically reflected the country’s material shortage and the national pride for the development of Icelandic architecture. When it was rediscovered in the 1990s, Steining was not treated as a burden from the past, but as key quality of Iceland’s twentieth-century built heritage. Indeed, Steining can be placed on the thin line that divides nature and artificiality, once again highlighting one of the many dichotomies characterising concrete as a building material and method [44]. Although his invention did not differ enough from other render techniques to be granted a patent, Guðjón Samúlsson was able to project a variety of meanings that could change the way one would look at his Steining surfaces. Icelandic economic struggle, resource scarcity, geology, nationalism, and architectural experimentations were all condensed into a single, yet expressive, layer of concrete render | |
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Rusak, M/ | 2020 | Norwegian Systems Architecture: Timber Prefabrication of Moelven Brug in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 553-64 | A Norwegian State Oil company annual report from 1981 presents an image “of the world’s heaviest tow”: a colossal 643.000-ton concrete structure is about to be drowned to become a part of the new Statfjord oil platform near Stavanger, Norway [1] (Fig.1). Curiously, at the bottom of this colossal structure stands a seemingly out-of-place two-floor timber house. This juxtaposition between a feat of industrial engineering and a simple wooden structure is however misleading: the house is a product of one of the most sophisticated timber prefabrication systems in Europe, a mid-century Norwegian tour-de-force of industrial rationalisation of a traditional craft. Produced by Moelven Brug – a former sawmill turned to prefabrication – this structure resulted from a vision of a networked production system with a peculiar set of client relations, reflective of a definitive moment in time within industrialising post-WWII Norway. Moelven structures were crucial for the project of Norwegian modernity: they closely accompanied industrialisation, welfare state development and oil adventure, and became an intrinsic part of the new, rational everyday landscape, a technologically driven consumption paradise of the 1960s. | |
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Boller, G. & Schwartz, J. | 2020 | Modelling the form. Heinz Isler, Frei Otto and their approaches to form-finding in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 565-76 | Frei Otto started his design explorations looking closely at natural phenomena, analysing them through a scientific approach. Somehow, he put science into his form finding methods and they helped him in the definition of the correct design solution for every proposed problem. Heinz Isler, instead, used nature mainly as a formal reference. His form finding devices were much more related to a traditional craftmanship that confined physical laws to an immediate understanding of structures and for this reason, they were also powerful as a communicative tool, allowing him to present his shells through his physical experiments. Acting as a consultant engineer in most of his collaborative projects, it seems that his most recognized expertise at that time was in the development of complex measuring experimental devices, to validate the proposed design. This recognition is quite different from the one for which he is well-known in the engineering community today: he stands as the reference for an innovative experimental approach to shell design, based on form finding models. As highlighted in the projects studied in this text, his scientific contribution seems to be more related to validating experimental methods, through which he was able to confirm or correct the shape designed by someone else, rather than to the form finding physical models. From this perspective, Heinz Isler’s contribution to the free form shells that are considered his masterpieces needs to be examined more closely: if in the cases analysed the form was mainly defined by the architect and Isler helped in its further definition and validation, is it still possible to consider the form to be found purely through Isler’s form finding method, subordinating the role of the architect involved in the design process? These questions arise in the broader understanding of Heinz Isler’s contribution to the history of engineering and culture and open up a different understanding of his work, with | |
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Mendoza, M. & Ruiz-Funes, J I. del C. | 2020 | Preservation and conservation of Felix Candela’s historic concrete shell: Los Manantiales restaurant in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 577-86 | In 1958, and commissioned by the Joaquín Álvarez Ordóñez, Candela built Los Manantiales restaurant, one of his most famous thin-shell concrete structures on the banks of the Xochimilco canals. To this date Xochimilco is primarily a recreational area in the Southern part of Mexico City and in 1987 it was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Formed by an eight-sided groined vault, Los Manantiales concrete shell covers an area of 900 square meters, and which represents the best of many examples of ‘free edge’ concrete shells built by Cubiertas Ala. | |
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Mendoza, M. et al | 2020 | The Cosmic Rays Pavilion: the first hypar concrete shell in Latin-America, constructed at Ciudad Universitaria campus, Mexico City (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 587-98 | The Cosmic Rays Pavilion at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, is one of the most iconic structures built as part of the original master plan of Ciudad Universitaria campus in Mexico City. The structure was designed and built in 1952 by the Spanish born architect Felix Candela who had recently co-founded the construction company Cubiertas Ala. This innovative hypar concrete structure was the seventh concrete shell built by Candela at that time and was also the first hypar thin-shell concrete built in Latin-America. Furthermore, the construction methods that Candela developed for this hypar shell were pioneering of its time, not only Mexico but around the world. It is estimated that the life-span of reinforced concrete is in the range of 50-100 years and this is very much depending on the maintenance and repair that is given to the structure. The site visits and surveys presented in this paper have shown that the sixty-eight-year-old hypar concrete shell of the Cosmic Rays Pavilion has been damaged due to inadequate maintenance and poor repair. Considering the importance of its architectural it is paramount to ensure that the adequate conservation techniques and procedures are followed to maximise the life-span and effective use of the pavilion. | |
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Dobbels, J. | 2020 | Delineating construction competences and expertise. Analysis of twentieth-century dispute settlement by the Brussels’ contracting company Entreprises Générales Henri Ruttiens et Fils in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, p 599 | Therefore, this paper analyses three disputes of the Brussels’ general contracting company Entreprises Générales Henri Ruttiens et Fils (1878-2000) in order to capture the delineation of this contractor’s professional competences. The archival documents relating to this company’s disputes from the period 1960-1980 are preserved in the company archive, which has been donated to the Belgian State Archives [6]. The dispute files contain correspondence between the different parties, correspondence with their lawyers, court files, reports from experts, excerpts from publications that were used to support theirs claims, etc. Disputes from this period offer insights into the professional functioning of Belgian contractors, who obtained a legal embedding in 1964 with the Law on business licenses for contractors. How was this reflected in day-to-day construction practice? In the analysis, the content of these disputes is studied: what were the causes of these conflicts? How did the involved parties specify their responsibilities and competences? Since such twentieth-century construction disputes have only been studied sporadically, explicit attention is paid to the different forms and procedures of dispute settlement in the construction sector. In order to do so, the key issue of (judicial) experts and expertise is first discussed. | |
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Albuerne, A/ | 2020 | Robin Hood Gardens: Reinforced concrete design and construction of a museum artefact in reinforced concrete in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 611-24 | Robin Hood Gardens (RHG) estate is one of the best known and most influential projects by London-based architects Alison and Peter Smithson. Constructed between 1968 and 1972, it gave the Smithsons the first [1] (and final [2]) opportunity to implement their innovative ideas for mass housing. These included the streets in the sky concept, reproduced in many housing projects to follow. The influence of this project is further reflected in the number of articles, books and theses written about the design, interpretation and social functioning of this New Brutalism icon [3]. A controversial project from the early years, RHG was loved by some and despised by others [4]. Judged unfit for living, in 2015 it was condemned to demolition after losing its second battle for listing that culminated a 10-year struggle to save the estate, led by The Twentieth Century Society and supported by eminent members of the architecture community [5] (e.g. Zaha Hadid, Peter St John or Richard Rogers, among others). | |
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Giannetti, I. | 2020 | Reinforced concrete, industry and design: Balency prefabricated panels between France and Italy in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 625-38 | Similarly to the pattern of the stages of reinforced concrete development in the years 1900-1950, the main actors in this brave age of late modernity were prefabricated-systems patents. Throughout the massive industrialization undergone by building since the late 1940s to tackle housing shortage, patents afforded the means to make technical innovations commercially available; thanks to patents, in fact, performances (essential when dealing with industrial products) could be codified. At the same time, the intellectual property of products could be protected, so as to allow them to be used in a wide range of markets.In this context, it is meaningful to trace the journey of inventions between France and Italy, that is to say between a country that since the 1940s had been embracing building industrialization to make public housing planning decisions, and nearby Italy, which was quite backward from a technological point of view, as was confirmed by the 1949 decision to boost craftsmanship applied to building in the INA-casa plan (the main plan laying down the guidelines for the country`s housing and employment innovations) [1]. | |
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Ladinski, V. B. | 2020 | The Legacy of the Émigré Russian Architects in Former Yugoslavia in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 639-50 | Based on the official 1921 Census [18] there were 25,615 Ukrainians and 20,568 Russians in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes thus making them 0.21 per cent and 0.17 per cent, respectively, of the overall population in the country. Therefore, this research investigates the contribution and the built legacy of the émigré Russian architects in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the successor states. This study provides further contribution to the increasing interest in the architecture and construction in the former Yugoslavia and its successor states, and is based on a review of mostly secondary sources, access to materials available in the National Archive of the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as visits to some of the remaining buildings. | |
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Fuentes, P. & Guerra-Pestonit, R. A. | 2020 | The Vaults of Sint-Theresia’s church in Dilbeek (Belgium): Tradition and Innovation in Tile Vaults in the 20th Century in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 651-64 | Tile vaults are a particular type of vault built without centering. Thin bricks (tiles) are placed flatwise, creating a thin surface formed by one or more layers of bricks. The bricks are set with plaster mortar. Plaster mortar hardens very fast, providing a cohesive bond that holds the bricks in place during construction without the need of a centering. The lightness of these vaults, together with the few constructional means that are required, make of this technique a very economic one. Historically, tile vaults have been used in Mediterranean countries, such as Spain, south-east of France, and Italy. At the end of the nineteenth century, Rafael Guastavino (1842-1908) exported this technique to the United States, where he built thousands of vaults. This story is well-known [1]. However, what it is not so well-known is the transmission of tile vaults to the rest of Europe. An ongoing research project about the history of the construction of Belgian vaults has discovered that this technique was introduced in Belgium at the beginning of the twentieth century, not only in churches but also in museums, palaces and other representative buildings [2]. There is no evidence of earlier tile vaults in the country. However, between 1900 and 1950, hundreds of tile vaults were built in Belgium, and several contractors were specialized in this technique. This paper explains the context of the construction of tile vaults in Belgium and studies the tile vaults of the church of Sint-Theresia van het kind Jezus, in Dilbeek with their innovations in construction and geometry | |
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Rinke, M. & Haddadi, R. | 2020 | Transforming the traditional timber roof – the sports hall in Birsfelden as an early glulam application in Switzerland in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 665-78 | The beginning of the twentieth century marks a decisive point of transition for timber construction. After the development of large span structures in the nineteenth century using new structural and constructional typologies based on newly established scientific methods, the construction industry sought to push the construction of the material itself. Based on the experience with the fabrication of smaller, precisely shaped timber components, German master carpenter Otto Hetzer was granted the first patent for glue-laminated timber in 1906 [1]. One of the earliest contributors to the glulam development are the Swiss engineers Bernhard Terner and Charles Chopard who acquired the Hetzer patent in 1908 and the exclusive right in Switzerland [3]. During the following 24 years, they developed many extraordinary and internationally acknowledged glulam structures and established an early high-profile timber engineering focus in Switzerland. Apart from these celebrated and widely published large-scale structures [4], many exceptional smaller applications are part of their portfolio, mostly in roof structures and low-rise urban developments. | |
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Van de Voorde, S. & Raaffels, L. | 2020 | The private house of engineer Jean-Marie Huberty and its hypar roof. A unique experiment in concrete construction in Belgium in the 1960s in Campbell, J. et al, Steel and Buildings: Studies in the History of Construction, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, pp 679-92 | In 1961-64, Jean-Marie Huberty (1932-2014) built a modest house for himself and his family, somewhat concealed on a plot in La Hulpe, located a few kilometres south-east of Brussels (Fig.1). Fair-faced concrete was used extensively. The unique character of this house is further enhanced by the experimental nature of the roof: it was constructed as a thin shell in reinforced concrete only 5 centimetres thick, composed of two adjacent hyperbolic paraboloid surfaces, spanning roughly 10 by 20 metres. For the design of this unusual, daring roof structure, Huberty called in the help of engineer André Paduart (1914-85), Belgium’s key figure when it comes to thin shells in reinforced concrete. It was carried out by a local contractor, who had little experience in reinforced concrete construction, in an almost archaic way. The analysis of the house is mainly based on interviews with Jean-Marie Huberty and documents from his private archive [1]. The highly experimental design and construction of the house captures one’s imagination, yet it is almost completely absent from the history of concrete architecture in Belgium. In this paper, we will analyse the construction history of this one-off experiment, including the contribution of each of the actors involved, the relationship between them and their motivations, in order to (re)position this unique building in the history of concrete architecture. | |
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Gouzouguec, S., and Rapin, T. | 2006 | Architecture in Paris in the second half of the 14th C: the Middle Ages seen through the eyes of the accountants. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1363-1374 | Conference paper examining the construction history of buildings erected for Charles V and Charles VI, but demolished from the early 15th century, using financial records. Though edited and published from the and of the 19th C, the published versions differ from the primary sources in several respects. The paper uses two example buildings to demonstrate the importance of using primary rather than secondary sources: the College Dormans-Beauvais (1378-1384) and the Hotel de Nesle-Jean (c. 1390). | France, 14th century, medieval, Valois, Royal, methodological, historiographical, |
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Graciani, A. | 2006 | Notes on ’Tapia Walls’ in Seville (Spain) during the 16th Century in the Modern Age. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1375-1386. | Conference paper examining the technology and use of timber-framed, lime-bound, rammed-earth walling in Spain during the Middle Ages and Early Modern period. | Spain, earth, medieval, wall, Moorish |
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Graf, F. | 2006 | Construction History and its role in the conservation of contemporary buildings: case studies of curtain walling by Mare Saugey in Geneva (Switzerland) 1951-7 and 2000-5. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1387 - 1408 | Conference paper examining the value of Construction History to the management and conservation of 20th C buildings, particularly non-retail buildings and those with curtain-wall envelopes. Case studies: The Mont Blanc Centre (1951-4), The Terreaux-Cornavin Office Block (1951-55), The Gare Centre Tenement and Commercial Building (1954-57), | 20th Century, Twentieth, conservation, contemporary, cladding, curtain wall |
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Grau, J., and Garcia, J. | 2006 | Technological and Industrial Colonisation. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1409-1418. | Conference paper combining Construction History and ethnography in a comparison of traditional construction processes in India and Spain and mechanisms of global knowledge transfer. | Spain, India, vernacular, knowledge transfer |
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Guardigli, L. | 2006 | Ildebrando Tabarroni, Ingeneure: Construction in Bologna between the two world wars. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1419-1440. | Conference paper examining the professional life of I. Tabarroni between 1905 and the late 1950, based on his personal archives donated to the University of Bologna. Includes his patented floor systems that use expanded metal lath (EML) of 1903, designs for an earthquake-resistant churches and houses, the Fascist colony of Rimini, social housing projects. | Italy, 20th century, engineer, seismic |
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Vega, J.M.G., and Bejarano, M.R. | 2006 | The origins of the Wine House architecture in Jerez de la Frontera: an analysis of the Bodegas built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1441-1454. | Conference paper examining the layout, structures and construction of the vast underground wine cellars of Spain, using primary archives sources including drawings and specifications from the late 16th C. Identifies individual designers and contractors and the specific techniques and terminology of these structures. | Spain, vaults, cellars, 16th, 17th, masonry, contracts, designs, specifications. |
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Guy, J.L. | 2006 | Building construction practice in the Colony of New South wales from the arrival of the First Fleet to the end of the Primitive Era and its influence in later time. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1476-1500 | Conference paper examining how european construction practice was exported to Australia in the late 18th and early 19th century, under the peculiar circumstances of a penal colony. Case studies of surviving primary buildings: Early Convict Huts, Sydney; Convict Huts, Parramatta; Government House, Sydney Cove; St Phillips Church, Church Hill; Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta; St John’s Church, Parramatta; Government House, Parramatta; Ebenezer Church, Hawkesbury River; Dundullimal, Dubbo; Cottage, Hill End. | Australia, 18th, 19th, colony, colonisation, colonialism, convicts, knowledge transfer |
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Hahmann, L. | 2006 | How stiff is a curved timber plank? Historical discussions about Curved Plank structures. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1501-1516 | Conference paper examining the development of arched and domed structures using laminated plank elements from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Case studies: Halle au Ble, Paris; La Muette; ARGE Hochofenhalle; Bunte Brueke; Berlin cattle market. People: Leonardo da Vinci, Serlio, de L’Orme, Gilly, Eytelwein, Voit, Romberg, Karsten, Funk, Ardant, Navier, | France, Germany, Switzerland, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, timber, composite, laminated |
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Haseley, A. | 2006 | Masonry construction in Olympia, Greece during the Roman Imperial period- mapping, classification and dating. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1517-1540 | Conference paper examining the Romanisation of Greece during the Roman Imperial period, when Greece became the first mass tourist destination of the Ancient World, as manifest in the archaeological remains of Roman and Romanized Greek structures. Identifies changes in construction practice and materials. Case studies: The southwest baths, Olympia; Greek Hypocaust Bath, Olympia; Kladeos Bath, Olympia; Leonidaion, Olympia; North Bath, Olympia; Nympaeum of Herodes Atticus; Workshop of Pheidias; House of Nero; | Classical Greece, Roman, Olympia, Imperial |
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van der Heijden, J., Visscher, H., and Meijer, F. | 2006 | Shifting responsibilities in building control in the Netherlands: a historical perspective. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1541-1554 | Conference paper examining how building regulations and building control has developed in the Netherlands from the Middle Ages, and how it might evolve. | Netherlands, regulations, control, medieval, 17th, 18th, 19th. |
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Heres, B. | 2006 | The iron roof trusses of the New Hermitage in St Petersburg - structural survey, analysis and assessment of a masterpiece of structural steelwork from the 1840s. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1555-1568. | Conference paper presenting an archaeological, historical and statical study of the iron/steel roof trusses of the New Hermitage and the rest of the World Heritage site. Possibly some confusion between iron and steel and doesn’t appear to recognise the long history of iron construction in Russia, but otherwise a useful study. | Russia, 19th, iron, steel, Demidov, Bauforschung, buildings-archaeology, statics |
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Heyman, J. | 2006 | Timber Vaults. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1569-1578. | Conference paper examining the apparent imitation of masonry vaults using timber during the Middle Ages. Using York Minster, St Albans and Lincoln cathedrals as case studies, the paper reviews the mechanics of Gothic quadripartite stone vaults, noting that the diagonal ribs are the main structural elements. The ribs are also the main elements of a timebr vault; far from imitating masonry construction, medieval carpenters built their vaults to reflect correct structural action. In detail, however, the webs of the two types of vaults distribute their loads to the ribs in different ways. Masonry webs cannot resist tension and act primarily as compressive shells. The planks of a timber vault, however, can act in bending, so an arching action in the webs is not required. | Vaults, timber, Gothic, statics, analysis, medieval, compression, tension. |
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Holton, A. | 2006 | The working space of the medieval Master Mason: the tracing houses of York Minster and Wells Cathedral. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1579-1598. | Conference paper presenting an archaeo-spatial analysis of the working spaces of medieval Master masons, particularly those containing plaster-covered tracing floors. Were they built specially or just commandeered; were they used for specific parts of the construction process; can they illustrate working practices ?. Uses sequential and 3D graphic analyses. | Britain, medieval, masonry, tracing, design, BIM, ecclesiastical |
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How, C. | 2006 | Translated tradition in the Portland Bay Settlement. Traditional timber framing techniques in a cultural development - some features revealed in the Steam Packet Inn, Portland, Victoria, Australia. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1599-1618. | Conference paper examining the transfer of timber framing technology and construction from Britain to Australia in the early 19th C, revealing a continuity of East Anglian construction practice and the birth of Australian vernacular framing. | Australia, 18th, 18th, timber framing, knowledge transfer, carpentry, balloon frames |
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Huerta, S., and Ruiz, A. | 2006 | Some notes on Gothic building processes: the expertises of Segovia Cathedral. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1619-1632. | Conference paper examining how large Gothic structures such as cathedrals were constructed, based on late medieval documentary sources such as contemporaneous technical literature (mainly Spanish) and ’expertises’ - i.e. the analyses of independent specialists engaged by project sponsors to address specific problems. Specifically: while Heyman has established the statics of such structures, the buildings and component structures must have been in equilibrium during the construction process, implying the use of substantial temporary supports. Principal names: Rodrigo Gil de Hontanon (1500-1577), Enrique Egas (fl. 1532), Francisco de Colonia (fl. 1536). | Spain, 16th, cathedral, gothic, masonry, statics, scaffolding, temporary supports, archives |
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Hurst, L. | 2006 | The rise and fall of the use of bond timbers in brick buildings in England. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1633-1654. | Conference paper examining the methods used by early bricklayers in England to incorporate tension-bearing members within brickwork. Bond timbers are a feature of buildings world-wide, especially in seismically active areas, but were a feature of nearly all brick buildings built in England throughout the 18th and until about the middle of the 19th C. Initially installed in the inner skin of the outer walls, they were latterly employed in the central/internal walls where they were known as ’chain bonds’. Presents drawings of buildings under construction in early 19th C London showing the practice. | Britain, 18th, 19th, brickwork, lacing, reinforcement. |
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Isohata, H. | 2006 | Construction History in education - why and how it should be learned. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1655-1672 | Conference paper examining the value of Construction History, as an academic discipline, to the teaching of contemporary construction practice, with specific reference to Japan. The development of the Japanese construction industry is discussed and the awareness of a cultural and historical profile for civil engineering clarified. Case studies of the teaching of Construction History in civil engineering colleges are examined. Finally, the role of Construction History in education more generally is explored. | Japan, 20th C, education, teaching, training |
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Esteban, S.I. | 2006 | International and universal exhibitions: new building construction techniques in Spanish pavilions from 1937-2000. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1673-1684 | Conference paper examining the significance of exhibition pavilions as vehicles for architectural and construction experimentation. Commencing with the Spanish pavilion at the Paris Exhibition of 1937, it discusses works by: Sert (1902-1983), Lacasa (1899-1966), Corrales (1921-), Molezin (1922-1994), Carvajal (1926-), Lasso (1920-1995), Cruz (1948-) and Ortiz (1947-). | Spain, Spanish, 20th, recreational |
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Jackson, M., Kosso, C., Marra, F., and Hay, R. | 2006 | Geological basis of Vitruvius’ empirical observations of material characteristics of rock utilized in Roman masonry. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1685-1704. | Conference paper examining the material characteristics and sources of building stone used in Roman masonry, and the manner in which Vitruvius described them. The paper concludes that Vitruvius’ observations and opinions were/are authoritative. | Italy, Roman, masonry, Vitruvius, Tuff, Travertine, Bolsena, analysis, thin-section |
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Janssen, J. | 2006 | On construction and the rise of wage labour 1349-1563. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1705-1718. | Conference paper presenting a Marxist analysis of the forces effecting innovation in building design and construction during the Middle Ages. | Britain, medieval, capitalism, marxism, supply and demand. |
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Anaya, J., Azpilicueta, E., and Casinello, P. | 2006 | Historical patents and the evolution of Twentieth Century architectural construction with reinforced and pre-stressed concrete. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1719-1740 | Conference paper summarising the development of concrete-based construction in the 20th C through an analysis of patents. Concentrates on Spanish buildings, designers and patents but refers to the French and German precursors. Well illustrated with, for instance, photographs of reinforcement bar anchors etc. | Spain, concrete, patents, 20th, Monier, Freysinnet, |
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Jost, H-U. | 2006 | The introduction of reinforced concrete in Switzerland (1890-1914): social and cultural aspects. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1741 -1754. | Conference paper examining the social and cultural factors that facilitated and challenged the introduction of reinforced concrete as a building material to Switzerland. Case studies: Stauffacher Bridge (1899), Tavanasa Bridge (1905), Devil Bridge on the Gotthard (1883), Altdorf Grain Siloes (1912-13). | Switzerland, concrete, reinforced concrete, Heimatschutz, bridge |
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Kahlow, A. | 2006 | Johann August Roebling (1806-1869): early projects in context. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1755-1776. | Conference paper examining the formative years, education and training in Germany of the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge. | Germany, USA, suspension bridges, wire, 19th |
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Kazaks, V., and Kazaks, K. | 2006 | Development of a national program for identifying, investigating and preservation of ’Endangered Handicrafts’. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1777-1792. | Conference paper presenting a slightly polemical analysis of the need for a Heimatschutz-type programme to preserve vernacular traditions in Latvia. | Latvia, vernacular, crafts, 20th |
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Kierdorf, A. | 2006 | Early Mushroom Slab construction in Switzerland, Russia and the USA - a study in parallel technological development. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1793-1808. | Conference paper examining the circumstances under which parallel technological developments in reinforced concrete design and construction took place in several countries, and the possible effect of trade literature on those developments. Case studies: C.A.P. Turner (USA), Robert Maillart (Switzerland and Russia), Artur Loleit (Russia), Max Mayer, Henri Marcus, Victor Lewes (Germany). | Concrete, 19th, 20th, patents, innovation, knowledge transfer. |
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Kurrer, K-E. | 2006 | On the relationship between construction engineering and strength of materials in Gerstner’s ’Handbook of Mechanics’. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1809-1828. | Conference paper examining the seminal work of Franz Joseph Ritter von Gerstner (1756-1832) as an engineer, scientist and educational reformer during the early 19th century, partly as a consequence of the defeat, by Revolutionary France, of the Imperial Army of German states. This lead, in part, to the establishment of the second oldest technical university in the world at Prague in 1808. Concentrates on his experiments and publications about the material strengths of construction materials. | Europe, Austro-Hungarian Empire, 18th, 19th, analyses, innovation, knowledge transfer |
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Lancaster, L. | 2006 | Large freestanding barrel vaults in the Roman Empire: a comparison of structural techniques. Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 1829-1844. | Conference paper examining the innovative ways Roman engineers achieved the structural goals realised by barrel vaults using different materials and methods in different parts of the Empire between AD1900 and AD200. Case studies: Temple of Divine Hadrian (Rome), Sanctuary of Sulis Minerva (Bath), Theatre Baths (Argos). | Roman, masonry, barrel vaults, 1st century AD |
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How, C. | 2020 | Historic nail development and morphology as a way of developing dating methods. PhD Thesis, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. | The definitive study of the history of nails as chronologically specific industrial artefacts and building components. Collating thousands of dated nails from archaeological excavations and building surveys from across the world, together with a critical review of published work. Metallurgy, manual and machine production, distribution and use and the chronological and geographical variations therein. Excellent illustrations including high quality line drawings identifying the morphological characteristics of the principal types | nails, nagel, clout, metallurgy, fastenings |
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Gallotta, E. | 2019 | Le mur E sur les pentes meridionales du Palatin a Rome: histoire de la construction et relations avec le contexte in Bienvenu, G., Rousteau Chambon, H. & Monteil, M., Construire ! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, actes du 3eme Congrès Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes 21-23 June 2017), pp. 55-66. | Raphaël fut le premier à comprendre que l’architecture de Rome antique, aujourd’hui appauvrie d’ornements et de fonctions, se réduit à ses aspects constructifs qui lui donnent l’image de « ...os du corps sans chair... » (Lettre à Léon X, 1519). L’étude des structures archéologique s’appuie sur une méthodologie que privilégie l’observation directe et l’analyse en vis-à-vis, en devenant leurs mêmes sources historiques en absence d’autres données documentaires. Cette méthodologie a été expérimentée dans l’étude d’un mur en maçonnerie (« Mur E ») sur les pentes sud-ouest du Palatin: il se prolonge sur une cinquantaine de mètres et se développe en hauteur sur une dizaine. En particulier, il se trouve en aval du contexte monumental où est bâti la Maison d’Auguste, qui faisait partie d’un sanctuaire sacré dont les restitutions considèrent le Mur E comme la limite d’une terrasse projetée vers le Cirque Maxime. Cependant, l’analyse des aspects structuraux de ses élévations a révélé une histoire plus compliquée : les nouvelles connaissances sur la construction, la stratigraphie et la chronologie ont permis d’identifier un système de substructures couvertes de voûtes en berceau, dont le Mur E était un élément essentiel. Les travaux ont été conduits en se basant sur les études publiées, l’observation directe et le relevé architectural, en intégrant de manière opportune les sources iconographiques (du IIIe au XXe siècle) et épigraphiques (timbres sur briques). Les représentations graphiques ont comparé les techniques constructives/matériaux et la chronologie proposée par les archéologues, identifiant les relations entre les éléments architecturaux du Mur E et de l’environs immédiat. | archéologie, architecte, archéologue, sources, structure, chantier |
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Langenbach, R. | 2006 | Saga of the half-timbered skyscraper: what does half-timbered construction have to do with the Chicago Frame ?, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1845-1866 | Conference paper examining the structural relationship between timber-framed buildings of Europe and metal-framed tall buildings of America, and the historical development of the latter, with reference to earthquake-resistant buildings of Europe and Western Asia. | frame, timber, skyscraper, earthquake, Chicago |
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Larson, N. | 2006 | Building a stone house in Ulster County, New York in 1751, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1867-1883 | Conference paper examining the cultural, economic and technological factors effecting the construction of stone houses in NE America in the 18th century, and the specific histories of several case study buildings incl. the Bevier House, the Daniel Hasbrouck House, Bevier-Elting House. . | USA, America, 18th century, stone, masonry, Dutch, colonies, emigration |
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Lavigne, O. | 2006 | Tool marks and construction in ancient Tanis. in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1883-1900. | Conference paper examining how identification and study of masonry tool marks can elucidate the construction history of ancient Egyptian structures revealed through archaeological excavation such as at Tanis. Presents a methodology and a summary description of the structure known as Petrie’s Well; then descriptions of the quarry, evidence of preparatory cutting in the workshops, in-situ cutting and final dressing. Very well illustrated with plans, photographs and reconstruction drawings illustrating the conclusions. | Egypt, Tanis, Amon, masonry, quarrying, dressing, sanctuary, temple |
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Lennie, L., and Banfill, P. | 2006 | A heritage of shops: an investigation into the evolution of historic shopfronts in Perth and Perthshire, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1901-1920. | Conference paper examining the historical development of shopfronts in Scotland, with particular reference to Perthshire, and proposals for their conservation. Considers the influence of local and national designers from the later 19th C until the end of WW2, together with an examination of the styles, materials they adopted. Presents a summary economic, social and architectural history of shops and then a detailed gazetteer of known designers active during the late 19th - mid 20th C. | Scotland, 19th C, shops, shopfront, retail |
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Leslie, T. | 2006 | ’Buildings without walls’: Curtain wall development in Chicago architecture of the 1890s, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1921-1936. | Conference paper examining the structural history of the skyscraper in Chicago during the late 19th and 20th C with reference to the principal exemplars, viz: the Home Insurance Building (1885), the Tacoma Building (1889), the Reliance Building (1895), the Fisher Building (1896). In this case, the term ’curtain wall’ refers to the infill panels within the steel frame, not the basement walling method. | USA, America, Chicago, 19th C, skyscraper, frame, steel |
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Lewis, M. | 2006 | Puncheons and dragons: Renaissance carpentry and semantics, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1937-1956. | Conference paper examining the etymology and function of diagonal ’dragon beams’ in timber construction, drawing on Italian and French models and their British expression. Well illustrated. | Britain, 17th, 18th, timber, frame, Fachwerkbauweise, dragon, ties, diagonals |
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Lopez, G. | 2006 | Poleni’s manuscript about the dome of St Peter’s, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1957-1980. | Conference paper examining 18th C concerns about the stability of the dome of S. Peter’s basilica in Rome, and how those concerns were addressed through survey and mathematical modelling presented in a ’parere’ by Boscovich, Le Seur, Jacquier and finally Giovanni Poleni (1683-1761). Explains contemporaneous understandings of arches, vaults and domes; survey and inspection methods; the roles of professionals and academics in 18th C Italy; and the remedial measures available. | Italy, Rome, 18th C, domes, statics, repair, failure, survey, theory |
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Iori, T. | 2006 | Engineers in Italian architecture: the role of reinforced concrete in the first half of the Twentieth Century, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1981-1996. | Conference paper examining the introduction and development of reinforced concrete in Italy, using sources at the Italian Patents Office Archives and specialist engineering magazines. To what extent was the technique imported, what role did the post-earthquake reconstruction of Messina and Reggio play, what role did Italians play in the international debate on the application of classical theory to a non-homogenous material, and how were limitations on the use of steel in Italy’s autarchic period overcome. Well illustrated with photographs of the principal structures, incl. Social Theatre in Rovigio (1902-4), Risorgimento Bridge in Rome (1911), Post Office in Bologna (1933-5) | Italy, 19th, 20th, reinforced concrete, beton armee, eisenbeton, cemento armato |
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Louw, H. | 2006 | Greeks, Romans and Goths in an age of iron, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 1997-2016. | Conference paper positing that the so-called ’iron problem’ of mid 19th C British architecture is a much deeper cultural phenomenon that has conditioned architectural thinking throughout the Victorian period and beyond. | Britain, 19th, iron, steel, pre-fabrication |
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Lynch, G., Watt, D., and Colston, B. | 2006 | An investigation of hand tools used for English cut-and-rubbed and gauged brickwork, in J. W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol. 2, pp 2017-2037. | Conference paper examining the history and practice of decorative brickwork using bricks that have been cut to shape. Presents a definition of ’rubbing’, the characteristics of the bricks and their fabric, its history in Britain from the 14th C, the tools and how they were used. Well illustrated and supported by extracts from contemporaneous trade literature. | Britain, bricks, brickwork, gauging |
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Malvezzi, R., Alessandri, C., and Mallardo, V. | 2006 | On the seismic vulnerability of a Renaissance ’Palce with Loggia’: a Limit Analysis approach, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2055-2076. | Conference paper presenting the results of the first analysis of the seismic vulnerability of an historic building in Italy, as required by Italian law. The case study building - the Palace of San Francesco or the Palace of Renata di Francia in Ferrara - is a brickwork building of the early 16th C. The analysis comprised a ’kinematic’ study of the statics of the building, particularly of the connections between the structural components, based on a 3D lazer scan and comprehensive historical study of the building and comparable archetypes. | Italy, Renaissance, 16th, statics, seismic, BIM, brickwork |
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Marconi, N. | 2006 | Machine and symbol: between tradition in the execution and technical progress. The erection of the Marian Column in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome (1613-1614), in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2077-2094. | Conference paper examining the logistical challenges facing 17th C Italian architects and engineers in the transport and erection of the Marian Column monument in central Rome. Presents a history of the project, the principle people involved and an explanation of the mechanical devices created to achieve it. Well illustrated with contemporary drawings and a photograph of a contemporaneous scale model of the scaffolding used. | Italy, 17th , baroque, scaffolding, temporary works, Fontana, Maderno, |
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Marin-Palma, A., et al | 2006 | The ceiling panelwork of the Hunters’ Lounge in the Infantado Palace in Guadalajara, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2095-2110. | Conference paper presenting a reconstruction of the structure and appearance of the carved wooden ceiling of a 15th C palace in Spain, destroyed in 1936, based on historical research, archaeological analysis and 3D graphic modelling. Names the sponsors and craftsmen involved in the 15th C and presents an explanation of the how carved ceilings of this type were created. | Spain, 15th, baroque, BIM, ceiling, gualderas, testeros, almizate, harnerulo, peinazos |
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Martens, P. | 2006 | Construction and destruction of military architecture in the mid 16th century Low Countries: some observations on labour force, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2111-2124. | Conference paper examining how military fortifications were constructed in Europe in the 16th century, their effect on town development, and how they were purposely dismantled once redundant. Very detailed analysis of the labour requirements of construction and decommissioning, based on archive sources and historical treatises.. | Netherlands, 16th, military, fortifications, defences, labour, engineering |
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Mateus, J.M. | 2006 | The science of fortification in Malta in the context of European architectural treatises and military academics, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2125-2138. | Conference paper explaining that analysis of the fortifications of Malta, and anywhere else, can be understood only with prior understanding of the contemporaneous influence of military and civil engineering theory as articulated in engineering treatises of the 15th and 16th centuries. Presents a summary history of military engineering in Europe, the principal published works and their authors, and a comparison of the different approaches adopted. | Malta, 16th , military, fortifications, defences, engineering |
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Mende, M. | 2006 | The crucial impact of improvements in steel-making and rolling on 19th and early 20th century building construction, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2159-2170. | Conference paper examining how technological developments in the production of raw materials and components effects the design and construction of buildings, with specific reference to the production of rolled iron and steel beams in Europe. Presents a detailed history of the production of the ’I’ beam and its chronologically specific morphological variations. | Germany, France, 19th, ’I-beams’, RSJ, iron, steel, rolling, manufacture |
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Menghini, A.B. | 2006 | Building traditions and technical innovations in the Mediterranean. Architecture in 1930s Apulia: Gaetano Minnucci’s Accademia Marinari in Brindisi, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2171-2188. | Conference paper examining how Italian architects and engineers of the autarchy period adapted Classical architecture to the use of reinforced concrete to create stunning and functional buildings, using the Accademia Marinari at Brindisi as a case study. This will be interesting to anyone studying the Nazi colossus of Prora, which was clearly influenced by this Italian prototype. | Italy, 20th, concrete, Fascists, Prora, educational |
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Mileto, C., Vegas, F., and Garcia, J.A. | 2006 | Stratigraphic study of Hernando de Zafra Arab baths in Granada, Spain, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2189-2202. | Conference paper presenting an archaeological analysis of the Arab-built baths of Granada, demonstrating the structure’s complex chronological development and history of repair and modification, together with a summary history of Arab baths and later European appreciation of them. . | Spain, Moorish, baths, archaeology, Bauforschung, BIM |
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Miquel, M., Montero, E., and Serra, A. | 2006 | Factors of technical innovation in Valencian architecture during the Medieval and Modern Ages: learning, know-how and inspiring admiration, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2203-2223. | Conference paper examining the cultural factors effecting the aesthetic and technological development of Valencian architecture between the 14th and 16th centuries, with specific reference to stereotomy and decorative masonry. | Spain, renaissance, 14th, 15th, 16th, stereotomy, drawing, knowledge transfer, innovation |
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Mislin, M. | 2006 | The planning and building process of two Paris bridges in the sixteenth and seventeenth century, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2223-2240. | Conference paper examining the technical and spatial innovation represented by the Pont Notre Dame and Pont Marie in Paris, the first known bridges built on piled foundations. Presents the people and processes involved in the spatial and engineering design, the construction and modification of the bridges to accommodate permanent buildings and vehicular movement. | Paris, 16th, 17th, bridges, piles, Didier de Felin, Blois Colin Biart, |
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Mongelli, A. | 2006 | A new wood roofing system: Marac’s barracks and Colonel Armand Rose Emy’s innovative system, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History, Vol 2, pp 2241-2260. | Conference paper examining 19th century innovations in timber engineering in France, including the early use of laminated timber components. Well illustrated with contemporaneous drawings and models plus recent photographs of some of the buildings and their timber elements. | France, 19th, timber, de L’Orme, lamination, pre-fabrication, carpentry, charpenterie |
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Romano, L. | 2019 | Voûtes légères. Technique de construction en poterie creuse en France et en Italie aux XVIIIe et XIXe siècle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1183-91. | La première moitié du XIXe siècle est pour le Royaume de Naples une époque marquée par des avancées scientifiques importantes dans le domaine de l’architecture : la domination française (1806-1815) et la fondation de l’École des Ponts et Chaussées ont fortement influencé l’histoire de la construction dans le sud de l’Italie pendant cette période. La littérature technique italienne, notamment l’oeuvre de Francesco de Cesare, dévoilent multiples allusions aux écrits français, qui confirment les échanges scientifiques entre la France et l’Italie. Une grande attention est accordée aux différents types des matériaux et aux techniques de construction utilisées pour bâtir les voûtes : parmi ces techniques, un rôle d’un grand intérêt est joué par les anciennes voûtes en tubes creux d’argile. Cette technique de construction, utilisée depuis l’époque romaine, a subi au fil des siècles de profondes transformations ayant des conséquences significatives en termes de construction et de profil structurel. Toutefois, c’est au début du XIXe siècle qu’on constate une nouvelle diffusion du système constructive, décelable grâce à plusieurs exemples en France, en Russie, en Allemagne et en l’Italie. À la lumière de ces considérations, cette étude vise à approfondir la question de la diffusion des voûtes légères en poterie creuse entre la France et le Royaume de Naples au cours de la première moitié du XIXe siècle à travers l?interprétation de la littérature constructive française et italienne et aussi à l’analyse directe des architectures emblématiques. | Architecte, circulation des savoirs, littérature constructive, matériau traditionnel, mise en œuvre, restauration |
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Guyodo, J.-N. & Blanchard, A. | 2019 | Reflechir avant de construire: architectures domestiques neolithiques du Nord-Ouest de la France (v"-me millenaires av. J.-C.) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 19-28. | Durant le Préhistoire récente, de la conception, en tant que représentation de quelque chose qui n’existe pas encore, au projet architectural, plusieurs scenarii possibles sont confrontés en vue d’une construction civile répondant notamment aux intérêts stratégiques et économiques des sociétés sédentaires agro-pastorales néolithiques. Que ces habitats soient saisonniers ou pérennes, le processus, intégré au schème technique, semble invariable, toutefois ouvert à une multitude de choix offerts. Le projet architectural (talus d’enceinte, bâtiment, organisation des espaces bâtis ou non) et le gros œuvre (fondations, murs, planchers, etc.) sont aussi régis par la recherche (prospection minérale) et la disponibilité (ou non) des matériaux (identification des ressources, disponibilité et adéquation) et leur choix (formes, volumes, intérêt architectonique, technique de manipulation et de transport, etc.) puisque l’exploitation du milieu minéral (prélèvement, carrières) et la transformation du paysage (affouillement, terrassement, stockage) seront des préalables, notamment pour les élévations en pierres sèches. De l’extraction à la production et à la construction (utilisation des matériaux extraits, bruts et/ou transformés), la variabilité des formes architecturales, qu’elles soient en terre, pierre et/ou bois, est propre aux attentes et finalités (solidité, utilité et élégance) des bâtisseurs. Le programme de construction et son déroulé, jusqu’à l’achèvement et dont l’usage, sont souvent touchés du doigt par les archéologues, ainsi que les techniques, savoir-faire et par la même l’organisation sociale (nombre de personnes, efficacité, avantages, temps) du chantier. | archéologie, matériau traditionnel, mise en œuvre, paysage, Savoir, faire, travail, Préhistoire |
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Monteil, M. | 2019 | Les aqueducs des villes de l’ ouest de la Gaule Lyonnaise (Bretagne et Pays de la Loire): techniques et processus de construction a l’ epoque romaine in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 29-42 | À l’époque romaine, la gestion de l’eau en contexte urbain se traduit par la mise en place d’équipements hydrauliques qui témoignent de multiples innovations et permettent d’évaluer le niveau de romanisation des villes, tout en éclairant certains aspects de la vie urbaine. L’approvisionnement en eau peut ainsi revêtir plusieurs formes, depuis les plus élémentaires –récupération des eaux zénithales par des citernes ou des eaux souterraines par des puits – jusqu’aux plus sophistiquées avec les aqueducs. Dans ce dernier cas, l’eau conduite sous pression nécessite des aménagements spécifiques (canal, ouvrages d’art) et aboutit à un château d’eau depuis lequel elle est ensuite distribuée. Elle contribue ainsi à l’hygiène, au confort et à l’agrément, en alimentant des fontaines, des bassins ou encore des thermes. Dans un autre registre, une attention particulière est portée à l’évacuation des eaux usées et de ruissellement (égouts construits ou fossés) ou encore à la lutte contre les risques d’inondation lorsque les villes sont au contact de cours d’eau Cette thématique est ici abordée à l’échelle d’une partie de l’ouest des Gaules romaines (Bretagne et Pays de la Loire), sous la forme d’une synthèse fondée sur la documentation archéologique. Cette dernière, aussi inégale et hétérogène soit-elle, fait apparaître la multiplicité des solutions techniques et des processus constructifs, en lien avec des paramètres d’ordre économique et social ou qui tiennent à l’approvisionnement en matériaux. Certains ouvrages relèvent d’initiatives privées, tandis que d’autres sont manifestement à mettre en relation avec des chantiers publics. | archéologie, drainage, hydraulique, chantier, ouvrage d’art, confort et santé |
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Seigneuret, D. | 2019 | L’ organisation des chantiers de construction en Arabie antique: l’ exemple du temple de Dharih en Jordanie in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 43-54 | L’ensemble de Khirbet edh-Dharih (village, sanctuaire et dépendances) est situé à 80 km au nord de Pétra et à 150 km au sud d’Amman. Il s’étend sur environ 500 m du nord au sud et sur 200 m d’est en ouest, sur une terrasse naturelle localisée à 700 m d’altitude. Notre communication permettra de s’interroger sur l’état de conservation du temple bâti au IIe siècle de notre ère, encore visible aujourd’hui à l’état de ruine (23 m x 17 m). Nous proposons de présenter différentes hypothèses concernant le travail des ouvriers sur le site de Dharih dans l’Antiquité : problèmes liés à l’outillage, aux matériaux ainsi qu’aux techniques de construction depuis la phase dite « positive » de l’édification jusqu’à la phase dite « négative » de la destruction ou du réemploi. Notre but est donc de déterminer et de comprendre la démarche des constructeurs antiques. L’état de nos connaissances sur les carrières de pierre de Dharih fera ainsi l’objet d’un premier point (extraction, bardage, transport des blocs, matériaux particuliers). Ces conclusions sont rapportées après observation minutieuse des fronts de carrière et des traces de taille. Nous poursuivrons cette présentation par l’analyse des techniques de construction du temple (le levage, l’assemblage, les scellements, la taille dite ’au ravalement’, l’appareillage des murs, les outils employés). Nous nous questionnerons ainsi sur les mesures prises par les constructeurs du temple en réponse aux effets dévastateurs des tremblements de terre très fréquents dans cette région tout en replaçant ces résultats dans une thématique transversale que nous pourrions appeler "archéologie de la sismicité". Nous achèverons cette comunication par une mise en contexte générale des techniques de construction dans la Province romaine d’Arabie en proposant de répondre aux questions suivantes : Comment les bâtiments nabatéens ont-t-ils été pensé et conçu ? L’architecture de ces édifices répond-elle à des principes précis et rigoureux ? | Antiquité, archéologie, architecture, constructeur, fondation, Jordanie, matériau traditionnel, outil, savoir, faire, stabilité, sismicité, transport |
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Camuffo, P. & Urgu, A. | 2019 | Le chantier de construction entre le x1e et le xne siecle clans deux contextes insulaires: la Sardaigne et la Corse in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 67-76 | L’étude des techniques constructives des maçonneries en pierre et du chantier de construction a désormais atteint un développement remarquable. L’analyse des caractéristiques non seulement formelle d’un mur constitue la première étape de l’étude des stratifications constructives d’un bâtiment et permet de recueillir un ensemble remarquable d’informations : l’origine et la provenance du matériel lapidaire, sa forme, ses dimensions, les traces des outils de travail utilisés, la disposition des éléments en pierre, les caractéristiques du mortier, les signes liés au chantier de construction (trous de boulin, marques lapidaires, ...). Ces données, opportunément collectés, élaborés et classifiés, aident à établir comparaisons objectives entre les différentes structures au sein d’un même territoire et de comparer les façons de construire aussi bien que d’organiser les chantiers dans des territoires adjacents pour mettre en évidence les similitudes et les différences, qui, quoiqu’en partie liés aux ressources naturelles disponibles, cependant sont en majorité dues à contraintes de type culturel et à l’existence ou non de relations politiques et économiques. Les études récentes sur l’architecture religieuse corse et sarde, conduits au sein de l’Université de Corse et de Sassari en collaboration avec celle de Lyon, ont apporté de nouvelles données qui permettent de réfléchir, sur des bases objectives, sur les façons dans lesquels les rapports de pouvoir peuvent se révéler grâce à des programmes de construction précis. L’examen comparé de l’architecture religieuse médiévale de la Corse et de la Sardaigne montre en effet pour l’XIe-XIIe siècle affinités fortes entre l’organisation du chantier et les techniques constructives utilisées en Toscane et dans les deux îles limitrophes. | Circulation des savoirs, mise en œuvre, savoir, faire, appareillage, apprentissage, Moyen Age |
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Litoux, E. | 2019 | Etude archeologique d’un grand chantier castral: la forteresse de Saint-Louis a Angers in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 77-86 | Lorsque Saint Louis reprend le contrôle d’Angers en 1230, il décide de mettre immédiatement en chantier une enceinte urbaine longue de 3,8 km ainsi qu’une imposante forteresse sur le promontoire dominant la Maine. Le suivi archéologique des travaux de restauration récemment menés sur le front sud du château d’Angers a offert la possibilité d’engager l’étude d’un ensemble architectural exceptionnel par son ampleur. L’opération archéologique a confirmé la grande homogénéité du front sud, tant sur le plan conceptuel que sur les aspects plus techniques : caractère très normé et répétitif du programme architectural, standardisation dans les processus de mise en œuvre des matériaux. La maîtrise d’ouvrage capétienne transparaît dans des choix architecturaux et techniques en net décalage avec les pratiques habituellement rencontrées à la même époque sur les chantiers angevins (choix des matériaux, gabarits des pierres de taille, traitement des voûtes...). Cependant, pour homogène qu’il soit, ce chantier, l’un des plus ambitieux dans le royaume capétien, n’en a pas moins dû être réalisé en tranches successives en fonction des contingences techniques telles que l’approvisionnement en matériaux de construction ou que la répartition des équipes d’ouvriers. Le croisement des différentes approches — étude pétrographique, analyses de mortier, étude des traces d’ancrages des rampes d’échafaudage hélicoïdales, mesures des appareils de pierre de taille et de moellons, examen critique des rares sources écrites — a offert la possibilité de suivre la progression des travaux à une échelle rarement atteinte sur des ouvrages défensifs médiévaux, et de mieux appréhender l’organisation de ce chantier d’exception. Le chantier, financé sur le budget de la couronne, a bénéficié de moyens permettant un approvisionnement en matériaux de qualité et une progression manifestement très rapide. | Archéologie, castellologie, économie, Moyen age, Anjou |
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Huang, L. | 2019 | De l’ Auvergne a Conques: apropos d’une geographie de techniques de construction romane in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 87-94 | Faute de sources textuelles, la datation des chantiers romans majeurs de l’ancien diocèse de Clermont fait, depuis longtemps, l’objet de nombreuses controverses. Les récentes études archéologiques du bâti situent l’ouverture de ces chantiers, au plus tôt, dans le deuxième quart du XIIe siècle, sans suffisamment prendre en compte l’évolution technique romane dans les régions limitrophes. Le chantier de Sainte-Foy de Conques constitue, à cet égard, un repère chronologique éclairant. Situé aux franges méridionales du Massif central, le chantier rouergat emploie, dès le milieu du XIe siècle, les mêmes techniques de taille que celles pratiquées en Auvergne, avant de les abandonner au début du siècle suivant. Les marques lapidaires réalisées dans la deuxième moitié du XIe siècle présentent également des caractéristiques similaires à celles des chantiers auvergnats. Un écart chronologique tellement important ne peut pourtant pas s’expliquer par un transfert technique lentement accompli de Conques en Auvergne. Tout d’abord, l’émergence de la taille alternée, de la taille décorative en chevrons et des marques lapidaires majoritairement alphabétiques est indissociable de la romanité qui perdure en Auvergne romane, alors que ce facteur fait défaut à Conques. Ensuite, l’abbatiale de Conques et certains édifices auvergnats tels que Saint-Martin d’Artonne appartiennent, par une évolution de méthodes de taille comparable, à une même géographie technique dès le milieu du XIe siècle. Enfin, le marquage de Conques, sans équivalent dans les autres régions limitrophes, n’est pratiqué qu’à une étape de construction avancée, ce qui plaide pour une éventuelle importation depuis l’Auvergne. | France, Moyen Âge, archéologie, chantier, production, constructeur |
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Guillouët, J.-M. | 2019 | Un gothique hyper-technique? L’ architecture gothique flamboyante et ses savoir-faire in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 95-102 | Carrefours professionnels et techniques, les chantiers de construction sont, au Moyen Âge, les lieux de la condensation technique des métiers de la construction. Des cas célèbres comme celui du Duomo de Milan ont permis de mettre en évidence leur rôle dans la constitution puis la transmission des savoir-faire et des pratiques constructives médiévales ; et cela à l’échelle européenne. C’est en prenant en compte la nature éminemment locale de leur historicité qu’il est possible de comprendre la place du chantier dans la constitution et l’affirmation de la figure de l’artiste avant l’époque moderne. À la fin du Moyen Âge, un certain nombre de procédures techniques et de dispositifs stéréotomiques virtuoses sont en effet pris dans les logiques compétitives régulant les rapports entre les acteurs du chantier. Elles s’inscrivent dans ce régime des « hautes eaux » du technique caractéristique gothique tardif qui trouve alors son expression dans bien d’autres domaines de la production artistique et artisanale. L’observation fine de ces savoir-faire, de leur affichage et des fonctions leur étant assignées à l’intérieur de la loge médiévale permet de bien comprendre comment, à la fin du Moyen Âge, le chantier de construction est le laboratoire d’une individuation artistique par la technique. | artisan, chantier, métiers du bâtiment, Outil, Savoir, faire, Technicien |
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Prigent, D. | 2019 | Le moyen appareil: du bloc irregulier au parallelepipede rectangle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 113-24 | Daniel Prigent Pôle archéologique départemental de Maine-et-Loire, chercheur associé à l’UMR 6298 ArTeHiS L’histoire des matériaux aux époques médiévale et moderne reste guidée par les sources textuelles qui fournissent des mesures précises (hauteur, longueur, épaisseur) lors de l’achat de lots de pierres à la carrière et par l’observation des productions depuis la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle. Les pierres de construction sont ainsi considérées comme des parallélépipèdes rectangles réguliers parfaitement standardisées. Les observations réalisées en fouille et lors de travaux de restauration dans le Val de Loire, où règne un calcaire tendre Turonien, le tuffeau blanc, montrent en revanche qu’il n’en est rien pour le Moyen Âge et l’Époque moderne. Les blocs provenant des carrières sont alors, et depuis le début de la construction en pierre de taille en moyen appareil (Xe siècle), de taille variées dont seules les faces de parement sont soigneusement dressées, mais dont les hauteurs sont standardisées et la répartition des valeurs de longueurs s’étale de part et d’autre d’un ou deux modes, la dispersion variant dans le temps. Ce type de production entraîne une relation carrière-chantier fort différent de celui qui prévaudra à partir du milieu du XIXe siècle et qui conduira à l’abandon progressif des centres d’extraction traditionnels. Mots-clés Chantier, matériau, Val de Loire, Moyen Age, Époque moderne, XIXe siècle | Epoque moderne, Val de Loire, matériau, chantier, XIXe siècle |
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Manase, V. | 2019 | La reconstruction de Dieppe apres la « grande bombarderie » de 1694 in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 125-36 | En 1694 Dieppe subit un bombardement dévastateur perpétré par une flotte Anglo-hollandaise qui incendie et détruit presque toute la ville. A l’initiative de Vauban, l’architecte Antoine De Ventabren reconstruit la cité, imposant aux habitants l’un des premiers règlements d’urbanisme français. A une période où émerge un nouveau concept de ville, la reconstruction de Dieppe au début du XVIIIe siècle offre l’opportunité de tester certains principes d’urbanisme et d’organisation de l’habitat, en intégrant toutes les phases inhérentes à ce gigantesque chantier urbain. Seront ainsi évoqués un premier projet de ville neuve située plus en retrait du rivage, finalement abandonné au profit d’une reconstruction sur le site initial, les servitudes constructives et décoratives (matériaux, standardisation et alignement des façades, avec entresol de stockage sous arcade, niveaux, dimensions), les normes sanitaires et sécuritaires (élargissement de la voirie, réseau d’eau, prévention des risques d’incendie), et les aspects financiers et réglementaires. Seront également abordés le rôle des différents acteurs de ce programme d’envergure, la façon dont la ville a été rebâtie, les obstacles rencontrés, ainsi que l’impact économique et social de cette longue entreprise. Si la ville est pratiquement achevée vers 1720, la stricte uniformité des façades n’est plus de mise à partir de 1752 ; l’entresol peut désormais être remplacé par un étage carré habitable, beaucoup plus en adéquation avec les réels besoins de la population. L’utopie de la ville idéale voulue par Vauban, avec ses rues identiques bordées par des façades rythmées par des séries d’arcades régulières, a dû céder le pas devant l’usage et les réalités quotidiennes des habitants. | chantier, économie, espace, matériau traditionnel, mise en oeuvre, modèle constructif |
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Hunot, J.-Y. | 2019 | L’Anjou au bas Moyen Age et a l’Epoque moderne: un carrefour des techniques de charpente in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 137-48 | L’étude archéologique des charpentes de comble des Époques médiévale et moderne s’est particulièrement développée depuis deux décennies dans l’ouest de la France et plus particulièrement aux confins du Bassin parisien et du Massif Armoricain. L’association avec la dendrochronologie a permis de dater de façon précise une grande part de ces réalisations. Aux quelques deux cents charpentes étudiées en Anjou dont une grande majorité datée par dendrochronologie, viennent se rajouter quelques dizaines d’exemples dans les départements limitrophes. Ce corpus permet de mettre en évidence une évolution des techniques et des formes qui ne se superpose par directement sur celle classiquement reconnue pour l’architecture. Ainsi les grandes ruptures se situent dans la seconde moitié du XIIIe siècle puis au milieu du XVe siècle et un siècle plus tard. Au delà de ces éléments de chrono-typologie, on peut percevoir, au XIVe siècle, la naissance de formes particulières sur l’aire du Massif armoricain tandis qu’au XVe siècle les charpentes de combles montrent des dispositions particulières sur les franges du Bassin Parisien. Au XVIe siècle, c’est un modèle d’origine méridionale, probablement poitevine, qui apparaît. Ces grands ensembles de charpentes, plus fréquents dans le monde rural, évoluent parallèlement à une charpente que l’on pourrait qualifier de « traditionnelle » ou postérieurement « d’académique ». Ils traduisent, au-delà de la demande des commanditaires, la persistance des formes sur plusieurs générations mais aussi les courants d’influence et les circuits de formation des charpentiers. | circulation des savoirs, mise en oeuvre, savoir, faire, assemblage, Moyen Age, Epoque moderne, France ouest |
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Mahindad Naima, A. | 2019 | L’usage de la brique dans les edifices espagnols a Bejafa (1509-1555) entre influence et innovation in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 149-57 | En 1509, pendant la conquête Espagnole, la ville de Bejaia (Algérie) a connu, l’édification et le remaniement de trois forts : Une forteresse sur l’emplacement d’un ancien palais Hammadite ; Le remaniement d’un ancien fort Hammadite, ; La fortification d’une vieille citadelle à coté de l’arsenal, sur les assises du vieux port romain. Ces forts sont de formes et de tailles différentes. Chacun d’entre eux se distingue par un aménagement et une organisation fonctionnelle particulière, lui conférant ainsi une typologie architecturale propre et des typologies constructives spécifiques. On relève au niveau de ces édifices, l’usage de la brique qui revêt différents appareillages et systèmes constructifs. On la retrouve ainsi dans les murs en pisé comme parements ou dans, les murs de commandes de très grande épaisseur ainsi que dans les couvertures maçonnées. Des systèmes constructifs qui présentent des similitudes avec l’architecture et les matériaux utilisées à la période médiévale en Espagne, alors que, la tradition constructive dans d’autres régions géographiques et culturelles de l’Algérie médiévale optait, plus pour des systèmes constructifs se basant sur des murs en pisé avec un coffrage confectionné en planches de banchage et l’usage de la pierre et des moellons. Ces différences dans les modes de constructions adoptés, nous interpellent sur les influences subies ou exercées, lors de l’édifications de ces forts. A travers une approche comparative par rapport à la tradition constructive de l’Espagne médiévale relatée dans les documents historiques et l’analyse des matériaux de constructions, et leur mise en œuvre dans les édifices étudiés de la ville de Bejaia, nous essaierons de reconnaître pour le cas de Bejaia: quels fut l’apport d’une transmission d’un savoir faire transmis ou importé , par rapport à une culture constructive d’héritage et la spécificité d’un savoir-faire local. Champs chronologiques : Période médievale (1509-1555) Champs géographiques : Algérie | Appareillage, circulation des savoirs, matériau traditionnel, mise en œuvre, modèle constructif, Savoir, faire |
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Forni, M. | 2019 | L’ art du trait, de la construction a la representation: un cas milanais au XVIIIe siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 157-66 | L’architecture milanaise du XVIIIème siècle est marquée par l’influence d’éminents patriciens, bibliophiles et collectionneurs dont la formation et les relations se projettent au delà du milieu cultivé de la ville et de l’horizon de sa prestigieuse Académie des Beaux Arts. Certains d’entre eux, Alberico et Lodovico di Belgiojoso, Ferdinando Cusani, Giovanni Battista Moriggia, Gian Galeazzo Serbelloni savent aussi orienter les efforts d’architectes (G. Piermarini, S. Cantoni, L. Pollack) et d’artistes (G.Albertolli, A.Gerli) dans l’élaboration d’un langage avancé . Dans les bibliothèques de ces nobles dilettantes et de leurs architectes figure un noyau significatif de textes français qui comprend les traités de stéréotomie. Cette diffusion parait aboutir à des issues assez minces, ses traces s’aperçoivent dans le contexte d’un revival du XVIème siècle, se traduisent en citations indirectes, en expérimentations constructives très avisées. Pour réussir à les détecter, il faut remonter aux références culturelles des commanditaires. La stéréotomie est feinte sur la mince épaisseur de l’enduit qui recouvre une construction en briques. Ainsi Alberico di Belgiojoso fait bâtir par Simone Cantoni la porte de Filighera, un de ses fief, où sont représentés les artifices de l’art du trait – des arrières voussures aux voûtes. L’arc en mémoire de sa femme, Anna Ricciarda d’Este, à l’entrée du domaine de Corte Sant’Andrea (1782) réplique un célèbre modèle du XVIIème siècle, la porte Saint Martin à Paris, par Bullet et renvoie ainsi aux séjours parisiens du Prince. Dans quelque cas, la pierre, limitée jusqu’alors aux colonnes et rarement aux entablements et aux corniches des fenêtres et portes, est employée dans une véritable construction stéréotomique, dans le portique de la cour du Palais Moriggia (1772) ou dans les portes de la ville, où vraie et fausse stéréotomie s’intègrent et se lit l’influence du trait de l’”architecture révolutionnaire” qui passionne la génération suivante | circulation des savoirs, espace de circulation, littérature technique, littérature non technique, modèle constructif |
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Isaac, C. | 2019 | Former des ingenieurs en province au XVIIIe siecle: les ecoles des ponts et chaussees du Languedoc in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 167-74 | Au cours du xviiie siècle, sont lancés en Languedoc des projets de grande envergure pour le développement du réseau de communication de la Province. Pays d’états, le Languedoc possède sa propre administration des travaux publics, indépendante du corps des Ponts et chaussées qui intervient uniquement dans les pays d’élection. Soucieux de disposer d’un personnel formé et compétent, les états décident au milieu de la décennie 1780 de mettre en place leurs propres écoles des ponts et chaussées. D’autres pays d’états, telle la Bretagne, prennent des initiatives similaires, mais seul le Languedoc, s’affranchit de la tutelle parisienne et s’appuie exclusivement sur des ressources locales. En relation étroite avec les écoles de dessin adossées aux Académies des arts de Montpellier et Toulouse, cette dernière se targuant du titre d’Académie royale, ces deux établissements sont dotés de locaux, de professeurs et d’un programme pédagogique spécifique. Si la structuration de ces écoles a donné lieu à quelques publications (Slonina 1999, Guillin 2013), leur rôle dans la transmission des savoirs n’a jamais été étudié, que ce soit dans une perspective régionale ou nationale. De multiples sources permettent d’identifier les acteurs de cette transmission, tant professeurs qu’élèves, d’appréhender ses objets par le contenu, les méthodes d’apprentissage et la littérature technique utilisée, ainsi que les places respectives de la théorie et de la pratique dans l’enseignement de la construction. Situer ces écoles au sein du parcours de formation des ingénieurs en Languedoc à la fin du xviiie siècle s’avère particulièrement éclairant pour la question de la circulation des savoirs en raison, notamment, des enjeux liés aux ambitions d’une Province face à l’École des Ponts et chaussées de Paris. | France Sud Ouest, enseignement, époque moderne, ingénieur, circulation des savoirs, professeur |
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Montel, N. | 2019 | Le livre technique et la distinction sociale a la fin du XVIIIe siecle. La distribution au nom du roi des Oeuvres de l’ingenieur-architecte Perronet in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 175-84 | Premier ingénieur pour les ponts et chaussées depuis vingt ans, Jean-Rodolphe Perronet (1708-1794) est âgé de 75 ans lorsque paraissent à l’Imprimerie royale les deux volumes au format grand in-folio de son ouvrage intitulé Description des projets et de la construction des ponts de Neuilly, de Mantes, d’Orléans et autres, du projet du canal de Bourgogne... et de celui de la conduite des eaux de l’Yvette et de la Bièvre à Paris. Il se compose de textes et de soixante-sept planches gravées. Désigné lors de la parution d’un supplément en 1789 comme « les Oeuvres » de Perronet, l’ouvrage est réédité au format in 4° en 1788, soit cinq ans après sa première parution,. À partir de documents d’archives conservés à la bibliothèque de l’École des ponts et chaussées, il est possible de documenter tant l’opération de publication dont cet ouvrage est issu que la diffusion dont il a fait l’objet. Ma communication se propose de rendre compte des premiers résultats d’une enquête qui, s’appuyant sur ces documents, vise à décrire les acteurs et modalités pratiques de cette entreprise éditoriale, afin d’en saisir les enjeux sociaux et savants. La confection de cet ouvrage participe à l’écriture de la gloire royale, contribue à construire le prestige d’une communauté d’ingénieurs et sert les intérêts de son maître d’oeuvre. Mais c’est surtout sur la diversité des formes matérielles qui lui sont données, à la fois simultanément et successivement, que l’on souhaite ici focaliser l’attention. On cherchera à montrer que cette pluralité de formes a été pensée dès la conception de la publication et qu’elle est partie prenante d’une stratégie de diffusion large. | ingénieur, littérature constructive, ouvrage d’art, époque moderne, France |
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Guuinic, T. | 2019 | Apprendre l’ art de batir a l’Ecole des ponts et chaussees de Montpellier a travers le cours de Charles Durand (1791) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 185-98 | A la veille de la Révolution, dans le cadre de son cours d’architecture à l’école des ponts et chaussées de Montpellier, Charles Durand dispense aux élèves de deuxième année un cours d’art de bâtir. Conservé dans un grand volume in-folio de 320 feuillets et 44 planches, son cours présente de multiples intérêts, qui seront l’objet de notre communication : reflet des techniques en usage en Languedoc à l’extrême fin du XVIIIe siècle, le cours de Durand expose en même temps le contenu de la formation des futurs constructeurs, mettant en lumière la circulation des savoirs techniques en province à cette époque. Après la présentation du manuscrit, nous proposerons une brève analyse de sa composition et des matières abordées - materiaux en usage, dimensionnement des structures, machines de transport de materiaux et d’enfoncement de pieux - où la place prépondérante accordée aux machines de chantier montre la visée opératoire de l’enseignement. Nous verrons aussi apparaître, dans l’intertexte du cours, des références désignant les sources des savoirs recueillis par Durand, qui émanent aussi bien de constructeurs languedociens que de l’école des ponts et chaussées parisienne. Nous pourrons alors replacer le cours de Durand dans le contexte de l’enseignement de la construction à cette époque, et dans l’ensemble du corpus théorique laissé par l’ingénieur. Nous envisagerons alors sa place au sein de son Cours d’architecture (1791) et le mettrons en rapport avec ses divers mémoires techniques prononcés sous l’Empire. Les intérêts de l’ingénieur s’élargissent alors à des techniques moins coûteuses, notamment destinées aux constructions agricoles et rurales, en pierre et en charpente, décrites dans les discours qu’il prononce face à ses confrères de l’académie du Gard. La variété des sources envisagées permettra, pour finir, de nous interroger sur les lieux de circulation des savoirs liés à la construction à cette époque. | Etats du Languedoc / départements de l’Hérault et du Gard., XIXe siècle, Epoque moderne, Espace rural, Apprentissage, Littérature constructive |
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Chergui, S. & Meklati, S. | 2019 | Les halles de marche en Algerie: expression de modeles architecturaux et constructifs a l’age industriel in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 199-210 | Les halles de marchés constituent des figures emblématiques de la construction en fer. Ces structures exclusivement métalliques, introduites en Algérie durant la colonisation française, découlent de l’un des principaux programmes architecturaux liés à la révolution industrielle. Elles illustrent les modalités de transfert des progrès techniques de la métropole vers la colonie et sont représentatives de nouveaux modes conceptuels et constructifs. La politique économique coloniale aidant, plusieurs villes algériennes de petite, moyenne et grande taille ont été dotées de leurs marchés couverts, calqués sur les modèles importés de province et adaptés au contexte local. La constitution de ce réseau de structures commerciales ne s’est pas fait d’un seul trait, mais par bonds successifs correspondant aux innovations techniques et artistiques rendues possibles par la révolution industrielle. La question principale que l’on se pose à l’occasion de cette communication et de savoir si les halles de marchés des XIXe et XXe siècles en Algérie se positionnent en affiliation avec le modèle architectural et constructif baltardien des Halles centrales de Paris, ou bien elles s’en démarquent. Pour pouvoir y répondre nous avons adopté une démarche, qui s’appuie sur une approche historique, architecturale et technique. De par leurs typologies de toiture sans clôture périmétrale pour les marchés couverts de Blida et de Médéa ou de clôture perimétrale pour celui de Maison-Carrée, ces établissements se rapprochent davantage des systèmes constructifs à parapluies adoptés par Victor Baltard dans les Halles de Paris. Ce premier constat confirme la réécriture partielle en Algérie de l’histoire des halles de marchés en Europe à une échelle moindre et avec un décalage chronologique. Cependant, grâce à ce retard, évalué à un demi-siècle environ, les trois halles que nous nous sommes proposé d’étudier se caractérisent par une modestie et une variété infinie de solutions constructives par rapport | Circulation des savoirs, marché, ingénieur, architecte, matériau industriel, modèle constructif. |
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Segbedji, C. | 2019 | La construction des batiments afro-bresiliens dans le sud du Benin entre les XIXe et XXe siecles in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 211-18 | La fin de la traite négrière a vu le retour de groupes de descendants d’esclaves dans des territoires affaiblis et déjà fortement influencés par la présence des Européens. Sous l’action des affranchis et des colons, trois types d’architecture coexistent au Sud Bénin. L’architecture traditionnelle qui est le fait des populations sédentaires du golfe du Bénin, les édifices afro-brésiliens, œuvres des anciens esclaves, et les bâtiments coloniaux, fruits de techniciens européens employant des Affranchis moyennement qualifiés et des autochtones peu qualifiés. L’architecture afro-brésilienne, qui est l’objet de notre propos a essaimé sur toute la côte ouest africaine appelée aussi côte des esclaves, notamment des villes comme Ouidah et Porto Novo. La construction de ces édifices n’a jamais été étudiée. Pourtant de nombreuses questions se posent. Comment sont-ils construits ? Avec quels matériaux, cela s’est-il fait ? Quels ont été les outils utilisés pour ces ouvrages ? Qui en sont les premiers bâtisseurs, ingénieurs ou architectes ? Ce sont autant de questions auxquelles nous essayerons de répondre dans cette communication. Champs chronologiques: XIXe-XXe siècles Champs géographiques : Bénin (ex-Dahomey), côte des esclaves (Afrique de l’ouest) | faire/Fondation en milieu humide/ Transfert artistique/ Restauration, clés: Artisan/Matériau/ Savoir, Mots |
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Scibilia, F. | 2019 | La contribution des publications periodiques au debat sur la construction antisismique apres le tremblement de terre de 1908 a Messine et Reggio de Calabre (Italie) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres FHC (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017) pp. 219-28 | Un tremblement de terre catastrophique eut lieu le 28 décembre 1908 en détruisant presque totalement les villes de Messine et Reggio de Calabre, ainsi que d’autres villages mineurs. Le séisme eut une résonance internationale. Pour la première fois en Italie, fournir des réponses techniques adéquates en termes de bâtiments résistant aux tremblements de terre devint on problème qui, franchissant les frontières locales, prit une dimension nationale, en mettant la question au centre du débat technique de la période. Pour la culture de la construction, ce séisme représenta une véritable ligne de partage: si jusqu’à ce moment-là les réponses aux tremblements de terre, qui avaient ravagé l’Italie, prévoyaient l’utilisation de techniques traditionnelles, cet événement désastreux marqua l’émergence progressive de nouvelles technologies. Les progrès contemporains de l’industrie ouvrirent la route à l’expérimentation de nouveaux systèmes de construction, et surtout à une confiance inconditionnelle envers le béton armé. Un apport significatif au débat sur la construction antisismique fut proposé par les publications périodiques qui, par le biais de l’étude des revues de spécialité, représenta le moyen préférentiel pour donner au sujet une résonance adéquate. Le présent mémoire vise à analyser les propositions élaborées autour du sujet de la construction antisismique, par le biais de l’étude des magazines périodiques de la période, parmi lesquels on peut rappeler notamment la «Rivista di Ingegneriasanitaria», «Il Monitore Tecnico», «Il Cemento» et «Gli Annali della Società degli Ingegneri e degli Architetti Italiani». Ces revues, qui recueillent les considérations d’un grand nombre d’architectes et d’ingénieurs, constituent l’un des principaux moteurs de la diffusion des connaissances techniques, ce qui représente, de manière significative, l’état de l’art sur les développements scientifiques autour d’un des problèmes principaux de la culture technique de la période. | circulation des savoirs, littérature technique, ingénieur |
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Fivez, R. | 2019 | Exporter le modele de « l’Usine ideale » vers l’Afrique. Le cas de BATA 300 a Kinshasa, RD Congo, 1962 in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 229-42 | Depuis la révolution industrielle l’usine a été un lieu hautement contesté. Qui donne à l’usine un statut d’icône de la modernité mais aussi de sa critique. L’environnement polémique dans lequel naît l’usine en fait l’objet d’une recherche continue, aboutissant finalement à une théorie sur l’« Usine Idéale », qui s’articule dès le début de XXe siècle dans des bâtiments en béton dont la conception se base sur la rationalisation et l’économie totale. Nous proposons d’examiner la diffusion et l’adaptation de ce modèle depuis les Etats-Unis jusqu’en Europe et en Afrique à travers le cas de l’entreprise Bata. Si les projets BATA pour ses usines et villes ouvrières innovantes en Tchécoslovaquie sont entretemps bien documentés, notre contribution mettra en avant une production ignoré qui résulte de l’extension de ses activités vers l’Afrique. En mettant en avant le cas d’une usine BATA à Kinshasa, RD Congo, édifice construite en 1962, nous visons à démontrer à quel point le modèle de « l’Usine Idéale » change dans ce processus d’exportation, afin de s’adapter à des conditions locales. S’appuyant sur des documents du fonds de l’entreprise de construction belge, Blaton-Aubert, actif au Congo depuis 1949 à travers sa branche la Compagnie Congolaise de Construction (CCC), notre contribution illustra l’application d’une technique particulière du béton précontraint, développé vers le milieu des années 1940 en Belgique, dans un autre contexte. En effet, les calculs et descriptions de l’ingénieur belge, Jacques Robin, les dessins techniques de la CCC et les rapports de chantier, nous permettent d’évaluer en détail les différences de conception de la structure. C’est en effet à travers l’usage d’éléments préfabriqués de petite taille, soumis à la post-tension, réalisé et mis en place avec des moyens plutôt modestes et un main d’œuvre non-qualifié, que « l’Usine Idéale » trouvera sa forme en Afrique Centrale. | Circulation des savoirs, Constructeur, Entreprise, Ingénieur, Modèle constructif, Industrie |
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Moreau, H. | 2019 | L’ile Tiberine : reflexions sur la consolidation et l’amenagement d’un bane fluvial dans la Rome antique in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 243-54 | Le Tibre a parmi ses particularités celle de donner naissance à des bancs longitudinaux sédimentaires le long de son parcours. Souvent éphémères, leur surface, leur forme et leur durée de vie sont dépendants des aléas du fleuve. Pourtant, à Rome, un de ces îlots se tient au milieu du fleuve depuis le début de sa mise en construction à la période médio-républicaine, il y plus de deux millénaires. Dans l’Antiquité, elle abritait depuis le début du IIIe siècle av. J.-C. le temple que la cité avait fait élever en l’honneur d’Esculape. Les siècles suivant apportèrent leur lot de nouveaux édifices jusqu’à ce que l’île soit entièrement bâtie et devienne un véritable quartier urbain. Alors, comment un sol naturellement aussi fragile a-t-il pu soutenir temples et maison ou servir d’appui à des têtes de ponts ? Comment une terre affleurant les eaux du fleuve a-t-elle survécu aux inondations répétées ? Tite-Live, en conclusion de son récit de la naissance de l’île, nous apporte quelques éléments de réponse : postea credo addita moles ; manuque adiutum ut tam emines area firmaque templis quoque ac porticibus sustinendis esset (II, 5, 4). Un ensemble d’aménagements semblent avoir été entrepris afin de consolider et de surélever le sol pour construire les édifices sur un terrain stable et suffisamment au-dessus du niveau moyen du fleuve. De nombreux indices, bien qu’épars et lacunaires, permettent d’esquisser une réflexion sur les moyens mis en œuvre pour y parvenir. La communication propose de rassembler ces éléments et de les éclairer à la lumière des structures répondant à des problématiques similaires mises au jour sur les rives du Tibre et ailleurs dans le monde romain. | aménagement fluvial, archéologie, fondation, mise en œuvre, pérennité, structure |
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Moucheront, N. | 2019 | Projet et construction des piles du pont Notre-Dame a Paris (1500-1504). Le role de Fra Gioconda dans la commission de maitrise d’ ouvrage in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 255-66 | Les développements récents de la géotechnique nous ont donné des modèles théoriques pour projeter les interventions à effectuer sur un sol pour le préparer à recevoir un édifice. Comment affrontait-on cette question extrêmement délicate en milieu fluvial avant que n’apparaissent les études de sol ? Si l’on utilise couramment des sondes et que l’on envoie des plongeurs examiner le lit du fleuve, il faut souvent attendre la vidange complète du batardeau pour pouvoir éprouver le sol et définir le système de fondations. Or cette opération d’éclusage est difficile à réaliser complètement et il est souvent impossible de fonder les piles du pont à plus de quelques mètres sous le niveau du sol. A la Renaissance, conformément aux prescriptions d’Alberti, la mise en place d’un pilotis se généralise. L’opportunité de battre des pieux fait cependant l’objet de vives discussions entre maçons et charpentiers sur le chantier du pont Notre-Dame à Paris dans le premières années du 16e siècle. Ces fondations, encore en place aujourd’hui, ont nécessité une surveillance constante et sont donc connues grâce à des expertises et des dessins postérieurs qui apportent un éclairage inédit sur les débats en phase de chantier consignés dans les registres du Bureau de Ville. Ce texte extrêmement riche dévoile d’autres détails constructifs évoquant les ponts romains de l’antiquité. On propose notamment de réaliser des becs circulaires à l’aval des piles et un arc de décharge embrassant les six arches du pont. On peut certainement y voir l’influence de l’humaniste italien Fra Giocondo présent à Paris à cette époque. De nouveaux éléments que nous souhaitons présenter au colloque, viennent confirmer qu’il exerçait des fonctions de maîtrise d’ouvrage sur ce chantier. A l’approche empirique défendue par les artisans français semble s’opposer le modèle antique proposé par Fra Giocondo : est-il opérant sur le plan technique ? | chantier, circulation des savoirs, expertise, fondation en milieu humide, modèle constructif, pont |
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Del Carmen Márquez Y Gómez & M. Rousteau-Chambon, H. | 2019 | Construire en façade : l’exemple des balcons nantais in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 267-78 | Nantes, ville fluviale et maritime, connaît un développement économique sans précédent au XVIIIe siècle. Sur sa façade ligérienne, lieu, à Nantes, de l’activité marchande par excellence, des immeubles de rapport, dotés de nombreux balcons, sont alors édifiés par les acteurs les plus dynamiques depuis la fin du XVIIe siècle, les négociants armateurs. En façade de ces immeubles, les balcons constituent un des éléments architecturaux les plus remarquables, par leur nombre, leur disposition et leur variété. La construction des balcons, jamais étudiée jusqu’à présent dans sa globalité, mérite pourtant une attention particulière. Les matériaux en sont, en effet, très variés pusique, si le fer forgé reste omniprésent dans les supports et garde corps, certains matériaux apparaissent (tuffeau, marbre de Sablé), tandis que d’autres, très traditionnels (bois) perdurent, dans une région pauvre en pierres. Ces matériaux présents dans les différentes parties du balcon (supports, tables et gardes corps des balcons) sont mis en oeuvre par des tailleurs de pierre et des ferronniers le plus souvent inconnus, mais au réel savoir-faire. Dans cette communication, il s’agira donc d’étudier précisément la mise en oeuvre de ces matériaux à Nantes - la situation pouvant être comparée à d’autres villes atlantiques -, ainsi ainsi que les techniques utilisées avant l’industrialisation. | époque moderne, matériaux traditionnels, artisans, France, Nantes |
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Saupin, G. | 2019 | La construction négociante dans les ports atlantiques au XVIIIe siècle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 279-92 | Le XVIIIe siècle correspond à un premier apogée du commerce international au temps de la marine à voile, dans la première phase de colonisation et de mondialisation, au sein duquel le monde atlantique tient la première place. Des fortunes considérables se sont ainsi édifiées dans les grands ports atlantiques européens dont une partie a été orientée vers l’investissement immobilier urbain. Lors des siècles précédents, l’habitude est d’associer le lieu de travail et la résidence. L’extension des espaces portuaires qui s’éloignent du cœur de ville remet en question cette tradition. Ceci introduit une plus grande variété dans les choix de localisation. Jusqu’à la fin du XVIIe siècle, le modèle supérieur urbain demeure la grande maison nobiliaire, désigné tardivement sous le terme d’hôtel particulier. Dans l’affirmation sociale négociante du XVIIIe siècle se pose donc la question de la reprise de ce type sous l’influence des modèles parisiens ou de la recherche d’un type original, mieux adapté aux besoins économiques et sociaux du riche négociant. Il s’agit de conjuguer les locaux de direction de la maison de commerce, le logement comme signe majeur de réussite sociale pour l’extérieur et la rentabilité spéculative caractérisant l’activité négociante. La question du rapport à la capitale intervient aussi dans le calendrier d’adoption des styles décoratifs. Le choix de l’échelle européenne souhaite enrichir la réflexion à travers les variations possibles selon les villes et les pays. Bordeaux, Nantes et Le Havre sont dans l’ordre les trois premiers ports français au XVIIIe siècle, tandis que Bristol garde son premier rang provincial derrière Londres jusqu’au milieu du siècle et que Cadix reste hégémonique jusqu’à la fin. La proposition s’inscrit au croisement des thématiques 2, 13 et 14. | Aménagement portuaire, Façade atlantique, Modèle constructif, Port, Transfert artistique, Projet constructif |
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Soullard, E. | 2019 | Une etude de construction fluviale: la machine de Marly et la Seine in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 293-302 | La machine de Marly, construite par Louis XIV pour élever l’eau de la Seine afin de faire jouer les fontaines de Versailles, est la plus grosse mécanique hydraulique jamais construite par l’homme. En effet, quatorze roues à aubes barraient la Seine en travers pour faire actionner en série près de 250 pompes pour satisfaire le plaisir des Grandes eaux royales. Comment la Seine a-t-elle été aménagée afin de pouvoir construire un tel monstre mécanique ? Comment une telle machine, faite de bois et fer, peut-elle défier le temps et durer plus de cent ans ? Comment entretenir, faire fonctionner, réparer les pilotis, vannes, roues, digues faites en bois pourrissables ? Quels artisans et corps de métiers sont appelés à intervenir ? Et à quel coût ? Ensuite quelle partie du fleuve est laissée aux mariniers qui approvisionnent Paris en blé et denrées ? En quoi le fleuve, à cause de cette énorme construction, devient-il alors un espace conflictuel entre nautes et pouvoir royal ? Qui l’emporte entre les mariniers gênés dans leur navigation et le monarque absolu qui tient à tout prix à approvisionner Versailles ? Enfin le roi peut-il si facilement dompter la nature ? Dans quelles mesures la machine fait-elle face aux inondations, gélées et débacles récurrentes de la Seine lors du "petit âge glaciaire" des XVII-XVIIIe s ? Quels équipements techniques sont construits à la machine de Marly pour faire face précisément aux caprices et colères du fleuve ? Finalement quelles raisons décident, sous le Ier Empire, de la destruction de la machine ? Dans quelles mesures le fleuve qui actionnait la machine est-il aussi l’une des causes de sa fin et de sa destruction ? | Aménagement fluvial, Digues, Fleuve, Machine, Navigation, Transport |
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Audefroy, J. F. | 2019 | La formation du Val de Bievre clans Paris: une histoire urbaine in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 303-14 | Le Val de Bièvre à Paris fut le lieu de différentes pratiques architecturales et urbaines qui ont successivement transformé les berges de la rivière depuis les origines de Lutèce et Paris. Ces différentes pratiques se sont confrontées les unes avec les autres, en créant des quartiers (Croulebarbe, Les Gobelins, Faubourg Saint-Marcel) mais en créant aussi des activités industrielles et artisanales telles que meuniers, teinturiers, bouchers, tanneurs, mégissiers, peaussiers, blanchisseuses, glaciers et tapissiers (Manufacture des Gobelins). Au fil des ans, différents projets se sont succédés, depuis un projet de gare d’eau à l’embouchure de la Bièvre sur la Seine, un projet de halles aux vins, le viaduc de la rue de Tolbiac et jusqu’au comblement de la rivière et sa transformation en égout sous la pression des hygiénistes au XIXe siècle. On retrouve encore actuellement sa trace dans le tissu urbain car les environs de la Bièvre furent l’objet de nombreuses constructions à différentes époques, comme le Moulin des Prés, le Moulin de Croulebarbe, la Manufacture des Gobelins, le château de la Reine Blanche, et le canal des Victorins dont la présence est directement liée à la rivière. Cette étude, dans une perspective historique, tente de montrer que malgré sa disparition en tant que rivière, la Bièvre a profondément marqué le tissus urbain, elle constitue une mémoire urbaine, chère a J-K Huysmans, qui a plaidé souvent sa cause « Elle n’est qu’un fumier qui bouge ! Mais elle arrose les derniers peupliers de la ville ». | aménagement des berges, comblements de fleuves, Canaux, espace naturel, XIXe siècle, France. |
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Salhi, S. | 2019 | Construire le port en situation coloniale. Les travaux de Victor Poirel a Alger (1832-1840) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 315-24 | Les ports ont joué un rôle stratégique dans la conquête et le contrôle des territoires de colonisation, en visualisant une cartographie des grandes villes-capitales coloniales on constate que la majorité d’entre elles étaient des villes-ports à l’image d’Alger, Dakar, Saigon dans l’empire colonial français ou Bombay, Singapour et Hong Kong dans l’empire Britannique. C’est dans ce contexte que je me propose de présenter mon travail sur le processus de formation de l’infrastructure portuaire d’Alger durant la période coloniale française entre 1830 et 1962. De par sa position stratégique sur le bassin méditerranéen, le port d’Alger fut le principal débouché maritime de la colonie et l’un des points d’ancrage de l’expansion territoriale française en Afrique. Durant cette même période, va s’opérer un phénomène de dissociation progressive entre port et ville dans la capitale coloniale, cela se traduit par le passage d’un système de port imbriqué spatialement et fonctionnellement à la ville à un appareil portuaire de plus en plus indépendant de l’espace urbain. Je tenterai de démontrer à travers cette étude, quelles ont été les dimensions architecturales, urbaines ainsi que les dynamiques territoriales et extra territoriales engendrées par la formation de l’infrastructure portuaire en contexte colonial. J’exposerai mon étude en trois parties : Une partie consacrée à l’espace du port et à l’évolution de ses logiques de fonctionnement spatiales, économiques et stratégiques. Une deuxième partie consacrée à l’espace de la ville-port en donnant un aperçu sur le processus de reconfiguration du lien entre les deux entités urbaines et portuaires qui se traduit par la formation de nouvelles structures d’articulation à l’exemple du Boulevard de front de mer construit en 1860, et enfin, une partie consacrée aux relations du port avec les territoires de l’hinterland et de l’avant-pays. | Aménagement portuaire, port, mer, historiographie, navigation, espace de circulation |
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Sioc’han, F. | 2019 | Des effets de la houle sur les ouvrages d’art: application des moles du type « Considere » dans la protection des ports in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 325-34 | En 1886, nommé dans le département du Finistère, l’ingénieur en chef des Ponts et Chaussées, Considère conçut des môles d’un type nouveau, en synthétisant les méthodes de construction traditionnelles et en s’inspirant des recherches techniques en cours dans la conception et la réalisation des ouvrages en béton. Un premier chantier expérimental fut lancé à l’île de Sein à l’occasion de la réalisation d’un môle (1895). Les dispositions furent reprises ensuite et améliorées. Les expériences se poursuivirent. Résultat d’une série d’améliorations, le procédé de construction fut ainsi rendu parfaitement viable et relativement économique. Ce mode constructif fut peut-être une première représentation de la notion de précontrainte. Il fit preuve de sa grande valeur en apportant un remède contre les efforts de la mer. Sur le littoral finistérien notamment on assista à la répétition d’ouvrages similaires dont à Lesconil, Saint-Guénolé Penmarc’h, Survinrent des tempêtes ou trains d’ondes océaniques endommageant ces ouvrages en 1951 pour celui de Lesconil, en 1954 pour celui de Saint-Guénolé. Quel fut le mécanisme d’attaque sur ces ouvrages ? En 1954, à l’initiative de la Marine nationale, Service hydrographique, se crée le C.O.E.C ou Comité d’Océanographie et d’Etudes des Côtes et un sous-comité d’études pour la protection des côtes. L’extraction des galets de la digue naturelle de l’Ero Vili pour la construction des bases sous-marines et blockhaus et du système défensif allemand sur l’Atlantique eut-elle un effet nuisible ? Après analyse des caractéristiques du système Considère, du choix des dispositions de protection d’ensembles portuaires dont après essais sur modèles réduits en complémentarité, nous introduirons le concept de risque et la notion de probabilités de ruines des ouvrages maritimes dans ce secteur, en fonction de l’amplitude des houles. | aménagement portuaire, digues, façade atlantique, ingénieur, mer, mur de l’Atlantique. |
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Rohou, B., De Marco, M., Chalier, G. and Petersen, M. | 2019 | Construction des ports argentins par les entreprises francaises au debut du xxe siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 335-44 | A la fin du XIXème siècle et au début du XXème, l’Argentine a lancé un processus de modernisation de ses infrastructures portuaires. Trois de ses principaux ouvrages ont été concédés à des entreprises et des ingénieurs français, en tenant compte lors des adjudications du prestige de la technologie française de l’époque et de la formation et l’expérience de ses équipes dans ce type de construction. La construction du port moderne de Rosario a été concédée à deux maisons françaises, "Hersent & fils" et "Schneider et Cie", réunies dans la "Société du Port de Rosario". Les premiers quais, inaugurés en 1905, sont restés sous le contrôle de la Société jusqu’en 1942. Le port d’Arroyo Pareja, près de Bahia Blanca, développé par une entreprise française à partir de 1912 est mis en service en 1918. Ses plans ont été dessinés par Abel Pagnard, par ailleurs ancien employé de la maison "Hersent et Fils" lors de la construction du port de Rosario. De par son rôle d’ingénieur conseil, il a été en contact avec de nombreux ingénieurs issus comme lui de l’École Centrale. Enfin, le port de Mar del Plata, situé sur la côte atlantique de l’Argentine a été construit également par une entreprise française, la Société Nationale des Travaux Publics, de Paris, à partir de 1909. Les travaux sont conduits par des ingénieurs issus à la fois de l’École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures et de l’École des Ponts et Chaussées. L’apport principal de cet article sera d’une part d’analyser pour la première fois de manière conjointe, la trajectoire professionnelle de quelques ingénieurs français qui ont conduit la construction des ports de Rosario, Mar del Plata et Arroyo Pareja et d’autre part d’évaluer leur rôle d’acteurs dans l’application des savoirs acquis et leur relation avec les réalités locales. | circulation des savoirs, ingénieur, port, constructeur, Façade atlantique, fleuve |
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Richer, J. | 2019 | L’ appareil littoral. De la construction d’ ouvrages de defense maritime a celle d’un paysage littoral en Charente-Maritime in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 345-56 | L’opportunité offerte par le 3CFHC est rare : placer la construction au centre d’une analyse interdisciplinaire et multiscalaire. L’histoire française du rapport de l’homme au rivage s’apparente à une lutte pour la fixation du trait de côte par des défenses, en poldérisant les plaines saumâtres et plus récemment en rechargeant les plages érodées. Le rivage contemporain est l’expression de la construction d’infrastructures. La balnéarisation touristique du 20e siècle a renforcé la durcification des fronts de mer tout en forgeant une image idéalisée des paysages littoraux. La succession récente de tempêtes a ré-interrogé notre rapport aux risques côtiers. Elle a, d’une part, systématisé la défense des zones vulnérables par une couverture nationale du littoral en PPRL et PAPI. D’autre part, elle a introduit une stratégie alternative de libération du trait de côte lorsque cela était possible en mettant en avant des expérimentations de renaturation et de maritimisation littorales s’accompagnant d’une relocalisation des biens et des activités. Ce type de stratégie, que les projections des effets du changement climatique tendent à créditer, impose un changement d’échelle par la prise en compte d’un paysage solidarisant le rivage et l’arrière-pays dans une construction territoriale élargie. Cela introduit aussi un rapport d’échelle entre la construction d’ouvrages de défense et celle plus large d’un paysage dans un rapport de subsidiarité. La construction de paysages littoraux de « l’après risque » met en avant un génie environnemental et une recomposition spatiale aux côtés du génie civil classiquement employé pour les ouvrages de défenses. La reconnaissance d’une épaisseur géographique du littoral avec les projets de relocalisation ou encore les déconstructions sont autant de questions de construction. | Construire le balnéaire, Défense, Façade atlantique, Paysage, Temporalité, Époque moderne |
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Varcin, A. | 2019 | Eau, Technique et Temporalites clans un territoire menace d’inondations et de submersions, a Saint-Louis du Senegal in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 357-79 | Cette proposition a pour sujet la rencontre entre les notions de résilience appliquées aux territoires inondables ou submersibles, la notion de patrimoine appliquée à une ville portuaire et à la place donnée à la technique dans son rapport au risque. L’effacement de territoires par la mer invite à penser sa fin et le retrait des populations qui y vivent. Au contraire, leur patrimonialisation les caractérise comme un ensemble à préserver et à transmettre, en reliant passé et futur par le biais de la conservation, de la restauration et de la transmission. Par définition la notion de résilience nous projette dans l’avenir, elle nous place après la catastrophe. La technique engage également vers le futur, dès lors que l’on regarde ses effets réparateurs. Elle est ambivalente : elle perturbe des milieux et dynamiques naturels mais est appelée pour réparer ces perturbations. Ainsi, par le biais de l’analyse et de la conceptualisation, tout se passe comme si un futur était possible tandis que le risque de disparition est permanent, donc impensé. Après avoir précisé quelques définitions, cet article présentera une réflexion sur la prise en compte du temps et du paysage dans cette rencontre entre résilience, patrimoine et technique salvatrice ou délétère. Il interrogera l’hypothèse qui consiste à conférer au concept de paysage un caractère intégrant qui lui permet de penser simultanément toutes les échelles de l’espace et du temps et les évolutions paradoxales appliquées à un territoire dont la disparition est en cours, suite à la remontée des eaux de mer, au réchauffement climatique et à « quelques » interventions humaines irréversibles. L’idée consiste à présenter comment un détour par le paysage permet d’envisager les transformations lentes ou les mutations brutales de ces sites exposés, appliqué au cas de la disparition possible, à l’échelle d’une génération humaine, de Saint-Louis du Sénégal. | Patrimoine immatériel et matériel, paysage, déconstruction, aménagement fluvial, aménagement maritime, temporalité |
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Sabathier, C. | 2019 | Competence, technique et politique: l’intervention du maitre artisan et de l’ expert clans la gestion des travaux publics du Midi toulousain aux xiv" et XV° siecles in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres FHC (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017) pp. 369-78 | Au croisement de l’histoire urbaine et de l’histoire de la construction, notre étude s’intéresse aux choix opérés par les autorités municipales en matière de travaux publics. Nous proposons de mettre cette lecture en pratique dans le cadre du Midi de la France aux XIVe et XVe siècles, centré plus précisément sur cinq villes que sont Toulouse, Albi, Rodez, Cahors et Montauban. Les édifices publics comme les ponts, les fortifications, les fontaines ou encore les moulins sont des ouvrages souvent complexes qui confrontent les autorités municipales à une culture technique savante. Représentants d’un savoir spécifique, l’artisan qualifié et l’expert sont les figures clefs pour comprendre les procédés de pensée et d’action mobilisés dans la gestion de l’espace urbain. La présence de ces personnages met en lumière tout à la fois les capacités de choix et de décision des édiles ainsi que les notions d’évaluation et de valorisation des compétences techniques. Il s’agit ainsi, à partir du dialogue des sources (documents administratifs, comptabilités de chantier, sources notariales), d’appréhender les modalités de recrutement de ces spécialistes, la nature de leur intervention, leur rôle politique, ou encore la diffusion des savoirs et des techniques que traduit, à l’échelle régionale, la mobilité de ces personnages. L’intérêt prosopographique de cette approche se double également d’un intérêt terminologique. Dans ce sens, il est aussi nécessaire de s’interroger sur la manière dont est nommée la compétence technique dans les sources écrites. Ces problématiques constituent les enjeux d’une historiographie en plein renouvellement comme l’attestent de nombreuses publications récentes. | Entreprise de travaux publics, Expert, Expertise, Métiers du bâtiment, Moyen, Age, France |
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Leman, V. | 2019 | Economie de l’ amenagement et residence princiere: l’ exemple des dues de Bourgogne (1363-1477) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 379-88 | La ville de l’Écluse est généralement connue pour deux aspects historiques la concernant : d’une part pour avoir été le lieu de la première grande bataille navale de la guerre de Cent Ans, le 24 juin 1340, au cours de laquelle les troupes du roi anglais Édouard III remportèrent une victoire face à Philippe VI de Valois ; d’autre part pour être l’avant-port de la ville de Bruges, ville commerciale opulente et porte maritime de la Flandre, qui abrite l’une des résidences majeures des ducs de Bourgogne de la dynastie Valois. A partir de 1386, Philippe Le Hardi y fait construire une imposante forteresse destinée à éviter le péril anglais venant de la mer et menaçant la Flandre maritime, enjeu économique et politique majeur des relations entre Bourgogne, France et Angleterre. La communication visera à comprendre les spécificités de la construction et de l’organisation spatiale de cette forteresse, toute entière tournée vers le contrôle de la mer. Ces données seront mises en perspective par une réflexion sur les contextes politique, militaire et économique, afin de comprendre les enjeux liées au contrôle des eaux fluvio-maritimes flamandes par la forteresse de l’Écluse. | Castellologie, Défense, Digue, Moyen Âge, Époque Moderne, Pays, Bas |
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Beghin, M. | 2019 | Quand la ville absorbe ses faubourgs: l’ entreprise royale de reamenagement du paysage amienois (1476-1520) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 389-400 | Nouvellement retournée à la couronne de France, Amiens retrouve son rôle de bastion avancé de la frontière nord du royaume. Désirant renforcer la capacité défensive de la cité, Louis XI ordonne, en 1476, le démantèlement de la portion d’enceinte séparant la ville de ses faubourgs méridionaux afin que ces deux entités soient réunies dans une seule et même enceinte. Par cette opération, le roi veut également que les migrants s’étant réfugiés dans les faubourgs pour fuir les dangers de la guerre y demeurent, afin d’augmenter le nombre de défenseurs de la ville. Peu enclin à s’adonner à cette vaste entreprise qu’il estime dangereux pour la sécurité militaire et les finances urbaines, l’échevinage s’y oppose dans un premier temps mais ne pouvant résister à la volonté royale, un compromis est rapidement négocié. Des avantages financiers sont alors promis aux édiles, et en échange de leur participation, les Amiénois sont autorisés à jouir des terrains sur lesquels ils auront démantelé l’enceinte et/ou comblé le fossé attenant, à charge d’y bâtir une maison selon des normes urbanistiques précises (dimensions, matériaux). En parallèle, le pouvoir scabinal est tenu de percer de nouvelles rues et d’installer des équipements devant favoriser l’attractivité des lieux. Le nouveau paysage qui est en train de se constituer bénéficie alors du déplacement de plusieurs marchés urbains (au blé, au lin, etc.) et d’aménagements modernes (pavage des chaussées et des places, développement du système d’adduction, percement de puits, etc.), dont l’établissement résulte d’une entreprise commune entre l’échevinage et la population. La présente communication se propose tout d’abord d’étudier la mise en place de l’entreprise royale, puis d’analyser sa réalisation par les Amiénois, pour ensuite terminer par l’examen de l’intégration de ce paysage nouveau à la cité jusqu’à 1520, moment où la reprise de la guerre ralentie fortement l’expansion du projet. | projet constructif, paysage, espace public, démolition, voirie, zones de marche |
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Victor, S. | 2019 | Le contrat clans le secteur du batiment: marqueur d’ affaires et de conflance? Exemple catalan au bas Moyen Age in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 401-8 | Le contrat dans le monde de la construction médiévale catalane semble être l’apanage d’une catégorie de personnel, excluant la main d’œuvre salariée traditionnelle, qui, elle, ne bénéficie pas des avantages du passage devant notaire. L’embauche salariée pour un travail à effectuer dans le cadre d’une équipe sur un chantier se fait d’homme à homme, dans le cadre d’un marché de la main d’œuvre très dynamique, mobile et fluctuant. Le contrat est donc un plus, une stabilité et une garantie pour l’artisan comme pour le commanditaire, dans le cadre d’un chantier à livrer clef en main. Il assure au premier un recours. Il garantit au second la qualité technique et matérielle de l’ouvrage. Chacune des deux parties sait en effet ce à quoi elle s’engage, autant du point de vue moral que financier. Ce rapport à la moral est peut-être le plus problématique, car le contrat encadre la qualité des travaux, l’engagement sur l’honneur par serment, la parole donnée. La discussion d’Home à Homme est toujours la plus efficace. Après avoir étudieé la structure interne des contrats conservés dans les fonds catalans, il sera pertinent d’essayer d’y lire la nature des affaires unissant des hommes entre eux, ainsi que la marque de la confiance en la parole donnée. | Moyen, Age, Contrat, Entreprise, Marché, Chantier, Travail |
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Carvais, R., Barbot, M. & Van De Vijver, D. | 2019 | Les livres des mesures du batiment (toises). Projet d’ enquete sur un medium (France, Italie, Belgique, XV°-x1xe siecles) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 409-18 | Une des clés de l’art de bâtir réside dans la connaissance de la mesure. Or, ce savoir issu des mathématiques a constitué une littérature publiée dès les débuts de l’imprimerie à travers l’Europe. Notre propos sera de reconstituer ce corpus et de l’analyser. Quels sont les métiers des auteurs et le public destinataire ? Sur le plan formel, comment sont constitués les ouvrages ? Sont-ce des livres tenant dans une main tels des manuels pratiques ou bien des traités plus théoriques, réflexifs, consultables en dehors des chantiers sous forme d’in-folios ou bien encore un entre-deux ? Quels types de langage utilisent-ils, du texte, des figures, des formules ? Donnent-ils la possibilité de s’entrainer au calcul par des exercices ou se présentent-ils comme des guides de calcul ? Sont-ils des publications autonomes ou s’accrochent-ils à la littérature architecturale, ingénieuriale, mathématiques ou juridiques ? Sur le fond, sont-ils destiné à calculer la performance de travail des ouvriers ou à mesure les unités de l’objet travaillé, en particulier la pierre ou le bois ? Et les prix unitaires délivrés parfois se réfèrent à quel marché ? Les techniques exposées tiennent-elles compte de l’évolution des sciences mathématiques en particulier au XVIIe siècle avec le calcul infinitésimal ? Le calcul est-il exacte, algorithmique ou conventionnel et le cas échéant quel est la nature des conventions suivies ? Leurs finalités didactiques et d’action se doublent-elles d’une volonté assumée de normalisation des pratiques ou interviennent-elles après une réforme officielle des structures ? Comment interagissent les ouvrages de toisé face à la dépendance de la mesure par rapport aux normes locales, régionales voire nationales ? S’octroient-ils des champs géographiques d’application restreints, le cas échéant et de manière implicite ou explicite ? Quelles autorités politiques sont-elles impliquées dans le choix des mesures et garantes de tels choix auprès des usagers des toisés ? | Littérature technique, toisés, mesure, calcul, mathématiques, normalisation |
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Carvais, R. | 2019 | Structure, typologie et langage des expertises parisiennes du batiment sous l’Ancien Regime: regroupement et diversite in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 419-32 | A partir d’un choix représentatif de quelques expertises conservées dans le fonds Z1J des Archives nationales dédié à l’ensemble des procès-verbaux d’experts parisiens du bâtiment, notre propos sera d’analyser ces documents regroupés dans le fonds professionnel unique des greffiers des bâtiments et d’en expliquer la composition. Comme pièce de procédure d’abord, le procès-verbal d’experts adopte un certain formalisme sur le plan diplomatique (voir l’usage de formulaires dès la Renaissance). L’énoncé du document adopte-t-il une structure particulière ? Quel type de langage est usité dans le texte lui-même ? N’est-il que descriptif de situations ou argumentatif de l’avis de l’expert. Le dire d’expert est-il suffisant ? Pourtant l’acte peut être accompagné de pièces annexes (plans, croquis, procurations, mémoires, exploit d’huissier, etc.). Quel rôle jouent-elles sur le plan juridique ? Comment expliquer les ratures et les annotations marginales ? Sur l’objet même de l’expertise, il conviendra de distinguer à propos de la saisine de l’expertise si elle est contentieuse (déclenchée à l’occasion d’un conflit par un juge) ou gracieuse (sollicitée par un individu ou des actes juridiques marquant son existence comme les marchés, les testaments, les partages). Les conséquences et modalités en sont différentes. Cependant au-delà de cette distinction classique plusieurs types de sujets sont abordés au cours d’une expertise que l’on peut regrouper selon trois thèmes : la technique constructive (le relevé des malfaçons et leurs réparations, l’alignement), la valeur des biens (l’estimation du travail pour le réaliser qui commence souvent par l’usage de la mesure, puis de sa confrontation avec un prix unitaire). La question juridique se manifeste enfin à plusieurs niveaux soit pour savoir quelle règle il conviendra d’appliquer dans le cadre contentieux, soit dans l’examen de la réception de l’expertise devant le juge. | expertise, justice, règlement constructif, mesure, estimation, malfaçons |
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Burgaud, P. | 2019 | Une construction economique? L’ exemple de l’ eglise Saint-Louis de la Roche-sur-Yon in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 433-42 | La Roche-sur-Yon ou ville Napoléon, créée au début du XIXe siècle a été planifiée et réalisée à l’économie. Dès sa fondation, elle accueillit de nombreux bâtiments adaptés à son nouveau statut de capitale administrative. Parmi eux figure l’église Saint-Louis, dont la construction n’a jamais fait l’objet d’étude importante. Cet édifice ne bénéficia que très tardivement d’un budget (quatre ans après la création de la ville) et subit des contraintes pécuniaires importantes. C’est l’économie de cette construction que nous nous proposons d’étudier ici. En effet, en 1806, Napoléon Ier, à l’origine de ce projet de ville nouvelle, choisit de préférer les ingénieurs du corps des Ponts et Chaussées aux architectes des bâtiments civils pour la réalisation des édifices de la ville, dans une optique économique ; les ingénieurs proposant des devis inférieurs de moitié à ceux des architectes. De même, les changements successifs de régimes politiques, eurent un impact direct sur les budgets alloués à l’église et donc sur la conception de celle-ci. Dans la création et la construction de l’église Saint-Louis apparaissent d’ailleurs les luttes entre les institutions délivrant les fonds nécessaires aux travaux, les autorités locales, notamment préfectorales, et les ingénieurs qui firent évoluer l’allocation budgétaire du simple au double. La construction de l’édifice fut ainsi modifiée à cinq reprises, les matériaux choisis ayant des conséquences directes sur la forme de l’édifice. | chantier, circulation des savoirs, commande, constructeur, ingénieur, XIXe siècle, France |
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Espion, B. | 2019 | Les ponts Vergniais in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 443-52 | L’auteur se propose de présenter l’histoire des ponts "Vergniais", un type de ponts en fonte en forme d’arc avec tablier suspendu à l’arc, proposé en 1850 par Jean-Louis Vergniais, inventeur lyonnais, pour remplacer les ponts suspendus qui connaissaient alors de fréquents accidents. L’histoire de ces ponts est très mal connue. L’auteur a trouvé beaucoup plus d’éléments que ceux rapportés respectivement par Bertrand Lemoine et par Bernard Marrey, qui sont les seuls à avoir mentionné ce type de ponts dans des publications. Peu de ponts Vergniais ont été construits, car en moins d’une décennie, ils ont été dépassés technologiquement par d’autres types de ponts, en fer notamment. Mais leur histoire correspond également à l’histoire d’une société à capital à risque, "La Compagnie Française des Ponts Vergniais" introduite en bourse de Paris en 1853 et dont le dernier gérant était Emile Martin, le célèbre industriel métallurgiste de Fourchambault. Cette Compagnie est créée à grand renfort de promotion suite à la construction réussie du premier pont de ce type sur le Lignon en 1852. Une méthode calcul est proposée par Bresse en 1854. Deux ingénieurs du Corps des Ponts et Chaussées sont détachés auprès de la Compagnie. Nos recherches montrent qu’elle aurait reçu la concession de plusieurs ponts à péage en France. La construction d’au moins deux d’entre eux est attestée par des documents: l’un sur la Bourne à Pont-de-Marne, l’autre sur la Seine entre Saint-Ouen et Gennevilliers. Mais la Compagnie ne se contente pas de prospecter le marché français : on trouve des traces de promotion du système en Allemagne, en Italie, en Espagne, et surtout en Belgique où le brevet Vergniais a été enregistré en 1852 et où deux ponts "Vergniais" ont été construits, l’un à Chaudfontaine sur la Vesdre en 1855, l’autre à Namêche sur la Meuse en 1859. | constructeur, économie, fleuve, ingénieur, matériau industriel, pont |
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Girard, L. | 2019 | L’ adjudication au concours du chantier des bains-douches et piscine Villegoudou a Castres in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 453-60 | Entre 1930 et 1938, un bâtiment municipal de piscine et bains-douches à Castres est conçu par l’architecte municipal Georges Benne. Le service d’architecture met en place un « marché à concours » pour la sélection de l’entreprise générale. Chacune devait alors obtenir en premier lieu un certificat d’admission auprès de l’architecte municipal pour ensuite répondre à « l’adjudication à forfait ». Les candidats devaient notamment justifier de deux certificats de travaux équivalents au lot soumissionné dans les deux dernières années écoulées (plus de 2 millions de francs) et prouver leur nationalité française. Le type d’adjudication choisi et le cahier des charges mis au point pour le marché ont exclu les entreprises locales au profit de candidatures d’entreprises parisiennes davantage expérimentées dans cette échelle de chantier, provoquant de vives protestations en cette période de crise économique. Le critère géographique départemental n’a pas été convoqué comme on avait pu le voir apparaitre dans les conditions de soumission des marchés de la ville d’Albi, préfecture du département. De même, l’entrepreneur Ferdinand Cerutti, en charge du chantier conduit en parallèle des écoles Villegoudou et rompu aux bâtiments communaux pour la ville de Montauban, a vu son admission écartée en raison de sa nationalité étrangère. La communication se propose de démontrer comment la sélection de l’entreprise générale s’effectue dans l’entre-deux-guerres en France, d’une part, en analysant les règles et conditions de l’adjudication pour l’édification de bâtiments communaux, et d’autre part, au regard de la place particulière de la main d’œuvre étrangère dans l’industrie du bâtiment en cette période de crise économique et de chômage. L’énoncé cité constituera le cas d’étude support de la communication et sera référencé de situations comparables en termes de cout, d’échelle de projet et de localisation géographique. | Architecte, chantier, entrepreneur, entreprise, législation, marché |
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Rammer, Y. | 2019 | 1960-1980: l’age d’or des travaux publics en Belgique in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 461-72 | L’enjeu de l’article proposé est de montrer comment les traditionnelles lignes du temps de l’histoire des travaux publics durant la période concernée peuvent être mises en relation avec les données statistiques du secteur de la construction (privé et public) et celles plus larges de l’économie nationale et mondiale. Cette approche permet ainsi de visualiser l’impact des grands événements sociaux et économiques sur la santé du secteur, ainsi que l’effet de retard classiquement rapporté. Les « Golden Sixties » démarrent très mal en Belgique par une crise de l’industrie, du financement et une pénurie de main d’œuvre qualifiée à la fin des années 50, mais également un climat politique et social difficile, conduisant notamment aux grèves de 1961 et à des problèmes linguistiques. Les lois d’expansion économiques, d’abord politiquement très contreversées, seront malgré tout mises en application ainsi que les premières lois vers la régionalisation du pays. Les grands projets d’infrastructure, déjà élaborés et étudiés quelques années auparavant, seront progressivement mis en place grâce à une croissance économique de plus en plus favorable. La première crise du pétrole en 1973, mais surtout l’abandon de la convertibilité du dollar US, n’empêcheront pas la Belgique de poursuivre les investissements « à contre-courant » dans ses infrastructures et à soutenir le pouvoir d’achat, au prix de taux d’intérêts couplés à une inflation très élevé et d’un endettement galopant. Après une introduction sur l’évolution de l’industrie de la construction en regard des événements sociaux, économiques et politiques, seront abordés : les infrastructures de transports, d’énergie et les ouvrages d’art associés, les travaux fluviaux et portuaires, les bâtiments publics et le logement social. | économie, espace public, entreprise, industrie, législation, ouvrage d’art, travail |
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Grimoldi, A. | 2019 | La litterature technique sur le chauffage au XVIIIe siecle. Entre France et Allemagne in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 473-82 | Le début du XVIIIème siècle coïncide avec un tournant significatif du progrès scientifique et de ses applications. Dans ce cadre, les systèmes de chauffage évoluent: il faut exploiter la chaleur de la fumée et reduire la consommation de bois, ce sont des tentatives qui ont été entamées dès le XVIIème siècle. En Allemagne les poëles doivent chauffer soit par rayonnement soit par convection, assurer le changement d’air, tandis qu’en France les cheminées acquièrent la complexité des poëles. Une abondante littérature fait état d’une quantité de petites améliorations qui se partagent entre milieux domestiques et activité productives. Les compétences et le statut des auteurs sont très variées: physiciens qui représentent la science nouvelle, „mécaniciens” et horlogers liés à la mécanique appliqué, empirique, de la tradition des”machines”, architectes, nobles dilettantes: on remonte aux racines scientifiques et on mesure l’influence de l’innovation dans la société. Les textes français sont très lus: Leutmann (1723) cite Gauger, et à rebours l’introduction historique d’Ardenni (1828) à son Manuel du Poêlier-fumiste se souvient de Kessler, bien qu’il devienne „Lestard”... Ce rapport se manifeste dans le nombre croissant des traductions. La contribution vise à établir une bibliographie raisonnée de la litterature technique en allemand du XVIIIème siècle et du début du XIXème siècle à ce sujet, y compris les interprétations de l’invention du siècle, le poële Franklin: la recherche porte sur les textes spécialisés, quelque dizaine, et sur les indications à ce sujet des traités d’architecture, et des premiers répertoires de „technologie”eux aussi assez nombreux dans l’aire germanophone.Il s’agit de suivre l’évolution technique, soit dans la structure et la construction des appareils de chauffage, en briques, en faïence, en fonte, en tôle. | circulation des savoirs, confort et santé, littérature technique, Epoque Moderne, Allemagne, France |
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Manfredi, C. | 2019 | Batir le climat des edifices publics a Paris au XVIIIe siecle: chantiers et debat entre hygiene et confort in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 483-92 | Dés la première moitié du XIXème siècle, les activités d’enseignement au Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers vont se développer et l’Institution va agrandir son importance face à la demande croissante de professionnels qui sachent se rapprocher des procédées industrielles de production. La demande frappe les structures de la formation. Il faut agrandir et réaménager les lieux, modifier les salles de classe, donner des équipements convenables aux étudiants. Finalement, il s’agira d’instruire les masses, donnant une formation ouverte à tous, fondée sur la « sociologie de l’auditorat » (Fontanon-Grelon). Au début des années Quarante la salle bâtie en amphithéâtres en 1820 se montre manifestement insuffisante: elle sera réaménagée plusieurs fois, suivant les essais de Arthur Morin, revenant de la période messine, administrateur puis directeur au Conservatoire, en collaboration stricte avec l’architecte chargé des œuvres d’entretien, Léon Vaudoyer. Cela leur permet de pousser en profondeur la recherche pendant trente ans. Entre la poussée novatrice des découvertes de Fourier aux années Vingt, et la formalisation des valeurs de résistance thermique des matériaux des Nouveaux documents par Péclet en 1853, et ensuite encore des appareils et des systèmes montrés dans la troisième édition du Traité de la chaleur, se développe ainsi un processus qui précède de quelques années le débat publique qui se déroulera autour de la construction de l’Hôpital Lariboisière, et qui atteindra son maximum dans les années Soixante. Au contraire, la salle de l’amphithéâtre n’a laissé des traces que dans les archives du CNAM. Bien avant que les aide-mémoire de l’architecte et du bâtisseur soient codifiés, le choix du système de chauffage et de ventilation (par insufflation ou par aspiration, à travers les combles), aguillé par un soucieux monitorage des données de température, montre une démarche tout à fait moderne, qui décompose les éléments de la construction suivant leur fonctionnement. | ambiance, confort et santé, maîtrise de l’énergie, modalité d’exercice |
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Landi, A.G. | 2019 | La thermolampe dans le royaume lombardo-venitien: un episode de la diffusion du savoir et des techniques dans les premieres decennies du XIXe siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres FHC (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 493-504 | Au tournant du XVIIIème siècle Philippe Lebon entamait l’expérimentation de la thermolampe, appareil qui produisait le gaz d’éclairage par la distillation du bois, et eut un certain succès en France et dans la Confédération allemande. Les avantages consistaient dans “les prestations de son combustible (bois), dont la distillation pourrait être utilisée au même temps pour l’alimentation des réseaux nationaux en chaleur et lumière” comme le soutenait un mémoire présenté à l’Institut Lombard des Sciences en 1846, quand désormais la distillation de la houille venait de s’imposer. Dans le Nord d’Italie la politique du gouvernement napoléonien visait à réduire la consommation du bois et à promouvoir l’exploitation d’autres combustibles locaux moins couteux (lignite, tourbe) et fut reprise pendant la Restauration. Dès la fin du XVIIIème siècle à 1830, Carlo Amoretti, Alessandro Carlotti, Ignazio Bevilacqua Lazise e Giuseppe Vismara se firent promoteurs de thermolampes “du terroir” qui ne dépassèrent jamais le niveau de l’expérimentation isolée. L’importation des technologies françaises fut précoce, facilitée par les rapports politiques et commerciaux avec France, la Confédération du Rhin, l’Autriche. Les fréquentes visites de Carlotti à Paris et de Amoretti à l’usine Winzler à Vienne en témoignent. Pendant la Restauration la circulation et le transfert des connaissances techniques à l’échelle européenne virent la participation active des classes dirigeantes du Royaume Lombardo-Vénitien et dans ce cadre l’attitude du gouvernement habsbourgeois face à l’éclairage au gaz acquiert ses réels contours. En 1803 une thermolampe fut réalisée dans la résidence milanaise du Comte Carlotti, le palais Belgiojoso: c’est peut être un des premiers exemples, inconnu jusqu’à maintenant, d’installations sophistiquées et novatrices chez la noblesse cultivée. | éclairage, technicien, XIXe siècle, Italie, circulation des savoirs, confort et santé |
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Monin, E. | 2019 | L’ eclairage artificiel electrique des chambres d’hopitaux: au xxe siecle (1910-1965) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 505-14 | Dès le début du XXe siècle, les hôpitaux font partie des nombreux programmes architecturaux qui ont été transformés par la lumière électrique. Les blocs opératoires, les cabinets d’auscultation, les espaces de service, mais aussi les dortoirs ont connu de grands changements avec l’introduction d’une lumière plus performante mais parfois source de nouvelles nuisances difficilement négligeables. A partir de l’étude d’un corpus de revues d’éclairage américaines, britanniques et françaises mais aussi de revues médicales comme Techniques Hospitalières et de catalogues d’entreprises, sans oublier de mentionner les quelques ouvrages de référence consacrés à la question, cette contribution propose de raconter l’histoire de la maîtrise des sources lumineuses dans les chambres d’hôpitaux, en soulignant comment la lumière brute a été progressivement domptée par toute une série d’appareils chargés d’exalter ses vertus fonctionnelles tout en contribuant au bien-être du patient. Directe, indirecte, canalisée par des réflecteurs mobiles ou bien diffusée selon la volonté du malade alité, la lumière artificielle interagit avec l’architecture pour façonner l’environnement d’hommes et de femmes plus vulnérables qu’en temps normal. L’histoire de l’adaptation des sources lumineuses à ce milieu très particulier révèle également comment s’affrontent, au-delà de la réalité des phénomènes physiques, des positions idéologiques qui traverseront tout le XXe siècle. | éclairage, hôpital, bien être, XXe siècle, Etats Unis, France |
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Simonnot, N. | 2019 | La diffusion des techniques museographiques francaises dans la revue Museum (1948-1959) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 515-26 | L’étude des musées français sous la IVe République à travers l’analyse de la revue internationale Museum permet de révéler la place qu’occupe la France dans les avancées muséographiques après-guerre. En prenant la suite de la revue Mouseion, Museum change d’orientation éditoriale en se spécialisant sur les seuls aspects techniques de la muséographie. Le premier numéro édité en 1948 est consacré aux musées français, une place que ces derniers n’occuperont plus de la même manière ensuite, souvent dépassés par les initiatives nord-américaines ou de celles d’autres pays européens qui connaissent des problématiques de reconstruction moins importantes qu’en France. Néanmoins, en ouvrant régulièrement ses colonnes à des exemples de musées nationaux, la revue maintient la France au cœur des débats sur le renouvellement de la muséographie, les nouvelles techniques de présentation (assemblages, montages), les dispositifs constructifs, les matériaux, l’éclairage, afin de favoriser un meilleur accès des musées au grand public. Ce lent redémarrage est contrebalancé par le vivier intellectuel des conservateurs qui s’engagent vers une modernisation des établissements dont ils ont la charge et les présentent comme des modèles dans la revue. Toutefois, cette existence, alimentée de déclinaisons multiples parfois excessives, trahit une omniprésence certaine. Placée sous l’égide de l’Unesco, la revue offre un panel de situations internationales à vocation émulatrice qui a conduit progressivement, et bien que certains s’en défendent, vers une uniformisation des méthodes muséographiques sur le plan international. L’étude sera ainsi centrée sur les années 1948-1959 afin de dégager la spécificité française dans les débats, au moment de la mise en chantier d’un nombre considérable de réaménagements de musées, une initiative dont la Ve République fera ensuite fructifier le capital. | ambiance, circulation des savoirs, éclairage, expertise, littérature technique, lumière |
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Gallo, E. | 2019 | Une approche diachronique de l’idee de la maison etanche, des inventeurs du chauffage central au CEA a Saclay in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 527-38 | En tant qu’historienne de l’architecture et des techniques, ayant investigué la question de l’histoire du chauffage des bâtiments en France sur la longue durée, j’ai croisé toutes sortes de personnages : inventeurs, ingénieurs, médecins, architects. Souvent, ils se prononcent sur l’intérêt ou non de l’étanchéité à l’air de l’édifice et l’importance de l’uniformité des températures intérieures. Depuis le XVIIIe siècle, cette thématique possède ses zélateurs : Jean-Simon Bonnemain, le marquis de Chabannes ; François Cointeraux et plus récemment Le Corbusier. Le phénomène culmine avec le premier bâtiment public étanche : le Centre à l’Énergie Atomique (CEA) à Saclay réalisé par Auguste Perret et l’ingénieur André Missenard (thermique et traitement de l’air). Ce bâtiment phare de l’après-guerre, véritable préfiguration de nos bâtiments étanches, dispose d’un système d’air conditionné en recyclage total, pour des raisons de sécurité. C’est également le premier bâtiment public où il était interdit de fumer, bien avant les législations sur la santé publique. La tiédeur, ambiance égale, serait-elle la solution pour le confort et la santé ? Là où le paquebot fait fantasmer les architectes, l’image du sous-marin fait fantasmer le thermicien, bien avant l’âge de la conquête spatiale... À l’occasion du congrès, je compte présenter quelques cas représentatifs du XVIIIe siècle au CEA. Cette proposition est issue d’un projet collectif et pluridisciplinaire, Confluence 2015 (risques, régulation, qualité), l’imaginaire de la maison étanche, HeSam Université, Cetcopra (Université de Paris I) Ecole Nationale supérieure d’architecture Paris La Villette. | ambiance, confort et santé, génie climatique, littérature technique, paroi, peau |
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Davidovits, F. | 2019 | Le beton romain a prise rapide pour les ouvrages portuaires d’apres Vitruve (II, 6 - V, 12) et l’archeologie experimentale in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 539-48 | Le De architectura est la source pour les ports romains. Vitruve (V, 12) propose deux méthodes de môles en béton pouzzolanique (structura caementicia). Le premier procédé consiste à verser dans un coffrage en bois rempli d’eau de mer un béton hydraulique de chaux vive (calx viva), de pouzzolane de Naples (pulvis) (deux parts de chaux et une de pouzzolane) et des moellons volcaniques (caementa). Vitruve (II, 6, 4) mentionne les réactions chimiques entre la chaux vive, la pouzzolane de Naples et les agrégats volcaniques quand ceux-ci sont jetés dans la mer pour la construction d’un môle: «l’effervescence (confeuerscit) produite par la brusque saturation en eau de ces (trois) brûlantes matières desséchées (calida umoris ieiunitas) et la chaleur latente (latenti calore) des différentes composantes les fait s’agréger fermement en prenant rapidement les propriétés homogènes d’un corps solide.» Pour Vitruve, le béton est à prise rapide. L’eau de mer chauffe accélérant la prise et le délai de construction. Dans le second procédé, une pouzzolane à base de sable volcanique (harena fossicia) est ajoutée à de la chaux éteinte, ceci dans un coffrage dont on a pompé l’eau. Cette prise de béton est beaucoup plus lente. En 2004, se fondant sur Vitruve, le «Roman Maritime Concrete Study» (ROMACONS) entreprit une reconstitution grandeur nature d’une fondation de jetée de 8 m3 à Brindisi (Italie), avec 2 parts de pouzzolane, 1 part de chaux éteinte et des agrégats volcaniques (Naples), dans un coffrage en bois, rempli d’eau de mer. Cela ne correspond pas au texte de Vitruve (II, 6): le ROMACONS utilisa de la chaux déjà éteinte (second procédé) au lieu de chaux vive (premier procédé), constata un temps de prise du béton d’au moins un an. Le béton vitruvien est à prise rapide, avec un délai de fabrication plus court et une logistique appropriée. | fondation en milieu humide, architecte, littérature technique, aménagement portuaire, matière, sources |
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Lanoë, E. | 2019 | Frele comme !’Antique: !’architecture en materiaux perissables au Haut-Empire dans le quarrier de Saint Lupien a Reze-Ratiatum (Loire-Atlantique) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 549-58 | Cette communication aura pour but, à partir d’un exemple local Ratiatum – Rezé, et plus particulièrement du site de Saint-Lupien, de présenter des modes architecturaux employés dans des quartiers gallo-romains à vocation artisanale et commerciale au Haut-Empire, loin de la vision générale laissée par les imposants monuments en pierre de taille parfois visibles de nos jours. Cette architecture "du pauvre", pratique et modulable, très rarement conservée en élévation, fait en quelque sorte la synthèse entre des traditions constructives héritées de l’époque gauloise et l’introduction de techniques et de matériaux empruntés au monde méditerranéen. Elle témoigne également du savoir-faire de ses artisans constructeurs et de leur maîtrise empirique des règles architectoniques, de leur connaissance des qualités des matériaux, souvent issus d’un judicieux réemploi (préfigurant le développement durable), de leur approvisionnement, et de leur efficacité dans la mise en œuvre. Volontairement, nous ne nous étendrons pas sur les maçonneries de pierre liées au mortier, bien documentées et dont l’usage s’est peu à peu étendu à la plupart des édifices à partir du IIe siècle de n. è. Nous mettrons plutôt l’accent sur la variété des modes de fondations plus frêles systématiquement destinées à supporter des élévations en matériaux périssables. Pour ce faire, l’analyse archéologique nécessite de faire appel à une inéluctable part d’interprétation, afin de proposer certaines hypothèses de restitutions, puisant parfois dans des comparaisons éloignées géographiquement, voire chronologiquement. | Archéologie, Fondations, Matériaux traditionnels, Protohistoire, Antiquité, Loire, Atlantique |
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Antista, G. | 2019 | Les armatures de bois a l’interieur des maconneries medievales en Mediterranee in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 555-68 | La contribution vise à étudier l’utilisation de poutres en bois à l’intérieur des murs de pierre; dans les pays d’influence romaine cette technique, utilisée pour augmenter la cohésion et pour neutraliser les forces de traction, est en effet très répandue et employée depuis longtemps. L’utilisation d’éléments en bois avec fonction structurelle est connue même dans l’architecture islamique de l’Afrique du Nord, comme montre la Grande Mosquée de Kairouan en Tunisie (836-837); en plus des poutres placées entre les arcs du porche, la salle hypostyle, destiné à la prière, présente des supports en bois parmi les chapiteaux de chaque colonne et l’arcade supérieure, qui effectuent un certain nombre de aspects structurels. Même dans l’architecture construite en Sicile par les Normands au XIIe siècle il y a des poutres installés dans les murs pendant la construction; par exemple, la documentation sur les travaux de restauration effectués au XIXe siècle dans la Chapelle Palatine et dans l’église de Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio à Palerme (Sicile) met en relief une large utilisation de poutres en bois dans les murs, qui au cours du temps ont été éliminés ou remplacés par des poutres en fer. La contribution examinera des études de cas dans la région méditerranéenne, en essayant d’établir l’origine de cette technique et de sa propagation au Moyen Age. | structure, matériau traditionnel, circulation des savoirs, chantier, Moyen Age, Méditerranée |
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Wilmet, A. & Baudry, A. | 2019 | L’ optimisation des procedes de faconnage et de mise en reuvre du calcaire de Meuse aux XV° et XVIe siecles in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 569-80 | En vallée mosane, dans la région comprise entre Dinant et Maastricht, les XVe et XVIe siècles sont marqués par une intense activité constructive, touchant aussi bien la poursuite de grands chantiers que la reconstruction d’édifices plus modestes, en particulier en milieu rural. Les recherches menées sur les marques lapidaires et celles poursuivies sur le décor sculpté des sites mosans mettent en évidence plusieurs modifications dans les méthodes de façonnage et de mise en œuvre des calcaires de Meuse à cette époque. En effet, les trous de pince, absents jusqu’alors du paysage régional, apparaissent et se généralisent sur les maçonneries ainsi que sur l’ornement. Les signes identitaires et utilitaires, employés avec parcimonie aux siècles précédents, prennent leur essor sur des édifices situés aussi bien à proximité des carrières qu’au sein d’aires géographiques plus éloignées. Ces phénomènes, qui soulèvent des questionnements liés à l’organisation et à l’approvisionnement des chantiers, côtoient d’autres mutations importantes. D’une part, la systématisation du ciseau et de la pointe produisant des sillons linéaires obliques supplée à la taille dite « punctiforme » employée depuis le XIIIe siècle. D’autre part, les modèles ornementaux, principalement constitués de feuillages, tendent à se simplifier, parfois jusqu’à l’abstraction. Ces bouleversements peuvent être interprétés comme une volonté d’optimiser les techniques et les savoir-faire, dans une perspective d’économie de temps et de moyens visant à satisfaire la demande croissante des chantiers en matériaux de construction. Ce regard croisé offre un nouvel éclairage sur l’art de bâtir en vallée mosane à la charnière des époques médiévale et moderne. | savoir, production, outil, mise en œuvre, circulation des matériaux, chantier, faire |
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Wouters, I. and Wibaut, R. | 2019 | Structures en fonte, fer, acier. Les enjeux de leurs commandes in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 581-90 | L’évolution des matériaux métalliques au cours du XIXe siècle est bien étudiée et documentée. Les analyses de ponts, serres, gares, marchés, grands magasins, églises, bâtiments industriels et expositions universelles ont montré la façon dont la fonte et le fer furent progressivement remplacés par l’acier à partir de la fin du XIXe siècle. Pour encore mieux comprendre l’évolution de ces structures métalliques, cet article se concentre en particulier sur ‘la commande’ de ces ouvrages. En effet, comme souligné dans l’introduction de l’ouvrage ‘Les temps de la construction’, la commande constitue un moment clé du projet: « Cette étape est déterminante, en particulier pour les pionniers de la construction dont les concepts et procédés innovants marqueront l’histoire ». Cette contribution s’attache donc à répondre aux questions suivantes. Qui commanda le bâtiment ? Qui décida d’utiliser du métal : le maître d’ouvrage, le client, l’architecte, l’ingénieur ou l’entrepreneur? Quelles étaient ses motivations? Bien qu’il soit souvent difficile de reconstruire le contexte de la commande dû à l’absence d’archives, deux sources d’information distinctes nous permettent d’analyser cette étape en ce qui concerne les bâtiments à structures métalliques construits par la Ville de Bruxelles entre 1840 et 1920. Il s’agit d’une part des ‘Actes Administratifs’ qui contiennent les cahiers de charges, les plans d’architectes et les adjudications. D’autre part, les ‘Bulletins Communaux’ rassemblent les rapports des conseils municipaux au cours desquels les échevins discutaient de ces bâtiments avant, pendant et après leur construction. Ainsi, grâce à ces documents, nous disposons non seulement d’informations exactes sur ces édifices (géométrie, matériaux et acteurs), mais aussi d’un aperçu détaillé des motivations et perceptions liées aux nouveaux matériaux et nouvelles techniques. | structures, matériau industriel, XIXe siècle, Commande, Bruxelles |
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Chemolli, G. | 2019 | Le beton dans la Vienne fin de siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 591-602 | Cette contribution a pour but d’esquisser un cadre de l’affirmation progressive du béton à Vienne, dans la deuxième moitié du XIX siècle. Dès la fin des années quarante, commence à se diffuser l’usage de pierres artificielles réalisées avec des gâchages à base de ciment. Il s’agit d’abord surtout d’éléments architecturaux économiques pour les façades, mais bientôt aussi d’autres objets, grâce aux caractéristiques de résistance et d’imperméabilité de ce matériel. A la suite d’expériences internationales, dans les deux dernières décennies du XIX siècle commence à s’affirmer une utilisation structurelle dans toute l’Autriche-Hongrie. Le Stampfbeton est progressivement employé pour les fondations, les canalisations, les réservoirs et les voûtes ; les brevets locaux du système Monier et ensuite du système Hennebique ouvrent les portes à la diffusion de structures en béton armé. Les ingénieurs et les entreprises sont les promoteurs principaux de ce processus. Ces expériences laissent entrevoir les extraordinaires potentialités du béton dans le dépassement des limites des techniques traditionnelles ; par rapport au métal, qui avait déjà ouvert des perspectives semblables, le béton a l’avantage de s’approcher plus à l’esthétique d’une construction massive et monolithique. Cette contribution aide donc à reconstruire le panorama dans lequel œuvreront les grands architectes viennois qui au début du XX siècle vont se mesurer avec le béton, comme Wagner, Loos, Fabiani, Plecnik. | entreprise, ingénieur, matière, structure, chantier, constructeur |
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Haond L. and Laffont, P. | 2019 | Les couvertures de genet dans le Massif central. Perspectives historiques, techniques et patrimoniales in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 603-14 | Au XVIIIe et au XIXe siècles, le genêt – aspect à la fois original et marginal de la grande famille des couvertures végétales - est le mode de couverture prédominant pour l’habitat rural des hauts plateaux de l’Ardèche et de la très haute vallée de la Loire. À partir de la fin du XIXe siècle, celui-ci a reculé peu à peu au profit tout d’abord de toitures de lauses de phonolite, plus résistantes et plus prestigieuses (mais aussi plus onéreuses...), puis de toiture en tuiles mécaniques ou d’autres matériaux (bac-acier récemment) en raison des risques d’incendie, de la nécessité d’un suivi régulier, puis de la perte progressive des techniques (qui a entraîné par contrecoup un considérable enchérissement de ce type de couverture originellement très peu onéreuse). De ce fait, les bâtiments présentant encore aujourd’hui des couvertures de genêt sont devenus rarissimes. Les couvertures de genêt de la Montagne ardéchoise ont fait l’objet d’une première approche dans les années 1980 grâce notamment aux travaux de Michel Carlat, ethnologue aujourd’hui disparu. Notre communication se propose de reprendre la question en essayant : - de revenir sur les aspects techniques du genêt comme matériau de couverture (récolte, pose, charpente associée, entretien) ; - de donner une dimension historique (depuis le Moyen Âge) à l’usage du genêt, en s’interrogeant notamment sur le lien entre cet usage et une possible évolution des systèmes agraires ; - de replacer l’usage de ce matériau dans un contexte européen ; - d’envisager enfin les enjeux patrimoniaux actuels des couvertures en genêt (protection, restauration, valorisation). | matériau traditionnel, mise en oeuvre, savoir, faire, époque moderne, XIXe, France |
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Addis, W. | 2012 | ’The Development of Design Charts and other Graphical Calculation Tools for Use by Building and Civil Engineers up to the Early 20th Century’. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 201-210. | The use of design charts began in the 18th century with simple 2D graphs and geometric constructions used for simple calculations. In the 1780s, the third dimension was added to graphs to produce the contour map. From the early 19th century engineers began to create bespoke charts, replacing complex equations or large tables of numerical data, in order to facilitate the regular design calculations they had to do. Léon Lalanne was a pioneer in spreading their use among engineers from the 1840s. Towards the end of the century another Frenchman, Maurice d’Ocagne invented nomography, which still represents the peak of achievement in this practical art. The paper traces 19th-century developments in the engineer’s use of charts and graphical calculation tools for storing and retrieving empirical data, and for encapsulating design procedures in tools that were easy and quick to use, by young and experienced engineers alike. | Construction history, Design methods and aids, Engineering design, Epistemology, Scientific design methods, Historic period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Albuerne, A., Williams, M., DeLaine, J. | 2012 | ’On the As-Built Geometry of the Vaults of the Basilica of Maxentius’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 299-306. | The present paper studies the geometry of the remains of the Basilica of Maxentius, built in Roman concrete in the early fourth century. The deformations of the barrel vaults are studied, and the geometry of the collapsed cross vaults is reconstructed from the remains [springings and broken fragments]. The purpose of this work is to gain a further understanding of the Basilica from a structural engineering point of view: in order to perform a meaningful structural analysis, an accurate reconstruction of the original geometry is needed. Some initial structural assessment has been performed on the studied geometries. | Barrel vaults, Cross vaults, Geometry, Graphic statics, Point-Cloud Survey, Basilica of Maxentius, Opus Caementicium, Roman concrete, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Amici, C.M. | 2012 | ’A “Cloaca Maxima” in the Roman Town of Privernum, Lazio, Italy: The Project, the Plan, the Construction’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 565-572. | The recent excavation of a Roman republican town, Privernum, 90 km south of Rome, Italy, has allowed the discovery and the investigation of a channel more than four m. wide, with vaulted roofing, preserved for about 200 m. This waterway, surely the result of straightening of a former stream, represents the main sewer of the roman settlement, dating back to the middle republican period; the intention is to excavate and restore it so that it can be used to drain the archaeological area. The intervention, still in progress, has made possible an accurate examination of the building technique and construction process of the channel. It reveals a design integrated directly into the central part of the town; the need to fix exactly the relation between the channel and the urban planning, which was clearly affected by the layout and the orientation of the conduit, suggests the existence of a master plan. | Privernum, Drains, Public sewage systems, Infrastructure, Urban Planning, Construction process, Concrete structures, Hydraulics |
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Díaz, J.A. | 2012 | ’Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete in High-Rise Construction in Spain, 1950-1975: Technique and Innovation’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 619-626. | The history of 20th century’s architecture is significantly linked to the emergence and evolution of reinforced and prestressed concrete. The creation of the pavilion and high-rise construction types will be the role models for the development of contemporary architecture, widely known for their innovative adoption of new building materials and advanced construction techniques. The field in which an extensive evolution of structural and constructive types will be developed, was sustained on those prototypes, on scientific research on materials and on direct construction experience. As this happens, the production techniques of architecture keep changing. The evolution of concrete at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century will have a reflection on institutions such as the Spanish Association of Prestressed Concrete [AEHP] created in 1949, the International Association of Prestressed Concrete created in 1951, or the International Association of Laminar Structures [IASS] chaired by Eduardo Torroja from the Technical Institute of Construction [ITCC] and founded in 1959. | Materials: Concrete, Constructive elements: Frame, Techniques and applied arts: Technology, Ideas: Design competitions, Applied sciences: Structural morphology, Cladding, F.J. Saenz de Oíza |
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Antonini, A. | 2012 | ’Persistence of the Perishable. Wattle-and-Daub Architectures in the Roman Period: A Census of the Archaeological Findings in Gallia Cisalpina and the Case of Mediolanum’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp361-373. | This paper aims to provide a tool for a systematic study of perishable material building techniques in Northern Italy. The research considers findings from published excavations. This work identifies five different building techniques, where perishable materials are employed. The results are presented in synoptic tables relating type of findings, place of discovery, archaeological context and chronology. This census is the first step in the analysis and understanding of construction methods of perishable material buildings. In the second part of the paper, a brief synthesis of the case of Mediolanum is presented: this work identifies five different building techniques, where perishable materials are employed. | Archaeology, Domestic Buildings, Earth construction, Stratigraphy, Technology, Timber frame buildings, Northern Italy, Roman period, Case study |
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Artola Blanco, M. | 2012 | ’Changing Patterns in Residential Construction and the Real Estate Market: Spain, 1910-1960’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 255-263. | Since the First World War the construction and the real estate market in European countries experienced a significant transformation. In Spain, the growing criticism towards private landlords was a key factor for the approval of new policies that sought to protect tenants through rent regulation and the extension of leases. In the medium and long-term, these policies imposed an erosion of rents, therefore reducing rental residential investment. Along with this process, since the 1940s, Franco’s regime designed a new construction model that has subsisted until today. The two most salient features of this new model were the promotion of home ownership and an increasing participation of public authorities in the financing of residential investment. Finally, we discuss the consequences of this model on the economic and social development of Spain, comparing differences and similarities with other European countries. | Companies, Building, Economic analyses of construction, Franco’s regime, Housing, Industry, Building, Property, Urban, Rent control, Spain, Historical period: 19-20th centuries |
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Atzbach, R. | 2012 | ’The Stube: Constructive Evidence for the Concept of a Smoke-Free Heated Living Room between the Alps and Southern Scandinavia’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 269-276. | Based on archaeological evidence as well as written and pictorial sources, the project explores the spread of the tile stove and of a specific floor plan connected to it. In the North Alpine area the tile stove was invented in the eighth century. Apart from convection air heating, this system provided the only possibility of a smoke free heated living room. The tile stove itself diffused towards the north and reached the southern Scandinavian region by the 12th century. In the Upper German speaking area, the tile stove was used from the 13th century in a characteristic floor plan, which consisted of the stube, adjacent kitchen, a central corridor and unheated chambers in three bays and two or three aisles, the so-called nine-fold floor plan. In contrast to the spread of the heating system, this floor plan only gradually was adapted in the Lower Mountain Range, northern Germany and southern Scandinavia by the 16th century. | Construction history, Building service engineering, Ceramic material, Cultural influences, Dwelling interiors, Historical period: Middle Ages, Innovation: Technical, Tiles: Ceramic, Historical period: Renaissance |
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Avenier, C., Coste, C. | 2012 | ’Auguste Perret: La Tour d’Orientation de Grenoble – Architecture, Art and the Press’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 609-617. | The Orientation Tower of Grenoble is an important project in Auguste Perret’s carreer and also in the history of cement and reinforced concrete in France. The reinforced concrete tower of Grenoble was designed and built by August Perret for the 1925 International Exhibition on hydroelectric power and tourism. The main goal of this paper is to explain the way in which Auguste Perret was awarded the contract for this project and why it is one of Perret’s favourite works, the first building he erected as an architect. This paper shows the particular role of art and literature critic Marie Dormoy, his mistress, at this particular stage of the architect’s career. It also shows the link between this project and the conferences on concrete and architecture that Auguste Perret gave at this time. | Heritage, Constructive elements, Constructive process, Concrete, Decoration, Cement Industry, Grenoble, Auguste Perret, Tour d’Orientation |
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Bachmann, M. | 2012 | ’The Revival of Classical Building Techniques in Late Ottoman Architecture in Bergama, Turkey’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 491-499. | This article discusses the buildings of the Greek middle class in Bergama, Turkey, dating from the second half of the 19th century. To understand what this style of building represents, an awareness of the social and historical background behind its emergence is of great importance. In addition to questions of typology and design, we must also pay special attention to aspects of construction technology, which to date has hardly been studied at all. It turns out that ancient architecture and building practice served as a model to a surprising degree. The adoption of construction techniques moreover was accompanied by large-scale recycling of building materials from the ancient ruins. The townhouses and civic buildings of the Greek population of Bergama were thus erected upon the intellectual and material substratum of ancient Pergamon. They bear witness to a keen interest in the legacy of antiquity, an interest that was most likely deepened by the German excavations beginning in 1870. Alongside the revival of classical building techniques, surprising innovations are also to be encountered, such as stone-iron bracing methods and adhesives which betray a boldly experimental approach within the building industry of the period. | Turkey: Bergama, Cultural influences, Masonry construction, Epistemology, Innovation: Technical, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Baker, N. | 2012 | ’Who Paints the House? Scotswomen as Housepainters and Decorators from 1820’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 53-61. | In the early 21st century it is still considered unusual to find a woman working as a housepainter and decorator. Tradeswomen, in these most domestic of building trades, were working throughout Scotland during the 19th and 20th centuries. These were women who worked, not middle class women amateur interior decorators dabbling in the arts and crafts because it was fashionable. The historical record is compared with contemporary records of women taking paid employment in these fields and also with the strong market created in modern times by the many DIY programs on TV. The present and past involvement of women in house painting and decorating shows that the aptitude and ability exists at both the professional and amateur levels. The factual reality is compared with perception and prejudice within the industry and the barriers that were and are placed in front of women wishing to do this work. | Gender, Guilds, Trade Guilds, Corporations, Scotland, Social history of labor, Painters, Trades, Building, Artisans, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Balboni, L., Corradini, P., Landi, A. | 2012 | ’Artificial Light in the Aristocratic Palaces in the Po Valley between the 17th and 18th Centuries’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 333-340. | The research is focused on a careful analysis of several aristocratic palaces in northern Italy between the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century; it had been noticed that in this period a great increase in the use of artificial light in the state apartments was found. The architectural projects began to involve the effects of the artificial light in the inner halls; in this respect, decorations, the technological details of the lighting devices, the structures supporting the chandeliers and the systems of ventilation are reinterpreted. Sometimes, in order to fix more lighting devices in the halls, the architectonic structures were adapted with projecting balconies or platform for the orchestra. The comparison between the analysis of the documents and the exam of the material traces allow to reconstruct the process of gradual development in the night life in aristocratic buildings. | Interior environment: Lighting, Lighting, Palace, Castle, Research material, Export trade, Decoration, Architecture/Construction, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Barber, D. A. | 2012 | ’Constructing a Solar House, c. 1959’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, 367-377. | This essay explores the solar house design competition “Living With the Sun,” sponsored by the Association for Applied Solar Energy and held over 1958-1959. The logistics of the competition are briefly detailed, followed by an extended analysis of the 60 published competition entries. These 60 entries are seen to not only indicate the interest in solar housing in the period, but also to serve as an important catalogue of modern architectural strategies in post-war America. The winning house is then described at some length, with special attention to the challenges of constructing a solar house in the 1950s. Issues of materials, concerns over how to encourage innovation with contractors and among the building industry, and the design of the solar system are all discussed. Finally, the sad fate of the house, its mechanical solar heating system largely unusable, is placed in the context of other techno-cultural endeavors of the period. | Architectural history, Competitions, Design ideas, Energy, Environment, Failures, Sustainability, Technology |
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Barbot, M. | 2012 | ’Between Market and Architecture: The Role of the College of Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors in Real Estate Pricing in 16th-18th Century Milan’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 237-246. | This paper provides some empirical evidence on mechanisms leading to real estate pricing in early modern Milan [16th-18th centuries]. More specifically, it focuses on the moment of valuation, when conventions on houses’ worth become explicit through the estimate operation. Milanese appraisals and contracts in the long run show that home pricing involves three major qualitative and non-economic factors [i.e. material, social and legal factors] and implies a double degree of valuation: a valuation of objects’ qualities as well as a valuation of subjects’ qualities of transactions. Regarding this double mechanism, we show not only the evolution of the estimate methods, but also the role played by the stima [in both senses of evaluation and reputation] of the experts of the College of Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors of Milan in evaluating houses, workshops, and flats distributed all over the urban space. | Estimates, Prices, Real estate market, Academies, Expertise, Norms, Technical, Trade practices, Economic analyses of construction, Knowledge, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Barelli, L. | 2012 | ’Construction Methods in Carolingian Rome [Eighth-Ninth Centuries]’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 135-141. | In the city of Rome, the Carolingian period was marked by an exceptional volume of building activity due to the favourable political and economic conditions of the papacy. All the buildings of this period reveal the same construction characteristics: the attempt to imitate the techniques of classical antiquity is evident, but the norm in these structures, which differentiate them from the Roman ones, is the irregularity of the laying. The technical characteristics are only partly justified by the use of non-homogeneous material as a result of their recovery or of hurried workmanship or even of a presumed loss of technical capacity. Among the principal causes one must also consider the possible employment of unskilled labour: some works are known to have been carried out through public tender and also using forced labour, made possible by the political and economic structure of the Papal State. | Apparatuses, Architectural Hhstory, Deconstruction, Early Middle Ages, Foundations, Masonry construction, Recycling and reuse of materials, Rome, Skills, Stone construction |
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Bellicoso, A. | 2012 | ’Technological Innovation and Traditional Building Methods in the First Application of Reinforced Concrete in L’Aquila: The “New Provincial Insane Asylum” [1903-1916]’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 601-608. | The construction of the “New Provincial Insane Asylum” of L’Aquila according to original plans is the first case of use of reinforced concrete in civil building in the city of L’Aquila. The preliminary plan drawn up in 1903 already contained precise indications concerning the construction method: load-bearing walls with reinforced-concrete subfloors and Holz-cement roofing. This was a highly innovative solution compared to the local building culture, so much so that the Provincial Administration invited some of the best specialized companies in Italy to participate in the private bidding for the reinforced-concrete work. The construction of the buildings is characterized by just this connection between masonry and reinforced concrete that is much tighter than the separation of the bids for the two categories of work could lead one to think, and it involves both the organizational and the technical aspects at the same time. | Insane asylum, L’Aquila, Provincial administration, Italy, Research material, Reinforced concrete, Masonry construction, Collapsing damage, Organization of building sites, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Bernardi, P., and Esposito, D. | 2012 | ’For a History of Deconstruction’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 453-460. | Deconstruction, in a city, primarily appears as an indispensable step in the preparation of the site. Whether it is about constructing “something new” or simply modifying the building, the existing structures have to be fully or partially demolished, which cannot be done haphazardly. Considered in terms of disassembly, this operation is a source of materials and a prelude to recovery, which is recalled, in its own way, by the medieval expression “chasteau abatuz est demi refez.” We intend, with the study of textual and iconographic sources collected for the last centuries of the Middle Ages, to have a closer look at this somewhat obscure phase of the constructive process. In opposition to an image of unbridled, blind vandalism, from such sources it seems possible indeed to propose a more “sensible” vision of deconstruction, which accounts for its technical nature. | Architectural history, Construction history, Deconstruction, Reuse, Recycling, Masonry construction, Mortar, Avignon, Montpellier, Rome, Middle Ages |
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Bertels, I. | 2012 | ’Scaffolding: 19th Century Discourses on Innovative Scaffolding Techniques within Architecture and Construction Journals’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 81-90. | This paper focuses on innovative scaffolding techniques within the second half of the 19th century and is based on a profound study of a selection of contemporary architectural and construction journals [discourse and iconographic presentation and promotion]. The image these journals clearly puts forward is that contractors and trades evolved toward a strong focus on the discovery of new machinery and tools capable of performing the maximum of work and safety, with the minimum of trouble and expenses. As such these journals offer a first glimpse of what innovators of scaffolding techniques and construction tools were seeking. Based on this analysis, this paper brings a first ‘typology’ and ‘evolution’ of innovative scaffolding techniques, suggests further methodological procedures and questions how various actors tried to ameliorate the mechanization and rationalization of the building processes on site. | Architectural magazines, Construction history, Contractors, Management: Building, Organization of building sites, Scaffolding, Sites: Building, Tools, Trades, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Bertolazzi, A. | 2012 | ’Stone Cladding Techniques in French Modern Architecture [1920-1940]’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 443-451. | The research studies the evolution of construction techniques in stone in France during the 20s and 30s related to new industrialized construction. It begins with the study of technical manuals and French journals [La Construction Moderne, L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui]. This evolution begins from the French tradition of block masonry that has been improved in the 19th century. During the modernization and the industrialization of the 20s it began to evolve to a mixed construction [stone and reinforced concrete], where modernity and tradition give rise to an unusual and experimental constructive solutions. In the 30s, instead, the stone cladding grows as a model of constructive rationality, where “modern” building techniques slowly converge toward new solutions. The modern cladding in stone of the 30s has a central role in France, where dialogue is possible, without contradiction, between modernity and tradition. | Architecture/Construction, Block masonry, Charles-Edmond Sée, Cladding, Construction, History, Industrialisation, Modern architecture, Stone, Technological innovation, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Bianchini, C. | 2012 | ’The Role of Stereotomy in Guarino Guarini’s Space Research’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 257-263. | This paper presents the work of Guarino Guarini in the fields of Stereotomy and Representation Geometry. Beyond his activity as an architect, in fact, Guarini should be considered as a versatile intellectual who discussed the above topics in two books [Euclides adauctus and Architettura Civile] which are complementary and together represent part of a modern Descriptive Geometry Treatise. In the former, Guarini discusses the fundamentals of geometric representation which, in the latter, become the tools for solving the problems of accurate intersection and unfolding concerning cylinders, cones, spheres, conoids and other solids. This is why Guarini’s role should be considered one of the most relevant in the field of 17th-century science, especially that of Representation Geometry. In fact, his way of explaining and using orthogonal projections should be considered as a mature codification of common, well-known “technical” proceedings rather than a simple anticipation of Monge’s method. | Guarino Guarini, Stereotomy, Representation, Treatises, Drawings, Scientific design methods, Geometry, Relation between science and practice, Vaults, Architecture/Construction |
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Boiardi, L., Tedeschini, M.R., and Gulli, R. | 2012 | ’History and Technique of Italian Wooden Floor System Based on Reeds and Gypsum Plaster Frame: The Case of Reggio Emilia’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, 549-556. | The paper deals with a wooden floor system based on traditional double frame floor, where a continuous layer made of reeds and gypsum named arellato replaces planking, similar to camorcanne and incannucciato. Differently to these techniques, arellato was employed as a slab in wooden floors and could be considered Reggio Emilia’s specific building type characteristic. Its diffusion during the 18th century as a floor frame is related to the availability of raw material, placed at a short distance from the construction site, and its success during the 19th century is related to thermal, acoustic and fire resistance performances as main factors for its achievement in relation to the research of comfort and safety. However the main innovative way is to use mats as slabs or, in other words, to assign them a role both as a load-bearing frame and as a horizontal flat surface for the floor finishing. | Reggio Emilia, Floors, Slab, Gypsum plaster, Reed, Fires, Ceilings, Housing, Thermal Insulation, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Bonavita, A. | 2012 | ’Building the New Prisons of Venice and their Bridge [1591-1604]’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, 149-156. | Despite traditional construction techniques in the lagoon, the structure of the New Prisons of Venice, with their walls of massive Istrian stone and barrel vaults in masonry, remains really unique. In this paper several aspects of the building site are analyzed by means of the documentation held in the Archivio di Stato di Venezia: salaries and wages, the management of masons and the supplies of building materials. Particular attention is paid to the activity of stonecutters and the provision of Istrian stone, without forgetting to follow the operations for the erection of the “Bridge of Sighs.” | Venice, New Prisons, Bridge of Sighs, Antonio Da Ponte, Antonio Contin, Wages, Istrian Stone, Lead, Historical period: Renaissance |
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Boulerice, D. | 2012 | ’The Narthex Vaults of the Church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois in Paris’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol, 1, pp 163-171. | Late mediaeval builders of the Holy Roman Empire, who favoured figured vaults, made use of preparatory drawings combining ground plans and rib projections [Bogenaustragung] to devise them. In addition, they employed the so-called method of the Principal Arch [Prinzipalbogenmodell] to give every rib the same curvature. By rationalizing their constructive process they made stone-cutting more efficient. No documentary evidence attests to the use of these techniques to design and to erect figured vaults in France. Although French builders most probably had recourse to working drawings, the Prinzipalbogen method has yet to be proven. In order to find out, I surveyed the geometry of the stellar vaults of the porch of the church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois in Paris. In this paper, I present the results of my analyses and speculate on the design and the erection processes used to build the stellar vaults of the western porch of the Parisian church. | Stellar vaults, Stone construction, Geometry, Design methods and aids, Gothic architecture, Religious buildings, Church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, Paris |
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Brauchle, A. | 2012 | ’Cellars: Construction and Insulation through the Beginning of the 20th Century’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 479-486. | Cellars as storage and utility areas are an indispensable constituent of domestic or economical units. Cellars prove to have a high degree of continuity compared to the rising construction, which is subject to great changes due to growing needs of comfort and representation. But even cellar constructions have different forms. Changes in domestic and economical work processes demand a new usage of cellars, thus demanding new structural engineering features. The different construction types of floors, walls, ceilings and vaults reflect upon particular construction stages on the one hand, but also express changing demands on storage space, on the other. Various materials, methods and engineering skills were developed to meet and optimize these needs. Besides presenting a few typical construction forms, the emphasis of this paper lies on the specific demands on waterproofing cellars and insulating them against thermal radiation and moisture. | Cellars, Construction history, Renaissance, Masonry construction, Vaults, Waterproofing, Historical period: Middle Ages, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Brocato, M., and Mondardini, L. | 2012 | ’An Insight into Abeille’s Flat Vault through Numerical Analyses’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, 359-366. | We present a study of Joseph Abeille’s flat vault [1699], based on numerical structural analyses, aiming at solving the ambivalence such system reveals relying statically partly on thrusts [or on the principle of the inverted catenary], partly on bending [or on the principle of the lever]. Analyses were made comparing the outcomes of several geometries within three one-parameter families: i) structures made with bulky/slender blocks; ii) structures made with steep/gradual contact slope; iii) thick/thin structures; span, boundary conditions, materials and loading being equal for all members of each family. Aspects appear of the statics of these vaults not highlighted previously. Due to their chirality, the thrust is a chiral system of forces, having – in addition to the standard component normal to the vault’s edge – a tangential horizontal component. Bending prevails on thrusting, a result not supporting the idea that Abeille’s vaults can be seen as sets of interwoven flat arches. | Abeille, Architecture/Construction, Ashlars, Computational mechanics, Engineering design, Masonry, Models, Stereotomy, Stone, Vaults, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Bryon, H. | 2012 | ’Construing Construction with Drawings: Robert Willis’ and Auguste Choisy’s Axonometric Representations of Vaulted Structures’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 673-681. | English engineer Robert Willis extended his mechanical-analytical approach and graphic methods to architecture and archeology in the early 19th century. His unprecedented graphic demonstrations used isometric projection to clearly convey his construing on construction. Willis constructed his graphic thoughts in two different ways; In Remarks on the Architecture of the Middle Ages (1835), the drawings articulate an abstraction of arcuated building components that form the whole and in “On the Construction of the Vaults of the Middle Ages,” (1842) the representations appear as less analytical while making manifest a mechanical relationship between the stones, as component parts, and their assembly, as vaulted structures. This paper examines the methods employed by Willis to reveal and embody vaulted construction, but also how Willis’ rational, analytic practices and graphic axonometric constructions influenced those by French engineer Auguste Choisy in his L’art de bâtir chez les Romains (1873) and L’Histoire de l’architecture (1899). | Choisy Auguste, Willis Robert, Archaeology, Architecture/Construction, Architectural history, Drawings, Representation, Vaults |
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Bühler, D. | 2012 | ’The Collection of the Deutsches Museum: A Source for Research on the History of Construction’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp61-68. | Museums and their collections can represent an inestimable source for research on construction history. One of the most comprehensive collections of objects and documents dealing with construction techniques and their history is registered with the Deutsches Museum [Munich, Germany]. Ever since it was founded in 1903, the museum has been collecting objects related to construction technology in general and their applications in civil engineering and architecture [currently 2,613]. The main construction materials, their production and use are illustrated by the necessary testing devices, production methods, possible applications, surface treatment and final implementation in buildings. This paper focuses on the objects, models, dioramas and paintings in the collection of the Deutsches Museum that relate the development of the cement and concrete industry and technology and interprets it in the context of the history of construction. | Cement, Concrete, Experimentation, Instruments, Models, Museum, Research material, Testing, Transfer of technology, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Buonopane, S., and Ebright, S. | 2012 | ’The Timber Trusses of R.W. Smith: History, Design and Behaviour’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 599-606. | During the 1860s and 1870s, Robert W. Smith designed four timber truss types for covered bridges, and the Smith Bridge Co. became commercially successful in the Midwestern United States. Smith trusses have two overlapping systems of timber diagonal members interconnecting the chords, and, unlike many competing truss types of the time, they do not use iron for any primary structural members. Analysis of Kidd’s Mill Bridge [1868] and Rinard Bridge [1876] show that Smith trusses reflect a fundamental understanding of structural behavior and design consistent with 19th century practice. Member stresses and vertical deflections are well within acceptable limits. Influence lines are used to identify members which experience force reversal under concentrated live loads and to estimate maximum live loads. Strength analysis of a typical tension member-to-chord connection shows that transverse forces and splitting cracks significantly reduce shear strength and contribute to observed failures in these connections. | Covered bridges, Timber construction, Structural analysis, Structural design, Truss bridges, Wood, Robert W. Smith, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Historical period: 19th century |
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Burt, R. | 2012 | `The Builder’s Flying Squads: An Analysis of the Ministry of Works Special Repair Service Activities During WWII’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 191-198. | The United Kingdom government’s Ministry of Works Special Repair Service is an excellent example of how builders made a significant contribution during WWII. The duty of the Special Repair Service was the repair of homes damaged by bombing. Working from depots throughout the country, repair units and “Flying Squads” of 100 or 60 men consisting of several different trades, under the supervision of surveyors, superintendents and foreman, would travel in special equipped vehicles to areas recently bombed. The duty of the flying squads was to carry out first-aid repairs in order to make homes fit for occupation. In order to accomplish this, a minimum repair standard was established. The records of the Ministry of Works held in the United Kingdom National Archives provide the data to identify how the flying squads were organized, composed, equipped and supported. Photographic, audio and film resources at the Imperial War Museum provide a more intimate picture of what life was like in a flying squad. Sources from several local archives provide additional information. | Archives, Construction process, Craft industry, Labour, London, Ministry of Works, Research material, Special Repair Service, War damage, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Büttner, S. | 2012 | ’The Use of the “Already There”: Reuse and Recycling for Monumental Building in the West in Late Antiquity and the Medieval Period’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 461-468. | Historians of building have always wondered about the practice of reuse, focusing mainly on obvious cases, such as the reuse of Gallo-Roman carved blocks to build city walls at the end of Antiquity. However, for de novo construction, reusing materials from older buildings is sometimes subtler or even invisible. In such cases, we may talk about recycling. The issue of reusing materials [stone and architectural terracotta] and even entire walls, as new architectural components [mortars, components for foundations and elevations, or roofing], opens up a whole field of reflection on the functioning of construction but also deconstruction, as the two operations sometimes appear nested. The management of ruins, created voluntarily or involuntarily, and the waste generated by them, is a topic that has rarely been explored. Yet going beyond the few texts from the end of the Middle Ages that provide information about such actions, archaeological investigation of buildings from Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, integrating archaeometric approaches, offers new avenues of understanding, revealing both what exists and some part of what no longer exists. The sometimes ostentatious character of certain reuses has been interpreted as a manifestation of the desire to anchor some symbolic buildings in a long history. Nevertheless, the discreet recycling of materials has undoubtedly occurred in a far higher proportion of buildings. It is necessary to evaluate this proportion in order to take it into account in reflections on the technical and economic organisation of construction during Late Antiquity and the Medieval Period. | Archaeology, Ceramic material, Economic analyses of construction, Dating: Luminescence/Archaeomagnetism/Radiocarbon, Materials, Mortars, Recycling and reuse of materials: Deconstruction, Stone construction, Historical period: Antiquity, Middle Ages |
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Caldas,J., and Lisboa, R. | 2012 | ’The Use of Vaults in the Reconstruction of Pombaline Downtown Lisbon’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, 495-502. | Usually, the system of construction used in the rebuilding of downtown Lisbon after the Great Earthquake of 1755 is described as having vaulted ground floors. Some writers mention three types of structures used to support the first floor: vaults, wooden beams on stone arches and wooden beams supported just by pillars and/or walls. But we still did not know whether the three types coexisted from the start of the reconstruction, or whether they resulted from the vicissitudes of construction methods over time. After our research, we may conclude that the three constructional solutions coexisted from the outset. Moreover, differently from what was once presumed, the vault was the least used constructional system to cover the ground floor and support the first floor of rentable buildings in Pombaline downtown Lisbon. | Arches, Ceilings, Earthquake resistance, Lisbon downtown, Masonry construction, Reconstruction, Spanning, Timber frame buildings, Vaults, Historical period: 18th century |
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Campbell, J.W.P. | 2012 | ’The First Complete List of All the Models Made for the Construction of St Paul’s Cathedral, London 1675-1720’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, 173-183. | It is commonly assumed that there are only two models for St Paul’s Cathedral [built between 1675 and 1720]. By careful re-examination of the surviving building accounts, this paper provides details of all the models, which were made during the period of construction. By so doing, it clearly shows the crucial part played by architectural models in the design process. It also shows the extraordinary range of materials from which the models were made and gives a clear idea of their different sizes and functions. The paper is accompanied by a complete list of references to models in the archives, which will hopefully be of use to future researchers. The models for St Paul’s provide an invaluable insight into the working practice of a design office in the late 17th century, but the practices probably differed little from those used in the construction of the gothic cathedrals centuries before. | Design methods and aids, Domes, Cupola, Engineering design, Models, Religious buildings, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Carvais, R. | 2012 | ’For a Comparative Study of Construction Laws’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 475-487. | How can one understand construction law in a historical and comparative perspective? According to one theory, which we have confirmed in French law, the meaning of the words allows us to distinguish three possible combinations between law and construction. The word “construction” encompasses not only the action of building, but also the result of this action, that is the built object. Thus, in the world, there exists a law concerning the act of constructing and also a law concerning the constructed object. However, we would not be comprehensive in our thinking if we did not consider construction law as its own discipline. What’s more, an understanding of these three ways of understanding construction law could become enriched by considering how other cultures deal with such laws. Without being able to cover everything, this paper attempts to identify some of the invariants and outline some of the specificities of construction regulations in different countries. This approach seeks to invite foreign lawyers and historians to come out in favor of a common research program in comparative construction law, which would lead to the creation of a European or even international network concerned with the regulation of constructive culture. | comparative law, project owner or client, project manager or supervisor, property law, technical norms, urban rules, contracts, expertise, movable and immovable property, materials, easements, public order, customs, construction law, masons, architects, l |
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Cassinello, P. | 2012 | ’Pioneer Concrete Shells in Spanish Architecture: The Innovation System-Design of Ildefonso Sánchez del Río’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 117-123. | The legacy of Ildefonso Sánchez del Río Pisón [1898-1980] contains some of the most pioneering Spanish concrete shells. It’s a fact that “Modern Architecture’s Thin Shells Adventure” had just begun when he designed and built his first work in Spain [1924]. In the international context prevailing in the 20s, the reinforced concrete was still evolving. The first thin concrete shells were built by Dyckerhoff and Widman in Jena, Germany [1922-1925]. Ildefonso Sánchez was looking for a system to design concrete shells in a simple way. Finally, he founded his own and innovate system based in a similar method to the ribbed Gothic Vault. He used his system to built a very different ribbed concrete shell, such as the Sport Hall of Oviedo, Spain [90 m. span]. This paper aims to discuss the innovations of his system design in the international context. | Concrete: Reinforced, Design ideas, Shell structures, Innovation, Prefabrication, Patent, Technology, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Caston, P.S.C. | 2012 | ’The Pentagon Ramparts and Bastions of Fortress Rosenberg in Kronach, Germany’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 37-44. | Fortress Rosenberg in Kronach, Bavaria, Germany, began life as a fortified stronghold. The 14th century saw its transition to a castle and, by the end of the 15th century, a second defensive ringwall with towers circuited Rosenberg. As the Thirty Years’ War [1618-1648] loomed, Kronachs citizens began to transform the palace into a fortress. The inauguration of the work took place on 26 June 1656 and the pentagon was completed in the first decade of the 18th century. The construction history of the massive ramparts and bastions became the subject of an ongoing research project funded by the German Research Foundation in 2001. Whist the general method of construction and the history of the ramparts has been determined, the purpose of the underground tunnels and breaks in the walls are still a mystery as are many other fine details. | Military engineering, Fortifications, Measuring techniques, Digital 3D modeling, Building sites, Stone construction, Underground construction, Kronach, Germany, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Çelik, G., and Kavas, K.R. | 2012 | ’A Case Study of Local Builder’s Carpentry Tools: Traditional Constructions of Ürünlü, Turkey’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 11-15. | This study explores the traditional construction tools used in Ürünlü, a rural settlement in southwestern Turkey. The architecture of Ürünlü is characterized by masonry incorporating timber and rubble stone. Carpentry plays a key role here because the structural system and the interior spaces require craftsmanship. While survived dwellings constitute the material sources of research in construction history, oral sources inform about the construction process and tools. It is known that constructions were undertaken by specialized designers and builders. These professionals were trained through the handing down of the architectural traditions. In this framework this study focuses on the hand tools of İhsan Özen, a local carpenter. These tools were used for shaping rough pieces of timber for producing doors, windows and cupboards. This analysis unfolds one of the specialized professionals shaping Ürünlü under specific cultural and economic circumstances. | Carpentry, Timber, Tradition, Vernacular, Anatolia, Ürünlü |
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Chatzikonstantinou, E., Samarinis, P., and Sakellaridou, A. | 2012 | ’Road Construction in Greece during the Interbellum: The Makris Project’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 637-645. | The paper discusses aspects of road construction in Greece during the Interbellum and it analyses the inscribed social and spatial ideas within road infrastructure planning and construction. It focuses on the most important national road scheme of that period, known as the Makris Project and it aims at contributing to the transnational discussion on mobility infrastructure construction through a site specific, spatial and sociotechnical approach. The geographical, economic and cultural asymmetries that characterise the transfer and appropriation of technology; the cross-national process of technological circulation regarding road construction and the role of actors and networks as agents of change are the main theoretical starting points of the analysis. In this context the paper is organised in three parts. The first one relates road infrastructure construction in Greece to other national traditions. The second narrates the chronicle of the contract, while the third canvasses its spatial implementation. | Infrastructure, Road construction, Greece, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Chrimes, M. | 2012 | ’Short of Education or Short of Engineers: British Civil Engineering 1890-1910’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 575-586. | Since the development of civil engineering as a profession in the late 18th century, the British practice-based approach to the formation of civil engineers has been regularly contrasted with the continental European, more academic approach. Many have alleged that the British approach contributed to slower economic growth in that country and less innovation. At the end of the 19th century, the Institution of Civil Engineers seemed to accept some of this criticism as it introduced examinations for the first time. However there were other influences at work, and one alternative argument might be that it was the numbers of engineers, rather than their education, that held back developments in structural engineering and economic growth among the civil engineering profession in Britain. | Engineers, United Kingdom, Education, Training, Professional formation, Structural engineering, Reinforced concrete |
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Ciblac, T. | 2012 | ’Analysis of Philippe de la Hire’s Arch Theory Using Graphic Statics’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 367-374. | In Proposition CXXV of his 1695 Traité de mécanique, Philippe de la Hire gives a graphic method for studying arch equilibrium that is considered the first scientific approach to this subject. With some restrictive hypotheses such as frictionless contact and radial joints, he gives a particularly simple geometric construction by which to determine the weight of the stones. This paper analyses this method using graphic statics – another graphic method, formalized by Culmann in 1864 – in order to point up the reasons for its simplicity and the role of each hypothesis. The first part deals with the relationship between some of the other propositions in de la Hire’s Traité and the graphic statics method. An equivalent duality between force polygon and funicular polygon is then brought out. In the second part, the proposition on arch theory is analysed using graphic statics. A generalization of the method, which was touched upon but not illustrated by de la Hire, is proposed. | Architecture, Graphic statics, Masonry, Stereotomy, Stability, Structural analysis: Limits, Structural stability |
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Clarke, L. | 2012 | ’The Significance of Building Labour to the Production of the Built Environment’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, 107-114. | The paper identifies key characteristics of the development of building labour in Britain at different historical stages, pointing also to the sharp disparities between a socially regulated and unregulated wage, collective versus individualised employment relations, and comprehensive versus trade-based training. It focuses on the post second world war period, showing how the within each stage different labour processes co-exist. This is evident in the final product, as shown in the building of key construction projects – including the Barbican, Stevenage New Town and Sizewell. What stands out is the continued trade-based character of the construction labour process in Britain, conceptualised in relation to a range of tasks in the workplace and to work as a specific output of labour rather than the capabilities or qualifications of the person. The paper draws on a literature review and documentary archives, as well as interviews with building workers engaged on these projects. | Construction history, Organisation of building site, Craft industry, Disputes, Wages, Labour |
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Cluzel, J-S. | 2012 | ’Hokusai Manga as a Reference Construction Book’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 655-664. | Two of the illustration books of the master painter Hokusai Katsushika [1760-1849] are dedicated to architecture: The fifth book of Hokusai Manga [1816], and the New models illustrated for craftsmen [1836]. Therefore it appears a little strange that those two albums are still not considered as a “valuable pieces” among construction books of the Edo period [1603-1868]. Proceeding from a short structural analysis of a representative variety of 17th, 18th and 19th century Japanese publications related to construction, this paper will explain some relation between construction books and Hokusai’s albums, showing the necessity of including them into the bibliography of construction books. This conclusion allow the author to discuss the limits of the field of construction history in Japan, and to question the “non existence” of architects in pre-Meiji Japan. By this paper, the author hopes to enlighten Hokusai’s work, but as well to contribute to the elaboration of a transnational construction history. | Biography, Hokusai, Japan, Construction history, Models, Publications, Technical literature, Treaties, Manuals, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries/19th-20th centuries |
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Cofani, M. | 2012 | ’The Knowledge and the Development of Mortars between the 18th and 19th Centuries: The Case-Study of the Verona Amphitheatre Restoration’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 539-544 | The city of Verona, between the end of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century, was the scene of a large, vibrant scientific debate concerning the building materials and, in particular, the so-called ciment romain. This debate is well recorded in the archival documentation related to the maintenance and restoration works of the Arena amphitheatre. Many documents have an exceptional precision in language and quantitative data: this opens new possibilities of knowledge about historical mortars, whose composition is often subject to cases where many variables remain undetermined. The study has also highlighted many important information about the diffusion of scientific knowledge and the new “chemical” attitude of those who worked for the development of innovative, “better” mortars, used in particular to fill the joints between the stone steps of the cavea in order to preserve the underlying vaults of the Amphitheatre from the infiltration of rain. | Verona, Arena Amphitheatre, A.J. Loriot, L.B. Guyton de Morveau, L. Trezza, B. Giuliari, Competitions, Experimentation, Knowledge, Mortars, Preservation, Construction history, History of science, Technical innovation, Historical period: 18th-19th centurie |
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Como, M.T. | 2012 | ’Structural Devices Concerning the Progressive Outer Shell Construction in Brunelleschi’s Dome’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 331-339. | This study, through the interaction of analysis of sources and investigation of aspects of construction, statics and form examines the initial construction phases of the S. Maria del Fiore dome which led to the building variations of the new program of January 1426 which resolved for the realisation of semi-arches to be set among corner and middle ribs. The analysis highlights the essential static role of the mentioned constructional device which, together with the herringbone and the corda blanda, allowed the construction of the dome structure without the centering engendering the structural system of the rotational dome during the raising of the dome construction. | Brunelleschi, S. Maria del Fiore Dome, Renaissance, Architectural history, Construction, Cupola, Knowledge, Masonry construction, Stability, Static analysis |
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Conchon, A., and McDonough, K. | 2012 | ’Road Construction Sites in 18th-Century France: Labor and Administration in Action’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 165-172. | Historians remember that the French monarchy was able to construct a vast road network during the 18th century, while they forget a little too quickly how construction work in many places lingered on for decades, how some roads were never completed, and how others’ alignments were subject to heated debate. The finished product represented Enlightenment-era political initiative, a success story for reforming royal ministers. The contrast between these politicized accounts of the road network and contemporary representations of the inefficiency of the corvée raises the following question: If the corvée presented such difficulties suggested by its detractors, how do we explain the results of this unprecedented public works project? Part of the response may be found in the study of the corvée – in its work practices at the level of the road construction site. Our paper outlines technical specifications as well as the social dynamics and labor constraints of these road construction worksites. | Corvée, Ponts et chaussées, Trésaguet Pierre, Turgot, Brittany, Maintenance, Discipline, Road construction, Social history of labor, Organization of building sites, Construction process, Construction history, Public works: Infrastructure, Historical perio |
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Conlon, C. | 2012 | ’James Hardress de Warenne Waller and His Contribution to Shell Roof Construction, Concrete and Fabric Formwork Technologies’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 125-132. | Born in 1884, engineer James Hardress de Warenne Waller was an expert in the production of early reinforced concrete and concrete shell construction. During World War II, he developed an innovative method of building concrete shell roofs with a catenary arch cross-section in pure compression; this eliminated the need for steel reinforcement. Instead of conventional formwork, he used fabric supported by reusable falsework. The system was revolutionary; in both its economy of materials and structural principles. Waller’s advancement of concrete shell construction remains under-recognized despite it being broadly influential on 20th century architects and engineers, most notably Felix Candela who adopted Waller’s system of construction in the first of his numerous works and continued the use of similar double curvature structural principles into his latter works. This current research documents Waller’s principal contributions to concrete technology and examines the extent of influence his innovative work had. | James Hardress de Warenne Waller, Candela Felix, Concrete structures, Fabric, Formwork, Innovation, Technical, Shell structures, Shuttering, Spanning: Arch, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Contier, F., and Anelli, R.L.S. | 2012 | ’The Material Genesis of an Icon: The Construction of the Building of FAU USP [1961-1969]’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 329-336. | This paper presents a study about the construction history of the building of Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo of the University of São Paulo [FAU USP] that took place between 1961 and 1969, a troubled period in the political and cultural life in Brazil. It is a relevant building to modern Brazilian architecture, designed by the architect Vilanova Artigas [1915-1985]. We seek to analyze in what way his conception of architecture is related to the construction processes of the period and guides a production which is congruent with a national political project. The research is affiliated with new historical studies of Brazilian architecture, to which the understanding of the constructive process is part of the research method. The analysis of the architectural decisions, both in the project and in the work in progress, demanded a wide documentary research [projects, documents, contracts, testimonies, photographic records] covering multiple agents [designers, contractors, builders]. | Architect; Architecture/Construction; Case study; Concrete; Construction history; Method of research; Politics, Policies: Construction; Project management |
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Cook, E. | 2012 | ’Building Culture and Competence: Demonstrating Knowledge on Construction Sites in 18th-Century Virginia’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 23-29. | To succeed both personally and professionally in 18th-century Virginia, carpenters had to demonstrate “competence”: a mastery of his craft that allowed the carpenter to secure his economic independence through the practice of his trade. To do so meant demonstrating skills equal to or surpassing those of other carpenters working in the area, often while the two were sharing a job site. This paper examines two sites on which Williamsburg carpenters plied their trade in an attempt to understand how these men related to one another as members of a shared professional community and how they differentiated themselves within the local labor markets. It views both the work site and the work undertaken as elements of performance, knowledge, and craft mastery. | Architectural history, Carpenters, Case study, Knowledge, Labor, Skills, Craftsmanship, Social history of labor, Trade practices, Trades, Building, Artisans, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Cooke, T., and Ochsendorf, J. | 2012 | ’The Temple of Diana at Baiae: History and Structure of an Imperial Roman Dome’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp291-297. | This paper examines the construction and structure of the Temple of Diana, a second century A.D. Roman dome forming part of the extensive thermo-mineral bathing complex at Baiae. This structure holds significance in the history of concrete construction and, specifically, domed structures due to its roughly ellipsoid profile, an uncommon form in Roman construction. This paper develops a hypothesis for the creation of the dome geometry by the builders. In addition, the first structural analysis of the dome is used to quantify the relation between geometry and stability. By testing various alternative models, the paper identifies a possible collapse mechanism due to insufficient buttressing on one side of the dome. | Concrete structures, Damage: Cracking/Collapsing, Domes, Formwork, Geometry, Graphic statics, Lightweight aggregate concrete, Seismic damage, Static analysis, Structural stability |
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Cornilly, J. | 2012 | ’Contractors of 19th-Century Public Works in Belgium: Looking for a Research Approach for the Rural Areas’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 519-526. | In the course of the 19th century, public works strongly altered the image of Belgian villages. Rural communities outsourced their construction works to the private sector. Although not legally obliged, works were generally put up to public tender. In this practice building specifications became crucial documents in the relation between the public client and the contractor of public works. The specifications also indicate that the contractors of public works in rural areas had to be able to execute the totality of the building project and that they weren’t necessarily recruited locally. They appear as a heterogeneous group of local craftsmen and general contractors, located in the city as well as on the countryside. | Contractors, Architect, Architectural history, Specifications, Building, Rural building, Standardisation, Mason, Carpenters, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Currà, E. | 2012 | ’Manual Abilities and Modern Constructive Techniques in a Building by Arturo Hoerner: The S. A. Supertessile Plant and the System Baroni-Lüling, Rieti-Italy, 1926’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp647-655. | The study of the Supertessile complex at Rieti has brought to light the application of the Italian Baroni-Lüling patent and some of its effects on the development of constructional technique in reinforced concrete, especially in the field of planning and construction of light components for large covered structures. A notable impulse towards the rationalization of construction can be attributed to this system and to its applications by the firm ing. H. Bollinger. Above all, this came about through the innovative system of spacing the reinforcement bars with bolts, to create semi-rigid reinforcement lattices. This application was employed in all of the pavilions of the Supertessile plant, perfectly integrated with the architectural solutions of the architectural designer Arturo Hoerner. His plan reinforces certain invariants shared by modern architecture; for example, a plan simplified of ornament and qualified through the geometry of the construction, which found the ideal technique in reinforced concrete. | Concrete structures, Industrial buildings: Factories/Shipyards/Warehouses, Patent, Trussed roofs, Technology, Structural morphology, Preservation, Heritage, Norms: Technical, Engineering design, Beams and Girders |
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D’Almeida, C. H. | 2012 | ’Analysis of the Construction Site as a Historical Document of its Production Process’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 199-206. | The object of study of this paper is the construction work of Ilha Solteira Hydroelectric Plant, built in Brazil between 1965-1974. This paper seeks to analyse the construction site as a historical document. The goal is to examine the process of production and work in construction as a field of reflection of ways to rationalise work in the “construction site form of production" of a large-scale construction. To this end, the rationalisation of work at Ilha Solteira was analysed examining each work site and the general production flow. It was found that in Ilha Solteira the form of production combines different stages of division of labour, which indicates how the contradiction between “backward” and “modern” aspects, present in the modernisation of the construction at that time, would have been reconfigured in a form combining and accommodating them, blurring the perspective of overcoming precarisation of work at the construction site. | Case study, Construction process, Large-scale construction site, Industrialization, Management, Manufacture, Modernisation, Organisation of building sites, Rationalisation, Social history of labor |
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D’Amelio, M.G., and De Cesaris, F. | 2012 | ’Moving St. Peter’s Obelisk as Seen in the Engravings of Giovanni Guerra and Natale Bonifacio: A Transmission of Knowledge, or Pure Propaganda?’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 611-620. | The process of moving St. Peter’s obelisk [1586] was immortalized in two famous engravings by Giovanni Guerra and Natale Bonifacio, which were produced at that time. Four years later the creator of this memorable enterprise, Domenico Fontana, published Della Trasportatione dell’Obelisco Vaticano [1590], which describes how the monolith was removed from the original location, transported and then erected in St. Peter’s Square. Historiography has always considered this volume as a means for spreading highly specialized technical knowledge, a reference when undertaking similar enterprises. The illustrations were certainly much admired, though they attracted less technical interest. In fact, they still had to be proved in the context of the debate between mechanical theory and practice, which was as yet in an embryonic stage. Moreover, one wonders if the images contained sufficient information to pass on the very specialized “science” of moving large monoliths. This paper aims to analyse the technical scope of the illustrations, and their effectiveness as spreaders of knowledge. | Rome, Domenico Fontana, Giovanni Guerra, Natale Bonifacio, Technology: Constitution/Diffusion, Iconography, Transfer of knowledge, Technical literature, Obelisk, Scaffolding, Machines, Hoisting devices, Tools, Historical period: Renaissance |
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Dandria, S. | 2012 | ’Commercial Categories and Applications of Construction Timber in the Trentino-Verona Area [14th-16th Centuries]’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 183-192. | The Adige River was one of the principal routes of the medieval and modern eras for the transport and distribution of construction timber into the east of the Po Valley. Along the upper course, rafts of logs and semi-finished wood products from Tyrol and the mountains circling Trento would come down and proceed directly towards the lowlands. It was an organized and standardized production market, both upstream and downstream, from specific institutions and commercial companies. As well as being an important center for sales and employment, the city of Verona had the role of being a trading center from which goods and timber had taken commercial routes toward the cities of Mantua, Ferrara and Venice. Through documents regulating the production and distribution, it is possible to reconstruct a list of the selections of timber used in connection with the documented supply of materials in the construction of wooden structures of two significant historic buildings. | Beams and girders, Carpentry, Timber construction, Wood |
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Daneels, A., and Guerrero, L.F. | 2012 | ’Earthen Building Techniques in the Humid Tropics: The Archaeological Site of La Joya, Veracruz, México’, Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 353-360. | The pre-Columbian site of La Joya, on the Mexican Gulf coast, is extremely valuable due to its size, antiquity and historical relationships, but above all, its building materials, because it was entirely built using raw earth, though located in an admittedly adverse environment for this type of building. However, ancient settlers developed strategies that made it possible for the city to remain standing through the first millennium A.D. During the 20th century, the site has suffered a dramatic process of destruction by brick manufacturers. This situation gave rise to an archaeological project that has produced hitherto unknown data about the construction of earthen living spaces which are remarkably adapted to their natural environment. The findings are important because there are no similar studies in this region; they provide knowledge about the effective use of raw earth that could support the design of new buildings to meet growing demands for housing. | Adobe, Archaeology, Architecture, Columns, Earth construction, Historical period: Prehistory |
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Petit, J. | 2019 | Les Expositions universelles des XIXe et debut xxe siecle a l’ appui de la creation d’ une schistotheque/ ardoisotheque in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 615-24 | Nous souhaitons compléter les recherches sur site et sur documents d’archives effectuées sur les ardoisières, essentiellement du nord de la France et du sud de la Belgique, par l’étude des rapports des jurys établis dans le cadre des Expositions nationales des produits de l’industrie et des Expositions universelles du XIXe siècle. Ces rapports, qui permettent d’identifier les entreprises récompensées, leur outillage, leur personnel, leur production d’ardoises de couverture et de pavement, seront mis en parallèle avec les sources directes. Ils auront également comme objectif de relever la typologie des échantillons exposés. Parallèlement, nous avons proposé en 2015 la création d’une schistothèque/ardoisothèque au Musée de l’Ardoise de Rimogne, récemment rouvert. Nous proposons d’établir la maquette du projet, tant sur base des matériaux eux-mêmes, que des archives, notamment publicitaires, et des types d’échantillons déterminés lors de l’examen des rapports des jurys. Un tel outil, à l’instar d’une marmothèque comme celle de Rance (Hainaut belge), nous paraît indispensable pour présenter au public d’un musée l’ardoise en ce qu’elle a de relevant : ses qualités (et ses défauts, tels la pyrite) et son/ses coloris par son origine géographique. Il sera également utile dans le cadre de la constitution du réseau européen des sites ardoisiers, amorcé en 2015 à l’initiative de Philippe Cayla, enseignant chercheur honoraire de l’Université d’Angers. | Altération, chantier, circulation des matériaux, entreprise, matériau traditionnel, savoir, faire. |
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Labrunye, R. | 2019 | Les maisons en beton prefabrique assemble brevetees par Edouard Berard entre 1905 et 1911 in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 625-38 | En 1905, l’architecte en chef des monuments historiques et ancien collaborateur de Viollet-Le-Duc, Edouard Bérard (1843-1912), dépose un brevet concernant « un système d’établissement de plafonds et planchers dans les constructions en pièces et panneaux de ciment armé » (INPI 356816A). L’architecte confie la concession du brevet à plusieurs entrepreneurs, dont M. Vertu, à Migennes (Yonne), ce qui explique la présence de dix-huit « Maisons Bérard » dans cette ville. D’autres constructions ont été localisées à Auxerre, ou à Saint-Léger-des-Vignes (Nièvre), vraisemblablement acheminées depuis Migennes par l’Yonne et le canal du Nivernais. Trois autres exemples ont été réalisés à Melun par un autre concessionnaire, M. Paupardin, dont sa propre résidence. Plus étonnant, l’église Notre-Dame-de-L’Assomption de Rungis a été construite en 1908 avec le même procédé. Dès le brevet initial, Edouard Bérard recherche une unité de base modulable, le panneau de façade, simple à mettre en œuvre et permettant une grande variété de formes. Le bâtiment repose sur une structure poteaux-poutres en ciment armé constituée d’éléments préfabriqués assemblés au moyen de ferrures. La structure sert de support aux panneaux préfabriqués de ciment armé qui composent la façade. Les cavités destinées aux ferrures sont remplies de ciment après assemblage afin d’éviter leur corrosion à l’air libre. La trame structurelle apparente devient un argument esthétique, avec un travail de moulures et de larmiers sur les chaînages horizontaux. Au travers de différents brevets complémentaires, Edouard Bérard élabore de nouveaux procédé d’assemblage afin d’améliorer la solidité et la qualité thermique des façades préfabriquées. La Maison Bérard peut être appréhendée comme une performance technique pour son époque puisqu’elle fait appel à des procédés de mise en œuvre à la pointe de la construction par préfabrication. | architecte, assemblage, circulation des matériaux, entrepreneur, entreprise, Industrie, matériau industriel, modèle constructif |
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Richaud, G. | 2019 | Tony Garnier, le « beton ordinaire » et le « ciment arme »: un metissage technique a Lyon durant l’ entre-deux:-guerres in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 639-50 | Dans son ouvrage publié en 1917, Une Cité industrielle, Etude pour la construction des villes, Tony Garnier prévit des utilisations différentes de deux genres nouveaux de maçonneries: les bétons et le "ciment armé"; les uns devaient être dédiés selon lui aux différentes habitations de la Cité, tandis que les possibilités structurelles de l’autre devaient être mises au service de ses bâtiments publics. En réalité, Garnier n’avait utilisé jusque-là dans ses grands travaux pour Lyon que les premiers bétons (bétons de gravier, pisé de mâchefer) aujourd’hui témoins d’une tradition locale originale et très aboutie dont il avait contribué à définir une esthétique propre. Durant une trentaine d’années, ces matériaux répondirent d’ailleurs parfaitement aux intentions exprimées par Garnier et occupèrent une place quasi exclusive dans la production de logements sociaux à Lyon et dans sa région où, depuis l’origine il et vrai, ces procédés étaient consubstantiels si l’on peut dire à ce type de programme. Sur les chantiers publics, en revanche, le "ciment armé" se trouva localement souvent supplanté par cette technique créole ancienne. L’objet de cette étude sera de mettre en évidence ce qui resta de la répartition des usages suggérée par Garnier dans le domaine du bâtiment public sous l’administration Herriot durant l’entre-deux-guerres. L’analyse des chantiers de construction de bâtiments publics importants tels que ceux du Palais de la Foire, de la Bourse du travail, de l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts, ou de bâtiments plus modestes tels que les bâtiments scolaires par exemple, permettra de préciser la manière dont ces deux techniques se sont côtoyées dans ce domaine et de souligner les enjeux économiques et esthétiques de l’alternative technique proposée par Garnier. | Lyon, ciment armé, pisé de mâchefer, bétons, bâtiments publics |
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Bolle, G. | 2019 | Poursuites et reinventions des traditions alsaciennes apres 1945 in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 651-60 | La présente proposition d’article poursuit des réflexions engagées dans la thèse soutenue en 2014, retraçant la biographie de l’architecte alsacien Gustave Stoskopf (1907-2004). Autour de cette figure majeure de la scène alsacienne – qui érige en modèle sa reconstruction de la cité martyre d’Ammerschwihr –, de nombreux autres constructeurs sont engagés dans les reconstructions urbaines et rurales. La volonté de restituer des silhouettes bâties disparues domine nettement la production architecturale locale entre 1945 et 1955, exploitant l’héritage du mouvement régionaliste allemand du Heimatschutz. Derrière une production - relativement - homogène et modérée dans son expression, une grande diversité d’attitudes se fait jour concernant les options constructives. L’idée est de confronter une histoire culturelle – parcours, doctrines, réseaux des principaux acteurs – au prisme de la dimension constructive et morphologique de réalisations menées en milieu rural et urbain en Alsace dans les 10 années qui suivent le conflit. Pour cela, deux champs seront explorés. Tout d’abord, celui de la persistance des méthodes, matériaux et formes coutumières ; cette inscription revendiquée dans une tradition sera abordée afin d’interroger son évolution. Par ailleurs, il s’agira d’explorer l’innovation constructive par l’introduction de matériaux et de dispositifs inédits, notamment dans la construction d’ensemble de logements neufs. Si ces dernières opérations s’inscrivent dans la lignée d’une politique locale d’habitat social, ils portent en même temps, les « germes » des grands ensembles. Des questionnements transversaux relient ces deux champs et particulièrement la place nouvelle faite au béton armé, voire plus largement à la standardisation et la normalisation des éléments constructifs. | architecte, assemblage, historiographie, chantier, circulation des savoirs, transfert artistique |
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Devos, R. & Van De Voorde, S. | 2019 | L’histoire d’un heritage materiel non-durable: l’ auto-promotion internationale de l’ amiante-ciment par la revue AC (1956-1985) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 661-74 | Publiée trimestriellement pendant presque trois décennies, simultanément en trois langues et distribuée dans plus de vingt pays, la Revue internationale d’amiante-ciment, en abrégé AC, présenta l’actualité de l’architecture à travers de multiples applications des produits en amiante-ciment de 1956 à 1984. Aujourd’hui, AC offre une histoire « colorée » de l’architecture de l’époque à travers une architecture marquée par l’introduction d’éléments préfabriqués et standardisés et en donnant preuve de l’omniprésence d’un produit qui est systématiquement retiré du bâti aujourd’hui. Cette contribution propose une lecture critique de l’entièreté de la revue AC, mise en contexte des revues d’architecture et de la construction de l’époque, en cherchant à clarifier le regard historique que cette revue relève aujourd’hui. L’amiante-ciment, comment faisait-il face à sa réputation de matériau « bas profil » dans l’après-guerre ? Est-ce qu’AC permet une approche à l’architecture « pour le plus grand nombre » qui échappe au regard classique de l’historiographie ? L’amiante-ciment est le dénominateur commun dans AC, mais sans que ceci ne résulte en une littérature purement publicitaire. Quelle était sa stratégie éditoriale ? Qui était le public visé ? Comment cette revue se diversifiait-elle des publications publicitaires des producteurs de l’amiante-ciment ? De plus, pendant les premières années, la collaboration des auteurs célèbres comme Sigfried Giedion ou Ernesto N. Rogers se fait remarquer. Dans des textes courts mais critiques, la discussion de l’architecture contemporaine va parfois au-delà de la description des réalisations, voire des questions de standardisation et d’industrialisation du bâtiment. Quelle lecture de l’actualité de la construction présentait donc AC? | entreprise, historiographie, sources, XXe siècle, le monde, Belgique |
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Blary, F., Charruadas et P., Sosnowska, P. | 2019 | La construction des caves medievales et modernes dans les villes de l’ espace belge in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 675-84 | Les caves apparaissent comme une source d’informations de premier plan pour saisir la logique de l’architecture domestique et l’évolution de la fabrique urbaine. Ce patrimoine bâti, largement sous exploité à l’échelle des grandes villes médiévales, représente un potentiel d’étude riche d’enseignements et porteur de sens. Il mérite donc d’être traité à part entière dans le cadre d’un vaste programme archéologique urbain. Dans cette optique, le Centre de Recherche en Archéologie et Patrimoine de l’Université libre de Bruxelles souhaite engager un ambitieux projet de recherches portant sur ces espaces enterrés ou semi-enterrés à Bruxelles et dans sa périphérie. Cette contribution, avant tout méthodologique et prospective, constitue la première phase d’exploration de cette thématique. Elle fera ainsi, dans un premier temps, le point sur l’historiographie à Bruxelles et dans les anciens Pays-Bas méridionaux. Elle cherchera à identifier les lacunes, à la source souvent d’une conception imparfaite et parfois erronée de cet élément pourtant fondamental de l’architecture domestique. Elle mettra surtout en exergue l’apport de chaque type de sources, écrites, iconographiques ou matérielles, dans l’étude et la compréhension globale de ces structures en rapport avec le reste du bâti et la fabrique urbaine dans son ensemble. Cette démarche permettra dans un deuxième temps d’aborder des questions à la fois en positif et en négatif : sur la présence ou l’inexistence de ces caves dans l’habitat, soulevant par ce biais la délicate question de leurs fonctions et les conséquences de leur mise en œuvre sur l’ensemble du programme architectural. Cette approche se verra compléter par une première tentative de typologie qui combinera dans la réflexion les enjeux économiques, constructifs et urbanistiques, notamment en mobilisant les notions de propriété, de rapport à la voirie, de réglementation urbaine et de tradition constructive. | réglementation urbaine, propriété, caves, matériaux, architecture domestique, Archéologie, salles, basses, sous, sol, tradition constructive, typo, chronologie, voiries |
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Le Dantec, T. | 2019 | Base de donnees et corpus. Approches methodologiques liees a l’ etude des facades en platre d’Ile-de-France, xvne-xxe siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 685-96 | Dans le bassin parisien, des affleurements de gypse facilement accessibles ont facilité le développement d’une filière du plâtre dans la construction, depuis l’Antiquité jusqu’à nos jours. La ressource étant abondante à Paris et dans l’Est d’Île-de-France, le plâtre est utilisé en enduit extérieur pour protéger pans de bois ou maçonneries dès le Moyen-Âge. Louis XIV achève de donner ses lettres de noblesse à cette matière en obligeant la ville de Paris à plâtrer intérieur et extérieur des maisons, faisant de Paris « une ville de plâtre ». Ce patrimoine, encore largement présent est néanmoins très peu connu. Les façades enduites au plâtre sont variées : fausses briques, fausses pierres, plâtre blanc, ocre ou gris. Tous types d’édifices sont concernés (fermes, maisons, immeubles, églises, palais, hôtels...) et ce sur toute l’Île-de-France sur une période chronologique très étalée. Afin de saisir cette variété typologique, programmatique, chronologique et géographique mais aussi de mieux comprendre la complexité de ce matériau hétérogène, de sa mise en œuvre très élaborée et de ses pathologies, il est nécessaire d’établir un corpus de façades représentatives. Il s’agit donc de constituer une base de données qui renseigne l’édifice, ses façades, sa construction, la mise en œuvre et la composition du plâtre de l’enduit et ses pathologies. Ces données seront reliées à un SIG (Système d’Information Géographique) qui permettra de spatialiser le corpus et de mettre en relation façades et données historiques et géographiques d’Île-de-France : voies navigables, régions naturelles, carrières... La communication introduira l’histoire et la mise en œuvre de ces enduits franciliens et détaillera la méthodologie abordée à l’appui d’un corpus représentatif de la diversité des façades en plâtre. | corpus, enduit, plâtre, façade, cartographie, base de données |
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Dimitriadi, L. | 2019 | La place de l’automation et de l’informatique dans les discours sur l’industrialisation du batiment en France entre 1960 et 1980 in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 697-708 | Dans le domaine de l’industrialisation du bâtiment, les limites de la préfabrication totale deviennent évidentes en France pendant les années soixante, et des efforts sont fournis pour trouver des moyens d’introduire une diversité plus importante dans la production industrielle des composants du bâtiment, quelle que soit leur échelle. Cela conduit à des discussions, pendant les années soixante-dix, autour de l’industrialisation ouverte qui suppose soit des systèmes constructifs spécifiques soit une normalisation dimensionnelle généralisée de composants produits industriellement qui permettrait une maximisation des possibilités des combinatoires à l’intérieur d’un système de production qui reste discrétisé. En même temps, avec l’arrivée de machines flexibles dans certaines lignes de production, qui conduisent à des semi-produits, l’idée de la construction industrialisée reposant inévitablement sur un système dimensionnel discret change, et la question de la normalisation devient secondaire voire obsolète dans certains domaines de l’industrie du bâtiment. Dans ce contexte, tandis que l’automation et la computation existent déjà pendant cette période dans d’autres domaines, peu de chercheurs ou acteurs dans le domaine de la construction prennent conscience de leur importance potentielle pour un tournant dans l’industrialisation du bâtiment. Nous interrogerons les recherches et études faites en France entre 1960 et 1980 (Simon, Chemillier, Litaudon...) qui mentionnent les rôle possible de l’automation et de la computation dans les processus de construction industrialisée, et en particulier la manière dont elles mettent en avant l’un ou l’autre différents aspects d’une telle évolution : l’organisation de l’information dans la production de séries d’une part, et le contrôle de machines flexibles d’autre part. | Industrie, Machine, Numérique, Economie, Architecte, Entreprise |
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Ciblac, T. & Guéna, F. | 2019 | Un outil interactif pour etudier la stabilite des masonneries patrimoniales in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 707-16 | La recherche ANR Monumentum vise à développer une plateforme logicielle destinée à la conservation du patrimoine. Cette plateforme met à disposition des outils de reconstruction permettant de produire un modèle géométrique d’édifices historiques maçonnés sur lequel différents outils d’analyse peuvent s’appuyer pour étudier les phénomènes de dégradation des matériaux et le comportement structural. Dans ce cadre, nous développons un outil interactif d’analyse de la stabilité des maçonneries patrimoniales utilisant la visualisation de lignes de pression dans des sections d’édifices. Cette approche s’appuie sur l’analyse limite et le calcul à la rupture et peut s’inscrire dans une phase de diagnostic préliminaire à une restauration ou dans une phase de validation d’hypothèse sur le comportement structural d’un édifice. Un premier objectif est de donner la possibilité d’interagir avec un modèle de l’édifice afin de sélectionner une coupe d’étude, quelle que soit la complexité de sa topologie, et de pouvoir introduire des hypothèses géométriques (définition de blocs, orientation des joints, zones d’appui) et mécaniques (chargement, position de fissures). Un second objectif est de produire un outil utilisable par divers usagers à différentes fins: ingénieurs, architectes, conservateurs du patrimoine, historiens de la construction ou encore enseignants et étudiants. Pour répondre à ces deux objectifs nous avons choisi de développer notre outil sur un modèle multi-agents offrant l’avantage de simuler des phénomènes et configurations complexes tout en ayant un fonctionnement souple et simple. Le calcul des lignes de pression est effectué par un algorithme où chaque bloc de maçonnerie est considéré comme un agent participant à la stabilité de l’édifice. L’article présentera le fonctionnement et l’usage de l’outil sur un cas concret d’étude d’un édifice issu des expérimentations effectuées dans le cadre de la recherche Monumentum. | outil, expertise, structure, stabilité, numérique, restauration |
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Destombes, L. | 2019 | La construction comme representation chez Jakob+MacFarlane (1998-2013). Le projet constructif numerique entre ruptures technologiques et reminiscences modernes in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres FHC (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 717-26 | Le tournant numérique en architecture peut-il déjà être qualifié de révolution en ce qu’il mettrait en crise certains référents épistémologiques de la discipline, en particulier dans leur rapport à la matérialité et à la construction (Picon, 2010) ? Dans l’exposition Archéologie du numérique (CCA, 2013) l’architecte Greg Lynn se permet de revendiquer un regard d’historien sur ces pratiques dont il est un des acteurs. Sur quels principes et par quelles méthodes peut-on rendre compte d’une histoire de la conception architecturale numérique ? Le plébiscite actuellement accordé aux pratiques BIM (Building Information Modeling) ne doit pas éclipser le fait que toute tentative de périodisation reste confrontée à la difficulté d’identifier, parmi le flot des innovations et des discours, ceux qui exerceront un impact à long terme. Ainsi, la trajectoire de la notion de « tectonique », critiquée dès le milieu des années 1990 puis vidée de son contenu symbolique dans les années 2000, ou les résurgences de la notion d’ornement, restent symptomatiques des risques attachés à l’histoire des pratiques constructives contemporaines. Cette « histoire du temps présent » (Bédarida, 2003) est abordée à partir de trois projets réalisés par l’agence Jakob+Macfarlane entre 1998 et 2015. Si ces projets constituent chacun une exploration particulière articulant procès constructif et fabrication numérique, l’analyse tend à montrer qu’ils relèvent d’un même « projet constructif » consistant à retranscrire la nature géométrique du modèle numérique à travers la structure de l’édifice. Une analyse comparative des détails d’exécution, produits sur deux décennies, vise à expliciter l’évolution des moyens techniques déployés pour contrôler ces transpositions entre figuration et édification. | Projet constructif, temporalité, numérique, architecte, ingénieur, Jakob+Macfarlane |
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Lebsir, A. & Belakehal, A. | 2019 | Les cultures constructives traditionnelles, modele conceptuel d’ analyse in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 727-38 | La connaissance du patrimoine culturel via la thématique : « Cultures Constructives Traditionnelles » constitue le contexte de cette recherche. Il est facile de constater une évolution qualitative et quantitative des recherches expérimentales sur les matériaux locaux, de même, qu’un nombre signifiant d’opérations de réhabilitation de constructions traditionnelles. Cependant, cela s’est-il accompli avec une parfaite connaissance du patrimoine en question surpassant ainsi la simple limitation aux connaissances purement techniques des matériaux traditionnels? Les cultures constructives tirent leur signification du fait qu’elles s’intègrent parfaitement dans un processus et un cadre de vie d’une communauté où l’aspect physique et technique de l’environnement bâti est très important à comprendre. Cette étude tente d’abord d’opérationnaliser le concept ‘Culture constructive’ et tenter une recherche in situ afin d’en élucider la pertinence. Pour ce faire, elle fixe comme dimensions essentielles: i) les matériaux de construction (origine, matières premières), ii) le procédé constructif (technique et système constructif, moyens, outils, règles..), et iii) le savoir-faire qui guide les deux autres paramètres. Ces différentes dimensions sont abordées pour le cas de trois contextes géographiques distincts de l’est algérien : i) les Aurès, ii) l’Oued Mya, et iii) le Souf. Cette entreprise est accompagnée d’une mise en exergue des typologies architecturales et techniques. La méthodologie a consisté en une enquête envers d’anciens bâtisseurs. L’instrument adéquat s’est avéré un schéma d’entretien semi-directif auprès de ces personnes. Cette méthode a été appuyée par la technique de l’observation, l’outil utilisé a consisté en un tableau de bord ayant permis l’analyse et l’illustration détaillées des aspects technico-architecturaux. | circulation des savoirs – matériau traditionnel – matière – modèle constructif – patrimoine immatériel – savoir, faire |
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Mansion-Prud’homme, N. | 2019 | Histoire de la construction et histoire de l’ architecture: comparaison disciplinaire au prisme de la question des sources in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 739-46 | L’histoire de la construction utilise-t-elle les mêmes sources que l’histoire de l’architecture ? Dans quelles mesures les archives privées des architectes, collectées et institutionnalisées en France à partir des années 1980, constituent des sources pertinentes pour l’histoire de la construction contemporaine ? Cette proposition de communication entend questionner les liens et les échanges entre ces deux disciplines par le prisme de leurs rapports aux sources historiques et plus particulièrement, aux archives des architectes. Elle se propose de mettre en exergue la contribution de la collection de fonds d’archives de l’Institut Français d’Architecture à l’écriture de l’histoire de la construction, tout en interrogeant leurs limites (focus sur un seul des acteurs de la construction, faiblesse des éléments relatifs aux matériaux, aux techniques, aux ambiances...). Inversement, les archives d’architectes retiennent souvent des informations relatives à des bâtiments qui pâtissent d’un défaut de valorisation dans le champ de l’histoire de l’architecture (infrastructures, aménagements urbains, voies et circulations...) On soulignera également l’intérêt pour l’histoire de la construction de certaines typologies de documents présentes dans les fonds d’architectes qui ne sont d’ordinaire pas privilégiées par les historiens de l’architecture et de l’art (réglementation, documents budgétaires, suivis du chantier,...). Dans un second temps, la communication se proposera d’étudier, dans une perspective historiographique, les écarts méthodologiques de ces deux disciplines parentes en interrogeant leurs usages respectifs des sources au cours des trente dernières années. | sources, historiographie, architecte, méthodologie, métier du bâtiment, chantier. |
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Piavaux, M. & Billen, R., Hallot, P., Adam, J. | 2019 | Le chantier de construction gothique revisite par les releves 3D. L’ exemple de la cathedrale Saint-Paul a Liege in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 747-60 | L’église Saint-Paul à Liège est une vaste collégiale mise en chantier dans les années 1230-1240 et achevée au XVe siècle, et qui a endossé au XIXe siècle le statut de cathédrale du diocèse de Liège après la destruction de la cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Lambert. Elle a fait l’objet entre 2011 et 2015 d’un chantier d’étude interdisciplinaire d’archéologie du bâti, destiné à affiner l’étude des techniques de construction gothiques, au fil d’une analyse systématique des maçonneries, enrichie par des compléments d’étude sur les charpentes. A la faveur d’une collaboration avec l’Unité de Géomatique de l’Université de Liège (R. Billen, P. Hallot) et de recherches connexes, au sein du laboratoire de recherche AcanthuM, exploitant le relevé photogrammétrique assisté par drone (J. Adam), le Laser-Scan et la photomodélisation ont été intégrées à la méthodologie de ce projet. L’enjeu était de mieux cibler les apports et limites de ces technologies à l’étude d’une grande église médiévale. Cette communication dresse le bilan de cette approche. Elle se concentrera moins sur les techniques d’acquisition des données – même si celles-ci seront brièvement rappelées - que sur l’exploitation de ces données graphiques et topographiques par l’archéologue. Elle envisagera à la fois l’apport de ces outils à la compréhension de la structure et des surfaces murales, et les modalités de retraitement des « données brutes » livrées par le Laser-Scan par l’archéologue, que ce soit pour leur harmonisation avec les conventions de représentation de l’archéologie du bâti ou dans la perspective d’une évolution de ces conventions stimulées par les potentialités offertes par le Laser-Scan. Cette communication montrera l’apport respectif et la complémentarité de ces méthodes dans l’analyse de l’architecture gothique et attirera également l’attention sur les problèmes et limites qu’elles recèlent, comme sur les débats méthodologiques menés actuellement en la matière. | mise en œuvre, archéologie, structure, chantier, appareillage, méthodologie, Moyen Age, Belgique |
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Foucher, M. | 2019 | Les metiers de la pierre sur les chantiers des dues de Bourgogne a la fin du Moyen Age. Migrations et savoir-faire in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 761-72 | En confrontant une documentation comptable largement détaillée, aux vestiges bâtis conservés et carrières prospectées, les nombreux chantiers que les ducs de Bourgogne mettent en œuvre, entre le XIVe et le XVe siècle, offrent l’opportunité d’approcher en finesse l’organisation sociale du chantier. Menés dans un laps de temps assez court et souvent simultanément, ces chantiers ont sollicité à la fois une main d’œuvre considérable et des volumes de matières premières tels que la sphère artisanale locale a largement du s’adapter. Au sein même du chantier, parfois entre chantiers parallèles, la documentation éclaire les stratégies mises en œuvre par ceux qui en ont la responsabilité, pour diriger le projet, contrôler sa réalisation, réduire les coûts ou encore encadrer la main d’œuvre. De même, mobiliser un tel volume de matériaux divers, notamment en ce qui concerne la pierre de construction, a également exigé des responsables du chantier une gestion complexe et modulée des ressources de matériaux disponibles, entre carrières achetées ou louées, prospections, achat de pierres sur les marchés et sollicitation de réseaux indépendants. Les sources documentaires dévoilent aussi, en filigrane, l’adaptation des artisans à ces grands chantiers et les différentes stratégies individuelles, ponctuelles ou systématisées, qui vont en découler, que ce soit par les phénomènes d’immigration, la collaboration entre artisans et les transferts de savoir-faire, ou encore l’organisation familiale des métiers. | compte de construction, pierre de construction, carrière, artisans, savoir, faire, stratégie, Moyen Âge |
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Le Franc, E. | 2019 | Devenir architecte en Bretagne au xvne siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 773-81 | Comment devient-on architecte au XVIIe siècle ? Nous savons que l’apprentissage familial prolonge au XVIIe siècle une tradition très ancienne, mais pas exclusive, de transmission du savoir architectural. Nous savons aussi qu’un changement s’opère en France au XVIIe siècle, lorsque certains maîtres maçons prennent le titre d’architecte. Cette transformation s’accompagne-t-elle d’un changement de compétence chez ceux qui adoptent ce titre ? Pour y répondre nous proposons d’analyser le parcours de plusieurs figures d’architectes sur le territoire et dans la période concernée, en nous intéressant à leur milieu d’origine, à leur culture et à leur pratique professionnelle. Pour compléter ce premier point, nous regarderons comment, en l’absence de corporation de métier, se déroule la transmission du savoir en dehors du cadre familial. Nous aborderons cette question, à partir de l’étude de neuf contrats d’apprentissage compris dans la période 1630-1700 pris dans les archives du Morbihan. Cette analyse permettra de mieux comprendre les conditions et les modalités de transmission du savoir du métier de maçon. | architecte, artisan, apprentissage, circulation des savoirs, métiers du bâtiment, modalité d’exercice |
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Le Pabic, C. | 2019 | Mas;ons des villes, mas;ons des champs. Artisans, chantiers et transmission des savoirs en Bretagne au xvme siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 781-90 | La confrontation d’ artisans urbains, d’artisans ruraux et de praticiens savants apparaît lors des réquisitions d’hommes pour les chantiers urbains bretons au XVIII e s. Celles-ci sont déterminantes pour achever plusieurs projets : fortifications, quais, ouvrages d’art... La Modernité fait-elle disparaître ou révèle-t-elle les spécificités de ces acteurs traditionnels, les uns regroupés en jurande et les autres en « métiers libres »? Quelles furent les relations entre leur fonction technique et leur fonction sociale ? Quel rôle eut leur production dans la société et ce rôle a –t-il évolué notamment lors de l’apparition des ingénieurs et de celle des entrepreneurs sous l’Ancien Régime ? Par hypothèse, c’est lors des situations de rencontres professionnelles que se définissent les rôles et les évolutions des métiers. C’est donc dans le chantier pris comme relais de savoirs et lieux de confrontation sociale, technique et culturelle qu’on est amené à chercher la meilleure détermination des rôles que se donnent eux-mêmes ces acteurs ou donnés par les institutions. Si les élites réduisent les maîtres-artisans à de simples exécutants, la société rurale reconnaît la compétence du maître-maçon et sa prééminence sur le charpentier tandis que des experts locaux valident leur pratique. Par l’étude des comptes de travaux, devis, prix-faits, la détermination des conditions de ces chantiers, leur fréquence et les situations de brassage professionnel contribuerait à ancrer ces acteurs dits mineurs dans l’histoire sociale et l’histoire des techniques tout en précisant leur capacité d’évolution vers le salariat ou l’entreprenariat. Enfin, quels enjeux donner à ces brassages ? Le but d’accélérer le chantier, d’augmenter le profit concurrencent la formation et l’acculturation des masses à de nouveaux savoir-faire. | savoir, circulation des savoirs, ingénieur, architecte, artisan, métiers du bâtiment, faire |
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Rolla, N. | 2019 | Espaces sous tensions. Chantiers du batiment et relations de travail a Turin au xvme siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 791-8 | Dans la première moitié du XVIIIe siècle, la croissance démographique et la volonté des souverains d’accroître le prestige de la capitale du royaume furent le moteur d’une période de renouvellement urbanistique de Turin, qui attira maîtres-maçons, maîtres-charpentiers et entrepreneurs des communautés des Alpes du nord-ouest. L’arrivée à Turin constituait une des étapes d’un voyage vers les autres chantiers du Piémont : Turin représentait le centre de négociation des contrats publics signés entre les entreprises et les commanditaires. L’histoire de la construction à Turin au XVIIIe siècle croise celle des parcours migratoires de ces entrepreneurs, arrivés des villages alpins pour travailler dans la capitale et les forteresses du royaume du Piémont et capables de s’imposer sur le marché des commandes publiques. Les contrats signés par la Régie des Bâtiments, chargée de la gestion des chantiers royaux, nous introduisent dans cet univers au moment où les métiers définissent leur champ d’action, les alliances professionnelles déterminent les succès de certains entrepreneurs et les chantiers sont traversés par une forte conflictualité. A partir de l’analyse des contrats publics, cette contribution vise à reconstruire le réseau de liens professionnels que les entrepreneurs surent construire, en montrant leur capacité à élargir leur espace social, en multipliant leurs opportunités professionnelles. L’analyse des contrats nous aide aussi à mieux comprendre la contribution de Filippo Juvarra à la définition des compétences professionnelles, tandis que le transfert de connaissances des entrepreneurs à l’architecte lui donnait accès au savoir local. | contrat, entrepreneur, entreprise de travaux publics, métiers du bâtiment, transfert artistique, architecte, epoque moderne. |
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Plouzennec, Y. | 2019 | L’architecte n’est-il qu’un «agent»? Reflexion sur la place de l’ artiste au sein du service des Batiments civils pendant la Convention thermidorienne in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres FHC (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 799-806 | En 1795, l’architecte Claude Jean-Baptiste Jallier de Savault (1739-1806) est nommé Inspecteur général des constructions de l’École centrale des travaux publics. À ce titre, il travaille pour le compte de la Commission des travaux publics — dirigée par Le Camus et Rondelet — en vue d’accélérer le chantier de ce nouvel établissement scolaire. Comme tous les autres architectes au service de l’État à cette époque (Chalgrin, Gisors, Henry, Hubert, Poyet, Rousselle, etc.), Jallier est qualifié d’« agent » dans la plupart des actes administratifs émanant de la Commission. Ce terme, dont l’usage devient courant à partir de la Constituante, est révélateur d’une volonté de rationalisation et d’uniformisation de l’administration. Dans le cadre d’une réclamation concernant ses appointements, Jallier va rejeter catégoriquement le titre d’« agent » que la Commission lui attribue : « Ce nom [...] m’a étonné et j’ai compris que c’était encore une de ces circonstances où les mots sont des erreurs, et où il faut commencer par définir le sens que l’on y attache, avant d’en faire l’application ». Tenant à la spécificité de son statut d’architecte, il cherche à démontrer que le terme d’agent ne correspond en rien à la hiérarchie professionnelle d’un chantier et est tout à fait incohérent au vu des missions qui lui sont attribuées. Cette réaction, au-delà de la question purement terminologique, révèle les réticences qu’ont pu manifester certains architectes face au remembrement des institutions encadrant leur profession. Sur fond de crise politique, économique et sociale, cet épisode mineur donne à voir la réalité du métier d’architecte et les enjeux individuels et collectifs de la réforme centralisatrice des Bâtiments civils. | Architecte, Chantier, Travail, Époque moderne, XIXe siècle, France |
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Bienvenu, G. | 2019 | Heurs et malheurs d’un pont d’architecte a Nantes, sous l’oeil des Ponts et Chaussees (1791-1838). Le pont a double rampe des Petits-Murs de Mathurin Crucy in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres FHC(Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 807-18 | Le projet du pont des Petits-Murs appartient au XVIIIe siècle ; les péripéties qui conduisent à la démolition des parties exécutées appartiennent au XIXe siècle et relèvent de la politique du directeur général des ponts et chaussées de l’Empire Crétet poursuivie par les régimes postérieurs. L’architecte de la ville doit résoudre un double problème : relier deux rives et relier ville haute et ville basse. Massif, le pont à double rampe que conçoit Crucy en 1791 s’inscrit dans la discipline du retour à l’antique, pensé comme un élément de l’artefact urbain, plus un espace public qui lie deux quais qu’un objet technique qui franchit un obstacle. La première phase du chantier est conduite « par voie d’économie », avant arrêt du chantier par manque de fonds. Lorsque les travaux en élévation sont adjugés en 1808 sur le projet initial actualisé en 1797, le chantier est désormais sous l’autorité des ingénieurs des ponts et chaussées. Après un abandon d’une quinzaine d’années, la reprise du chantier fait apparaître des désordres dans la structure du pont fondée sur des pieux de 4 à 10 mètres. Malgré l’énergie déployée par l’ingénieur en chef Duboys-Dessauzais pour sauver un pont dont la qualité architecturale lui fait minimiser les désordres, la direction des ponts et chaussées aura raison du pont devenu franchissement du canal de Nantes à Brest et non plus pont urbain. La communication présentera le contexte spatial, l’architecture du pont, les tentatives de résistance de la mairie de Nantes à la prise de pouvoir des ponts et chaussées sur les ouvrages communaux sous l’Empire et les arguments développés pour ou contre le maintien du pont, les divers ponts de remplacement projetés, enfin la solution finalement retenue, démolition et construction d’un modeste pont en amont, simple franchissement du canal, sans vouloir s’attacher aux difficultés topographiques de la ville. | pont, architecte, ingénieur, Crucy, Crétet, Duboys, Dessauzais, Polonceau, fondations, économie, Nantes |
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Vandenabeele, L., Bertels, I. & Wouters, I. | 2019 | Le savoir-faire des constructeurs de charpentes en bois en Belgique au XIXe siede in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 819-30 | L’emploi du fer, qui se généralisa dans le domaine de la construction belge vers la moitié du XIXe siècle, apparut comme une alternative de choix face aux matériaux traditionnels. Néanmoins, le bois continua encore longtemps à être utilisé pour les constructions intérieures telles que les charpentes de toitures. En Belgique, ces structures en bois que l’on retrouve aujourd’hui dans de nombreux bâtiments à caractère public (hôtels de ville, écoles, gares, casernes, etc.) restent encore largement méconnues. L’étude de la littérature scientifique et technique de l’époque illustre bien l’influence des avancées de l’ingénierie du fer sur la conception des charpentes en bois (dimensionnement, typologies et assemblages), permettant ainsi d’établir un cadre théorique général pour la période étudiée. Cependant, l’étude de cas reste une approche incontournable afin de comprendre la mise en place de ces nouveaux procédés dans la pratique constructive. De plus, l’analyse et la comparaison de projets spécifiques offrent un aperçu détaillé de la contribution des artisans, entrepreneurs, architectes et ingénieurs au cours des différentes phases de conception et de construction des charpentes en bois. Pour ce faire, une sélection de charpentes de bâtiments publics belges construits entre 1830 et 1914 a été étudiée. À partir de l’analyse de documents d’archives (cahiers des charges, plans, correspondances, devis, etc.) et de relevés in situ, nous déterminons l’impact des différents intervenants à chaque phase du chantier, depuis le choix des matériaux jusqu’à la conception des assemblages. Nous positionnons également leurs savoir-faire dans les cadres professionnel et éducationnel de la Belgique au XIXe siècle. Ainsi, l’analyse de ces réalisations permet d’éclairer, au travers des savoirs et savoir-faire des hommes de métier, les schémas de diffusion de l’innovation scientifique et technique dans une pratique constructive traditionnellement régie par l’empirisme. | matériau traditionnel, métiers du bâtiment, savoir, faire, structure, Belgique, XIXe siècle |
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Barron, G. | 2019 | Aux sources de l’histoire de la construction navale: l’oeuvre imprimee et museale d’Edmond Paris in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 831-42 | Un siècle avant la redécouverte du patrimoine nautique et les reconstitutions de bateaux traditionnels ou anciens, les bases méthodologiques de l’ethnographie nautique et de l’archéologie navale ont été posées par Edmond Pâris (1806-1893). Il a milité pour faire du bateau un monument à conserver et de la construction navale un objet d’histoire dans la logique patrimoniale et archéologique qui se développe au XIXe siècle autour des constructions terriennes. Présenter ce volet des travaux d’Edmond Pâris peut donc s’apparenter à proposer une épistémologie de l’histoire de la construction navale. Cet officier de marine engagé dans la révolution maritime, qui voit les flottes de guerre et de commerce passer de la voile à la vapeur et du bois au fer, a en outre su conjuguer conservation et innovation. La construction navale hauturière, qui avait atteint un palier qualitatif à la fin du XVIIIe siècle, doit se réinventer au XIXe siècle pour s’adapter à la propulsion par la vapeur. Fasciné tant par le génie des ingénieurs que par le savoir-faire des constructeurs artisanaux, Pâris s’est inspiré tant des apports de la science que des solutions techniques traditionnelles pour perfectionner la construction navale contemporaine ; il a rédigé bon nombre d’ouvrages techniques pour mettre les conceptions des savants et des ingénieurs à la portée des usagers des navires à vapeur, marins comme mécaniciens ; il a enfin oeuvré pour rendre la navigation à vapeur plus économe en combustible. Grâce à sa vaste expérience, Pâris a mené une réflexion sur l’articulation entre forme et usage et entre construction navale et espace maritime, les qualités nautiques d’une embarcation déterminant ses capacités de mobilité et la maîtrise d’un espace géographique. Appliquant son œuvre conservatrice à la marine la plus moderne, il s’est attaché à préserver la mémoire des étapes de la transition voile/vapeur. | espace de circulation, archéologie, navigation, construction navale, machine, maîtrise de l’énergie |
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Bauer, C. | 2019 | Entre local et (inter)national, le role des reseaux clans la commande architecturale (Nancy, XIXe-xx:e siedes) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 843-54 | Notre communication a pour objectif d’interroger de manière diachronique les réseaux dans le milieu de la construction, en prenant pour exemple la ville de Nancy au XIXe et XXe siècle. En étudiant leur nature (amicale, associative, institutionnelle, politique, professionnelle) et leur échelle (locale, nationale, internationale), il s’agira de comprendre comment les acteurs de la construction (architectes, ingénieurs, entrepreneurs) initient ces réseaux et les font évoluer afin de développer leur clientèle. En partant du postulat que l’acte de bâtir est une œuvre collective dont la maîtrise d’ouvrage constitue l’un des premiers maillons, notre étude souhaite ainsi dénouer les fils des stratégies professionnelles. Pour répondre à notre questionnement, nous mettrons en tension les différentes échelles de ces réseaux : le rôle primordial de l’élite locale dans la structuration d’un réseau de clientèle, et a contrario, la nécessité d’une reconnaissance nationale et internationale pour l’entretenir. À Nancy, les familles d’architectes, d’entrepreneurs et d’artistes se retrouvent autour de constructions majeures de la ville, pour lesquelles elles sont tour à tour collaboratrices ou commanditaires. La participation à de grandes manifestations internationales et l’adhésion à des groupements tant institutionnels qu’artistiques permettent aux architectes et entrepreneurs de promouvoir leur statut social. En parallèle de la commande privée, les relations aux pouvoirs publics s’étendent de l’échelon municipal à la sphère étatique, témoignant des modifications des modes de production. Alors que l’implication d’entrepreneurs et d’architectes dans le conseil municipal est en effet attestée dès le milieu du XIXe siècle, c’est en usant de gentleman’s agreement au commencement de la Seconde Guerre mondiale que certains maîtres d’œuvre pourront s’assurer d’un monopole régional de la construction auprès d’administrations publiques, qui perdurera alors durant plusieurs décennies. | Modalité d’exercice, Commande, Temporalité, Architecte, Ingénieur, Entrepreneur |
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Delpech, V. | 2019 | Une ecole viollet-le-ducienne. Disciples et continuateurs de Viollet-le-Duc in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 855-64 | S’il est bien connu que Viollet-le-Duc est une figure influente de l’architecture des XIXe et XXe siècles, on ne peut en dire autant de ses continuateurs, souvent sujets à idées préconçues. Par un raccourci confortable, ces architectes lui sont souvent entièrement amalgamés, comme s’ils n’avaient aucune autonomie et capacité de penser : « c’est un élève de Viollet-le-Duc » entend-on trop souvent devant telle ou telle restauration diocésaine. Or, l’attribution de tant d’élèves ne correspond pas toujours à la réalité, tel Boeswillwald formé par Labrouste, ou Baudot à l’Ecole des Beaux-arts ; quand certains de ses véridiques disciples, eux, savent exprimer une réelle personnalité artistique et s’affranchir de l’esthétique médiévale, tel Duthoit et son éclectisme raisonné ou Parvillée, céramiste théoricien orientaliste. Boeswillwald, Baudot, Ouradou, Narjoux, Duthoit, Parvillée, Bourgoin, Corroyer, Bucknall et tant d’autres ont collaboré de près ou de loin avec le maître du néogothique, qui des restaurateurs, qui des élèves appliqués, mais encore des bâtisseurs et des théoriciens transmetteurs de leurs visions de ses doctrines. Considérant l’école viollet-le-ducienne moins au sens d’atelier que de mouvement de pensée, il s’agira d’en définir les contours et la genèse : en s’intéressant à la diversité des œuvres matérielles ou publiées de ceux qui y adhérèrent de son vivant et constituent le maillon entre cette vision originelle et l’architecture moderne ; en faisant émerger aussi l’hétérogénéité de leurs liens avec Viollet-le-Duc : élèves, collaborateurs, disciples « d’esprit », continuateurs. Comment ces disciples ont-ils restitué ses doctrines ? Comment définir cette école viollet-le-ducienne et mettre en relief sa survivance ? Se réduit-elle au sacro-saint historicisme gothique ? | Circulation des savoirs, enseignement, professeur, XIXe siècle, France, Viollet, le, Duc |
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Guillerm, E. | 2019 | Artistes, architectes, industriels et promoteurs: la fabrication d’empires immobiliers. De la SAGI a la COFIMEG (1930-1973) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 873-80 | La communication propose de mettre en lumière le rôle de la maîtrise d’ouvrage privée dans la constitution des formes de l’histoire de l’architecture. Le groupe André Weil, fondé en 1930 sous l’égide de la SAGI et appelé à se renforcer après-guerre, constitue au long de son existence un maître d’ouvrage prépondérant, qui développe une stratégie architecturale spécifique. Mais sa capacité à dominer le marché de la construction de logements va de pair avec une relative discrétion historiographique ; pourtant, la genèse et l’évolution de ce groupe immobilier permettent d’analyser l’architecture au prisme des stratégies économiques et des politiques d’investissement du secteur de la construction. Du logement social à la création d’équipements, voire d’aménagements, un puissant maître d’ouvrage comme celui-ci mérite une étude approfondie, tant sa production se distingue dans le secteur. D’une part, son carnet de commandes mobilise un réseau d’investisseurs et d’acteurs, allant de la sphère technique à la scène artistique. L’appel récurrent aux mêmes figures encourage la création de styles et renforce des signatures architecturales. Le groupe favorise certains praticiens (Heckly), courtise des plasticiens de renom (Philolaos), lance ses propres filières et bureaux d’études, appelle à ses côtés des hauts-fonctionnaires et s’appuie sur des secteurs puissants (sidérurgie). D’autre part, les conditions même de la commande – logement collectif à grande échelle, intégration d’arts plastiques et mécénat – structurent et ouvrent des champs d’application parfois inédits pour les créateurs dans la ville. L’analyse cartographiera les stratégies de la promotion immobilière, en incluant dans cette histoire économique une histoire de la production architecturale et visuelle, mettant en lumière l’architecture à l’épreuve de son économie. | Architecte, Entreprise, Économie, XXe siècle, France |
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Mornati, S. | 2019 | Le Stade Flaminio de Pier Luigi Nervi - architecture et technique (1956-1959) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 881-93 | La candidature de la ville de Rome aux jeux olympiques de 2024 souligne à nouveau la nécessité de devoir s’attaquer de toute urgence au Stade Flaminio, l’un des chef-d’oeuvre de l’ingénieur Pier Luigi Nervi, construit pour les jeux olympiques de 1960. Cet ouvrage est le résultat d’un concours lancé par le CONI (Comité Olympique National Italien) en 1956 et remporté par l’entreprise Nervi & Bartoli ayant présenté le projet de Nervi. Leur proposition se distingue de par la brillante solution apportée face aux prescriptions fonctionnelles du concours et les conditions de l’offre économiquement très avantageuse. Nervi dessine un bâtiment aux lignes souples, harmonieuses, s’intégrant parfaitement dans un contexte urbain, comme le concours l’exigeait. Les gradins se développent de manière continue sur tout le périmètre et l’inclinaison variable des tribunes garantit une excellente visibilité. D’un point de vue structurel, le projet prévoit des jets réalisés sur place pour les structures périmétriques et des éléments préfabriqués pour les gradins et les éléments en V de la couverture de la tribune d’honneur, également soutenue par des piliers tubulaires en acier. Nervi a de nouveau la possibilité de s’assurer de la validité des systèmes de construction qu’il a conçus et pour lesquels l’alliance de la “préfabrication structurelle” et du “ferrociment” représente une technique de construction efficace pour les ouvrages présentant des caractéristiques de série. En outre, c’est l’occasion pour Nervi d’étudier un nouveau système de gradins qu’il brevète en 1957. À la lumière de cette candidature olympique qui place le stade sous observation afin de l’adapter aux standards normatifs et fonctionnels, ainsi que d’éviter la transformation d’un chef-d’oeuvre reconnu au niveau international, il devient fondamental d’affirmer l’importance de ce complexe dans le cadre du patrimoine architectural italien. | Nervi, stades, technique, architecture, les chantiers de construction, préfabriqué, béton armé |
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Garnier, L. | 2019 | La construction des paysages clans les villae residentielles de l’ltalie romaine in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 893-902 | A partir des données des textes et de l’archéologie, cette communication s’intéressera à la construction du paysage, entendu comme ensemble des caractères et des formes d’un lieu, dans les grandes villas de plaisance édifiées par l’aristocratie romaine en Italie à la fin de la République et au début de l’Empire. A l’échelle des différentes résidences, le paysage des villas est bel et bien construit et cette construction du paysage prend plusieurs formes, que l’on pourra envisager successivement. D’une part, l’espace dans lequel ces résidences extra-urbaines prennent place est aménagé pour leur construction, qui entraîne des modifications plus ou moins importantes de la configuration des lieux (par exemple par le biais d’opérations de terrassement et de nivellement). L’espace naturel est ainsi construit et devient un paysage architecturé ; il est transformé par l’architecture et à travers cette transformation s’instaure bien souvent un rapport de domination du paysage par l’architecture de la villa. D’autre part, la construction du paysage des villas se traduit également par l’aménagement de jardins : des thèmes naturels et paysagers sont mis en œuvre de manière à créer un paysage, qui est alors un paysage domestique construit, rationnellement pensé et organisé, en lien étroit avec l’architecture de la villa. Enfin, on ne négligera pas le fait que la construction des paysages passe aussi par la vue, le regard : le paysage, qu’il s’agisse des jardins ou de l’environnement extérieur, peut être construit en fonction de la perspective offerte depuis les bâtiments de la villa. La construction des paysages apparaît dès lors sous-tendue par un double impératif, caractéristique de l’architecture des grandes villas de plaisance romaines : il s’agit d’une part d’être bien visible dans le paysage, tout en manifestant une maîtrise de la nature, et d’autre part de jouir de la vue la plus agréable sur ce paysage. | paysage, jardin, espace naturel, archéologie, Antiquité, Italie |
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Pinon, M. | 2019 | Le domaine de Percanville: analyse architecturale de la propriete des gouverneurs du Havre au XVIe siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 903-12 | En 1564, Charles IX nomme Corbeyran de Cardaillac de Sarlabos gouverneur du Havre, afin de repousser les Anglais et d’assurer la sécurité de la navigation de commerce. La nomination de Sarlabos n’est pas le fruit du hasard. Ce Gascon s’est illustré dans de nombreuses batailles contre les Anglais, aux côtés du duc de Guise notamment. Il se charge, dès lors, de faire réparer les fortifications endommagées pendant le siège de la ville. Satisfait de ses services, Charles IX lui fait don de terres à proximité de la citadelle prévue initialement pour l’agrandissement de la ville. Cette zone est alors dénommée « New haven » par les Anglais puis « Hable neuf» par les Français. Plus tard, Guillaume de Marceilles use d’un nouveau toponyme, celui de « Parquanville », devenu rapidement« Percanville » désignant un champ clos situé dans l’enceinte de la ville. Sur cette place, Corbeyran de Sarlabos fait construire un domaine avec « maisons à demeurer, granges, estables, colombier et un moulin à vent et beau jardin clos de murailles » La localisation précise de cette propriété diverge suivant les historiens. Dans le cadre de cette communication nous réaliserons une description précise de la propriété en confrontant les sources bibliographiques et les rares documents iconographiques. Puis, nous nous attèlerons à une restitution graphique plausible ce domaine agricole grâce aux archives du XVIIe. Ce travail est rendu possible grâce à la conservation d’un mémoire de travaux en date de 1688 pour d’importantes réparations sur le domaine. La quasi-totalité des corps d’état y est représentée : gros œuvre, charpente, couverture, menuiserie, serrurerie, vitrerie. L’analyse précise de ces travaux de réparation (dimension des ouvrages, quantité etc...) ainsi que leur description devraient nous permettre d’esquisser la disposition architecturale de ce domaine et ainsi de mieux comprendre le paysage des faubourgs d’une ville portuaire au XVIe siècle. | archéologie, chantier, espace rural, parcs, zones maritimes |
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De Séjournet, D. | 2019 | un chantier royal au XIXe siecle: la serre du jardin d’hiver au palais de Laeken en Belgique in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 913-20 | Le vif intérêt que manifeste le Roi Léopold II pour la botanique et l’horticulture, conduit celui-ci à ériger, au cours de la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle, un ensemble de serres à Laeken. Des conseils pris auprès de l’architecte Alphonse Balat, de l’horticulteur gantois Jean Linden et du paysagiste anglais John Wills naît une véritable cité de métal et de verre consacrée à une collection de près d’un millier de plantes exotiques. La maîtrise et l’originalité avec laquelle Balat traduit magistralement les possibilités techniques et industrielles de la fonte, du fer, de l’acier et du verre en une architecture monumentale auront un impact déterminant sur l’évolution architecturale en Belgique. Si les aspects techniques de la construction de ces serres d’exception ont fait l’objet de travaux de recherche, le suivi du chantier n’a que peu été abordé. Le déroulement et la planification d’un chantier, le respect des délais, la fréquence des réunions de chantier, la répartition des tâches et le rôle des différents intervenants ainsi que la sélection de techniques et de matériaux appropriés représentent cependant un intérêt privilégié pour l’historien de la construction. Si l’organisation concrète d’un chantier reste un sujet difficile à étudier, la découverte récente d’une source rare, une série d’agendas de l’architecte Balat, permet d’éclairer ces différents aspects de la gestion des chantiers de construction au XIXe siècle. L’étude de cas que représente le suivi de la construction du Jardin d’Hiver, la serre la plus emblématique de ce labyrinthe de verre et d’acier, se base sur les annotations de l’architecte Balat, confrontées à la correspondance que le Roi entretient avec son architecte, aux plans et autres documents conservés aux archives du Palais royal de Bruxelles ainsi qu’au catalogue d’une des entreprises principales impliquées dans le projet et déposé à la Bibliothèque nationale d’Espagne. | architecte, chantier, contrat, entrepreneur, métiers du bâtiment, montage, structure |
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Aprea, S. | 2019 | Une pierre miliaire clans l’ evolution des fondations en puits: les caissons perforateurs du premier pont ferroviaire sur le Rhin a Kehl, 1857-1858 in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 921-8 | Les premiers accords entre la France et le grand-duché de Bade pour relier les chemins de fer des deux pays remontent à l’année 1854. Ils prévoient le prolongement de la ligne entre Paris et Strasbourg jusqu’à Kehl, par moyen d’un pont sur le Rhin dont la construction fait l’objet de traités internationaux et de recherches techniques avancées. Le défi majeur concerne les fondations, conçues en 1857 comme tubes de fonte enfoncés dans le sol à l’aide d’air comprimé, mais réalisées en 1859 par moyen de caissons pressurisés, équipés des tuyaux de service. L’élaboration de cette technique est issue de l’analyse des contraintes locales et fait appel à plusieurs modèles précédents se servant de l’air comprimé: les tubes en fonte utilisés en Angleterre pour construire le pont de Rochester et, en France, pour creuser les puits de mines ainsi que pour construire deux ponts sur la Saône; les cloches de plongée utilisées en Angleterre dans la construction du pont de Saltasch; et les caissons imaginés, en Allemagne, par l’architecte Pfannmüller et par l’ingénieur Von Weiler. Après avoir été terminées, les fondations de Kehl agissent de modèles pour d’autres constructions similaires. Le tablier métallique, quant à lui, sera constitué de deux ponts en arc et trois poutres en treillis. La contribution proposée analysera en détail la conception et la construction du pont de Kehl, des premiers accords internationaux à la réalisation du tablier. Elle se situe dans la branche “Processus de conception/processus de construction” mais touchera également les thématiques de la complexité règlementaire, de la coprésence de différents acteurs et de la circulation des savoirs. | pont, fondation, projet constructif, chantier, circulation des savoirs, modèle constructif. |
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Brucculeri, A. | 2019 | Langage et construction de l’ architecture au milieu du XIXe siede: l’exemple du palaisde l’Industrie pour l’ exposition universelle de 1855 a Paris in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 929-42 | Après avoir abordé (Lyon 2014) le thème de la construction dans les expositions universelles sous le Second Empire par l’examen des systèmes de classification des matériaux mis en place dans le cadre de ces manifestations, nous souhaitons explorer, à l’occasion du congrès de Nantes, les relations entre dimension formelle et constructive de la conception architecturale par l’étude d’un bâtiment tel le palais de l’Industrie conçu à l’occasion de la première exposition universelle de Paris. Pendant longtemps mis en ombre par le Crystal Palace, réalisé quatre ans plus tôt à Londres, cet édifice mérite un regard plus attentif. Sa composition formelle, sa définition structurelle, voire sa réalisation s’avèrent, à bien des égards, exemplaires de la culture à la fois architecturale et constructive du milieu du XIXe siècle en France. Elles restituent ce rapport entre langage et construction alliant historicisme et modernité, que visent à la même époque des programmes au statut différent à l’échelle de la capitale, depuis le cas de la bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève jusqu’aux premiers projets pour les Halles centrales ou les nouveaux terminus ferroviaires en cours de réalisation. Quelles relations entre le monde de l’ingénierie et celui de l’architecture reflètent les interventions des divers concepteurs de l’édifice : Victor Viel, Alexis Cendrier et Alexis Barrault ? De quelle manière les performances de la construction métallique sont exploitées dans ce bâtiment d’envergure exceptionnelle ? Quels liens s’instaurent entre ces performances et la conception d’une enveloppe en maçonnerie qui parle, elle, le langage de la Renaissance ? À travers l’apport de sources manuscrites et imprimées, mais aussi à travers la lecture de la fabrique de l’édifice que permettent les archives peu explorées du fonds du Grand Palais (Archives nationales), nous analyserons la conception et l’exécution de ce bâtiment destiné à marquer le paysage parisien jusqu’à la fin du XIXe siècle. | architecte, chantier, ingénieur, matériau industriel, matériau traditionnel, projet constructif |
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de Fossé, M., Bertels, I. & Wouters, I. | 2019 | Les caracteristiques constructives des depots a Molenbeek-Saint-Jean (1840-1930) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 943-56 | A partir du milieu du XIXe siècle, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean se développa le long du Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi, comme extension du port historique de Bruxelles qui était situé autour de la Senne. L’accessibilité à l’eau ainsi que le premier chemin de fer engendrèrent une importante industrie, ce qui lui a valu l’appellation le petit Manchester belge. Le développement de cette industrie fut largement stimulé par la disponibilité de charbon, acheminé par le canal de la région houillère du Centre. Une quarantaine de dépôts historiques molenbeekois construits entre 1880 à 1930 ont été répertoriés. Ils appartiennent aux principaux secteurs économiques: la production et le commerce de matériaux de construction et d’industrie ainsi que de produits alimentaires et le commerce de produits coloniaux. Ces dépôts se prêtent à une recherche typologique liée à l’histoire de la construction. Leur construction se fit initialement en bois, puis en fonte et acier et finalement en béton. La recherche devra déterminer si leur construction a joué un rôle de précurseur dans l’évolution de la construction en général, tant au niveau local qu’international. Elle devra également établir le lien entre d’une part les marchandises stockées et d’autre part les caractéristiques des dépôts et de leur construction. Enfin, elle devra trancher la question de la spécificité propre des entrepôts dans l’aménagement portuaire de Bruxelles sur le territoire molenbeekois. L’étude fait partie de recherches en matière de dépôts à la VUB. Elle se base sur L’Inventaire industriel de l’architecture industriel de l’agglomération de Bruxelles (1980) et est complétée par la consultation des archives des permis de construction et d’environnement et par des visites in situ. Les espaces ouverts et les structures apparentes des dépôts facilitent l’étude des méthodes et matériaux de construction. | Aménagement portuaire, Matériau industriel, Industrie, Économie, Structure, Bruxelles |
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Huitorel, G. | 2019 | Du modele en atelier aux tests in situ: les experimentations constructives des freres Metayer clans la campagne rennaise (1840-1920) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 957-68 | Dès le début du XIXe siècle, l’architecture agricole se prête à des expérimentations constructives testées grandeur nature, dont rendent compte des publications précoces comme celles de François Cointeraux (1791-1826) ou de Menjot d’Elbenne (1808) sur des maçonneries de terre crue ou des charpentes. Le cas méconnu des frères Métayer, que je me propose d’exposer dans cette communication, s’inscrit dans cette tradition. Les bâtiments agricoles conservés et le fonds d’archives privées de plus de 2000 documents qui retracent la production écrite et graphique d’Octave Métayer entre 1850 et 1920 (dessins, plans, métrés, devis, échanges avec fermiers et entreprises...), révèlent un processus de conception et d’innovation constructive et sa concrétisation sur le terrain. Entrepreneurs agricoles du Pays rennais, les frères Métayer, à partir du domaine d’une vingtaine de fermes reçues en héritage, élaborent de nouveaux dispositifs constructifs. Ils conçoivent des fermes modernes, conjuguant la technique traditionnelle de maçonnerie de terre crue en bauge à des modèles de charpentes semi-industrielles bois-métal : une hybridation constructive, a priori contradictoire, qui fait l’objet de manipulations. À partir de l’étude d’un groupe restreint d’édifices présentant des caractéristiques techniques communes, nous nous attacherons à montrer comment les expérimentations s’effectuent en trois étapes croisées. Les dessins accompagnés de notes de calcul préparent la fabrication des maquettes. Dans l’atelier d’expérimentation qu’il construit vers 1855, l’entrepreneur met au point des prototypes à l’échelle du 1 : 10e. Sur le terrain, la construction des charpentes comme les pannes sous-tendues font figure de test grandeur. Les échanges avec les entreprises de construction et les retours d’expériences des fermiers font également partie du processus de conception. Dans le temps, chaque nouvelle réalisation profite des améliorations précédentes. | Espace rural, entrepreneur, matériau industriel, matériau traditionnel, modalité d’exercice, modèle constructif. |
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Santiago, E. | 2019 | Bricolage de pointe: constructions experimentales en contexte etranger pendant la Grande Guerre in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 969-80 | Nous savons tant à propos des architectes qui ont conçu les bâtiments novateurs des années 1920 et 1930, lançant en même temps un mouvement moderne qui impactera profondément l’architecture successive du vingtième siècle. Pourtant, nous en savons beaucoup moins sur les entrepreneurs et entreprises qui ont construit ces bâtiments précurseurs. Qui étaient-ils? Comment ont-ils exécuté des projets architecturaux motivés par l’ambition de rompre avec le passé? Quels rapports entre les techniques de construction employées, l’organisation des chantiers et la main d’oeuvre, et les idées spatiales ou esthétiques imaginées par les architectes? Pour ce troisième Congrès Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction, je propose une conférence orale qui répondra à ces questions en privilégiant le contexte des entrepreneurs français, et particulièrement ceux basés dans la région Parisienne. *** Pendant les années 20 et 30, beaucoup architectes occidentaux s’emparent avec engouement du sujet des matériaux nouveaux. L’idée que le développement de l’architecture moderne dépend directement du progrès des moyens de construction provoque de nombreux débats, tout en attirant toujours plus d’amateurs. Plusieurs historiens et critiques de cette époque promeuvent les oeuvres innovatrices de certains jeunes architectes en affirmant qu’elles découlent tout simplement du progrès technique. Quelques décennies plus tard, des nouvelles générations d’historiens se dressent contre cette idée, depuis devenue courante. Ils démontrent que la réalité constructive des immeubles modernistes s’écarte souvent loin des propos excessivement optimistes, déterministes, et simplistes de leurs défenseurs. Ces polémiques historiographiques ont longtemps négligé la place de l’entrepreneur. Pourtant, les entrepreneurs jouent un rôle capital, pas du tout passif, dans la transformation d’un projet architectural en oeuvre construite. | Historiographie, Matériau Traditionnel, Matériau Industriel, Métiers du Bâtiment, Entrepreneur, Architecte |
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Pantet, A. & Eleta-Defilippis R., Valtier I. & Chevé, M. | 2019 | Le chantier de la reconstruction de la ville du Havre in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 981-90 | Après-guerre, le MRU confie la reconstruction de la Ville du Havre à Auguste Perret, Architecte et Entrepreneur expérimenté, qui s’entoure d’un groupe d’Architectes, créant ainsi l’Atelier Perret en juillet 1945. Le chantier havrais est souvent décrit comme un chantier expérimental de grande ampleur (150 ha), avec une trame caractéristique de 6,24 m et l’emploi massif de la préfabrication. Le secteur classé de la ville du Havre sur la liste du patrimoine Mondial de l’UNESCO depuis 2005 correspond à la zone reconstruite. En se basant certes sur le vaste travail documentaire du dossier UNESCO, largement argumenté et fourni, mais aussi d’autres références bibliographiques, il est intéressant de préciser les conditions de réalisation de ce chantier. L’ampleur du projet est à l’origine d’une organisation, conduisant non seulement à une pré-industrialisation du béton, mais aussi à la planification des tâches et la gestion des hommes et des matériaux (cadence, gestion des stocks, arrivée des matériaux.....). Les constructeurs ont certes réalisé les études de stabilité, et ont réalisé les plans de Perret, mais ils ont aussi mis en place des outils de la planification en regard de la gestion humaine avec l’organisation du travail et la sécurité, de la gestion du matériel, avec l’usage des coffrages pour la construction et pour la préfabrication et leurs moyens de levage, et de la gestion financière. Par ailleurs, à la fonction de l’ouvrage, à son esthétisme, à sa solidité il faut examiner aussi la possibilité matérielle pour les habitants de l’acquérir. Dans ce travail, l’ensemble bâti est examiné durant sa phase de construction non seulement sous ses aspects architecturaux et techniques, en liaison avec tous les corps d’état, de l’Architecte, aux Décideurs, aux Ingénieurs et aux Ouvriers qui l’ont construit mais aussi pour répondre à des besoins sociaux et économiques. | économie, entrepreneur, ingénieur, architecte, projet constructif, confort et santé |
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Greco, L. | 2019 | Machine a batir: standardisation de la construction et prefabrication structurelle dans le projet de Pier Luigi Nervi pour la creation de l’usine Cromo de Venaria Reale (1962-1964) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme CFHC (Nantes June 2017) pp. 991-1000 | Cette étude propose d’analyser, à partir de documents d’archives en partie inédits, la construction de l’usine Fiat Cromo de Venaria Reale, projetée par Pier Luigi Nervi. Elle permet de comprendre l’évolution des processus de construction du XX siècle et le passage de la construction proto-industrialisée aux systèmes modernes de préfabrication industrielle en Italie. L’usine est née d’une collaboration allant de 1947 jusqu’au milieu des années soixante entre l’ingénieur italien, son entreprise de construction et la Société Constructions Fiat. Cette coopération est intéressante pour ses méthodes de programmation et de contrôle des processus projectuel et de construction. Nervi y applique les principes de son modus operandi (standardisation des éléments de construction, préfabrication structurelle, contrôle des outils et de la durée des travaux), transformant le processus projectuel et de construction en une machine à bâtir originale. Le noyau d’origine de l’usine Cromo de Venaria Reale offre une démonstration de la méthode appliquée. Les choix projectuels, vérifiés en termes de faisabilité durant la conception du projet, deviennent des procédures rigoureuses d’exécution proto-industrialisées durant la réalisation de l’ouvrage. La durée et les mécanismes appartenant au processus projectuel s’unissent à la durée et aux techniques au moment de l’exécution, faisant appel à la tradition artisanale et aux innovations proto-industrielles. Cet article entend étudier la mise au point des procédés de construction pour la réalisation des murs de l’édifice grâce à de grands panneaux préfabriqués et des structures de couverture en ferrociment (8942 pièces de 82 formes différentes préfabriquées sur le chantier). | Artisanat, Assemblage, constructeur, ingénieur, projet constructif, mise en œuvre |
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Lavenu, M. | 2019 | La notice de montage des Mille clubs: les conditions de la diffusion de l’ art de l’ assemblage in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1001-10 | L’enjeu de cette contribution est d’interroger à partir d’un corpus architectural du XX° siècle : les "1000 clubs de jeunes" (1967-1977), un outil singulier rarement convoqué dans le champ du processus de conception et de construction : celui de la notice de montage. Principalement réservée aux objets, la notice de montage permet d’achever par soi-même avec le recours à des primo-outils la réalisation d’un artéfact conçu par autrui. Dans le champ de l’architecure, quelques précurseurs liés à la préfabrication de la construction, à l’instar de Jean Prouvé, se sont confrontés à cette question en explorant et explicitant les conditions de l’assemblage de leur conception. Ces démarches singulières n’ont pas, pour autant, imprégné la préfabrication en architecture et notamment lors de son apogée en France durant les Trente glorieuses. Dans ce contexte, l’opération des milles clubs pour les jeunes, initiée en 1967 par François Missofffe, ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports, revêt un caractère significatif puisque la conception, adossée à la préfabrication, est une des conditions de la morphogénèse de ces équipements de proximité. Confronté de fait à l’assemblage pour édifier l’équipement livré en kit, la notice de montage est dès lors apparue comme l’outil essentiel et pragmatique adapté pour appréhender la construction de l’édifice et sa complexité. La notice de montage se mue alors en intercesseur de la conception par l’assemblage et devient un moyen de déléguer l’éxécution de l’oeuvre à toutes ses échelles à d’autres et plus spécifiquement à des non-initiés. Architectures normalisées et identitaires, les mille clubs interpellent quant à l’articulation entre maitrise d’oeuvre et éxecution et interrogent les modalités de délégation de l’acte de réaliser. Elles bousculent la compétence d’édifier et contribuent à éclairer les réflexions liées aux enjeux contemporains du projet d’architecure et de l’acte de bâtir tant dans leurs modalités de conception que d’éxécution. | assemblage, chantier, mise en oeuvre, savoir faire, montage, circulation des savoirs |
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Fernandez, V. | 2019 | Reparer ou remplacer? La restauration des facades vitrees des immeubles proteges en France in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1011-24 | Les façades vitrées sont le lieu de réunion et souvent d’affrontement entre apparence architecturale, performance énergétique et confort. Les réglementations thermiques, l’obsolescence matérielle, l’absence de connaissance et de reconnaissance de ses techniques spécifiques entrainent la disparition progressive de cet élément d’architecture, sans que sa genèse et évolution n’aient jamais été véritablement investiguées. Cette proposition de communication porte sur le défi que représente la restauration des édifices vitrés protégés comme Monuments Historiques, construits entre 1930 et 1970 en France. Elle dresse un état des lieux des techniques employées, des pratiques et des doctrines des architectes spécialisés afin de montrer leurs difficultés mais aussi de proposer des évolutions. Comme leurs matériaux sont peu pérennes, les façades en métal et verre sont particulièrement étudiées. Entre réparation et amélioration permettant de nouveaux usages, nous questionnons plusieurs exemples de rénovation des œuvres de Le Corbusier, Marcel Lods et Jean Prouvé. La méthode de recherche consiste à croiser les archives des architectes, celles de la médiathèque du patrimoine, la littérature technique et les relevés réalisés in situ. Ce travail est l’occasion de contribuer à la construction d’un champ du savoir relativement nouveau où peu de recherche de type académique a été produite et où les travaux scientifiques utiles à la rénovation sont relativement disparates. En quoi la recherche en histoire des techniques peut-elle aider le projet de conservation-restauration? Au-delà de l’observation des techniques actuelles, nous voulons questionner les raisons pour lesquelles la matérialité d’origine est rarement conservée. La comparaison avec des études de cas internationales nous éclairera à ce sujet. Nous voulons également aborder les possibilités offertes par notre compréhension actuelle du comportement des enveloppes légères pour transformer les habitudes. | ambiance, architecte, artisan, mise en œuvre, peau, savoir, faire |
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Daneels, A., Guerrero,L,F. | 2012 | Earthen Building Techniques in the Humid Tropics: The Archaeological Site of La Joya, Veracruz, México. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp353-360 | The pre-Columbian site of La Joya, on the Mexican Gulf coast, is extremely valuable due to its size, antiquity and historical relationships, but above all, its building materials, because it was entirely built using raw earth, though located in an admittedly adverse environment for this type of building. However, ancient settlers developed strategies that made it possible for the city to remain standing through the first millennium A.D. During the 20th century, the site has suffered a dramatic process of destruction by brick manufacturers. This situation gave rise to an archaeological project that has produced hitherto unknown data about the construction of earthen living spaces which are remarkably adapted to their natural environment. The findings are important because there are no similar studies in this region; they provide knowledge about the effective use of raw earth that could support the design of new buildings to meet growing demands for housing. | Adobe, Archaeology, Architecture, Columns, Earth construction, Historical period: Prehistory |
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Davidovits, F. | 2012 | Geological Origin of the Reagents Constituting Roman Mortar, According to Vitruvius. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 517-522. | It was established that the volcanic sands, around Rome, have physical properties, which make them correspond to the harenae fossiciae described by Vitruvius (II, 4). However, Vitruvius states that the best of all sands extracted from volcanic tuffs is what he calls the tuff carbunculus “carboncle” or materia excocta, which is a “soft volcanic tuff calcined by underground fire.” He also claims that it is found geologically in Etruria, in the volcanic area located in the north of Rome. Vitruvius uses this volcanic sand exclusively for concrete masonry, whereas regular pozzolana from Napoli [puluis] is especially employed for marine piers. He described, as a geologist, the formation of construction materials starting from volcanic fire and, as an architect and engineer, the reasons for which the volcanic reagents react so well with lime. Thus the volcanic tuff carbunculus refers to a pyroclastic rock traversed by degassing pipes, called “fossil fumaroles.” | Apparatuses: Opus caementicium, Roman concrete, Construction history, Geology, Mortar, History of science, Materials: Volcanic sand/pozzolana/lime, Treatises, Manuals, Quarry, Vitruvius, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Dessales, H. | 2012 | Not Built in a Day: Awareness of Vulnerability and Construction Techniques in Roman Times. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, 471-477. | This paper tackles two issues which have never really been raised before in the history of Roman construction. In the first place we shall try to interpret the factors of architectural vulnerability as they are set out in a selection of different texts: literary narratives, inscriptions, juridical sources. Two major categories can be identified, the first human, featuring construction mistakes that lead to architectonic defects; the second natural, covering a variety of manifestations ranging from erosion to violent episodes such as earthquakes. In the second place we investigate the reasoning adduced in the choice of construction techniques, which sought to avoid instances of fragility and ensure stability and durability or firmitas and perpetuitas. | Archaeology, Damage, Defects, Disorderliness and faulty workmanship, Failures, Firmitas, Risk, Strength of materials, Strength of structure, Historical period: Antiquity |
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De Voght, M., De Jonge, K. | 2012 | Foundation Techniques in the Early Modern Low Countries [1600-1750]: A Problematic Case: St. Walpurgis in Antwerp. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 29-36. | Archival sources exceptionally document the continuous degradation of St Walpurgis church at Antwerp [now lost] from the early 17th century onwards. Circa 1735 a thorough consolidation campaign became inevitable. Contemporary design drawings show ingenious techniques to increase the load-bearing capacity of the foundations to cope with differential settlements, such as a reversed arch system combined with foundation pits and wooden piles, and various systems for renewing and underpinning foundations. Comparison with earlier sources such as Charles De Beste, Simon Stevin and Cornille Le Coelre confirms the novelty of these solutions. Moreover, a system of iron tie rods suspended from the roof trusses was devised in order to rectify skewed walls and leaning columns, mirroring designs for new, large-span roof trusses known from the Jesuit context. Several well-known Antwerp architects, such as Guillielmus Ignatius Kerrickx and Jan Pieter van Baurscheit [the Younger] seem to have been involved in the restoration works. | Archives, Carpentry, Church, Conservation, Damage, Drawings, Masonry construction, Piles and piling, Religious buildings, Roof trusses, Strength of structure, Support and stability (Elements of), Underground construction, Antwerp, Kerrickx, Guillielmus Ig |
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Decri, A. | 2012 | The Historical Aqueduct of Genoa: Materials, Techniques and History: A Way to Know. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 525-532. | This contribution is part of a work commissioned by the Municipality of Genoa to Iscum [Institute for the History of Material Culture] concerning the cataloging of the historical aqueduct, a significant architectural structure that extends for about 40 km. The work consists of cataloging all the constituent elements of the structure of the aqueduct [bridges, galleries, arcades and simple channels] and also includes the census of manufactures accessories to the channel, such as sluice gates, blowholes, milestones, fountains. The data collected are the result of spot investigations and bibliographic researches and are managed through a database specifically developed for this purpose. This database also allows the inquiry and facilitates the cross-comparisons and the knowledge of relationships between phenomena, materials, construction techniques. This paper has the purpose of describing the approach used and the first results of this collaboration. | Methods of research, Analysis and evaluation. Aqueduct, Materials and techniques. Hydraulics, Infrastructure |
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Del Curto, D., & Toso, F.C. | 2012 | Technical Systems and Networks for a Modern High Altitude Settlement: The Construction of the Sanatorium Village in Sondalo [1932-1946]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, 675-683. | The Sanatorium Village in Sondalo in the Valtellina valley, Lombardy region, was built by the national institution for social security [I.N.F.P.S.] between 1932 and 1946 on completion of the national scheme for the building of sanatoriums. The autonomous urban and functional program establishes a problematic technical relationship with the alpine and inhabited context in which the complex was built. The paper focuses on the design of distribution networks and technical systems [road system, underground facilities, water supply, sewerage systems] which make the Village a unique achievement among European sanatoriums during the interwar period. Cable cars connected the single pavilions to the main services building, which accommodated the shared facilities and whose parts had to operate simultaneously. The unity of the architectural and technical devices design is nowadays the main reason for the technical difficulties and uncertainty in the redevelopment of the complex, which during the postwar period progressively discontinued the anti-tuberculosis purpose | Building service engineering, Case study, Construction process, Drains, Gravity retaining wall, Infrastructure, Networks, Pipes and pipelines, Public sewage systems, Settlement high-altitude, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Delemontey, Y. | 2012 | Flaine: Mountain City; The Building of a High Altitude Citadel. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp449-456. | The fruit of an exceptional collaboration between an enlightened client [Eric Boissonnas] and an internationally renowned architect [Marcel Breuer], Flaine [1959-1988] is a unique example of the winter sports resort genre. At 1600 m., on a mountainside facing Mont-Blanc, it is emblematic of the triumph of modernity in the France of the 1960s. Known for the excellence of its ski fields, Flaine has been disparaged for the béton brut of its architecture, which echoes the major housing projects built around the country during the same period. The connection is entirely pertinent, since the ski station was built using the same heavy prefabrication methods used in the building of mass housing. An atypical choice in the history of the winter sports facility, the technique simplified site and project organisation on a scheme of such varied technical achievement and enabled huge façade panels in relief, which quickly became a Breuer trademark, to be developed. | Jean Barets, Marcel Breuer, Concrete structures, Experimentation, Flaine, Heavy equipment, Industrialization, Prefabrication, Sites: Building, Ski resort |
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Dimitriadi, L. | 2012 | Post-war Industrialized Construction Processes in France and Architectural Flexibility. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 385-393. | Post-war industrialization in building construction is an economic and technical condition supported, especially in France, by a programmatic discourse of the State upon construction efficiency, low cost and rapidity. It is criticized technically, esthetically and ideologically, and is considered retrospectively at best as only a half-success. Yet the most visionary architects of this period see in it the possibility of effective flexible constructions, meaning transformable buildings. However, as the problems of mechanization of construction are being specified, flexible architectural propositions resemble the different construction systems proposed by the industry in asynchronous temporalities and without covering all the distance between closed prefabrication and truly open industrialization. Such asynchronies could be the indexes of the real conceptual distance between a project of construction and architectural research. Finally, by bringing forth specific technical issues, we can restate the question of industrial processes in construction and of their implication in design purposes. | Architecture/Construction, Construction history, Industrialization, Building industry, Technical innovation, Machines, Prefabrication, Standardization, Technology, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Dobraszczyk, P. | 2012 | A Victorian Ironworld: Cast Iron, Ornament and Brighton. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 565-572. | This paper explores the design and perception of cast iron in Victorian seaside architecture, concentrating on Brighton, the largest British resort throughout the 19th century. It focuses on two distinct but interrelated themes: first, the role of cast iron in creating Brighton’s seaside environment and, second, the visual language of iron in its seaside architecture. I structure the paper around analysis of the constituent elements of iron seaside structures, from the smallest – balconies – to the largest, namely piers, shelters and covered promenades. Above all, this is a story of gradual development in the scope of ambition in relation to cast iron and seaside architecture, moving from a relatively modest application of the material in the first half of the 19th century to an all-encompassing approach by the century’s end. Throughout the paper I will consider the visual language of cast iron in Brighton, which has generally been labeled under the blanket term “orientalism” which has, at best, resulted in a superficial treatment of the subject. My concern will be to tease out the specifics behind this generalised categorisation and I set about this primarily through analysing a more local orientalism – that is, that which developed in Brighton’s iron structures. The result will be to situate Brighton’s seaside orientalism in the wider context of what Stephen Ward terms “place selling,” that is, the projected image and “social tone” of the resort in a landscape of often intense local and/or national competition. | Aesthetics, Architectural history, Cast iron, Decoration, Foundries, Iconography, Iron construction, Representation, Urban planning, Urbanism, Urban design, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Casadevall, G. D. | 2012 | Building Trades in Catalonia During the Modern Era: The Case of Immigration to Girona City. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, 31-36. | One of the lesser-known aspects of Catalan art history in the modern era is the social and cultural status of its craftsmen. In the light of their production, they have traditionally been considered as artisans of limited artistic background and low economic position, with the weight of the guilds behind the development of their trades. The motivation behind Els oficis de la construcció a Girona 1419-1833 was to prove the validity of this historically accepted premise. In this study, we examined some 800 wills and post-mortem inventories of master craftsmen residing in Girona during the 16th and 17th centuries, together with the statutes and regulations of the confraternity [later known as guild] that united them for over four centuries. After our portrait of the professional members of the building trade working during the modern era in Girona and, by extension, all over Catalonia, we now turn our attention to the role of craftsmen coming from outside the area. | Apprenticeship, Architect, Archives, Carpenters, Emigration/Immigration, Guilds, Mason, Sculptors, Social history of labor, Trades, Building, Artisans, Historical period: Renaissance/17th-18th centuries |
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Dunkeld, M. | 2012 | The Great Hall of the Institution of Civil Engineers Headquarters Building. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 273-280. | This paper focuses on a single building profession – the Institution of Civil Engineers – and considers how the institutional headquarters building located in Great George Street, London SW1, visually represents the authority of the profession and what meaning can be given to the ‘things’ or ‘paraphernalia’ contained inside. A relatively large number of primary sources can be found in the ICE archives on the design and construction of the headquarters building. These include original drawings, specifications, tender documents, correspondence, accounts, Building Committee and Council minutes, all made available by a welcoming and knowledgeable library staff. The paper considers the Great Hall of the Institution building and forms part of a wider study of the building that will be published shortly. | Architectural history, Case study, Engineers, Institution, Profession, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Eres, Z. & Özdoğan, E. | 2012 | A New Approach in Studying the Structural Systems of Prehistoric Wooden Post Buildings: A Case Study from Aşaği Pinar in Eastern Thrace. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 149-156. | A preliminary assessment on the structural details of the Neolithic architecture discovered at the prehistoric site of Aşağı Pınar will be presented in this paper. The site, located in Eastern Thrace, is considered as one of the major archaeological sites in understanding the transmission of sedentary village life from its homeland in Anatolia to Europe, via the Balkans. In their original homeland, Neolithic communities developed the basic principles of architectural structuring, developing from round hut-like structures to multi-storey rectangular buildings. In the area of its origin, the main building material was stone or mud-brick. But while this new way of life was expanding to the Marmara region, they had to adapt to a new habitat. In particular the region where Aşağı Pınar is located is within the forest zone and the new settlers had to develop new building strategies using wood and wattle. In fact, from the setup of the ground plan to the roofing every structural detail had to be adapted in accordance with the new building material. | Thrace, Adobe, Archeology, Architecture/Construction, Ethnography, Modeling, Post, Wooden buildings, Wattle-and-daub, Historical period: Prehistory |
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Espion, B. | 2012 | The Vierendeel Bridge at its Heyday: Rational Design, Experiments and Brittle Failure. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 253-260. | The purpose of this paper is to document the evolution of the Vierendeel Bridge, from its inception in 1896 up to its heyday in the 1930s. The use of this kind of bridge, mainly in Belgium and Congo, grew up very slowly between 1902 and 1930. But the number of Vierendeel bridges increased very rapidly with the construction in Belgium between 1932 and 1937 of more than 50 spans in steel, mainly welded. This was certainly favoured by extensive research efforts in the Belgian universities in the fields of the structural analysis of this kind of girders and on the welding mode of connection of steel elements. But the fast introduction of the new welding technology in bridge steelwork building led to the failure of the Hasselt Bridge in 1938 and to serious damages to at least two other Vierendeel type bridges in 1940. These accidents mark traditionally the beginning of the brittle failure story. | Albert Canal, Beams and girders, Bridges, Failures, Hasselt, Metal structures, Static analysis, Stress analysis, Vierendeel, Welding |
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Eßer, G. | 2012 | Masonry Constructions as Built Archives: An Innovative Analytical Approach to Reconstructing the Evolution of Imperial Opus Testaceum Brickwork in Rome. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 13-20 | Although archaeological research has long pursued the goal of using of opus testaceum brickwork to date building structures, hardly any of the methods proposed have provided reliable dating results. The present paper, which is based on the author’s doctoral thesis, investigates new dating methods for testaceum brickwork. The prime objective of the study is to define numerical characteristics capable of providing statistical evidence for the evolution of opus testaceum. The study resulted in a standardized procedure for recording and evaluating antique testaceum brickwork that facilitates a comparison based on significant parameters. Secondly, the application of the parameters yielded evidence that helps to clearly define a chronological pattern of determinable development in brickwork. The large group of testaceum structures allows broader investigation that could in the future lead to the recording and understanding of this technique in its entirety. | Construction process, Dating, Technical innovation, Mapping, Masonry construction, Methods of research, Numerical analysis, Technical norms, Organisation of building sites, Structural morphology, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Etlin, R.A. | 2012 | Toward an Iconography of Stereotomy. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 145-154. | Since the history of art has been filled with symbolic meaning, there is no reason to imagine that stereotomic vaulting would have been exempt from the universal human tendency to assign religious, political, and cultural significance to its forms. Most of the paper is devoted to symbolism of Christ and the Evangelists and/or references to Solomon’s Temple as found in French Romanesque architecture: trompes carrying octagonal vaults in churches, the vis de St.-Gilles with circular window in the eponymous church in Gard, the crypt of Montmajour, and skew doorways in Angevin churches; in Valencia: the Serrano [1392-1398] and Quart [1444] city gates, the Royal Chapel [1433-1463, Santo Domingo Convent], and the Cathedral. The paper ends with a brief discussion of Philibert Delorme’s Hôtel Bullioud [1536], Lyon, considered as a purposeful creation of a Roman ruin, with references to pagan and Christian antiquity, as well as to French Romanesque antecedents. | Aesthetics, Architectural history, Construction history, Design ideas, Inventiveness, Stereotomy, Vaults, Historical period: Middle Ages/Renaissance |
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Faliva, M. | 2012 | Integrated Methods for the Study of Construction Techniques. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 69-79. | The purpose of the paper is to present how high technological methods and more traditional research tools can be successfully integrated in the study of construction techniques and how each approach contributes to the final result. Some case studies, taken from the research done in 2006 on the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, complex included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, will be presented to illustrate the application of methods such as topographic survey, Infrared Thermography, stratigraphy, field measurements, archival research and use of past construction manuals. The first case study will illustrate the analysis of an early 18th century stone and earth promenade. The second case study will show how active Infrared Thermography combined with the consultation of 19th century construction manuals revealed construction techniques used for the erection of the dome of one of the chapels in the complex. | Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, Construction history, Domes, Measuring techniques, Methods of research, Research material: Building/Public and private archives/Documents/Oral Sources, Stratigraphy |
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Fallacara, G. | 2012 | The Lecce Vault: History, Construction Techniques and New Design Perspectives. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3,pp 99-106. | In the region of Puglia in southern Italy, from the late 16th century onward and continuing to today, one finds the tradition of a particular type of composite vault called the Lecce vault [volta leccesse]. This vault is found in the geographical region of Salento and particularly in the cities of Lecce and Brindisi. Historically this zone was called the Terra d’Otranto. The Lecce vault, which derives its name from the eponymous city, is also designated as a “star vault,” because, when viewed from below its form resembles a star. As a composite vault, the Lecce vault combines features of all the canonical vaults: barrel vault [semi-cylindrical], sail vault [portion of a sphere], groin vault [composed of the intersection of two barrel vaults whose wedge- shaped parts are called in Italian unghie], and cloister vault [composed of sections of a cylinder called in Italian fusi]. | Traditional stone construction, Stereotomy, Heritage and preservation, Constructive elements, Vaults |
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Fares, K. | 2012 | The Dismantled War: Barracks and Industrialization of Light Construction [1914-1918]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 395-403. | In 1918, there was much discussion of “industrializing the Front” with a better military working organization, especially adapting the Army to the organization of big industry: supervision of engineers, performance, control, hierarchy. For a year, this industrialization of war had depended on its initial model: the barracks. On the French side, a first movable barracks was presented in February, 1915, by Second Lieutenant Adrian and this was adopted, along with other removable wooden models. The handling and construction of these barracks was entrusted to the Directorate of Studies and Special Material of Engineering, which had a technical section. In Vincennes, the Directorate had a Central Establishment for Special Materiel for trench warfare. In September, 1916, the Minister of War granted the Directorate a Central Establishment for Barracks Materiel. Nine months later, an Establishment for Camouflage Materiel was added. Some 30,000 prefabricated barracks were built. | War, Light construction, Industrialization, Wood, Factory, Germany, France, Military engineering |
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Fatta, G., Campisi, T., & Vinci, C. | 2012 | Tiled Vaults in Western Sicily: Originality and Continuity of an Imported Building Technique. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 487-494. | The search for alternatives to wood for floorings has led to very interesting experiments on vaulted structures, with diffusion in specific areas. We analyze the Sicilian ones consisting of three layers of tiles with plaster, introduced in the mid-18th century, reinterpreted with the local materials and building culture, with original and ingenious solutions as to seismicity of area. The oldest examples in Palermo date back to the period following the earthquake of 1726, considered a good solution because of their lightness and presumed monolithic structure, able to reduce the pressure on walls. This report is an assessment of this building system, that we found during many restoration works. Totally ignored by official current technical culture, tiled vaults usually are demolished or transformed into decorative ceilings. A comparative examination of several cases has enabled us to properly assess the actual possibility for maintenance, rehabilitation or re-proposal, whilst preserving the structural function. | Western Sicily, Thin and flat vaults, Tiles, Brick, Plaster, Gypsum, Restoration |
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Fedorov, S. | 2012 | Rebuilding St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace in the Context of Early European Steel Structures 1838-1850s: Contemporary Sources and Documents. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, 203-213. | Within a brief period after the disastrous fire of 1837, fireproof metal structures, very modern for the time, were erected in all the reconstructed edifices of the Imperial Winter Palace Complex in St. Petersburg [the current State Hermitage Museum]. Since 2009, the German Research Foundation [DFG] has been financing a first systematic survey and investigation of the Hermitage “structural ensemble.” The proposed paper presents its results with regard to an analysis of Russian and French contemporary publications of the Winter Palace iron structures. A comparison of the unveiled drawings with the results of current measurements and observations makes it easy to understand the “structural design strategy” underlying the use of the new material, steel, in the construction practice followed at the beginning of the industrial revolution. | Architecture/Construction, Beams and girders, Binders, Construction history, Iron and steel, Iron construction, Metal structures, Publications, Technical literature, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Correas, L.F. | 2012 | The Study of Medieval Lifting Machines Thanks to Iconography: An Example in Mediterranean Machinery. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, 45-51. | The paper presents a study of medieval lifting machines on construction, based on the use of iconography as the primary and main source of research. Traditionally, the discipline has been used as a visual support work in other subjects, but in my research the iconography is used as a primary resource because it provides a wealth of information per se. The analysis of it joins the multidisciplinary work of comparing the results with disciplines such as architecture, physics or engineering research proving unique in its field and so far the only jobs that have seen the iconography have done from a standpoint of repertoire, without further visual importance. | Construction history, Construction process, Cranes, Conveyors and material handling, Iconography, Lifting machines, Research material, Historical period: Middle Ages |
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Fernandez, V. | 2012 | The Simplification of the Frame: Window Experiments in the Work of Le Corbusier in the 1920s. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, 405-412. | This paper deals with experiments on the modern window frame, its simplification and rationalization toward mass-production in the work of Le Corbusier between 1922 and 1930. We will see that in spite of his view in favor of the manufacturing of the different components of the housing and the reduction of the non-structural crafts on the construction site, Le Corbusier was not able to implement industrialized windows. He gave first importance to the industrial look of the frame, using either steel or wood, and to the standardization of the entire elements that allowed freedom of composition. In the early 1930s, Le Corbusier intended to develop industrialized sliding windows in collaboration with several manufacturers, but without success. In the following years, as the window technology became more accurate, he instead turned towards low-tech solutions. | Constructive elements, Materials, Preservation, Constructive process |
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Ferrari, I. | 2012 | The Roman Bridges of the Via Traiana: An Innovative Building System. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 573-578. | A study on the bridges of the Via Traiana, built in the second century A.D. between Benevento and Brindisi in the south of Italy, carried out through an accurate bibliographic research, surveys and technical drawings of the still visible ruins, has enabled the realization of 3D models, highlighting the different phases of the construction and reproducing the archaeological landscape. The new elements deriving from this study increase the knowledge of the construction solutions adopted during the Roman Imperial Age. | Archeology, Architecture/Construction, Bridges, Emperor Trajan, Military engineering, Organization of sites, Stability, Via Traiana, 3D modeling, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Fleury, F. | 2012 | Some Aspects of John Wallis’s Structural Mechanics. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 229-236. | Albeit not a construction practitioner, the mathematician John Wallis [1616-1703] shows a clear interest in statics and structural mechanics in the “Mechanica: sive, de Motu, Tractatus Geometricus.” The present contribution focuses on chapter six in the third part of the treaty. In this chapter, propositions VII through X address a number of questions directly related to construction problems, namely the resistance needed for a simple beam, the force taken by each support of an inclined beam, the strength necessary for the supports of a statically indeterminate system, and the computation of the load carried by the individual elements of the floor nowadays referred to as the Serlio floor. | History of science, John Wallis, Stability, Structural mechanics, Scientific design method, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Foce, F. | 2012 | Same Title, New Contents: Saint-Venant’s Revised Edition [1864] of Navier’s Résumé Des Leçons Sur L’application De La Mécanique [1826, 1833]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 273-280. | Following some previous papers on Saint-Venant’s early unpublished studies of applied mechanics, elaborated during 1837-1853, in this paper particular attention will be devoted to the improvement given by Saint-Venant to the third edition [1864] of Navier’s Résumé des leçons … sur l’application de la mécanique, first published in 1826 and reprinted in 1833 with few additions by Navier himself. Despite the great importance of Navier’s treatise and its international success, a comparison of the original textbook with Saint-Venant’s ‘revised’ edition shows the limits of the former through the advances of the latter. For the first time in the history of structural mechanics, Saint-Venant was able to transfer the fundamental results of the mathematical theory of elasticity from the specialized journals read by few scholars to the world of practical engineering. The purpose of this paper is to offer a synthetic sketch of this contribution which still represents an exemplary case of the interaction between pure and applied sciences. | Navier, Saint-Venant, Elasticity, Strength of materials, Structural mechanics, History of science, École des Ponts et Chaussées, Technical literature, Education |
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Fonkenell, G. | 2012 | The Roof Frame of the Salon Carré. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, 515-524. | The restoration of the roof of the Salon carré in the Louvre, undertaken in April 2010 was an opportunity for a detailed examination of the 1789 metal frame. Designed by the architects Charles Axel Guillaumot and Jean-Augustin Renard, it is one of the oldest wide span metal structures still extant on site in France, made of wrought iron members filled with hollow terracotta dwarf studs held together with plaster. Thus, under the traditional shape of a curb roof the structure is highly innovative and allows to create a wide skylight at the top of the roof. The choice of iron was also justified by economic considerations and by the will of a “non combustible” structure. The frame of the Salon carré was presented to be the adequate answer to the various problems of a museum, a place to exhibit in good conditions and to preserve works of art. | Charles-Axel Guillaumot, Jean-Augustin Renard, Carpentry, Composite construction, Fires, Frame structure, Iron construction, Museum, Roof trusses, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Fracchia, B.M. | 2012 | History of Construction in the 18th Century through the “Istruzioni” Written by Filippo Juvarra. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 513-518. | Filippo Juvarra’s works are documented in “Istruzioni” [instructions], which prove existence of a technological culture developed in the 18th century. The term "instruction" refers to a set of information issued by the Prime Architect who was in charge of all the architectural works commissioned by the House of Savoy. The content of this information highlights skills and practices of the entities involved in the technical aspects of construction sites. The instructions outline the relationships between professionals and workers on the site and they give us an insight into Juvarra’s planning skills and his construction techniques. The “Istruzioni” always contain sketches and drawings that complete the written description of buildings to be constructed on the site. These are useful in explaining Juvarra’s technical writings and drawings. This study is an essential aid in understanding the techniques that characterize the history of constructions in the 18th century. | Constructive techniques and materials, Drawings, Heritage, Instructions, Filippo Juvarra, Building site organisation, Building sites, Turin Vittorio Amedeo II, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Franceschelli, S., & Mastrorilli, A. | 2012 | Firmitas and the Status of the Laws of Statics and Mechanics. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 221-227. | In the interplay between the development of construction and of mechanics, and more in general of modern scientific thinking, the question about the status of firmitas – whether it is necessary or contingent – runs across different ages and different philosophical and scientific universes. In this paper we put into perspective this question in the context of the evolution of classical mechanics, from enlightenment to 20th century developments. We first consider the question posed by the Berlin Academy for its competition on necessity and contingency of the laws of statics and mechanics. In the light of the independence of predictability from determinism for sensitive to initial conditions systems, we then try and evaluate the status of firmitas in the recent developments of digital architecture. In this field, in fact, morphological research is often based on the properties of unstable systems. | Design ideas, Design Methods and aids, Determinism, Firmitas, Morphogenesis, Necessity, Process |
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Frapier, C. | 2012 | Conceiving the Industrialization of Construction in France in the 1950s. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 337-343. | After World War Two, France, like many European countries, faced an unprecedented housing shortage. Experiments carried out by the Ministry of Reconstruction and Urbanism failed to nip the housing crisis in the bud. France’s commitment to the Marshall Plan in 1947 required an overhaul of its production methods, involving radical shifts in social attitudes and mentalities. The field of housing construction underwent great transformations, affecting architectural planning and on-site practices. To understand this evolution, we shall review the ways in which various French construction agencies imagined the industrialization of their trades. We shall demonstrate that the choices made were the result of international deliberation. We shall also examine the role played by leading engineers and architects in taking these decisions. Lastly, we shall observe how the pioneers of industrialization coped with the confrontation between their ideals and the reality of the construction sites. | Engineering department, Housing: domestic buildings, Industrialization, Organization of building sites, Planning and scheduling, Politics, Policies: Construction, Profession, Quantitative Surveying, Scientific design method, Historical period: 19th-20th c |
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De Freitas, M.L. | 2012 | Architecture and Reinforced Concrete in Brazil: The Action of the Largest Construction Companies in Brazil, Christiani & Nielsen and Wayss & Freytag. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, 91-98. | We investigated the development of reinforced concrete structures as one of the key drivers of the modernization of the Brazilian architecture between 1920 and 1940, based on the performance of large construction companies in the country. The urban modernization was characterized by the concentration of the main modern activities in urban centers, the restructuring of cities’ spaces to accommodate new workers, and changes to the perception of the environment introduced by new media, transportation means, and infrastructure. This scenario allows for us to analyze the arrival of two foreign construction companies in Brazil: Wayss & Freytag, one of the most important companies specializing in reinforced concrete systems, and Christiani & Nielsen, a Danish construction company. These firms were a true experimentation field, and consequently contributed to the formation of professionals capable of creating a new aesthetic arising from this technique in Brazil. | Wayss & Freytag, Christiani & Nielsen, Brazil, Reinforced concrete, Aesthetics, Modern architecture, Technical innovation, Urban modernization, Historical period: 20th century |
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Friedman, D., & Bowen, B. | 2012 | Two Crystal Palaces: Constructive Technology and Practice; Great Britain 1851 – United States 1853. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 215-223. | On 1 May 1851, an estimated 30,000 people witnessed the opening of the Exhibition of 1851 by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London. The success of the Exhibition and of the building that housed it led to ambitious proposals for expositions in New York, Dublin, Munich, Copenhagen and several British towns between 1851 and 1854. Most of the proposals were based on the glass and iron model; the most significant to proceed was an 1854 exhibition in New York in its own Crystal Palace. This paper explores similarities and differences in the design of the two buildings and the construction processes used to build them, with particular reference to the technological environment at that time in the two countries. The objective is to examine the conditions required for the introduction and adaptation of new technologies in construction. | Paxton, Fox & Henderson, Carstensen & Gildemeister, Crystal Palace, Victorian age, Cast iron, Wrought iron, Glass, Prefabrication, Contractors |
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Fuentes, P. | 2012 | The Islamic Crossed-Arch Domes in Cordoba: Geometry and Structural Analysis of the “Capilla de Villaviciosa”. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, 317-324. | Crossed-arch domes are a singular type of ribbed vaults. Their characteristic feature is that the ribs that form the vault are intertwined, forming polygons or stars, leaving an empty space in the centre. The earliest known vaults of this type are found in the Great Mosque of Córdoba, built ca. 960 A.C. The type spread through Spain, and the north of Africa in the tenth to the 16th centuries, and was used by Guarini and Vittone in the 17th and 18th centuries in Italy. However, it was used only in a few buildings. Though the literature about the structural behaviour of ribbed Gothic vaults is extensive, so far no structural analysis of crossed arch domes has been made. The purpose of this work is, first to show the way to attack such an analysis within the frame of Modern Limit Analysis of Masonry Structures, and then to apply the approach to study the stability of the dome of the Capilla de Villaviciosa. The work may give some clues to art and architectural historians to understand better the origin and development of Islamic dome architecture. | Mosque of Córdoba, Masonry construction, Arch structures, Vaults, Stability, Structural analysis, Geometry, Point-Cloud Survey |
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Diaz, J.G. | 2012 | Barbetti Serafín: Builder of Vaulted Bridges in South-Western Colombia [c. XIX]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 47-52. | During the second half of 19th century, in the southwest of Colombia, at least 30 arch bridges were built in brick: a complex structural typology that doubtless required an ensemble of specific technical knowledge for its execution. How was it carried out and was there one constructive tradition able to reach a maturity that allowed the achievement of works of significant importance? Through an investigative process that combined field work and documentary archives research, it was determined that the origin is in the figure of an Italian priest who arrived to Popayan city in 1859, and whose practical teachings to workers and local foreman served as a base in a process of singular technology appropriation. Through the historiographic report of the work of Serafin Barbetti and the analysis of his work positioning it among the technical culture of his epoch, its role was determined as a transmitting agent of knowledge and the adaptations that made it successful. This work is framed in an investigation much more connected with the history of the constructive technique and its mechanisms of assimilation and diffusion. | Arch bridges, Architectural history, Artisans, Construction history, Engineering, Masonry construction, Tradition, Transfer of knowledge, Trade practices, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Gallo, E. | 2012 | Scientific Developments of Heating and Ventilation Professional Unions and Learned Societies in France during the First Part of the 20th Century. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 309-316. | Professional unions of stove manufacturers appeared, in 1817, followed by central heating constructors. After 1918, unions and learned societies interested in heating and ventilation multiplied initiatives and set up committees in order to solve the big problem of the time: a significant deficit of energy sources. The unions and learned societies performed experiences on heating surfaces and new fuels, oversaw specialized education curriculum, published theoretical and practical literature and held regular congresses, and organized public exhibitions to democratize heating systems. Those different activities represent an increasing in the technical proficiency of the central heating manufacturers and engineers: from experimental the field passed almost scientific. Heating and ventilation technologies were the first to be industrialized in the construction sector. All these developments are a prelude for post-war building organizations, when the industrialization and the scientific method became a necessity in the entire construction sector. | Learned societies, Professional unions, Heating, Ventilation, Thermal i0nsulation, Energy, Estimating, Experimentation, Technical norms |
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Ares, J.A.G, & Crespo, G.I.J. | 2012 | The Ciborium or Lantern of Valencia Cathedral: Geometry, Construction and Stability. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 341-349. | Dating from the first half of the 15th century, this unique gothic lantern, erected over the transept of Valencia Cathedral, is a two-bodied octagonal masonry prism on conical pendentives topped with an octopartite brick vault on stone ribs. Its verticality and slenderness, together with an apparent lack of buttresses and an elaborated open tracery, confers it an airy character that greatly contrasts with the heaviness of the cathedral fabric. After presenting a historical outline of the cathedral works, the article analyzes the lantern’s geometrical configuration comparing it with the description provided by early 18th century author Vicente Tosca and with other modern sources. Considerations are made regarding the materials, construction methods and elements that configure the fabric to finish with an analysis of its stability. To this aim an equilibrium approach within the theoretical framework of the lower bound limit analysis is adopted. | Valencia, Cimborrio, Structural analysis, Stability, Geometry, Vaulting, Gothic architecture, Masonry construction, Stone construction, Heritage, Restoration |
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Garcia, R.F. | 2012 | Concrete Meccanos: Precast Constructions after the Second World War in the Netherlands. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, 421-429. | This paper deals with prefab constructions in utility buildings in the Netherlands’ reconstruction years after the Second World War. Specifically, housing and non structural or decorative elements are left out of consideration. A first analysis focuses on the state of this technique in the period but the main part is dedicated to categorize the different solutions and to analyze the most salient examples. They include self-bearing façade components, roofing elements for sheds and some singular cases of portal frames. In addition one special attention is devoted to the precast components solutions which are shown in an interesting number of cases. Finally, some considerations are made about the standardization and the kind of structures to which was applied. It is remarkable the great inventiveness and skill showed in this technique and the singularity of some of its achievements. | Architecture/Construction, Concrete structures, Formwork, Frame structures, Industrialization, Manufacture, Precast, Prefabrication, Standardization, Trussed roofs, Historic period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Gasparini, D.A. | 2012 | Sunderland, Birdsall and the Roebling Co: Development and Diffusion of Construction Technologies for Suspension Bridges, 1928-1952. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 3, pp 667-674. | The paper describes innovations by the John A. Roebling’s Sons Company in the design and construction of suspension bridges in the period from the late 1920s to the early 1950s. Specifically the contributions of Charles Sunderland and Blair Birdsall are discussed. Sunderland devised an efficient method for the assembly of in-situ spun main cables that was adopted worldwide. The pre-stretching technology pioneered by Roebling enabled the assembly of main cables using pre-stretched, pre-socketed strand. Roebling engineers designed innovative anchorages, saddles, and decks for pre-manufactured small suspension bridges for erection in remote locations. In response to the failure at Tacoma Narrows, Sunderland developed a cable truss suspension bridge stiffened by prestressing | Roebling, Sunderland, Birdsall, Suspension bridges, Cables and tendons, Prestressed structures, Physical models, Bridges |
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Ghoche, R. | 2012 | The Science of the Beautiful: S.C. Constant-Dufeux and the Parabola as Constructive and Symbolic Form. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 119-199. | This paper examines 19th-century French architect Simon-Claude Constant-Dufeux’s [1801-1871] fascination with the newly popularized constructive form of the parabolic arch. Constant-Dufeux’s stated goal was to reconnect sensations with reason, bodily experience with abstract fact. This eclectic gamble led to the design of a very curious monument for the Admiral Dumont d’Urville that employs the parabolic shape – the curve drawn by a projectile thrown in the air – in a way that is “self-evident” to the senses while maintaining the ideality of its mathematical precision. An often overlooked facet of the 19th-century concern with technological innovation is the extent to which these novelties were integrated into symbolic and idealist logic. This paper examines the aesthetic and symbolic dimensions of technological and constructive forms in the 19th century in the hopes of challenging some of the common assumptions of that century’s architectural production. | Aesthetics, Architectural history, Arch structures: Arch bridges/Arch/Vaulting, Architecture/Construction, Parabolic arches, Stone construction, Structural design, Suspension bridges, Theory of structure |
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Ghomari, F. | 2012 | The Minaret of the Mosque of Mansourah: A Half-Ruin Elucidated. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 325-330. | This study concerns an emblematic monument of the city of Tlemcen [Algeria]. This is the half-ruined minaret of the mosque of Mansourah, built in the medieval era [beginning of the 14th century], in pink sandstone freestone masonry and classified as a National Heritage in the 1900 list. This great architectural Merinid Heritage suffered a partial damage that struck the popular imagination, which tried to elucidate the enigma through a legend. As part of that work, we try to provide a scientific response to this question, using 3D modeling for virtual reconstruction [photogrammetry method], based on available records, followed by an analysis of the mechanical behavior of the building, using the discrete element numerical method [3DEC calculation Code of Itasca]. Subject to degradation, the minaret loses its state of equilibrium and collapses. Of course, the entire entry vault collapses from the inside outward, making the center core tumble towards the mosque. While falling, the latter will break out the southern and lateral sides halfway. The collapse occurred in a way as to have as an epilogue the same rupture line as the minaret in reality. This allowed, on one side, to confirm our baseline scenario, and on the other side, to understand the collapse process in the emblematic half-ruined minaret. | Heritage, Frame, Structural stability, Stone construction, Numerical analysis, BIM |
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Giron, J. | 2012 | A Review of the Depiction of Ancient Construction by Charles Chipiez in L’Histoire De l’Art. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 665-672. | This paper critically reviews the analytical drawing of construction in the prominent Georges Perrot’s and Charles Chipiez’s Histoire de l’Art dans l’Antiquité, which has not been thoroughly studied up until now. The chapters devoted to architecture, for which Chipiez was responsible, cover from Egypt [1882] to Greece [1898]. Chipiez with a rationalist approach analyzed and recreated ancient design using perspective and axonometric projections to represent construction details that in earlier literature were drawn in planar projections. This approach can be compared to that of Choisy in his Histoire de l’Architecture [1899]. A comparison between both works has enabled us to understand the value of Chipiez’s contribution to architectural literature and drawing. It seems Chipiez’s work anticipated some of Choisy’s drawings and subjects he discussed in his first chapters [Egypt and Assyria]. The influence of authorities such as Hittorff is evident in both Chipiez’s and Choisy’s studies of Greek architecture, especially in the depiction of the construction processes. | Chipiez, Choisy, Hittorff, Architecture/Construction, Drawings, Process, Publications, Representation, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Redondo, E.G. | 2012 | The Structure of Houses in Madrid 1669-1900: Buildings and Documents. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 503-511. | Several timber frame houses built in the historical centre of Madrid since the 18th century, have been preserved. Structural decay in these buildings is very common, mainly because of poor conservation in fact, many houses have been demolished in the last decades. This study, where an analytical approach to documents has been carried out in the Historical Archives of Madrid, follows previous studies. This approach could be divided into three main sections: first, traditional construction methods in Madrid within context. Next, an extended approach has been made to look for documents about the construction systems used in that time, together with a research throughout Madrid’s bylaws, Madrid’s historical plans and Spanish construction treaties. Finally, three groups have been established attending to information covered in construction contracts and the fact of being able to get information from real buildings. | Madrid, Timber frame buildings, Heritage, Construction process, Archives, Contracts, Damage, Domestic buildings, Masonry construction, Historical period: 17th-19th centuries |
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González-Longo, C. & Theodossopoulos, D. | 2012 | From Master Mason to Architect: James Smith’s Construction Techniques at the End of 17th Century in Scotland. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 2, pp 37-45. | Colen Campbell referred to James Smith in Vitruvius Britannicus as the most experienced architect in Scotland. Smith started his career as a mason and worked his way up the profession to become a leading architect in Scotland at the end of 17th century, a period which saw the creation of architects’ professional identity. Smith was the son of a mason and spent some years in Rome training to become a priest. At his return to Scotland he worked with the leading architects and masons William Bruce and Robert Mylne in Holyrood Palace. This paper attempts to overview his career and architectural and ornamental repertoire, uncovering his construction strategies and techniques. It will analyse their origins, whether local, and the different practices when working in a variety of buildings and contexts, since he was a mason until his latest works as architect, both in new build or when extending existing buildings. | Architect, Biography, Castle, James Smith, Lead, Mason, Masonry construction, Palace, Scotland, Slate, Staircases, Stone construction, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Graciani, A. | 2012 | Mesopotamian Foundation Deposits in the Louvre Museum. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 37-43. | The Louvre Museum possesses an interesting set of foundation deposits of various types and spanning a number of periods, most of which are housed within two departments of the Museum, especially in the Department of Oriental Antiquities [Oriental Antiquités]. These foundation deposits from the Department of Oriental Antiquities relate principally to Mesopotamia and Persia, upon which this paper is also focused. Specimens currently on display in these rooms are analysed, by means of a tour of the following five circuits: 1) The first foundation documents: the archaic and early Dynastic period [Room 1]; 2) The art of the foundation documents at the time of Gudea of Lagash, Second dynasty [Room 2]; 3) The continuity of the second millennium B.C. [Room 3]; 4) Assyrian contributions to Mesopotamian tradition [Room 4], and 5) The Mesopotamian influence on the Iranian area [Rooms 8, 9 and 10]. | Foundation deposit, Foundation nail, Louvre Museum, Mesopotamia, Near East, Construction rites, Archeology, Foundations, Tradition, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Graf, F. | 2012 | Material History and Conservation of Contemporary Building Fabric. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, Vol 1, pp 135-142. | This essay will deal with the relationships in play between construction history and architectural design and will attempt in particular to specify what kind of construction history architects and/or historians of architecture working on existing buildings should be making use of. Can the built architectural object, a primary documentary source, also become an active component in the way we practice architecture? To what extent does the “as found” material identity of architectural objects determine maintenance, repair, renovation and restoration strategies? An historical understanding of 20th-century construction materials, methods and practice – the “material history” of contemporary building fabric – and monographic studies on representative works provide us with the essential methodological tools we need when designing for existing structures, as well as being subjects of research relevant to modern and contemporary architecture and vital instruments for the teaching of architectural practice. | Material history, Contemporary fabric: 20th century, Conservation practice, Building materials, Construction practice, Construction systems, Monographic study, Research, Research methodology, Teaching |
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Greco, L. | 2012 | The First ENI-SNAM Headquarters in San Donato Milanese: Some Features of Industrialization in Construction Techniques Applied to Office Buildings in the Post Second World War Period in Italy. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 439-447. | This paper analyses some features of industrialization in office buildings during the post Second World War period in Italy, through the example of the first ENI-SNAM headquarters. The application of industrialization in office buildings often produced “hybrid” configurations, where inclination towards standardisation and modern techniques merged with the preservation of more traditional construction aspects. The ENI-SNAM building in San Donato Milanese [1956-1958], designed by Marcello Nizzoli and Mario Oliveri, stands out as an example. The building has a steel structure, curtain walls and prefabricated partition walls. In the office building, on one side, the attention to advanced construction processes is evident, while on the other side, the building stands out due to the design of its curtain walls, which proposed an original interpretation of industrialized products. In fact, the figurative features of the façade reduce industrialization, highlighting the link between architecture, figurative arts and industrial design, developed by Nizzoli. | Architecture/Construction, Curtain walls, ENI, Industrialization, Italy, Marcello Nizzoli, Office buildings, Prefabrication |
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Grimoldi, A. | 2012 | Guarini’s Flat Vaults and Thin Vaults on Wooden Beams in the Duchy of Modena. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 249-256. | Guarino Guarini repeatedly insisted upon the originality of his own contribution on vault construction. Recent literature has generally confirmed his claim. However, less attention has been paid to the fact that he codified and improved construction techniques that were already very common and popular in northern Italy. His “flat vaults” and thin vaults on wooden beams in the Duchy of Modena – where Guarini came from – and Emilia offer a significant example. They clearly reflect a ‘know-how’ acquired with time, since the 16th century when more and more alternatives to timber floors were frequently proposed. In the same buildings – as in Correggio – it is possible to find flat vaults and more complicated and sophisticated versions of light vaults, and they were built before 1730. In Guarini’s work this dualism arrived at a better synthesis, an original and cultured expression and, therefore, rightfully “my own method.” | Architecture/Construction, Vaults: Flat/Thin, Brick, Gypsum, Beams, Historical period 17th-18th centuries |
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Guibert, P., et al | 2012 | The Use of Dating Methods for Studying Building Materials and Constructions: State of the Art and Current Challenges. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 469-479. | The results of research conducted by the CNRS European research group “Ceramic Building Materials and New Dating Methods” are presented. We focused our studies on a series of monuments constructed before 1000 A.D. in France and south-east England. They include ceramic elements such as bricks or tiles. These constructions are well known by archaeologists of the medieval periods, historians and historians of Art, but they were dated, in most cases, either by textual sources or by typology. Luminescence techniques [thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence] and archaeomagnetism were employed to date brick production, in conjunction, with radiocarbon dating of charcoals found in mortars. Different practices were identified: reuse of materials, production of bricks ad novo, and association of reused and new ceramic elements in the same masonry. Dating bricks produced ad novo allowed us to refine or revise the building chronology. Dating mortar by OSL, as a direct access to information about construction is one of the challenges posed to the dating community. | Archaeology, Ceramic material, Dating: Luminescence/Archaeomagnetism/Radiocarbon, Materials: General, Recycling and reuse of materials: Deconstruction, Historical period: Middle Ages |
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Gzowska, A. | 2012 | An Institution for Structural Innovation: BISTYP [Office for the Study and Design of Industrial Building Types] in Postwar Poland. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 281-288. | In post-war Poland, during particular political, social and economic circumstances an unusual design office was created which gathered the best Polish structural designers. Office for the Study and Design of Industrial Building Types [BISTYP] enabled the ambitious constructors and researchers a multilateral development by supporting and encouraging them to conduct research, to experiment and to implement the newest structural technologies into practice. A broad scope of issues and the atmosphere of close and creative cooperation with architects resulted not only in numerous interesting and innovative construction solutions for industrial objects, but also in spectacular public buildings, which thanks to their exceptional formal and construction qualities have quickly gained appreciation. This paper offers an insight into conditions and labour organisation in BISTYP. | BISTYP, Poland, Design office, Industrial buildings, Technical innovation, Networks, Professional network, Prefabrication, Concrete structures, Historical period: 1950-1960 |
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Harrer, A. | 2012 | Fan-shaped Bracket Sets and their Application in Different Building Materials: A Discussion of the Chinese Fangmu Tradition and Jin-dynasty Tomb Architecture in Southwest Shanxi Province. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 167-173. | It is a well-known characteristic of “non-timber architecture” in China, such as stone bridges, pagodas adorned with glazed ceramic tiles, or brick tombs, that they imitated their timber counterparts in a different material. The paper discusses the application, function and reliability of such “quasi-architectural evidence” and raises the question of possible deviation and distortion of the wooden sample. It specifically addresses the thrilling phenomenon of “fan-shaped bracket sets,” an unorthodox construction method that has been popular in Central China, Shanxi province since the 11th century, and explores their reflection in the Jin-dynasty brick tombs of the Duan family in the southwest of the province. Whereas regular bracket sets usually consisted of bracket-arms that were perpendicular and parallel to the wall plane, such corbelled clusters added horizontally slanting brackets projecting at a 45 or 60 degree angle. | Brick, China, Codes: Building Practices and Standards, Corbel, Fangmu: Decoration of, Fan-shaped bracket set, Support and stability, Timber construction, Transfer of knowledge, Technology, Underground construction, Elements of 12th century |
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Heinz, R. | 2012 | The First Verifiable Application of Cast Mortar in Prefabricated Construction in the Coffered Ceiling of the Early Hellenistic Mausoleum of Belevi. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 523-529. | The Mausoleum of Belevi is the first known example of the use of filling mortar in masonry in connection with opus revinctum. The coffered ceiling was constructed of ashlar masonry, which had been pre-fabricated on the ground. The offsetting of the blocks, and their dowelling, was only possible when free space was preserved at the backs of the blocks, allowing their installation and the grouting of the dowels. The interstices weakened the masonry structure and were therefore filled in with poured mortar. This mortar guaranteed, together with clamps and dowels a shear rigid ceiling construction. Cavities in the ceiling structure relieved the construction. These principles are still applied today, for example in hollow core slabs, whose elements are connected to a constructive unity with a circumferential grid, and where the weight is reduced by means of cavities. The application of such a mortar jointing technique is first evident at Belevi. | Archaeology, Ashlar masonry, Cast mortar, Ceilings, Grouting, Lead, Lime, Prefabrication, Stone construction, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Hellebois, A., Rammer,Y., & Verbrugge, J-C. | 2012 | Concrete Piling: Major Developments in the Historical Practice of Pile Foundations. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 581-591. | Since the dawn of civilisation, piles have either been widely used to increase the bearing capacity of weak soil conditions, or to reduce settlements under heavy constructions. For centuries, there was little change and timber was mostly used for deep foundations. At the end of the 19th century, concrete created a fundamental change in piling practice as demonstrated by the high number of patents taken out for various new kinds of piles. The reason for this lies in the properties of concrete: its high resistance to decay; its adaptability to various shapes, sizes and soil conditions; its limited responsiveness to vibration; and its high connectedness in structural systems. The present paper will analyse the first concrete piles mainly found in Belgium at the beginning of the 20th century according to type, method of execution, design and testing. This will be followed by addressing issues related to the reuse of ancient concrete piles, in order to assess their bearing capacity and safety level according to current standards. | Foundations, Piles and piling, Civil engineering, Construction process, Technology, Patent, Concrete, Restoration, Soil-structure interaction, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Hernando de la Cuerda, R. | 2012 | Rationalization of Systems and Materials in Construction in the Spanish Modern Movement: Fernando Garcia Mercadal, 1921-1937. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 413-420. | The debate on the rationalization of systems and materials in architecture and construction is one of the central themes in the development of the architecture of the Modern Movement, which cannot be separated from industrial development. In Spain, even though national industry was less developed than in Germany and France, there was a strong commitment towards education, science and technique development through the Council for the Extension of Studies and Scientific Research. The Spanish Modern Movement was represented in Madrid by a rationalist architecture carried out by a group of architects born before 1900, who started working professionally between 1918 and 1923 and are known as the Generation of 25, and the group of avant-garde architects who after 1930 became the GATEPAC. Fernando García Mercadal definitely belonged to both groups and is the only one born before 1900 who signed the constitution of the GATEPAC in Zaragoza. | Mercadal, Modern Movement, Architecture/Construction, Architectural Magazine, Archives, Innovation, Technical, Construction history |
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Hernu-Bélaud, J. | 2012 | The Architecture pratique by Pierre Bullet [1691] and the Normalisation of the Construction Process. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 489-494. | Architecture pratique was published by Pierre Bullet in 1691. This practical book proposed a complete method of measurement, as well as a model estimate. The aim of this paper is to show how this treatise can be considered as an expression of a particular vision of the architectural profession. How did the architect contribute to normalisation of the practices? How did he minimise the variable aspects of construction? How did this lead to strengthening of the quantitative aspect of the architectural project? | Pierre Bullet, Construction process, Contracts, Controls, Cost of building or rebuilding, Legislation, Measuring techniques, Norms: Technical, Surveys, Expertise, Treatises, Manuals, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Heyman, J. | 2012 | The Membrane Analysis of Thin Masonry Shells. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 281-289. | The stresses in masonry are usually very low compared with the basic strength of the material. Thus the analysis of a masonry structure is concerned primarily with the determination of a pattern of forces to equilibrate the known loading, and hence to estimate the required strength of supports – to find, for example, the thrust of a high vault, and hence the values of the loads imposed on the buttressing system. This paper is concerned with the use of the equations of membrane theory to analyse such vaults. These equations show that there is a profound difference in the behaviour of domes and fan vaults. In particular, they indicate that a masonry dome can be relatively simple to construct, whereas a fan vault requires elaborate centering to support the masonry until a whole bay is complete. | Masonry construction, Membrane theory, Shell structures, Domes, Fan vaults |
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Hnilica, S. & Markus Jager, M. | 2012 | Competing Building Systems: Post-war University Architecture in the Ruhr Area. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 463-470. | Today, three universities exist in the Ruhr area with about 90,000 enrolled students, all universities were founded and built between 1960 and 1985. Designed as universities having undergone reformation, manifesting equal opportunities to study for all young people, extraordinary efforts were necessary to implement an ambitious building program. An enormous construction volume, planned in a very short span of time, was built at considerably low costs. The university buildings in Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg and Essen are perfect examples to retrace the rise and fall of building systems types. Whereas in Bochum an international competition resulted in building a monumental prefabricated megastructure, other universities had to be content with a much more modest architecture. Different building systems were tested, culminating in the development of the building system titled “NRW 75.” This system was used for planning and building the TU Dortmund and The University of Essen. In the End, the newly developed system was discontinued in Duisburg before it had been completed. | Industry: Building, Megastructure, Politics/Policies: Construction, Post-war architecture, Prefabrication, Standardization, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Holzer, S.M.& Anja Wünnemann, A. | 2012 | Innovation in 19th Century Vaulted Bridge Construction. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 589-597. | In the historical perspective, the development of masonry arch bridges in the 19th century is somewhat eclipsed by the rise of iron bridge construction. However, the present contribution shows that the processes of masonry arch bridge construction underwent a radical and unprecedented change during the 19th century, and that early concrete bridges were unthinkable without this development. The change involved the usage of completely new lifting gear and cranes, a switch in the paradigms of falsework design, the employment of cement mortars, enabling the construction of wide-span arches with "small materials," and the invention of new construction principles such as arch construction by rings or by sections with later keying, and, finally, three-hinged arches. All these changes were not independent of each other, and all of them owed a lot to the developing science of construction. The present contribution gives a general outline of the development and shows the relation between the individual aspects. | Arch bridges, Cement, Concrete, Formwork, Lifting machines, Masonry construction, Perronet, Dupuit, Séjourné, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Honda, Y., Nagamura, K., & Kobayashi, I. | 2012 | Construction Process of the Tsujunkyo Aqueduct Bridge [1854] – A Case Study of Japanese Bridge Construction in the Edo Period. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 541-547. | This research clarifies the construction process of the Tsujunkyo Aqueduct Bridge, constructed in 1854 in Yamato City in Japan during the Edo Period, just before the introduction of occidental technologies. This aqueduct bridge improved the agricultural situation of a small plateau where the farmers had faced much difficulty irrigating their rice fields. With this aqueduct bridge’s large size stone arch and siphon effect provided by a stone pipe, it is recognized as a representative symbol of Japanese traditional construction techniques. However, this technique has been thought a kind of miracle, and thus most researchers discuss only its technical aspects. In this context, we analyzed the official document for the aqueduct bridge’s construction and clarified the construction process. We do so mainly from three viewpoints that are fundamental for construction projects: politics, economics and technology. | Tsujunkyo, Yasunosuke Futa, Edo period, Japan, Aqueducts, Arch bridges, Construction process, Organization: Administrative/financial, Masonry construction, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Hoshino, Y. , Okada, S. & Kitagawa, D. | 2012 | Historical Research for Planning and Construction of Misumi Port. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 647-655. | The port of Misumi is one of the oldest Japanese modern ports, built by the initiative of Meiji government. In spite of its historical importance on the chronological level, the appreciations by historians are rather divergent: a beautiful masonry work realized thanks to the marriage of traditional and Western techniques, the badly selected site where commercial activities stagnate with the passing of years, etc. In order to validly define the historical value of this realization, this paper analyzes the archives, known or not, and clarifies the process and the ideas of the planning and construction of this port. | Kumamoto City, Japan, Masonry construction, Maritime engineering, Misumi Port, Mulder, Ports, Docks and harbors, Urban planning, Urbanism, Urban design, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Hsu, H-Y. | 2012 | On the Construction Process of Government Buildings in Taiwan during the Japanese Colonial Period, 1895-1945. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 67-71. | Most research concerning the modernization process of architecture in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period tends to focus on the architects’ ideas and the transformation of the “architectural style.” In light of this, this paper shifts the focus of study to the “construction process” of government buildings which were the main constructions first performed under the “modernized” construction system. The purpose of this study is to try to shed light on the mutual interaction among all involved participants in the entire course of a building project, by analyzing the construction records retrieved from the Archives of the Bureau of Monopoly of the Taiwan Government-General. A conclusion can be generalized that with greater power given in the construction site, the supervisor became the most crucial person in the building construction, which has consequently formed a construction site supervisor-based realization of design in the transitional period of modernization in Taiwan. | Architect, Carpenters, Owner, Colonialism, Construction history, Construction process, Contractors, Contracts, Profession, Research material: Public archives, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Huerta, S. | 2012 | Structural Analysis of Thin Tile Vaults and Domes: The Inner Oval Dome of the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados in Valencia. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 375-383. | The inner oval dome of the Basílica de la Virgen los Desamparados, built in 1701, is one of the most slender masonry vaults ever built. It is a tile dome with a total thickness of 80 mm and a main span of 18.50 m. It was built without centering with great ingenuity and economy of means, thirty three years after the termination of the building in 1667. The dome is in contact with the external dome only in the inferior part with the projecting ribs of the intrados, the lunettes of the windows, and, in the upper part, through 126 inclined iron bars. This unique construction was revealed in the 1990s in the studies previous to the restoration of the Basílica and has given rise to different theories about the mode of construction and the structural behaviour and safety of the dome. The present contribution aims to provide a plausible hypothesis about the mode of construction and to explain the safety of the inner dome which has stood, without need of repairs or reinforcement, for 300 years. | Arch structures, Domes, Expertise, Masonry construction, Membrane theory, Shell structures, Structural analysis, Tile vaulting |
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Ibarra-Sevilla, B. | 2012 | Transmission of Building Technology from Europe to the Americas: Underlying Geometry and Stereotomy Studies of Three Ribbed Vaults Constructed in Mexico between 1535 and 1575. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 393-400. | The churches of Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán, San Pedro y San Pablo Teposcolula and San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca, located in the region of La Mixteca, are monumental pieces of Mexican architecture. They are testimony of the ambitions materialized by the motivations of a new-forming nation. Elegant ribbed vaults constructed with geometric rigor and sophisticated stereotomic solutions cover these 16th century churches. The Mixtec natives hands carved the vaults pieces and constructed the buildings mastering in very few years the technology brought from Europe. The extent in which these indigenous hands impacted the systems of production and the technique itself always emerges as a question when examining this type of buildings. By analyzing the vaults using digital technology and showing solutions utilized in the construction of the vaults, this paper aims to provide information that reveals the transmission of building technology occurred during that agitated period of the history of Mexican architecture. | Ribbed vaults, Stereotomy, Technology, Stone construction, Point-Cloud Survey, 3-D modeling, Digital, Geometrical, Historic period: Renaissance |
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Iori, T., & Sergio Poretti, S. | 2012 | The Nervi System: A Model-Game to Understand. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 97-103. | The Pier Luigi Nervi System of construction is a combination of technical solutions used to define a new way of building that is both economical and rapid. Economical because it eliminates the wooden formwork required to pour reinforced concrete, both costly and impossible to reuse, and because it reduces the costs of materials, limiting the thicknesses of the load bearing elements [and thus diminishing dead loads]. Rapid because it divides the building yard into two autonomous sectors, where workers can operate in parallel: on the one hand the building site, home to the realization of excavations, foundations, pillars and all site-cast elements; on the other, the prefabrication yard, used to prepare the pieces applied to complete the structure. The pieces are small and lightweight and easy to move from the storage area to the building site, which were always adjacent. One example of the application of the system is the construction of the Palazzetto dello Sport for Rome 1960 Olympic Games. A model-game, specially designed by the authors, on the occasion of the monographic exhibition on Pier Luigi Nervi held in Maxxi, National Museum of 21st Century Arts, in Rome, from December 2010 to March 2011, help us to understand the Nervi System. | Pier Luigi Nervi, Post World War II, 17th Olympic Games, Constructive process, Cupola, Materials, Invention, Economic analyses of construction, Model, Communications tools |
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Isaac, C. | 2012 | Reconsidering the “Considerable Expense” Involved in Building the Lavaur Bridge in Languedoc [1769-1791]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 173-179. | In 1782 Jean-Rodolphe Perronet [1708-1794], Director of the École des Ponts et Chaussées, criticized the “considerable expense” involved to build the bridge in Lavaur [1769-1791] in Languedoc, a region that retained its administrative autonomy. This communication, stemming from Perronet’s remark, aims to identify and analyse the reasons for such expenses, and put them into perspective. After an overview of the historical details, we will try to identify what paved the way to such cost overruns, the working methods of engineers and contractors, their relationship and their links with the local authority in Languedoc, to establish comparisons with other French regions. Finally, focusing on Perronet’s remark and replacing it in the context in which he made this criticism, we will try to point out how much it is revealing about the balance between a likely aspiration to magnificence and some kind of economic efficiency. | Garipuy, Languedoc, Lavaur, Perronet, Saget, Arch bridge, Contract, Cost of building, Estimates, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Janssen, J., & Laux, E-L. | 2012 | Construction Work in Four German States: Before, During and After the Cold War. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 115-123. | This paper focuses on labour relations in construction as the dynamic force of historical change. After the collapse of both the socialist and capitalist systems, the present economic crisis and political uprisings have alerted us to rethink our categories of analysis. In the industrialised countries of the 20th century labour relations were divided between Capitalism and Socialism. After World War II this division took the form of the iron curtain between these camps of the Cold War. For the span of 40 years this curtain split Germany and its capital into two separate states. Nowhere can the two modes of production under socialist and capitalist regimes better be compared than in this country, and construction provides visual testimony of this crucial period of history. In hindsight we observe not only the contrast between these contradictory modes but also what they contributed to the common global development. | Construction history, Economy, Modes of production, Prefabrication, Social history of labour, Skills, Vocational education, Historical period: 20th century |
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Jenkins, M. | 2012 | Three Key Aspects of the History of Brick Construction in Scotland. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 383-390. | This paper explores three aspects of brick construction in Scotland from the 18th and 19th centuries. These are the use of brick to line ashlar walls, the choice of brick to construct early cotton mills and various uses of the material in tenement buildings. Whilst there are many developments which have seen brick progress from a material little used in Scotland in the 17th century to one with countless applications by the end of the 19th, it will be shown in this paper that these three are of particular significance. The use of brick ashlar acted as a conduit for English craftsmen to come north and led to the establishment of permanent brickworks; the choice of brick to construct early cotton mills led to a greater sophistication in Scottish brickwork and exhibited many new technical features hitherto unknown in this country and the uses to which it was put in tenement construction allowed bricks of lesser visual quality and durability to be employed. For these reasons the three aspects discussed in this paper can rightly be regarded as key to the development of brick construction in Scotland. | Ashlar masonry, Brick, Composite construction, Construction history, Façades, Housing, Industrial buildings, Masonry construction, Historical period: 18th-19th centuries |
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Kahlow, A. | 2012 | Theory and Practice in Timber Construction 1800-1830. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 265-272. | The evolution of the theory of structures has a missing link: its relationship to practice in the first three decades of the 19th century. The publication of scientific literature about the theory of structures intensified in the years around 1800 and shortly afterwards. Bridge building is the forerunner and leads to the elaboration of new methods in dimensioning. Using archival material about the Berlin Bauakademie in the 1820s this paper will show, how under the leadership of Johann Albert Eytelwein new concepts of a theory of structures were firstly fully applied in teaching. The newly appointed professor Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Dietlein put the approach of uniting beam statics and theory of elastica into practice. He gave examples of sizing wooden structures as for instance in bridge calculation, bending of simple and continuous beams, and buckling. Eytelwein`s experimental data gave the basis for a safety concept. | Covered bridges, Construction history, Timber construction, Structural design, Strength of materials, Frame structures, Beams and girders, Calculus, Academy, Eytelwein |
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Kapp, S. & Baltazar, A.P. | 2012 | Metropolitan Vernacular: On the History of Informal Construction in a Brazilian City.Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 3-10. | The expression metropolitan vernacular stands for the contradictory synthesis of formal construction technologies and informal popular building practices, which characterises self-produced urban areas in developing-countries. Just like any vernacular, the ‘metropolitan’ is based on learning-by-doing, imitation and resources at hand, but its models and resources are found in an urban context, dominated by a highly profitable construction industry, which was always conceived against vernacular and even against traditional craftsmanship. The result is a bricolage from fragments of industrialised materials and techno-scientific knowledge. This paper describes a possible construction of the social and material history of this self-production of everyday spaces, based on documental sources, broader interpretations of sociospatial processes, participant observation, and an ongoing collective project with residents of the favela Vila das Antenas. The aim of this history is to make its protagonists aware of the value of their own production of space | Belo Horizonte: Brazil, Inventiveness, Housing, Hut/Shed, Necessity, Politics/Policies, Practice: Vernacular, Skills: Craftsmanship, Social history of labor, Transfer of knowledge |
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Laurent Koetz | 2012 | Nineteenth Century Invention under Scrutiny: Louis Auguste Boileau’s Frame Construction Systems of around 1850. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 185-192. | Louis Auguste Boileau is a renowned figure in 19th century architectural historiography for his pioneering role in building iron structures. Concurrently, Boileau also produced many theoretical writings in which he promoted his own building systems in order to renew architectural shapes. The explicit reference to Gothic architecture deserves a special attention. Even though Boileau claimed a direct influence from this period, his proposed solutions hardly seem to derive from it. They rather seem to stem out from a form of hybridization drawing on from multiple influences and permeable to diverse models. The peculiarity of the systems expressed in Boileau’s writings – between scientific, technical and historical imaginary – attests to the complexity of the status of the metal framework in nineteenth century architecture. | Architectural history, L.A. Boileau, P. Buchez, Drawings, Frame structures, Geometry, Invention, Iron construction, Patent, Vaulting |
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Ana Paula Koury | 2012 | Brazilian Construction Center: Initiative for Management of the Brazilian Housing Construction Industry [1969-1972]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 289-296. | The current paper presents the creation context, objectives and actions of the Brazilian Construction Center [Centro Brasileiro da Construção], an institution geared towards the management of the Brazilian housing construction industry. The initiative, composed as of technical institutions, plus industrial and financial sectors, allowed for a coordinated action performed by major players involved in civil construction oriented to large-scale housing. This perspective was introduced mainly on account of the creation of the National Housing Bank [Banco Nacional da Habitação] in 1964. The study of this initiative allows us to revisit the part played by the state, class institutions, private enterprises, and technical staffs, with the objective of re-proposing the technical innovation agenda oriented to solving the housing problem, therewith contributing to building economic development and social alternatives within a context of returning to a nationwide development project led by the Brazilian state | Architecture/Construction, Architectural history, Codes, Building practices and standards, Construction history, Housing: Domestic buildings, Building: Construction industry, Innovation, Technical, Industrialization, Institution, Politics, Policies: Const |
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Christof Krauskopf | 2012 | Medieval Timber Structures in Eastern Germany: Archaeological Evidence from Eberswalde. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 175-182. | Very few medieval timber-framed buildings survive in Brandenburg, the region around Berlin. The earliest known examples, which date to the 15th century, are from the town of Brandenburg on the Havel. New archaeological evidence is, therefore, of great importance to further research on medieval timber structures and building techniques. Eberswalde is built on waterlogged ground and well-preserved timber structures, dating from 13th century up until the 19th century, have been uncovered during excavations in the town. The analysis of over 1200 tree-ring dates has established an exact chronological sequence, and provided information about the lifetime of individual buildings and the reuse of timbers. The tool marks visible on many of the timbers, and the survival of various joints and fixings, provide details of wood working and construction methods. The sequence of dates shows that the development of the town was accelerated by margrave Albrecht III at the end of the 13th century. | Germany, Brandenburg, Eberswalde, Timber frame/Framed buildings, Recycling and reuse of materials, Urban planning, Dating, Dendrochronology, Historical period: Middle Ages |
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Dietmar Kurapkat | 2012 | A Roof under One’s Feet: Early Neolithic Roof Constructions at Göbekli Tepe, Southeastern Turkey. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 157-165. | The ongoing excavations at the site Göbekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey have revealed a number of monumental buildings which were erected between the late tenth and early eighth millennium B.C. Some of these special buildings are much bigger than the usual Neolithic huts and houses and are equipped with monolithic T-shaped pillars. Not only for the history of construction but also in view of functional questions it is an important matter of discussion whether these buildings were roofed or if they remained open to the sky. A detailed examination of all the archaeological data has led to the conclusion that most probably the buildings were covered by earthen roofs on wooden supporting structures. The key to the acceptance of this thesis is the convincing reconstruction of the construction design to span rooms of up to nearly 20 m. diameter with the means of early Neolithic craftsmanship | Göbekli Tepe, Archaeology, Beams and girders, Foundations, Mortars, Roofing spanning, Support and stability, Timber, Construction, Wooden roof, Historical period: Prehistory |
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Guy Lambert | 2012 | “Purpose” and “Means” of Architectural Design: Construction in Julien Guadet’s Teachings in Architectural Theory. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 595-602. | This paper aims at examining the importance taken by construction’s principles in Éléments et théorie de l’architecture [1901-1904] a textbook which result from Julien Guadet’s teaching at the École des beaux-arts of Paris. It’s closely related to the way in which Guadet considers a course in theory for pupils/architects, which had to stick to “the uncontested.” In the filiation of the course taught by Léonce Reynaud, while teaching the elements of architecture, he granted a special attention to construction. The biased system of the Ecole where architectural competitions generated a “worship of hugeness” among the students engaged Guadet to focus on what was “constructible.” In addition to his will to transmit the rules of ordinary construction, he wanted to show that the logics of construction, legitimized by practical considerations such as economy and durability, should rule over architectural design. | Julien Guadet, Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris, Teaching pedagogy: Engineers and architects, Publications, Analytical methods, Constructive elements, Architecture |
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Lancaster, L.C. | 2012 | Heated Vaulting in Roman Britain and the Invention of Hollow Terracotta Voussoirs. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 261-268. | During the last quarter of the first century A.D. in Roman Britain, a new type of bath heating system was invented that included hollow terracotta voussoirs creating hot air channels within the vault. The invention of the new vaulting method can be traced to a particular group of tile makers around Chichester [on the south coast] due to the application of roller-stamped patterns on the tiles. Only a few whole voussoirs have been preserved, but a study of these along with the excavated bath plans show that the vaults were generally small [three to five m.]. Later examples of the voussoirs were made with thinner walls, and their use in large-spanned [nine to 13 m.] unheated rooms demonstrates that the hollow voussoirs were subsequently adapted into a structural device to reduce the lateral thrust of very large vaults, such as those at the Sanctuary of Sulla Minerva at Bath. | Archeology, Barrel vaults, Brick: Hollow, Heating, Innovation: Technical, Structural analysis: Limits, Thermal Insulation, Vaulting, Voussoirs: Hollow Terracotta, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Lewis, M. | 2012 | Marseilles Tile. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 391-400. | The development of tile pressing machinery in the 1840s led to the use of a variety of patterns of machine-made tile in France. Marseille was a major port for export of terra cotta products and was exporting machine-made roofing tiles by about 1860. But it was only later, perhaps in the early 1880s, that the Marseille manufacturers agreed upon a standardised design and established a cooperative marketing company, the Société Générale des Tuileries et Céramiques. By the 1880s tiles of the ‘Marseilles’ pattern [as spelled in English] were exported not only to French possessions such as Tunisia and Algeria, but to Turkey, India, Australia, Latin America and elsewhere. Thus a tile pattern which enjoyed no special prominence in France became an international standard. In nearly all the countries which received these tiles local manufacture ensued, still in conformity with the Marseilles pattern. | Economy: Financing, Production, Technical norms and trade practices, History of companies, Cultural influences on construction, Transfer and diffusion of knowledge, Construction, Materials and elements: The building envelope |
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L’Héritier, M., et al | 2012 | The Role of Iron Armatures in Gothic Constructions: Reinforcement, Consolidation or Commissioner’s Choice. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 557-564. | Over the past ten years, several studies have shown that iron was included in the design of most gothic monuments. However, beyond quantitative aspects which mainly regard the building yard’s supply, all these iron armatures, from the simple cramp to the structural chain, cover different architectural conceptions, depending on the building and its chronology, which have to be considered. This paper proposes to consider every single structural use of iron in gothic buildings from the 12th to the 16th regarding recent researches on historical sources as well as on the buildings themselves, to give a classification and initiate inquiries about the apprehension of iron use by medieval master-builders. | Iron, Gothic architecture, Innovation, Elements of support and stability, Disorderliness, Master-builders |
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Linssen, W., & De Jonge, K. | 2012 | How Belgian Engineers Passed on Their Knowledge between 1830 and 1865: Education, Association and Publication. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 565-574. | Between 1830 and 1865, engineers who were initially identified as state officials increasingly conquered the industrial private sector. Considering the case of Belgium in this period of transition, we will look at three specific tracks of knowledge transfer. In chronological order these are: educational institutes, professional associations and publishing journals. The first associations were indeed societies of alumni closely connected with particular engineering schools organised by the State and by other actors. Alumni journals constitute an important information source for the study of nineteenth-century engineers and engineering. For context these journals will be compared to the Bulletin du Musée de l’Industrie, which developed a broader scope. | Engineers, Education, Professional network, Journals, Belgium, École du génie civil: Ghent, École centrale de commerce et d’industrie: Brussels, Association des Ingénieurs sortis de l’École de Liège, Société des Anciens Elèves de l’École Spéciale de Comme |
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Lorenz, W., & May, R. | 2012 | CH.ESS: European Summer Schools on Construction History Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 105-112. | The lack of degree programs in construction history motivated a group of scholars to begin work on creating a European master’s program in the field. As a first step on this path, they set up a series of European Summer Schools on Construction History [CH.ESS]. Jointly organized by universities in Brussels, Cambridge, Cottbus, Madrid, Munich and Wroclaw, the first of these events took place in Cambridge in the summer of 2011. In keeping with the transdisciplinary character of construction history, the two-week course brought together students and teachers from a variety of academic disciplines. The experiences gained with CH.ESS could be of interest to any university teacher who is planning to set up a degree program in construction history. With that in mind, the authors [members of the central CH.ESS organising team] will end this report with some remarks about the main problems that arose in trying to teach construction history in an international and multidisciplinary context. | Concrete structures, Construction history, Design methods and aids, Domes, Education, Heritage, Masonry construction, Shell structures, Static analysis, Stone construction, Surveying, Vaulting, Vaults |
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Louw, H. | 2012 | ‘Machine pour ouvrire une fenêtre par contre-poids’: A Case Study Revealing the Nature of Invention and Innovation in Late-17th Century Northern European Architecture. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 401-408. | The paper concerns an anonymous design for a counterbalanced vertically sliding wooden window, now known as the ‘sash window,’ found in the drawings collection of the French Huguenot architect/engineer, Jean de Bodt [1670-1745], in S.L.U.B Dresden. The drawing is attributed to Bodt and assumed to be for one of his Berlin projects of the first decade of the 18th century. With reference to previous research into historical fenestration the author argues that this is in fact a French drawing of the mid-Louis XIV period – probably a lost ‘invention’ of the architect/scientist, Claude Perrault [1613-1688] – whichh may have served as a model for the practical implementation of the novel window type in Prussia where Bodt settled in 1699. The paper explores issues related to innovation and technology transfer in the field of architecture in a period of transition from medieval to modern industrial practices. | Architects: Jean de Bodt [1670-1745], Architects: Claude Perrault [1613-1688], Carpentry, Drawings, Innovation: Technical, Invention, Window, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Manfredi, C. | 2012 | Comfort Versus Industry: Maintenance of the Royal Palaces of Milan during the 1860s. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 289-298. | Despite the very fast and widespread distribution of technical literature, technical knowledge is assimilated very slowly and in varying ways. This study is based principally on documents found in the State Archives of Milan and shows exact dates and phases of the building work developed and carried out on the Building Sites of Court Buildings and the royal palaces of Milan. In the middle of the 19th century, technology for buildings, heating, dwellings, factories and conservatories were well understood throughout Europe. Experimentation was focused on official buildings such as seats of political power, churches, hospitals, theatres, Lariboisière Hospital and the Palace of Westminster. An enormous number of buildings, e.g. those belonging to the Habsburgs, the Papal States and the southern Kingdom of Two Sicilies, founded by the House of Savoy after the unification of Italy, needed maintenance and renovation. A widespread program of maintenance work began and local supervisors were put in charge of the building sites. | Constitution, Diffusion and transfer of knowledge, Central heating systems, Ventilation, Building services engineering, Greenhouses, Conservatories |
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Marconi, N. | 2012 | Innovation and Tradition in the Reconstruction of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome [1825-1928]: Technologies, Procedures, Protagonists. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 181-189. | The decision to rebuild the ancient Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, destroyed by a fire in 1823, was taken immediately. The work began in 1825 and continued for 100 years. There have been many studies tracing the project and the stages of the reconstruction from the 19th century on. Less frequent have been the contributions supplied by the methods used to raise the multitude of columns that were placed at regular intervals around the interior of the Basilica and the monumental four-sided portico. This paper focuses on this last aspect, illustrating the technical contributions offered to the San Paolo work yard by the Fabbrica di San Pietro in the Vatican, the papal institution responsible for overseeing the worksite of the new Vatican Basilica from the 16th century, whose role was crucial in the execution of the technically delicate and complex operations in the reconstruction of St Paul’s. | Architecture, Construction, Archives, Religious buildings, Columns, Restoration, Organization of building site, Lifting machines, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Marino, G. | 2012 | The World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva [1960-1966]: How Mechanical and Electrical Services are Integral to Reading Built Form. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 351-358. | The permanent headquarters of the World Health Organization, in Geneva, is recognized as one of the major works of Jean Tschumi, who won the international competition in 1960. Shaped by the imposing linear block housing the Secretariat and the Conference Hall at lower level, the ensemble displays a highly individual plastic expression that profits remarkably from the technical solutions used. From the spectacular pre-stressed concrete frame structure, to the conception of the aluminium and glass envelopes animated by a subtle, slanted brise-soleil, the incorporation of some very smart – and decidedly novel – technology assists in the architectural definition of the international body’s remarkable European home. As the specialist press at the time was keen to emphasise, the latest technical gadgetry featured prominently in Tschumi’s design. The technology assumes a particular interest not only because of its complexity, but also because of the close relations established with constructional elements. This interaction deserves to be explored; this paper will propose a reading of the material aspects of this group of buildings centered on the notion of integrated building engineering systems, a notion of major importance that is all too often overlooked. | Interior environnement, Air-conditioning, Lighting, Acoustics, Preservation, Precast, Aluminium, Glass, Brise-soleil, Jean Tschumi, STUP |
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Martinez-Gonzalez, J., & Garcia-Alonso, M. | 2012 | Late German Gothic Methods of Vault Design and their Relationships with Spanish Ribbed Vaults. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 99-106. | The arrival of European master masons to Burgos and Toledo during the mid-15th century was essential for the promotion of the late Gothic ribbed vault design techniques in Spain. The Antigua Chapel in Seville Cathedral, designed by the Spanish master mason Simón de Colonia on 1497, provides an outstanding case study on this subject. This vault is characterized by the interlacing of the ribs near the springing, reflecting the influence of German ribbed vault designs. This paper analyses the relationship between German ribbed vaults and their design methods with those of Spanish ribbed vaults; with particular attention to the presence of ribs that cut through one another above the springing, materialized in the work of Simón de Colonia. This characteristic is reflected in some manuscripts in the German area, like the Wiener Sammlungen [15th-16th centuries] and the Codex Miniatus 3 [ca. 1560-1570], but no Spanish documents of the same period make reference to it. | Antigua Chapel: Seville Cathedral, Simón de Colonia, Dresden sketchbook: Codex Miniatus 3, Prinzipalbogen, Late Gothic, Tas-de-charge, Ribbed vault, Stone construction, Stereotomy, Standardization, Geometry |
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Martinez-Gonzalez, J. & Garcia-Alonso, M. | 2012 | Building Modern Spain: Some Notes on Huarte y Cía. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 99-106. | The construction company Huarte y Cía was created in 1927 in Pamplona, a small city of northern Spain. The creative and skilful management of Felix Huarte, its founder and president, together with the highly qualified staff of its Technical Office, made it one the most relevant Spanish contracting firms. When Félix Huarte died in 1971, Huarte y Cía. was the head of an industrial corporation composed of 45 companies, while the Huarte family had become was one of the most generous patrons of the arts and culture in Spain. | Architecture/Construction, Building companies, Carlos Fernández Casado, Concrete structures, Engineering design, Félix Huarte, Huarte y Cía., Models, Prefabrication, Technical innovation |
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Mascarenhas-Mateus, J. | 2012 | Ethnographic Studies and their Contribution to Construction History in Portugal. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 11-19. | The classification schemas of historical construction processes in Portugal are established in important ethnographic studies which have been undertaken since the end of the 19th century. In works by figures such as Leite de Vasconcelos [1858-1941] and Rocha Peixoto [1868-1909] we can find an extensive mapping of the relationship between material resources, social traditions and construction technology throughout the country. During the 20th century, this body of research was developed by other scholars such as Orlando Ribeiro [1911-1997], who applied the Human Geography methodology to establish the first clear distinction between the stone culture of the North, and the earth culture of the South, integrating them in a universal context. This paper shows the importance of these studies to the establishment of a comprehensive view of Construction History in Portugal and highlights research areas opened up by such seminal works. | Portugal, Ethnography, Cultural influences, Practice: Vernacular, Structural morphology, Tradition, Mapping, Colonial exchange, Masonry construction, Wooden buildings |
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May, R. | 2012 | Shell Wars: Franz Dischinger and Ulrich Finsterwalder. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 133-141. | In the winter of 1923, just after having finished university, Ulrich Finsterwalder entered the building enterprise Dyckerhoff & Widmann which recently had developed a groundbreaking method for the construction of thin concrete shells. Within the company he soon established himself as the second driving force besides another mastermind: Franz Dischinger. In less than a decade both engineers would provide the theoretical and practical basis that enabled thin concrete shell constructions to conquer the whole world. The article takes a closer look at their complicated collaboration. As a result, it aims to raise questions about originality and authorship in engineering – questions that normally are ignored in a research field whose objects of investigation usually arise from collaborative endeavors | Franz Dischinger, Ulrich Finsterwalder, Companies: Building, Concrete structures, Controversy, Innovation: Technical, Invention, Shell structures, Transfer of knowledge, Technology, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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McGuinness, J. | 2012 | Air Raid Shelters in the United Kingdom 1939-1945: An Initial Investigation. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 657-664. | This paper seeks to assess the state of technical knowledge available to the designers of shelters in the United Kingdom in 1938-1940 in anticipation of aerial attack and to describe the methods adopted for providing such shelter thereafter. | Air raid shelter, Concrete structures, Metal structures, Precast, war |
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Melo, A., & do Carmo Ribeiro, M. | 2012 | Construction Financing in Late Medieval Portuguese Towns [14th-16th Centuries]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 305-312. | Our goal with this presentation is to provide answers to numerous questions regarding the different modes of construction financing in late medieval Portuguese towns from the 14th to the 16th centuries. For that purpose, we selected four approaches or perspectives: the issue as to who commissions and pays for the construction work: the king, lords or the municipality [concelho]; the typology and functions of the construction: military, religious or others; the identification of who contributes, and how, to finance the construction work; and lastly the modes of financing the different production costs. In order to reach our goals, we will apply a multidisciplinary methodology, crossing various types of sources, such as written, iconographic and material evidence through the use and application of specific concepts and methodologies derived from distinct fields of knowledge that usually focus on construction, such as history, archaeology and computer science. | Portugal, Financing, Production, Legislation, Materials, Infrastructure, Public works, Economic analyses of construction, Historical period: Middle Ages |
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Menchetti, F., & Pelissetti, L.S. | 2012 | Guidobaldo del Monte as Architect and the Construction of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Pesaro. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 621-628. | Guidobaldo del Monte combines his experience as scientist, to a copious activity as an architect in the service of Francesco Maria II, Duke of Urbino, proving to be “pratico […] di Architettura et edifitij.” The quotation by Girolamo Ardizi is supported by the words of Guidobaldo himself, reported in the depositions of the lawsuit filed in 1589 by the Camaldolese fathers for the collapse of the roof of the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. The architect makes several assumptions to overcome the disastrous collapse and describes in particular an original vault [in folio] with an extraordinary round. It is certainly not a theoretical treatise but a pragmatic approach to questions related to the strength of materials, a theme never before emerged in studies on Del Monte. Galileo, a correspondent for Guidobaldo, introduces his authoritative study on the resistance of materials, citing cases of recurring failures in engineering Renaissance. | Architectural history, Church, Fortifications, Geometry, Mason, Materials, Specifications: Building, Structural devices, Vault, Historical period: Renaissance |
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Meyer, T. | 2012 | The Science of Building as a Polytechnic Discipline in the 19th Century. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 21-28. | In the 19th century, the process of scientification initiated within polytechnic schools transformed and enriched contemporary knowledge on building. The genre of building textbooks written under the aegis of these schools illuminates this development most clearly. This paper focuses on the genre and its historical context; aiming to outline principally the emergence and relevance of the constitutive discursive process of “historicisation,” and to briefly outline the nature of its parallel process, “economisation.” The central thesis of the paper is that the process of “historicisation” can be considered as evidence of a method or a theory of invention. | Definitions of construction history, Methods of research, Technical publication, Institution |
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Miyake, R., & Maejim, M. | 2012 | A Study of Military Facility Planning from the Viewpoint of Technological Transfer from France to Japan. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 457-463. | Now that the buildings of the former Army of Japan are facing the prospect of demolition, there is increasing demand that their historical importance be assessed and that ways be found to reuse or preserve them. Today, as the example of early Meiji barracks built in the middle of 1870s, only four barracks still exist in Aomori, Sendai, Nagoya and Shibata. The Army’s architectural system has not yet been sufficiently studied. So far, the architectural prototype for Army buildings has not been found, but we can describe the architectural planning process and the prototypes both for garrisons, which were built on the site of ancient castles, and for barracks, which mixed the traditional Japanese carpentry and the positive introduction of new techniques from France because Japanese government invited French officers to get every new information to create a modern Army. This paper intends to clarify the planning method for military garrisons and the early stages of the barracks construction process by way of field surveys and archival documents. | Army, Barracks, Prototype, Japan, France |
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Montelli, E. | 2012 | The Reuse of Granite Columns in Rome, 15th-16th Centuries. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 481-489. | Between the second half of the 15th and the early decades of the 16th centuries, Roman architecture was characterized by the presence of reused columns in various different types of marble [bigio antico, breccias, cipollino, granite, travertine], reworked in accordance with their new function in contrast to what occurred during the Middle Ages. Initially, column shafts were reused without any distinction between the types of materials available; later, especially after the construction of Palazzo della Cancelleria, monolithic granite columns [grey and red] were sought out and these took on a primary role compared to other materials. Only in the works of Bramante is the reworking of the granite columns, already problematic due to the hardness of the stone, further complicated by the execution of the entasis. The preference for granite can be explained by both technical reasons and the desire to make reference to Antiquity; this material made it possible to create shafts of the desired size, much appreciated during the Imperial period, without running the risk of breaking the stone. | Columns: entasis, Recycling and reuse of materials: Reworking, Reused material, Stone: Granite, Treatises: Architectural, Historical period: Renaissance, Spolia |
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Mosthtaghe Gohari,K. | 2012 | The Morphological Evolution of the Vertical Axle Windmill between the Second and the 18th Centuries A.D. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 359-366. | In contrast to the watermill, the windmill was unknown in the Roman Empire; the first windmill was created around the second century A.D. in Iran [Persia]. The architectural elements in the morphology of the vertical axle windmill have various functions. The evolution of the building techniques used in different types of windmills led to the birth of the best and the most functional morphology in service of technical mechanism. In this article, three major axes of inquiry will be followed: the historical documents and the scholarly literature by authors in the discipline, the morphological evolution of the vertical windmill and the role of architectural elements in the technical mechanism. A chronology of the different kinds of windmill in the Middle East will also be presented. It will show us the various morphogenesis patterns of the vertical axle windmill in Iran. | Architectural history, Morphogenesis, Complex shapes, Innovation, Technical, Invention, Historical period: Antiquity/Middle Ages/17th-18th centuries |
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Muñoz, R. | 2012 | The Most Important Construction in Bahia’s 19th Century History: Salvador’s Mountain Retaining Wall. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 607-615. | The City of Salvador was founded in the 16th century on the high cliff escarpment of a geographic fault. Although this topography provided an ideal position to defend its urban perimeter against occasional enemies arriving via the Todos os Santos Bay, it also served to create a disaster zone, due to its subsequent landslides. In the 19th century, this cliff escarpment was called the Mountain and it divides the city into two parts: the Upper City and the Lower City. It was not until the mid 19th century that the government began to deal with this potential threat through the construction of a gravity retaining wall, known as the Mountain Retaining Wall. Today this remains the most important structure ever designed to stabilize the city slopes. The aim of this study is to describe the history of this construction, addressing its plans, materials, techniques and related difficulties. | Elements of stability, Civil engineering, Gravity retaining wall, Masonry construction, Public works, Salvador, Slope stabilization, Stone construction, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Muñoz Soria, G. | 2012 | Load-Bearing Wall Structures in the Works of Lluís Nadal. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 417-425. | Until the introduction of the first brick masonry standards in 1972, construction in Spain traditionally used load-bearing walls in all types of dwellings. Lluís Nadal, a Catalan architect, was one of the last architects to combine the design of dwelling interiors with load-bearing brick structures. His most significant works are the apartment blocks at 307, Carrer Lepant [1963-1968] and 44-50, Carrer de les Tres Torres [1970-1974]. Nadal designed the layout of living interiors using load-bearing walls. The function of these walls was to ensure the basic structural concept, strength and stability by means of structural elements and ties. The design included various nucleuses that increased the inertia of the overall construction and formed a series of spaces which, structurally, functioned independently. Lluís Nadal is remarkable for his constructive rigour and precision in the development of the floor plan. His work is, then, based on specific knowledge of construction processes, in which the essence of the Mediterranean provided the basis of the balance needed to posit his architectural discourse. | Architecture/Construction, Construction history, Masonry construction, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Nègre, V. | 2012 | Oral Transmission and the Use of Models in the Teaching of Architecture and Construction at the Turn of the 19th Century. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 555-563. | The use of models in lectures on architecture isn’t very well known. But like drawings and images, models were used to mediate between verbal description and reality. As these disappeared, so too did a representation of materials that complemented oral communication, which photographs or slides did not replace. Subsequently, with the growing importance of lectures and due to their very nature, the teaching of architecture in French schools inexorably turned towards abstraction. This paper will address the question by examining what types of objects were used in teaching architecture and construction at the turn of the 19th century, how these were handled and the reasons that led to using them. | Education, Teaching, Models, Stereotomy, Carpentry, Jacques François Blondel, Académie Royale d’Architecture [Paris], Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers [Paris] |
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Odiaua, I., Taiwo, A. A., & Ajayi, R. | 2012 | Use of Modern Materials in the Conservation of Traditional African Buildings. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 113-119. | Africa’s architectural and built heritage has adapted to, and incorporated, new technologies and materials. Most of these efforts have taken place within the informal, traditional sector, with cultural meaning serving as the basis for conservation choices. “New” materials and technologies are increasingly applied to meet the challenges of keeping African traditional architecture alive. This paper, through selected case studies, identifies the plusses and minuses of the adaptations, and discusses the challenges that the borrowing poses. It identifies the factors that contribute to the obsolescence of indigenous construction technologies and the loss of local knowledge systems. It further establishes the existing expertise for the conservation of these technologies as well as what adaptations have been made, with modern materials, in current restoration practice. It concludes with a synthesis of the dominant trends and recommends steps necessary for the emergence of African conservation expertise to ensure adequate preservation of this architecture. | Conservation, Culture, Practice, Materials, Architecture, Expertise, Restoration, Africa |
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O’Dwyer, D., Cox, R. | 2012 | George Semple and the Reconstruction of Essex Bridge in Dublin 1753-1755. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 637-645. | George Semple’s A Treatise on building in Water, in which he described the reconstruction of Essex Bridge across the river Liffey in Dublin, is among the earliest civil engineering texts published in English. Semple reconstructed Essex bridge in the early 1750s but did not write his account of the reconstruction until 1775. Semple’s treatise reveals construction practice in Ireland and England in the mid-18th century. The text is well illustrated, includes details of the construction equipment and gives detailed technical information in a number of areas. Semple’s treatise also reveals the flow of technical information between Ireland, England and France at this time. The traditional architectural texts of Alberti, Palladio, Scamozzi and Serlio did not provide Semple with the technical advice he needed, nor did visits to Labelye and others in England. Semple was unfamiliar with French. However, the illustrations in Belidor’s Architecture Hydraulique [1753] and a perspective drawing of the construction of the Pont d’Orleans guided his construction of the cofferdams required to construct the new foundations for the bridge. | Arch bridges, Construction history, Engineering: Civil, Foundations, Masonry construction, Transfer of knowledge, Treatises, Manuals, Underwater construction, Urban planning, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Okada, S., Kobayashi, I. & Nakama, K. | 2012 | A Study on Distribution and Reuse of Tram Line Paving Stones in Japan. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 501-507. | Trams used to be seen in most major cities in Japan between early 1900 and the 1950s. Stone slabs were generally used for the track paving at the time. Since then, quite a few tramlines have fallen into disuse, and their slabs have been re-used elsewhere in the country. This paper clarifies the following three points on the distribution and use of the slabs. 1) Flagstones were a standard distribution product subject to reuse (domestically produced granite); 2) New quarries were developed in response to increasing demand for the flagstones; 3) As there was a large quantity of disused flagstones, they were sold and reused. According to one case of use diversion, the texture of the old flagstones was popular as it was reminiscent of cities in bygone days. | Distribution, Japan, Paving, Quarry, Reuse, Standardization, Stone, Tramway, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Örmecioğlu, H.T., Küçükdoğan, B. & Akan, A.E. | 2012 | The Roots of Foreign Effects in Development of the Turkish Construction Sector [1719-1933]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 449-456. | Since the late Ottoman period, Turkish governments carried out technology transfer with self determination and conscious initiative. This continual policy is not systematized but rather shaped randomly by the changing equilibrium in international affairs such as French-Ottoman affairs in the 1780s or German-Ottoman affairs in the 1900s. The construction sector was one of the most active areas in this transfer. In this study, the roots of this transfer would be explained in detail by focusing on the early periods of Turkish engineering since the establishment of technical education in the 18th century to change with the politics of finance in the 1930s. Specifically the period covered is the years between 1719 and 1933, which are respectively the year of the ten-page report submitted to Sultan Ahmet titled “Establishment of a foreign engineer troop under Bab-ı Ali rule” by a foreign expert, De Rocheford; and the preparation of the first domestic government bonds for construction of Fevzipasa-Diyarbakir line. | Technology transfer, Construction history, Turkey, Teaching, Training, Public works, Railways, Education, Technology, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries/19th-20th centuries |
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Palacios Gonzalo, J.C. , Bravo Guerrero, S.C. | 2012 | Construction of a Pendentive Grid Crossing Vault. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 81-88. | The purpose of this communication is to present an educational experience held in the Faculty of Architecture of Madrid: the construction of an authentic ribbed vault according the traditional construction methods used in the 16th century. The vault was built in the Workshop on Gothic Building Method, a subject taught in the undergraduate cycle. We think that the knowledge of these structures cannot be achieved without carrying out their physical construction. The experience that we present here is the construction of what was formerly called a grid crossing vault. This is a vault formed by a grid of orthogonal ribs, composed of a series of cross-shaped voussoirs that are joined to form an orthogonal spatial network. Therefore, a vault is composed by two types of pieces: the voussoirs of the arches and the crossings. The vault is inspired in several examples built in Spain such as the vaults of the cloister of the Monastery of San Jerónimo de Buenavista in Seville and the vaults of the header of the sacristy of the Cathedral of Seville. | Geometry, Masonry construction, Quarry, Relations between science and practice, Stereotomy, Stone construction, Vaults, Historical period: Middle Age/Renaissance |
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Paliza Monduate, M.T. | 2012 | Limitations Stemming from the Legal Regulation of Designs of Foreign Architects in Spain in the 19th Century and their Consequences on the Building Process. The Case of the Basque Country: Origin, Development and Construction of English, French and Belgian Designs. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of 4ICCH, I, 527-535. | During the second half of the 19th century many Spanish towns had building regulations and, to obtain a building permit, the project had to be signed by architects recognized by the San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. In practice this measure impeded foreign architects from presenting projects for buildings in Spain. Nonetheless, certain developers wishing to construct buildings with structural and architectural characteristics not in line with the dominant trends in Spain chose to use as front men local architects willing to sign plans designed by foreign architects in order to fulfill the legal requirements. We present a review of cases in the Basque Country and their consequences on the construction processes of the buildings involved | Alfredo Acebal, Atanasio Anduiza, Chatterton & Couch, F. Lindus Forge, Gregorio Ibarreche, Jean Baptiste Darroqui, Legislation, Luis Aladrén, Manuel María Smith, Paul Hankar, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Palomares Figueres, M., Moreno Puchalt, J., & Llopis Pulido, V. | 2012 | Architectural Expression in the 60s and the Prefabrication of Formwork. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 457-462. | In the 1960s, the technology of reinforced concrete provided highly expressive architectural solutions linked mainly to laminated structures. However, although less common, we can also cite several particular cases of framework structures where the expressiveness stems from both the material chosen and the ingenious design of the structural solution. This is so in the case of Santa María del Mar church in Jávea [Spain], built in 1963 and undertaken by the GO.DB. Arquitectos, where the roofing being reminiscent of Le Corbusier’s Notre Dame du Haut chapel. Formworks moulded the shape and lent expressiveness to the new material, a detailed study of their geometries and individual pieces being required, which involved a painstakingly precise constructional system. In Jávea, moreover, the formwork system required a particular prefabrication. The large formwork pieces, shaped with three-dimensional curved boards and the positioning of the reinforcement for the enclosing pillars were made entirely in a workshop and were then erected on site | Relationships to related disciplines, Archives and documents, Analytical methods, Heritage, Prefabrication, Academies |
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Papavasileiou, S., Makrodimitri, M., & Campbell, J.W.P. | 2012 | The Construction and Integration of Historic Heating Systems in Churches in the United Kingdom from the 17th to the Early 20th Century.Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 277-287. | The study of historic environmental systems in the United Kingdom prior to the introduction of air-conditioning in the 20th century reveals outstanding innovations in the development of heating-systems construction and their adaptation to architecture. This paper attempts to clarify the range and history of construction, appendage and assembly of heating systems, from the 17th to the early 20th century in the United Kingdom, using the particular building type of church buildings. Churches remain exceptionally vague to the awareness of construction history research in connection to heating, although rife with examples of profound ingenuity and innovation in this field. A literature review has been undertaken, examining both primary and secondary literary sources but also physical historic systems still found intact. A revised classification re-assesses the localised and central heating categories by examining each system’s components, assembly and function. Conclusions highlight the importance for further research in the origins, effects and history these developments. | Church, Heating, Architecture/Construction, Engineering design, Innovation, Technical, Interior environment, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries/19th-20th centuries |
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Paternò, D.L. | 2012 | The Interpretation of Palladio’s Building Techniques: Palazzo Chiericati and the 19th Century Restorations. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 121-128. | Palazzo Chiericati represents a true ‘experimental worksite’ where Palladio introduced a series of formal and technological innovations, which will later become a trademark of his work and of the building tradition in the Veneto region. He created architectural elements typical of the classical culture [columns and stone-like architraves] with simple material [plaster-coated bricks and wood]. The building was completed only in the last part of the 17th century, while the first restoration dates back to the 19th century, when it was perceived as an opportunity to bring the building back to its ‘original conditions,’ according to the Neoclassical perspective. The construction, completion and restoration of the palazzo help us to understand how Palladio’s technical skills were interpreted and modified according to the evolution of the critical views and building traditions that had spread throughout the Veneto region over the centuries. | Palladio, Chiericati Palace, Vicenza, Transfer of knowledge, Technology: Construction/Diffusion, Restoration, Tradition, Historical period: Renaissance/17th-18th centuries/19th-20th centuries |
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Pelke, E., & Kurrer, K-E. | 2012 | The Development of Multi-Cable-Stayed Bridges. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 657-665. | The work of Hellmut Homberg embraces all the materials and structural forms of modern bridge-building. It is even broader than he himself realized, even though his great passion was major bridges. Homberg reached the pinnacle of his art of bridge-building between 1962 and 1967. Within a short space of time he developed, patented and built the two fundamental types of multi-cable-stayed bridge. And his last main patent [1967] points the way forward for multiple-span multi-cable-stayed bridges; the Rhine crossing at Neuwied–Weissenthurm became the prototype for the Millau Viaduct. It remains a tragedy that Homberg’s pioneering designs and studies for stringing together multi-cable-stayed bridges were not pursued during his lifetime. This trilogy is a first attempt to document Homberg’s work, publications and relevant literature, which are referred to. This is the first systematic appraisal of his contribution to the development of the multi-cable-stayed bridge. It includes previously unpublished designs and concludes with a Catalogue Raisonné of his multi-cable-stayed bridges. | Infrastructure, Bridge, Cable-stayed, Structural analysis, Structural design, Biography |
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Peters, T.F. | 2012 | Conceptual Problems in the Restoration and Adaptive Reuse of Historical Structures: The Rhaetian Railway Bridges in Switzerland. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 129-134. | Finding a balance between visual and technical integrity in the preservation of technologically significant structures is a complex problem, especially when the objects remain in use and have to be upgraded to adapt to new uses and take modern structural codes and laws into account. The restoration of the 592 bridges of the alpine Rhaetian Railway in the mountainous Canton Graubünden in Switzerland that was built between 1898 and 1910, part of which was declared a UNESCO Heritage Landscape in 2008, provides a case study in dealing with the multiple issues involved that range from UNESCO guidelines, touristic and aesthetic requirements and corporate imagery as defined by the client to technical requirements and personal value judgment by the restorer. Theoretical consistency and conceptual clarity can provide a guideline but cannot solve the problem; subtle, creative design thinking is needed to supplement the process. | Aesthetics, Arch bridges, Design ideas, Masonry construction, Railway, Restoration, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Petit, J. | 2012 | Private Archives of the 18th and 19th Centuries: Sources for the History of Marble-Working in Belgium. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 73-79. | Even today, relatively little is known of the work of marble-masons, but owes much to the skill and knowledge of the marble-workers of French-speaking Belgium. An essential contribution to the history of marble-working is to be found in the study of the outstanding documentation from one Belgian marble-works [quarrymen and marble-masons]. The company books we have at our disposal [dispatching ledgers and account-books] come from two periods: 1769-1784 and 1843-1889. These private archives relate to the marble industry in the region of Rance, in the Hainault and provide important information as to the technical organisation of work, the technical characteristics of marbles employed, their use and destination [principally to France and England] and on the administrative management of the firm. The exceptional documentation shows the know-how and spirit of enterprise of these marble-masters. Their work provided a sizeable contribution to the architectural heritage all Europe. | Archives, Client, Decoration, Heritage, Owner, Production, Railways, Stone, Technology, Historical period: 18th-19th centuries |
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Petralla, S. | 2012 | Safavid Ribbed Vaults as a Masterpiece of Iranian Construction Techniques. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 91-98. | Spanning with ribbed vaults is largely diffused in several countries. In Iran they represent a primary element in local architecture and have been realized with techniques never developed abroad. The maturation of this vernacular methodology is strictly connected with the materials, consisting in bricks and suffering for the shortage of timber. The first examples of these structures spread in Persia during the tenth century and reach new heights of achievement under the Safavids. The method for constructing these ribs was declined in several ways until this high-performing period when elaborated ribbed vaulting, made with complex patterns of intersecting bricks arches were created, as a structural and a decorative device. From this moment on a big variety of spaces is covered using this system. Thus showing the ability of brick-workers who declined in several ways the formal potentialities of a structural problem, making a weakness into a masterpiece. | Architecture/Construction, Brick, Heritage, Masonry construction, Spanning: Arch/Vault/Ceiling, Tradition, Truthfulness of material, Vaulting, Vaults: Ribbed/Squinch, Historical period: Renaissance |
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do Vale, C.P., & Abrantes, V.T. | 2012 | Urban Dynamics and Horizontal Property: Case Study of the Boavista Axis, Porto, Portugal. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 313-321. | The horizontal property regime was established very late in Portugal [1955], but had important repercussions upon subsequent real estate developments. In fact, the urban land register itself developed as a result of the need to individualise ownership in accordance with the site on which the property stood. The law also had important implications for urban design. The aim of this paper is to analyse the urbanization and building mechanisms that developed in the wake of this specific legal provision; for, although the new law did not directly regulate building activity, it nevertheless had important repercussions upon construction dynamics in the city of Porto. The analysis is based on a particular case study, the axis of Boavista in Porto, an urban alignment around seven km long that drove the city’s westward expansion during the 19th and 20th centuries. | Codes, Building practices and standards; Housing: Domestic buildings, Investment property, Law, Legislation: Regulations/Building, Ownership, Politics, Policies: Construction, Property: Horizontal/Vertical/Urban/Rural, Urban regulation, Historical period: |
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Pinon, M. | 2012 | The Building of the Arsenal of Le Havre in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 157-163. | This communication is part of the current PhD thesis and is dedicated to the study of building sites that occurred on the Graville fortress close to the port of Le Havre in the 17th and 18th centuries. More exactly, our objective is to understand precisely the process of the building site of conversion of the outbuildings of the castle dating from of the 13th century into a cannon foundry, which began in 1627. If there remains nothing of these buildings today, this study is possible thanks to rich archival sources: quantity surveying and other “prix faits” of repair of the building in the 17th and 18th centuries and an archaeological survey conducted before demolition in 1949, which I found recently. This constructive analysis, which we will call "architect’s reading of archives" watch that this modest-looking Norman building participates in the development of a perfect arsenal as embodied by Cherbourg in the 18th century. | Quantitative surveying, Foundries, Research material: Building/Public and private archives/Documents/Oral sources, Economic analyses of construction, Surveys/Expertise, Archeology, Case study, Cost of building or rebuilding, Deconstruction: Reuse, Demolit |
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Pinto Puerto, F., & Guerrero Vega, J.M. | 2012 | The Scaenae Frons of the Roman Theatre of Itálica: Notes on the Construction Process. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 21-27. | The studies conducted prior to the consolidation and recovery of the Roman Theatre of Itálica [Santiponce, Spain] have provided an opportunity to learn more about the historical evolution of the building, as well as the processes and techniques used in its construction. The use of digital photogrammetry to take measurements and the detailed analysis of the fragments preserved have enabled us to establish the dimensions of the architectural orders with greater precision. We have also identified some of the original stone pieces used in the columnatio structure which display traces of the original lime plaster subsequently covered with marble cladding secured with metal fixings. This not only confirms that the stage building underwent alterations but sheds new light on the building practices employed. | Archaeology, Architectural history, Construction process, Firmitas, Geometry, Itálica, Marble, Stone, Structural morphology, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Porrino, M. | 2012 | Notes on Technological and Architectural Aspects of London Transport Power Stations and Substations, 1880-1915. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 617-626. | Through the analysis of several London buildings, this text aims to highlight transformations in architecture and construction associated with the electrification of public transport and the creation of the London Underground at the end of the 19th century. Power plants, the shape of which crystallised in the form of juxtaposed twin halls, can be considered magnificent building exceptions – for their unprecedented steel frame, for example. They are also interesting as a starting point to reflect upon the functional limits of major installations on the edge of cities. During the same period, electrical substations were an exercise in reinterpretation and adaptation of industrial buildings to the existing urban surroundings both in terms of language, which goes from historicist eclecticism to architectural rationalism, and in terms of construction modalities, especially regarding the implementation of technologies aiming to reduce nuisances or the management of the life cycle of productive units. | Buildings, Structures and Design, Electrical engineering and distribution, Power stations: Fossil fuel, Railway systems, Rehabilitation: Renovation, Steel structures, London, London transport, London Underground, Historical period 19th-20th centuries |
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Prado, F., et al | 2012 | Traces of Construction Following Migration: Transverse Gable; Massive Timber and Carpenter’s Marks in the Houses of the 19th Century German Settlers in Southern Chile. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 429-437. | During the immigration of German settlers in southern Chile organized by the Government between 1852 and 1875, a total of 6,952 people settled mainly at the shore of Lake Llanquihue, a region then largely unpopulated. This immigration led to the construction of a vast architectural heritage, which is recognized in the country as "German" architecture. However, it has not been clearly established to what extent the houses built by the settlers in southern Chile were influenced by the import of European models. In this work, we attempt to identify the specific influences developed by these immigrants in southern Chile. Traces of such influences are found in basic elements and building systems and architectural elements, Transverse Gable, Massive Timber and Carpenters Marks, which we document and discuss in a parallel study of cases both in Chile in the mentioned areas and in the areas of origin where the emigrants lived before departure. | Case study, Construction process, Cultural influences, Emigration/Immigration, Mapping, Transfer of knowledge, Timber construction, Historical period 19th-20th centuries |
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Prokop, I. | 2012 | Wrought Iron and Steel Structures in Berlin in their Prime from 1875 to 1925, with a Focus on Buildings for the Arts. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 225-233. | The 19th century is generally considered to be the prime century of iron and steel construction. The simultaneous development of scientifically based calculation methods and iron and steel construction methods went hand in hand in ensuring the success of this materially efficient building method. The evolution of iron and steel construction in Berlin between 1875 and 1925 is illustrated in the following article by examples of the load-bearing structures of cultural buildings – such as museums, theaters and opera houses. These relatively unknown steel structures provide a framework within which the development of certain load-bearing structures can be illustrated. These include everything from the formation of statically determinate truss systems to statically indeterminate frame systems and varied structures for covered courtyards. The structural engineers Richard Cramer [1847-1906] and Otto Leitholf [1860-1939] had a significant influence on these developments in Berlin. Additionally, the resources available to the engineers at the time for the planning of their structures will be presented. This article is part of the findings of the author’s dissertation, Eiserne Tragwerke in Berlin. 1850-1925 [Wrought Iron and steel structures in Berlin] at the University of the Arts in Berlin. | Construction history, Engineers, Frame structures, Iron and steel, Museum, Trussed roofs, Static analysis, Steel frame buildings, Structural design, Theory of structure, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Puget, J. | 2012 | Construction Market Organization in the 17th Century: Norms, Actors and Practices Examples of Extension Plans in Aix and Marseille. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 495-502. | In the absence of institutions specifically responsible for supervising construction, it is difficult to know the rules and practices relating to the construction of private buildings on a day-to-day basis. Extension plans for the cities of Aix-en-Provence and Marseilles in the mid-17th century offer an opportunity to compare administrative sources and contracts and to identify three phases in the authorization of house-building under the Old Regime. The two first phases correspond to the development of the project and its installation on the land, including numerous surveys and alignments of land and buildings. The final phase relates to inspections to verify that builders respected the terms of their permits for construction and new regulations on public law and order that were being issued. This study contributes to the social history of construction, and focuses attention on the various actors in this market. | Client/Owner, Codes: Building practices and standards, Construction process, Contracts, Controls: Building, Domestic buildings, Estimates, Expertise, Institution, Law, Mason, Organization of building sites, Urban planning, Historical period: 17th-18th cen |
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Quantrill, A. | 2012 | Technical Supremacy: Tropical Architecture and Technologies of the British State. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 439-447. | In this paper I investigate the involvement of architects Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew in West African building projects supported by the British Colonial Office from the 1940s through the early 1960s. Much of the technical knowledge for this work came from studies by the Building Research Station, the first state-run research institution dedicated to problems of building and construction. There was some tension between a growing recognition of the colonial subject and the idea that technical expertise provided a neutral means of intervening in colonial territories. The very material presence of the architecture stemmed from investigations of the state, usually serving British commercial interests and subject to patterns of global trade. A form of reflexivity is visible in the technological and aesthetic transfer between the British and African contexts. | Architecture/Construction, Architectural history, Colonial buildings: Tropical, Technology, Export trade, Environment |
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Quatember, U., & Thuswaldner, B. | 2012 | Opus revinctum in Dome and Barrel Vault Constructions in Roman Asia Minor. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 45-52. | Building with large stone blocks, also called opus revinctum, was a method frequently used in the architecture of Roman Asia Minor. Vertical connections were established with dowels, horizontal joints were secured with clamps. Mortar essentially was not applied. This paper presents examples for dome and barrel vault construction carried out in this technique. Unfortunately only few monuments have been studied in greater detail. This paper aims to present some of these examples and to discuss their design. However uniform their appearance might seem at a first glance, the underlying structural principles are surprisingly manifold: They include true dome construction as well as corbel vaulting and flat arches. Our goal is to attract attention to these monuments and the neglected questions of their structural design. | Arch, Barrel vaults, Corbel, Domes, Opus revinctum, Roofing, Vaulting, Asia Minor, Aizanoi, Attaleia, Ephesos, Pergamon, Side, Termessos |
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Quist, W.J., & Nijland, T.G. | 2012 | A Mining Engineer in Heritage Land: A.L.W.E. Van der Veen and Early Research on Natural Stone for the Netherlands State Commission on Conservation [1920-1936]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 435-441. | Mining engineer A.L.W.E. van der Veen was the first scientist to become involved in material research on natural stone in monuments in the Netherlands. The paper provides a first brief overview of his life and activities in the field of natural stone research as a ground for interventions on monuments and discusses his legacy. | Van der Veen, Conservation, Restoration, Geology, History of science, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Rabasa Díaz,E. et al | 2012 | The 100 Ft Vault: The Construction and Geometry of the Sala dei Baroni of the Castel Nuovo, Naples. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 55-59. | After the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples in 1442, Alfonso V of Aragon transformed the Castel Nuovo, an old Angevin fortress in the capital, into a new palace. In addition to commissioning the well-known triumphal arch ascribed to Francesco Laurana, he ordered the Majorcan architect Guillem Sagrera to construct a number of singular spiral staircases, a rib vault behind the arch and an octagonal tierceron vault over the castle’s main hall. Measuring approximately 26 m. wide, the octagonal vault may be the largest of its kind in European Gothic architecture. This has led us to prepare a specific survey of the vault, carried on by means of a laser total station, in order to determine its exact geometry. In this paper, after an introductory section on the vault’s construction, we present our analysis of the geometry and tracing methods of the vault, paying special attention to the tension between regular, octagonal layout of the vault and Sagrera’s idiosyncratic style. | Stereotomy, Geometry, Ribbed vaults, Guillem Sagrera, Napoli, Castel Nuovo, Sala dei Baroni, Historical period: Middle Ages |
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Rabeneck, A. | 2012 | The Transformation of Construction by Concrete. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 627-635. | Concrete is used as case study to explain fundamental transformations in construction during the 20th century from a universal craft activity to a globalised industry. | Cement, Concrete structures, Engineering design, Industrialization, Innovation: Technical, Manufacture, Production, Technology |
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Radelet-de Grave, P. | 2012 | Newtonian Scientists on the Relation between a Catenary Curve and an Arch Supported by its own Weight.Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 237-242. | The role played by the problem of the catenary at the beginnings of the process of mathematisation of elasticity is well known. I have already shown how important the study of this curve was for the elaboration of differential and integral calculus by Leibniz and the Bernoullis. The success of leibnizian calculus in solving this problem should have given rise to reactions from defenders of Newton’s calculus of fluxions. But they’ll react only seven years later. In the article we study some of those belated reactions because they are mainly concerned with the study of arches supported by their own weight | Arches supported by their own weight, Elasticity, Differential and integral calculus, Calculus of fluxions |
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Ramírez Pacheco, G., et al | 2012 | Building Expropriation Process for the Construction of the New Dock at the Port of Cartagena [Spain] in the 18th Century. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 245-253. | During the 18th century, the Bourbon monarchy mandated the building of a Naval Base in the Spanish Bay of Cartagena. To do so, different actions had to be implemented on the surrounding environment in order to prepare it for the construction of the new port. One of the priorities was the transformation of the watershed of the streams that flowed into the blocked Sea of Mandarache. This was achieved through the design and building of a dam in the northern part of the city. The design of this massive construction, which would also serve to fortify the city of Cartagena, was fraught with doubt. Its proximity to the city would result in the demolition of several buildings in the San Roque neighborhood. Therefore, the number of affected buildings and the value of the fair compensation for their expropriation would become decisive factors in determining whether or not the construction project was a viable option for the Royal Estate. | Compensation, Cost of building, Economic analyses of construction, Economy, Expropriation, Legal documents, Legislation, Maritime engineering, Regulations building, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Rauhut, C. | 2012 | Handbooks on Construction Site Supervision in the 19th Century. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 683-700. | In the 19th century typical building processes changed as a result of new and modified materials and building techniques; moreover, specialised craftsmen were increasingly required to execute work on construction sites. At the same time the process of scientification initiated within the polytechnic schools was transforming the structure of knowledge on building. The genre of handbooks on construction site supervision – novel for the time – reflects both developments. Sixty different German books on construction site supervision from the 1840s to the 1910s form the body of research in this field. The aim of these books was to give guidance on an increasingly complex building process by providing the necessary knowledge in a useful, but orderly form. The aim of this paper is to dwell on these books to discuss their origins, their aims and usefulness, their dependency on the ‘Praxis’ and their inherent constraints. | Construction process, Education, Expertise, Formation, History of science, Organization of building sites, Publications: Technical literature, Relation between science and practice, Transfer of knowledge, Technology, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Redondo Martínez, E. | 2012 | Test on Tile Vaults in France in the 19th Century. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 107-115. | Throughout the 19th century the construction of tile vaults experienced enormous development and the use of these vaults spread to new types of buildings, as well as to areas where they had not traditionally been constructed. In addition, cement started being used as a binder instead of plaster. In this context numerous tests were carried out on these vaults, in order to validate a construction system that was considered new for these reasons. In this paper a series of strength tests carried out in France between 1837 and 1865 are studied, all of them on vaults of similar size and geometry, with spans between four and five m. and a rise of 1/10 of the span. This type was frequently used in the construction of industrial buildings at that time. The first test aims to measure experimentally the thrust of one of these vaults, to end a debate on whether or not tile vaults exert thrust. The tests seek to obtain the failure load of the vaults to be used in the design of similar vaults. | Barrel vaults: Barrel Arch, Brick: Hollow/Carved, Cement, Graphic statics, Masonry construction, Strength of structure, Structural tile, Testing: Experimentation, Vaults: Timbrel/Barrel/Ribbed/Star/Flat/Thin/Tile/Squinch, Historical period: 19th-20th cent |
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Robson, K.F. | 2012 | Managing the Design and Construction of the Empire State Building: Are There Lessons for Today’s Projects?. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 207-215. | Opened on 1 May 1931, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world for more than 40 years. In 20 months the building was designed, engineered, permitted, demolition completed and the building constructed. The innovative construction methods and techniques employed to construct the building are well documented and were important aspects in the speed of construction. The innovative construction methods were part of an overarching management process – a process that emphasized teams and encouraged innovation. The management processes of the Empire State Building can be tied directly to the management theories developed during the careers of the key players who owned, designed and built the Empire State Building. A study of the management processes and the innovative thinking allowed through the use of these management processes and the emphasis on teamwork can provide lessons to the owners, architects and contractors of today’s complex construction projects. | Architecture/Construction, Starrett Bros. & Eken, Construction history, Construction process, Empire State Building, Office buildings, Organization: Administrative/Financial, Project management, Skyscrapers, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Rociola, G. | 2012 | Wooden Embankments in the Lagoon Territory of Capitanata between the 18th and 19th Centuries. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 533-540. | The study concerns the analysis of the techniques of using wooden embankments dating back to Bourbon period between the 18th and 19th centuries to control the waters in the Capitanata territory located in Apulia [Italy] between the Gargano and the Murgia mountains and the valley of the river Ofanto. This plain is essential for the production of salt and fish in the Salpi lagoon, as well as crops and enormous efforts were made to try to control the flooding that threatened the man-made boundaries laboriously engineered at that time. The synthesis of this commitment is summarised in the letters exchanged between technicians of the Kingdom of Naples and the designers, who tested the timber structures with the common goal of protecting the saltworks, salt basins and cultivated fields, involving the Architect Luigi Vanvitelli and the engineer Carlo Afan De Rivera in a colossal reclamation project. | Salt wetlands, Capitanata, Lake of Salpi, Ofanto, Bourbons, Embankments, Reclaim, Luigi Vanvitelli, Afan De Rivera, Wood, Bond timber, Dams, Landscape, Settlement: Lagoon territory, Waterways and canals |
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Rodríguez García, A. | 2012 | Modern Interpretations of the Vernacular Tradition in the Work of J.A. Coderch 1940-1964. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 211-219. | José Antonio Coderch de Sentmenat [Barcelona 1913-1984], was a Team X member from its founding congress in Otterlo in 1959. He spent the first half of his career in an international context where Modernism [the Modern Movement] underwent a critical review, with a new attitude towards tradition. He received his architecture degree in 1940 and until 1964, which was a turning point in his life, in his work he tried to combine the best values of Modernism with the constructive consistency of vernacular architecture. This paper studies Coderch’s modern interpretation of vernacular tradition by examining the individual value of constructive proposals used in the projects and works of this period, and also as a whole, for they belong to a school of thought that considers climatic factors and the suitability of local materials to be the path that should be followed by contemporary building. | Coderch, Team X, Modern Movement, Tradition, Innovation, Technical, Architecture/Construction, Prefabrication, Masonry construction |
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Roesler, S. | 2012 | Architectural Anthropology: A Knowledge-Based Approach. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 29-25. | In the discipline of architecture to date, hardly any approaches exist to integrate into architectural education knowledge of construction as it is found in vernacular and informal building. The following remarks are intended as a plea for the establishment of a new academic discipline that comprehensively addresses such vernacular building traditions, commonly referred to as “architecture without architects” (Rudofsky 1964). The discipline will be entitled “architectural anthropology”; subject matter of this discipline would primarily consist of domestic, non-European building phenomena. Architectural anthropology comprises an interdisciplinary field of knowledge, in which architects – as well as anthropologists – play a crucial role. The following considerations deal only with the [possible] contribution of architects to this new discipline. | Anthropology, Construction history, Domestic buildings, Epistemology, Skills, Transfer of knowledge |
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Roff, S.E. | 2012 | Building Construction in Medieval Spain: The Female Perspective. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 17-22. | Contemporary studies of the medieval construction process and history of architecture have assumed an all-male labor force on the construction site and in the related building trades. Historical chronicles from the Middle Ages and their imagery support this notion, purporting the total exclusion of women from this complex industry; however, recent research has revealed that there is archival evidence pointing to the contrary. This paper presents an investigation of Spanish archives, which reveals wider acceptance of women involved in the building process in this region than previously thought. The primary sources studied document women involved in a wide range of occupations: poor women hired for manual labor, women working with their husbands and fathers in the building trades, widows continuing the workshops of their deceased husbands, and women supplying building materials for particular sites. | Women workers, Social history of labour, Trade guilds, Workshops, Construction sites, Law: Practices/Customs/Regulations, Spain, Girona, Toledo, Seville, Historical period: Medieval |
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Rollenhagen Tilly, L. | 2012 | Knowledge of Architecture and Building Technologies in 18th Century Sweden. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 409-417. | In two unpublished manuscripts Carl Johan Cronstedt [1709-1777], superintendent of the Royal buildings in Sweden [1753-1767], record his use of his collection and library. These illustrated texts give new insights into the culture and the view upon building technologies and architecture in 18th century Sweden and Europe: the study of mainly French models by a Swedish architect, as the adaptation of those to the Scandinavian climate and building traditions. Through a selective bibliography and a modern footnote system it is possible to follow Cronstedt’s readings, but also his personal observations and experiments – first as a young student travelling through Europe [1732-1737], then as an active architect at the Swedish Superintendency [1737-1767]. Classified according to subject areas these manuscripts reveal the main concerns for a Modern architect-engineer: from the aesthetical aspects of architecture, through technical issues, to a broader interest for urban infrastructures. | Architecture/Construction, Archives biography, Construction history, Education, Knowledge, Practice: Vernacular, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Romero Medina, R. & Romero Bejarano, M. | 2012 | Building during the War of Granada: The Project for Reconstructing Fuengirola in 1485. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 143-147. | In 1485 the Castilian troops conquered Fuengirola [Malaga]; it was then when the Catholic Monarchs commissioned the reconstruction of both the bastion and the town walls to the city of Jerez de la Frontera [Cadiz]. The local authorities sent a committee to evaluate the cost of the works in question, and a report with all the details was written. The information included in this document has allowed us to envisage those parts that need to be reconstructed – using the formwork technique in the majority of cases. Furthermore, the record provides also detailed information with regard to the number of workers, materials, tools and specific utensils. The reconstruction was not carried out in the end due to financial problems, and the population in Fuengirola decreased dramatically; it was not until contemporary times that the area was populated again. The report gives us a clear idea of the way in which Christian buildings were edified by the end of the War of Granada and also of the manner in which Christians faced the Muslims using Moorish architectonic arms. | War of Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Fuengirola, Reconstruction, Christian buildings |
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Rousteau-Chambon, H. | 2012 | Teaching Construction in the Académie Royale d’Architecture. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 545-553. | In 1698-1699, 1705-1706 and 1714-1715, Philippe de La Hire gave lessons on architecture [Traité d’architecture] in which he discussed and analyzed all the elements and steps of the process of construction. For example, he studied materials and devoted himself to the different parts of the structure as bridges or an atypical and specific theme of the construction: the way to rebuild underworked. In fact, he had a really practical conception of architecture but at the same time, he attempted to fellow an old theoretical approach [Vitruvius, Palladio] and he is the first French theoretician to pay so much attention to those subjects. Outside the academy, La Hire’s lessons on the construction had a real posterity: La Hire’s plan and sometime words were picked up in Architecture moderne ou l’art de bien bâtir pour toutes sortes de particuliers que pour les palais. Patte also, in Blondel’s Cours d’architecture [1771-1777], retook La Hire’s ideas and added innovations at the same time. But La Hire is the only one who explained hydraulic, bridges and the way to rebuild underworked for example. So, La Hire’s lesson is a very important landmark to understand the most important and famous lessons on construction of the 19th century. | Academy, Architectural history, Architecture/Construction, Teaching, Training, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Ryan, R.C. | 2012 | Development and Use of Mechanized Heavy Construction Equipment in the United States. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 579-587. | Since the mid 1700s, U.S. construction history can be divided into four basic earthmoving, excavating and hoisting equipment development time spans or eras: canals, railroads, highways and high rises. Fundamental mechanical and operating principles for earthmoving, excavating and lifting equipment were proven and documented well before 1800. The challenge of the 19th century was to mechanize crude human, horse, mule or ox-drawn construction. The invention of the steam engine as a power source started the rapid evolution of heavy construction equipment design, manufacture and use and began the change from tools to machines. Discussion focuses on the evolution of earthmoving, excavating and hoisting machines from barges to rails to wheels and tracks. A timeline highlighting the construction eras is intended to show the relationship of equipment developed to construction of United States infrastructure and building projects, significant events or inventions and the equipment needs of the different types of work. | Canals, Earthmoving, Excavating, Heavy equipment, High-rises, Highways, Hoisting, Machines, Public works, Railroads |
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Sampaoli, G. | 2012 | Artificial Light in Architecture in France and Italy during the First Years of the 20th Century: From Gas Light to Electric Light. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 341-349. | Architects have always been attentive to the use of natural light in design, but rarely to the qualities that artificial light can confer on a work of architecture. Only in the late 19th century, slowly but progressively, did artificial lighting, first provided by gas and then electricity, pass from being a luxury for the few to a utility available to everyone and necessarily altering architectural development. While gaslight in the 19th century influenced the perception of interior design and released society from dependence on sunlight, after 1870 the development of electricity and the steady spread of electricity for civil uses in Europe led to a true evolution of lighting and then of architecture itself. With electricity providing "clean" illumination, it was possible to vary the distribution of light, so that it gradually became the new 20th century “building material” which, though intangible, enhances the functionality and appeal of architecture. | Cultural influences: Society on construction and vice versa, Building controls, Experimentation, Exterior and interior environment, Invention, Light building, Lighting, Standardization, Technical innovation, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Saner, T. & Sağ, K. | 2012 | The Aeolian-Style Polygonal Masonry in Larisa [Buruncuk] and its Regional Context. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 427-434. | Larisa [on the river of Hermos] is located in ancient Aeolis – western Asia Minor. Excavations held on the acropolis [1902, 1932-1934] by Swedish-German teams brought to light sixth century buildings of monumental character. They are constructed in polygonal work with masonry skills on andesite. The fort settlement in the east displays, as well, variations of polygonal masonry, dating back to the Archaic period. Traces of wedge-holes on single blocks reveal that they were taken from the quarries on the site. Polygonal works [foundations, retaining walls and independently rising wall sectors] are all done in double shells. Blocks are cut either in straight edges or in curvilinear form known as “Lesbian type.” They are placed mostly so as to build layers. The final surface treatment is generally made by pointed or flat chisel. Similar techniques can be observed on other Archaic sites, such as Old Smyrna, Phocaea, Aegae, Assos and Neandreia. | Aeolis, Architectural history, Cutting stone, Larisa, Masonry construction, Polygonal work, Quarry, Stone construction, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Sanjurjo Álvarez, A. | 2012 | The Chambiges and the Construction of Vaulted Stone Spiral Staircases. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 67-74. | Martin Chambiges, the most representative architect of the Flamboyant Gothic Style, is known as the architect of the transepts of Sens and Beauvais Cathedrals and of the main façade of the Cathedral of Troyes. In these constructions he designed and built, assisted by a group of collaborators and disciples, very singular stone spiral staircases. These are the so called vis de Saint Gilles on circular or polygonal plan, that may be considered real wonders from the point of view of the stereotomy. This paper deals with the study of the geometry and construction of these staircases and tries to enlighten the debate about the attribution of some of his possible works. | Martin Chambiges, Flamboyant architecture, Staircase, Stereotomy, Vault, Cathedral, Beauvais, Sens, Troyes, Paris |
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dos Santos, R.E. | 2012 | The Plot of Concrete in Brazil: A History of the Technology Diffusion of Reinforced Concrete. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 323-328. | Drawing from a socio-historical view, this paper analysis the spreading of the building system of reinforced concrete and the development of its hegemony, in order to disclose the related network of influences [technical, economical and political]. It describes the main agents of such hegemony from the middle of the 20s until the end of the 30s: campaigns for professional affirmation and organisation of architects and engineers; academic reform; proliferation of consultancy and projects of architecture and engineering; creation of the Brazilian Standard Association and its first technical standards [which in fact concerned concrete]; reforms of urban regulation allowing high-rise buildings; industrialisation of civil construction; and, finally, an intense advertising campaign of the cement companies. Thus, this paper questions the belief that the intense use of concrete happens due to its structural performance, plastic qualities, and logistic and economic advantages. | Architectural magazines, Cement, Codes, Building practices and standards, Concrete: Reinforced, Education: Reform, Industry, Building: Construction industry, Politics/Policies: Construction, Profession, Social history of labor, Technology, Historical peri |
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Sassa, A. | 2012 | The First Earthquake-Resistant Structures in Japan: Lessons from the Earthquake of Ischia [1883], Nobi [1891] and San Francisco [1906]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 503-513. | Scientific studies on earthquakes and earthquake resistance started in Japan in the 1870s. They were led by Western scientists and engineers hired by the government. The earthquake of Ischia [1883, Italy] influenced the Japanese a lot; the Ischia building code became a reference although it was lacking scientific basis. After the earthquake of Nobi [1891], the Japanese started developing new reinforcing methods based on their observations. Most of them were empirical, but some prototypes designed by the seismologist F. Omori were based on his static seismic calculation. In 1906, he visited San Francisco with the architect T. Sano to observe earthquake-damaged buildings. Sano deepened their analysis for a decade to publish a theory-based manual of earthquake-resistant structures. Thanks to this, the Japanese were able to analyze correctly the damages caused by the Kanto earthquake [1923] and further develop earthquake-proof structures. | Earthquake resistance, Damage, Japan, Ischia, San Francisco, Masonry construction, Arch structures, Timber construction, Baraccata system, Steel frame buildings, F. Omori, T. Sano, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Schlimme, H. | 2012 | François Hennebique’s Patents as Applied on the Building Site: The Mercato Orientale in Genoa [1896-1899] and the Creation of a Local Construction Network. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 573-580. | This paper deals with François Hennebique’s patents for reinforced concrete dating from 1892 and the later supplements made to them. Applying the methodology of an epistemic history of architecture and basing this study on the Mercato Orientale [1896–1899] and other Genoese structures by Hennebique – all of which were created under the direction of the licensee Giovanni Antonio Porcheddu – an investigation will be made of what it means to build according to a patent and what epistemic processes took place in establishing a patented technology on site. One aim, for example, was to reduce to a local context Hennebique’s mode to conduct international projects by correspondence. In the construction of the Mercato Orientale, local value-added chains – from the planning, through the construction workers to the supply of materials – were activated. The present paper will also examine how the relationship between form and construction was resolved for the Mercato Orientale. | François Hennebique, Giovanni Antonio Porcheddu, Genoa, Mercato Orientale: Market hall, Le béton armé: Architectural Magazine, Concrete: Reinforced, Drawings: Blueprints, Epistemology, Knowledge, Patent, Stone construction: Simulated, Historical period: 1 |
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Senent Domínguez, R. et al | 2012 | The Irregular Ribbed Vault of the Sacristy of the Cathedral of Saint-Jean Baptiste in Perpignan. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 75-82. | The vault of the sacristy of the Cathedral of Saint-Jean Baptiste in Perpignan [France], constructed by the Majorcan architect Guillem Sagrera between 1433 and 1447, is an outstanding, yet strikingly unknown, example of rib vaulting. This paper analyzes the overall construction of the form of the vault, characterized by its highly irregular perimeter, with particular attention to an isolated decorated corbel which solves the problem of the wall support of a group of six ribs and is in stark contrast with the rest of the supports, which are completely unadorned. Given the extreme rigour of Sagrera in all his works [and this one in particular], this apparent “capriccio” must be justified not only by decorative or formal requirements, but also by the constructive logic of Gothic vaulting system. | Guillém Sagrera, Perpignan cathedral, Late Gothic, Ribbed vault, Stone construction, Stereotomy, Geometry, Historical period: 15th century |
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Shelton, E. | 2012 | The Highway Comes to the American City: Automobility, Urbanity and the Functioning of City Streets. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 627-635. | Near universal individual automobility, when extrapolated to the scale of a city, overwhelms existing street networks and spurs the creation of dedicated urban highways. The search for workable urban highway typologies in the United States throughout the 20th century was burdened by a focus on the functioning of the system as a whole, romantic notions of the rural highway and utopian ideals that largely discounted the functioning of the traditional city street. Accordingly, the resulting construction had profound and largely negative implications for the American city. This paper examines the pressures that led to the construction of American urban highway and chronicles the development of early and midcentury American urban highway typologies as well as strategies used in their construction. | Construction history, Cultural influences, Infrastructure, Property: Horizontal/Vertical and Urban/Rural, Public works: Infrastructure, Road construction, Urban planning, Urbanism, Urban design, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Silva-Contreras, M. | 2012 | Béton Armé in a Sinking City: Mexico 1902-1914. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 593-599. | The use of reinforced concrete during the first decade of the 20th century is an important topic in Mexican architecture, especially considering that the first experiences with the material in Mexico City were contemporaries with significant structural tests made in Europe and some other places by Hennebique representatives. Performance of new materials in earthquakes, as new foundation systems, was important for Mexican builders, since the city stands on an ancient lake. Foreign technologies were in their hands to use them according to the own local needs. Besides technical issues, modern construction in México had to handle with the Spanish building tradition. The attempts for a national style in architecture had divergences with the proportions of the structural elements using reinforced concrete. It was noticeable during the works for the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, where the Hennebique system was used to achieve the longest reinforced concrete beam of that time in Mexican architecture. | Mexican architectural history, Construction history, Foundations, Settlement, François Hennebique, Miguel Rebolledo, Nicolás Mariscal, Reinforced concrete, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Šimunić Buršić, M. | 2012 | Construction of Early Rib-Vaults in Croatia. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 61-66. | The preserved early rib-vaults in Croatia belong to the period of experimentation with a new structural element, diagonal arches, which opened the path to the Gothic rib-vault. Like in other European regions, the first rib-vaults built in Croatia at the beginning of the 12th century are characterised by massive diagonal arches, rectangular in cross section. The geometry of the vaults ranges from hemispherical dome with diagonal arches to rib-groin vault with horizontal ridges; from unusual combination of progressive elements within traditional form of vaulting, to the original solution of rib-groin vault with horizontal ridges in the bell-tower in the Benedictine convent of Zadar. The construction of the vault in the Zadar bell-tower, begun in 1105 and completed by 1111, is documented by the original donor’s inscriptions which makes it one of the earliest precisely dated rib-vaults in Europe. | Ribbed vault, Dome, Arch, Masonry construction, Stone, Architectural history, Heritage, Religious buildings, Historical period: Middle Ages |
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Slivnik, L. | 2012 | A Prefabricated Cast Iron Three-Hinged Arch Bridge in Ljubljana. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 235-242. | This paper is an overview of the Hradecky Bridge [1867] across the River Ljubljanica in Ljubljana, the first three-hinged arch bridge built in Habsburg Monarchy and the oldest three-hinged cast-iron bridge in Europe [excluding the British Isles] still in use. The supporting structure is a prefabricated three-hinged arch with the total span of 30 m. It is made of cast-iron pipes which are joined together with screws to make one cantilever truss. Three cantilevers from one side of the bank are connected together with I beams and linked up with another three cantilevers from the opposite bank. Both groups of cantilevers are joined together at the crown of the arch with hinges. The prefabricated structure of the bridge permitted it to be moved three times to three different locations, each time bearing the same name, i.e., the Hradecky Bridge. | Arch bridges, Cast iron, Heritage, Innovation, Iron construction, Johann Herrmann, Ljubljana, Prefabrication, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Sroor, M. | 2012 | The Role of the Islamic Pious Foundations [Waqf] in Building the Old City of Jerusalem during the Islamic Periods [637-1917]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 229-2367. | The large number of Islamic waqf in Jerusalem provided permanent sources of funding through the construction of shops, markets, baths and caravanserais in Jerusalem or through the reconstruction of existing buildings belonging to waqf. This explains the proliferation of hundreds of commercial waqf real estate in the various markets and quarters of Jerusalem. This research proposes that establishments supported by waqf and their affiliated real estate played a crucial role in the building of Jerusalem and developing its architecture. Through knowing the dates when the waqf buildings were constructed, one can identify the periods of building in Jerusalem and the architectural development of the city. This research paper will rely on judicial documents such as those from the court records [sijill] of the Islamic Ottoman court of Jerusalem [mahkama shar’iyya] as well as from the Jerusalem waqf archive. | Jerusalem, Waqf, Haram al-Sharif, The Dome of the Rock, Islamic period, Umayyad period, Crusader period, Ayyubid period, Mamluk period, Ottoman period |
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Stegmann, K. | 2012 | Analysing Historical Timber Structures – A Case Study on Ernst Gladbach [1812–1896] and his Research on the “Swiss Style”. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 3-10. | The professor of structural theory and construction materials at the Swiss Polytechnic School in Zurich, Ernst Georg Gladbach [1812-1896], is today, still one of the overlooked protagonists of construction history. His most important works, such as Der Schweizer Holzstyl [1868 and 1883] or Charakteristische Holzbauten der Schweiz [1893] have been mainly regarded as templates for the internationally recognised motif of the “Swiss Style,” especially because of their painterly manner of representation. Though, the artistic presentation and contextualisation of Gladbach’s research on historical timber structures accords to his concept of the “researcher artist” which he himself practiced. This paper illuminates more precisely Gladbach’s methods of analysis, documentation and presentation of historic timber constructions and demonstrates its connection to contemporary research and, in particular, to the teaching at the Swiss Polytechnic School. | Architectural history, Case study, Drawings, History of science, Publications: Technical literature, Rural building, Teaching/Training, Timber construction, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Suárez, J., & Cirera, L. | 2012 | Structural and Constructive Analysis of the Acequia Real Aqueduct in the Alhambra, Granada. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 307-315. | This work presents a documental study of the historic beginnings, the constructive description and the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of the acequia real aqueduct in the Alhambra of Granada. This historical structure is the keystone of the Nasrid palace’s hydraulic system. Construction of the acequia real was commissioned by King Muhammad I in 1238, when he decided to build the new palatial city of the Alhambra. The entrance of the acequia real into the citadel of the Alhambra is found by passing through an aqueduct dating back to the beginning of the 18th century, built with ashlar, on a semi-circular arch eight meters in diameter and 11 m. in height. The work shows: the geometric modelling of the aqueduct, the study of the stone material, through investigation of its origin, petrographic analysis and stereotomy; the pathologic inspection of the building and the modelling of its mechanical behaviour through application of the Fundamental Theorems of Limit Analysis, according to J. Heyman and S. Huerta, including detailed graphical diagrams on the position of the thrust line. Finally, we will draw conclusions on its stability and security level. | Alhambra, Ashlar masonry, Graphic static, Masonry construction, Stereotomy, Stone construction, Structural analysis limit, Voussoir, Aqueducts, Arch structures |
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Suits, M. | 2012 | Reinforced Concrete Shells in Estonia during the Soviet Period: Science and Practice. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 143-148. | This paper presents a discussion of the Estonian school of concrete shell research, led by Professor Heinrich Laul. The school was characterised by a strong experimental emphasis and a drive to practical application. New calculation methods were developed [e.g. the shear stress approximation method], which allowed engineers to determine [with relative ease] the forces present in a reinforced concrete shell. Experimentation on scale models was widely used in research. Paradoxically, although this scientific research was aimed at finding practical methods for engineers, only a few reinforced concrete shells were constructed in Estonia. The paper introduces the built shell structures and discusses the reasons why shells were inappropriate in Soviet Estonia. | Concrete structures, Heinrich Laul, Models, Scientific design methods, Shell structures, Soviet Estonia, Testing, Theory of structure, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Tabarrini, M. | 2012 | An Unpublished Treatise on Waters by Vincenzo Della Greca, Civil and Military Architect of the Camera Apostolica: A Source of Carlo Fontana’s Utilissimo Trattato Delle Acque Correnti. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 629-635. | The modern return of the water in Rome is due to the determination of two Popes Sixtus V [1585-1590] and Paul V [1605-1621]. For the management and control of new water resources they created appropriate institutional bodies entrusted to administrators and architects with special hydraulic knowledge. The water became one of the major themes of scientific investigation with a deep impact on the production of treatises, manuals and literature. Most important of them all is a treatise by Benedetto Castelli, Della misura dell’acque correnti [1628], which contains scientific principles largely exploited in the later writings on hydraulics combining science and practice mainly directed to specialists in construction and urban development. Completely unknown to scholars is the unpublished treatise Delli effetti delle acque di Vincenzo Della Greca Architetto civile, et militare della Regia Camera Apostolica [1642], which anticipates in contents and illustrations the work of C. Fontana, L’Utilissimo trattato delle Acque Correnti [1692]. | Construction, Hydraulics, Water, Treatise, Scientific, Practice |
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Talenti, S. | 2012 | The Italian Engineers’ Architecture and Technique Training. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 587-593. | This paper aims to analyze the role and the importance accorded to architecture in the training of Italian engineers between 19th and 20th century. Careful examination of teaching programs that professors – like Calderini, Muggia etc. – offered to young students, will emphasize the interest in the discipline of architecture and its history. The chair of Technical Architecture in the Application Schools for Engineers and later in the Faculties of Engineering, testified this attitude. It was, in effect, a teaching both technical and artistic. The teaching of the engineer Guerra in Naples [1920-1960] confirms this interest in architecture and in particular in the examples of the past. Constructive elements and technical aspects are often related to the history of architecture and to the practice of drawing. The paper aims to focus on the Italian teaching and pedagogy with particular emphasis on the period from the late 19th to mid 20th centuries. | Camillo Guerra, Guglielmo Calderini, Application schools for engineers, Architectural history, Teaching, Architect, Architecture, Engineering: Civil, Technical literature, Treatises, Manuals |
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Tamborero, L. | 2012 | Curves Mastery at the Royal Academy of Architecture: The Case of Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 243-248. | Curves that form a vault on its underside vary according to the kind of construction techniques or geometry used. In the geometries of the Renaissance, codified in several known treaties, the intersection curves of a vault depend on the type of drawing used: their appearances are only a consequence. New methods of geometrical drawing for stonecutting were developed by the Royal Academy of Architecture to provide a new design, a new order to the royal projects. With the support of scholars, as Philippe de la Hire, that create innovative drawings techniques taught to architects and engineers of the King, the new face of the curve, this new control, allows the passage of a technique to a science. Students of De la Hire, as Amédée François Frézier, will then push the research of the curve into the springboard of descriptive geometry. Through studying the texts of the Royal Academy of Architecture and the construction of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, including the vault of Arles city hall, the church of the Invalides and the Royal Chapel of Versailles, we will understand the search for a perfectly harmonious curve. | Stereotomy, Vault: Constructive element, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Philippe de la Hire, Amédée François Frézier, Royal Academy of Architecture, Gaspard Monge, Descriptive geometry |
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Tanaka, N. | 2012 | The Role of the Tsujun Irrigation Canal’s Construction and Maintenance in the Creation of a Cultural Landscape [Shiraito Plateau, Kumamoto, Japan]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 549-556. | Tsujun irrigation canal is an agricultural irrigation canal built in 1854 to supply water to Shiraito Plateau in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Since then, the canal system has been supplying water to the terraced rice paddies on the plateau for about 160 years. In the background of the continuously used canal, there is a local rule to distribute the precious water evenly which has been protected from the time of construction to today. This study focuses on the system and technologies and has the objective of making known the transition of operational management of the Tsujun system and its current status. Specifically, by organizing previous studies and historic records, observing the irrigation channel’s structure and maintenance work by field survey and making records of the system of self-government for operation and maintenance and the many unwritten rules. | Cultural landscape, Irrigation canal network, Japan, Knowledge, Local governance, Public works, Shiraito plateau, Preservation, Water management, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Tellia, F., & Palacios Gonzalo, J.C. | 2012 | The Squinch Vaults in Joseph Ribes’ Llibre De Trasas De Viax Y Muntea. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 647-654. | Joseph Ribes’ life remains almost a complete mystery, even today. He was a stone mason who worked in 18th century Catalunya, whose Llibre de trasas de viax y muntea, published in 1708, testifies to the knowledge and practice of stereotomy in the Catalunya of the 17th and 18th centuries. Ribes develops only a few examples of squinch vaults whose general characteristics are in line with the other major treatises of the time, but introduces a unique feature that stands out and has not been repeated in other essays since then. The similarities in ideas and nomenclature of his treatise with the other stone cutting manuals known in Barcelona in that time seem to confirm the influence of French and Spanish stereotomy in Catalunya, but we can also foresee a parallel development of certain features. The novelty and originality of this document bring a notable contribution to the history of Catalan stereotomy. | Stereotomy, Squinch vault, Treatise, Arch, Stone, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Theodossopoulos, D., et al | 2012 | The Achievement of Structural Stability in the Drystone Iron-Age Broch Towers in North Scotland. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 3-11. | There is a growing need in the archaeological literature to focus more on the fabric and direct insight derived from the field monuments, in the case of brochs, going beyond typological analysis or speculations about the purpose of certain features. This study attempts to discuss the complexity of this type of Atlantic roundhouses in the construction and planning processes, combined with their structural design and performance, and also to treat brochs like architectural structures. Such focus can provide further valuable information on how stability was achieved in dry stone built structures of this scale. It can also augment what we learn about the technological culture and corresponding intellectual achievements of the period. | Broch, Archaeology, Corbel, Drystone, Prehistory, Models, Settlement, Mason, Organisation of sites, Bonding |
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Thuswaldner, B. | 2012 | The Use of Mortar in Late Hellenistic Construction: The Case of the Octagon in Ephesus. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 531-537. | The use of mortar in combination with ashlar masonry during the Hellenistic and Roman period has been considered uncommon. The recent study of a tomb monument in Ephesus shows that probably mortar has already been used in late Hellenistic times as a leveling course as well as a binding material of ashlar. The technical construction of the walls of the cella was analysed by using a virtual stone by stone reconstruction of the entire building which was compiled from 3D models of all remaining building blocks. According to the evidence derived from this reconstruction it seems very likely that mortar has been used as a leveling course in its ashlar masonry. This paper will address these unexpected findings and furthermore tries to depict that mortar was also used in the context of various Late Hellenistic and presumably even older buildings due to efficiency reasons within the construction process. | Archaeology, Models, Stone, Grouting, Masonry construction, Mortar, Analytical methods, Historical period: Antiquity |
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Togliani, C. | 2012 | «… les habitants de ces contrées sont ingénieurs sous peine de mort …» (J. Michelet) Water Pumping Plants for Land Drainage in the Po Valley, A Case Study of The Mantua Region [1866-1940]: People, Techniques, Materials. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of 4ICCH, Paris, III, 557-5 | For centuries, the area around Mantua was largely at the mercy of water’s whims, of flooding and stagnant water. Traditional gravity drainage systems remained in use until the middle of the 19th century. It was only then that new mechanical technologies, and revolutionary new building materials and construction techniques were introduced. With Milan leading the way, Italy’s major industrial cities and universities recruited leading-edge engineers and workers. Iron and reinforced concrete made a wider range of hydraulic parts possible; monumental structures were built to house the massive machinery of the thermal power stations and thermoelectric power plants [initially propelled by steam, later by diesel and electric engines]; and pumps composed of turbines, horizontal centrifugal pumps and vertical screw pumps began to be used. The Mantua region was exemplary in terms of the complexity of its hydraulic structures and the quality of the technical and architectural solutions it employed. | Cement, Concrete: Reinforced, Drainage and irrigation systems, Engineers, Lime, Machines, Mortars, Research material: Building/Public and private archives/Documents/Oral sources, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Tolosa, R., & Galindo Díaz, J. | 2012 | Construction of Railway Workshops in Colombia during the First Half of the 20th Century: A National Engineering Triumph. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 345-350. | This paper illustrates a technical debate regarding the construction Project of the Chipichape Workshop of the Pacific Railway in Cali [Colombia] during the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Colombian government, of conservative ideology, projected the construction of said shop with technical support from British mechanical engineer Paul C. Dewhurst and the German company Gutte Heffnungs Huette, which generated strong opposition from Colombian engineers, backed by liberal politicians. Finally, it was decided that Colombian engineers would execute the construction stemming from some prior experiences obtained in the construction of similar scale workshops from masonry walls and metallic and wooden roof structures. The paper show the technical debate that emerged during the phase prior to the construction process and we will cover the construction work [systems and materials] carried out, without leaving aside the biographical and professional training data of the Colombian engineers who actively participated in directing the construction work. | Controversy, Engineers, Industrial buildings, Innovation, Technical, Professional unions, Tradition, Training, Transfer of knowledge, Workshop, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Trautz, M., & Voormann, F. | 2012 | Early Iron Bridge Construction for the Grand Duchy of Baden and for Central Europe. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 419-427. | A treaty between France and the Grand Duchy of Baden from 2 July 1857 drove forth a most important German-French building project: the first railway-bridge over river Rhine near Strasbourg. The foundation and the construction of the piers were taken over by the French East-Railway-Company together with the company Schneider et Cie. from Le Creusot, bringing in the new method of caisson foundation based on iron caisson-elements sunk into the river ground and put under pressure to enable the excavation by man. The superstructure as a box-girder in lattice-work from puddle-steel was manufactured by the German company Benckiser Bros. from Pforzheim/Baden. They also applied an innovative method of construction in moving the girders into position on rollers, nowadays known as incremental launching. Benckiser had tested this technique to railway-bridges in Switzerland several years before. | Beams and girders, Bridges, Construction process, Companies, Engineers, Foundations, Iron construction, Railways, Transfer of knowledge, Technology, Historical period: 19th century |
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Travaglio, P. | 2012 | “De Fenestris”: An Unpublished Treatise from the Mid 15th Century on the Construction of Windows and Stained Glass . Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 603-610. | The ms. Canonici Misc. 128 of the Oxford Bodleian Library preserves an unpublished treatise concerning the creation of windows and stained glass, entitled De fenestris, as part of a larger work called Thesaurus pauperum, an opera composed during the first half of the 15th century in the Veneto region, comprised of 15 brief texts regarding various artistic and artisan activities. Arranged in 21 recipes, the De fenestris addresses the production of various types of glass, describing the procedures of coloration in enamel and cold painting, production of pot-metal glass, the refiring of painted glass, construction of windows utilising animal hides and paper, glass cutting and the production and soldering of metallic bands used to connect the panes. This contribution, in its presentation of the original treatise, is intended to offer an integral transcription, including philological-literary analyses and technical commentary and to present a synthetic comparison with other Medieval texts dedicated to the production of stained glass. | Treatises, Technical literature, Art techniques, Applied arts, Decoration, Glass, Stained glass, Window, Venice, Historical period: Middle Ages |
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Turri, F., & Zamperini, E. | 2012 | The Military Engineers and Hygiene in Barracks in the Second Half of the 19th Century. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 299-307. | Around the middle of the 19th century, doctors understood the role of living and working conditions, and of air and water quality in the health of population. Therefore medicine extended the focus from the patient to the hygiene of built environment, leading to the birth of a new discipline: sanitary engineering. This subject had a strong influence on the design of barracks at different scales: urban location of settlements, morphology of the buildings, ventilation and dimensional standards of the dormitories, constructive details, and choice of materials. Since the early years after national unification, military engineers carried out studies and experimentation on this topic elaborating specific technical and hygienic criteria for the design of collective buildings. The paper finally focuses on the experimentation and application of new systems and devices for latrines to be used in barracks. | Italy, Barracks, Military engineers, Technical innovation, Hygiene, Ventilation, Latrines, Cladding, Paving, Historical period: 19th century |
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Vacher, H. | 2012 | French Overseas Territories in the 1950s and Building Development Programs. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 313-321. | Within the economic-development scheme for the French Union territories in the wake of the Second World War, a Committee for Overseas Housing was set up. Tasked with giving practical advice on the Modernisation Plan, the advisory body was allocated important funding for research and fed its expertise with the exchange of ideas and knowledge on an international basis. Though not unprecedented, the research in building construction for “tropical countries” became a new challenge as the development of French Overseas Territories was linked to post-war reconstruction in France in the 1950s. This paper focuses on technical bodies of the French administration in France and in the overseas territories and networks of engineers, architects and civil servants aimed at developing standards for construction overseas, including materials, technologies, methods and cost operations, while fostering specific building research as well as markets for building industries. | Transfer of technology, Building research, French Overseas Territories, Public works, Civil servants, Development |
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Van de Voorde, S., & Devos, R. | 2012 | The ‘Scientification’ of Reinforced Concrete in Belgium during the Interwar Period: Development and Dissemination of Scientific, Theoretical and Technical Knowledge. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 637-645. | Through the work of François Hennebique, Belgium played an important role in the early history of reinforced concrete, yet forfeited this pioneer position when the theoretical dimension of the material was to be developed. Before World War I, Belgium contributed little to the theory of reinforced concrete, especially in comparison with nearby countries. It was not until the interwar period that the ‘scientification’ of the material did gain momentum in Belgium. Yet despite the late start, impressive headway was made during the 1920s by Belgian engineers and industrials in various fields: regulations; theoretical knowledge in academia, laboratories and professional organisations; specialized press; international conferences. This paper presents a detailed and critical analysis of this scientific activity and illustrates how the various fields were developed simultaneously and, consequently, interacted and strengthened each other, most often through the wide involvement of a rather concise number of engineers, scientists and contractors. | Belgium, Codes: Building practices and standards, Concrete: Reinforced/Prestressed, Contractors, Controls: Building, Engineers, Industry: Building, Laboratories, Professional network, Publication: Technical literature, Relation between science and practic |
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van der Tempel, M., et al | 2012 | Innovations in Ventilation: Wind Cowls in the 19th Century. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 317-324. | In the 19th century, innovative heat- induced low- pressure systems were introduced in public buildings and dwellings. These ventilation systems were enhanced by the addition of an air extraction element on the roof – a wind cowl – to inhibit counter flow and to amplify the air flow by maximizing wind effect. Different types of cowls were developed: fixed, mobile, revolving, symmetric, asymmetric, etc. Although the importance of wind cowls is often mentioned and discussed in 19th-century manuals on ventilation and heating, only few designs are included in ventilation manuals and little has been written on the different hypotheses supporting the design, design parameters and problems encountered by engineers. Patents offer additional information when combined with knowledge of ventilation and designs mentioned in 19th-century manuals and contemporary insights. A survey of patent applications in Belgium is carried out to analyze wind cowls between 1830 and 1914. | Innovation, Patent, Re-use, Ventilation, Wind cowl |
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Van de Vijver, D. | 2012 | Hygiene in Belgian Architecture: The Case of Victor Horta [1861-1947]. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 325-332. | During the 19th-century hygiene became a driving force for numerous conceptual and technical innovations in building [heating, ventilation, codes], building typologies [hospitals] and urbanism. In this paper, hygiene aspects of Horta’s oeuvre are systematically addressed and situated in its specific Belgian context, in which research and innovation and the High Hygiene Council – crucial in the codification of hygiene principles in building construction regarding heating and ventilation, as well as in the construction of hospitals and housing programs – played an important part. The author addresses Horta as an architect [residences and the new Brussels Brugmann hospital] and as a technocrat. As a member of the High Hygiene Council, the Council on Monuments and Sites and the Belgian Academy, Horta reflected on general policies and regulations. This research is based upon his built oeuvre and exploits both published papers and unpublished writings [Horta Museum]. | Victor Horta, Conseil Supérieur d’Hygiène Publique, Hygiene, Heating, Ventilation, Lighting, Codes, Building practice and standards |
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Vargas, H. | 2012 | RetCel: The Development of Floor and Roof Assemblies of Precast Concrete Cells in Colombia, 1949-1989. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 431-438. | Based on archival, primary and published sources around concrete prefabrication industry development in Colombia [1946-2006], this paper focuses on a proposed staging of this innovation and adoption experience as an outstanding case of local professional and industrial organizations offering modern building systems for an expanding market. Started in 1948, after direct observations on Brazilian experience of open plan architecture, among other proposals for new building procedures, Retcel patented system accumulated 40 million ft2 of licensed built slabs in six countries as of 1963 when it was considered to be introduced in the United States. Colombian modern building architecture registered for decades a marked influence of this technology down to the 1984 and 1998 new seismic resistance-oriented construction codes. | Prefabrication, Precast concrete cell, Industrialization, Technical innovation, Slab, Parma, Cusego, Colombia, Building companies, Machines |
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Vecchiattini, R. & Pesce, G.L.A. | 2012 | A Study on the Traditional Production of Lime: The Role of Oral Sources. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 53-59. | Lime is one of the most common building materials. It has been used since the sixth century before Christ but it was almost completely abandoned between 19th and 20th century in favor of a new binder with higher mechanical properties and a very short setting time: cement. Because of this, old knowledge [“art secrets”] on production and use of lime was increasing reduced in the past two centuries and, currently, few people still possess knowledge on traditional lime production. This paper describes how these people [oral sources] are able to supply useful information on old lime technology. This information is useful in many research fields such as history and archaeology but also in the material science for the development of new construction materials. | Northern Italy, Renaissance, Binders, Lime, Materials, Research material: Oral sources, Education, Technology, Tools, Transfer of knowledge, Apprenticeship, Historical period: 17th-18th centuries |
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Vegas, F., et al | 2012 | Traditional Structures Made with Gypsum Pillars: A Reasoned Hypothesis. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 509-516. | Gypsum is nowadays considered an auxiliary material and therefore only employed in internal plastering, mouldings and artistic decoration. Nevertheless, before the diffusion of reinforced concrete, gypsum even had a structural role in traditional construction in some regions in Spain. In fact, in some areas, gypsum has always been employed as the only mortar for structural pillars, as poured material for jack vaulting floors, as internal plastering and external rendering, as mortar to bond thin stone slabs in partition walls, as reinforcement for rammed earth walls, etc. Especially, pillars made of gypsum and stones are a token of its performance in dwellings up to four stories high. The research presented here is based upon a detailed constructional study made on 96 gypsum pillars in Rincón de Ademuz [Valencia]. All these data have made it possible to understand a building element often ignored due to a lack of knowledge about its structural performance and durability. | Gypsum, Pillars, Housing, Masonry construction, Mortars, Formwork, Stone, Structure, Vernacular |
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Verswijver, K., et al | 2012 | The Development of Belgian Ironworks in the 19th Century: Case Studies and Reflections on Sources and Historiography. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 81-90. | During the 19th century and especially after the second Industrial Revolution the large number of small ironworks in Belgium evolved to a small number of large companies. The introduction of steam engines, the Bessemer convertor and large machines had provided sufficient power and volume for large-scale production. In Belgium the Walloon provinces with the cities of Liège and Charleroi were the home base for heavy iron industry whereas the Flanders area was far less industrialized, only housing a limited number of foundries and forges. The Marcellis ironworks in Liège and the Van Aerschot workshop in Herentals are two well-known examples of such companies. Their leaders were clever industrialists who introduced, whether successful or not, small castings, machines, bridges and spans. | Belgium, Cast iron, Construction history, Foundries, Industrialization, Marcellis, Trades, Building, Artisans, Van Aerschot, Wrought iron, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Villate, C., & Tamayo, B. | 2012 | The Avianca Tower: Practices Driving Technical Innovations in a Construction Firm in the 60s . Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 217-227. | The modernist construction industry in Bogota presented management practices and high rates of innovation that are being rediscovered in current times. This paper studies the case of the Avianca office tower [1969], which was designed and built by Esguerra Saenz Urdaneta and Samper in alliance and partnership with other organizations, which also produced a building with high-impact technical innovative features. This case study describes not only the technical innovations made, but also explains the conditions that allowed them to happen from an organization, technology, employee, market and knowledge perspective. | Technical innovation, Companies: Building, Construction history, Professional networks, Project management, Knowledge, Contractors, Technology, Concrete, Case study |
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Wall, C., Clarke, L.,& McGuire, C. | 2012 | Concrete Constructors: Oral History Accounts of Building Work on a Large, Complex Site in 1960s Britain.Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 125-133. | Oral testimonies of former Barbican construction workers are here contextualized against the historic conditions of the building industry, the rise of large complex sites and a crisis in the provision of training. At a time of rapid technical change there was no formal training for concrete work and the concrete workers, steel fixers and shuttering carpenters charged with constructing the complex shapes of these buildings were classified as ‘unskilled’ or ‘semi-skilled.’ The testimonies of these workers reveal the high levels of skill used, that many were already trained in existing building occupations and that, unlike traditional building, the skill entailed in this work was unrecognized. | Concrete, Social history of labor, Building sites, Industrialization, Production, Skills, Historical period: 20th century |
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Wannaous, S. | 2012 | The Thermal Insulation of Facades after the Oil Crisis of 1974 to the 80s. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 379-384. | This paper shows the relationship between architectural and technical research dedicated to reduce energy consumption in construction after the oil crisis of 1974 in France. As a consequence of the rise of oil price in the early 70s, the necessity of saving energy in construction has appeared. The term “hunting for waste” and the first thermal regulations in France were created. Consequently, insulation of attics and walls and promotion of double glazing in new constructions works were introduced. The rehabilitation of existing buildings was also encouraged. In this article, we are going to talk about the birth of external insulation. Next, we will denote the French case and the role of experimental operations in the development of thermal building insulation. Then, we will create a definition of the early types of external thermal insulation which existed in France in the 70s and the 80s of the 20th century. | Architecture, Construction, Cladding, Energy: Crisis, Environment, Experimentation, Heating, Hydraulics, Materials, Waterproofing |
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Weber, C., & Ziegler, V. | 2012 | Construction Material Testing at MPA Stuttgart during the Third Reich. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 297-304. | In 1884, the Institute for Materials Testing has been established by Carl Bach, professor for mechanical engineering at the Stuttgart Polytechnical School. Under Richard Baumann and Otto Graf the department for materials testing quickly developed into one of the most important institutions of this kind in Germany. Since the 1920s Otto Graf’s role in that institution continuously increased. This contribution illuminates where and in which context the engineers of the Institute for Materials Testing were involved in national socialist plannings. It therefore draws on material treasured in the Universitätsarchiv Stuttgart. | Architectural history, Architecture/Construction, Archives, Companies: Building, Engineers, Experimentation, Highways, History of companies, Materialprüfungsanstalt Stuttgart, Otto Graf, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Wendland, D. | 2012 | Arches and Spirals: The Geometrical Concept of the Curvilinear Rib Vault in the Albrechtsburg at Meissen and Some Considerations on the Construction of Late-Gothic Vaults with Double-Curved Ribs. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 351-357. | An analysis of the geometric design of a late Gothic vault with curvilinear ribs is carried out interpreting the 3D measurement data, formulating hypotheses on the design directly from the built artifact, with a working method not common in surveying until now. It is demonstrated how the geometric definition of the arches in the vault can be characterized. The general methodological problems regarding the interpretation of the geometric features of surveyed buildings and the interpretation of design processes in architecture are discussed. Further, the necessity of revising the current state of knowledge on Gothic vault design is underlined. Some final remarks discuss the design and construction of the masonry shell in vaults of this kind. | BIM, Complex shapes, Construction process, Design methods and aids, Design ideas, Innovation: Technical, Masonry construction, Methods of research: Analysis/Evaluation/Communication Tools, Modeling: Digital/Computer/Geometrical/3D, Point |
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Wermiel, S. | 2012 | Against Replication: Carved Brick at the Dawn of the Terracotta Age. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 401-408. | Around 1879, carved brick architectural ornamentation appeared in Boston, Massachusetts – just when the American architectural terracotta industry was taking off. Both carved brick and terracotta are clay products, and they are used in the same way: as enrichment in walls. But where carved brick was a one-off product – the unique work of a carver – architectural terracotta usually was made in moulds, and thus ornaments could be economically replicated. Nevertheless, carved brick looks so much like architectural terracotta that the uninitiated usually cannot tell the difference. Why, then, did some designers opt for carved brick? This paper proposes an explanation for the brief use of carved brick in Boston, which lasted, with a couple exceptions, from 1879-1880. Influenced by British proponents of the Queen Anne style of architecture, Boston architects embraced architectural ornament, but some adhered to Ruskin’s injunction against using “cast” or mechanically-produced ornament. | Aesthetics, Brick: Carved, Handmade production, Terracotta, Boston, Massachusetts, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Wetzk, V. | 2012 | Five Historic Bridge Bearings: Material Research on Cast Steel. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 243-252. | This paper gives a review of the history of cast steel and presents results from material analyses performed on sliding bearings from the first decade of the 20th century. All bearings were made from cast steel, which had become the material predominantly used for bridge bearings by the end of the 19th century. The analyses provide insights into the metallurgical development for the practice of casting steel at the turn to the 20th century and yield a broader and more reliable base for the structural assessment of historic bearings still used in historic bridges. | Bearings, Cast steel, Material, Benjamin Huntsman, Jakob Meyer, Johann Conrad Fischer, Adolf Ledebur, Brandenburg University of Technology, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing |
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Wu, N-W | 2012 | Structural Morphology Presented on Surface Cladding: From Structural Brick to Ornamental Tile in the Westernised Far East. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 409-416. | The determination of the surface cladding of architecture often resulted from the availability of constructive techniques and materials as well as from the cultural and social perspectives which architects would like to express, while the latter element is sometimes potentially much more crucial. In this paper, the skeuomorphic link between structural brick and ornamental tile for the surface cladding of construction and for buildings in the westernised Far East is the principal focus. The social and cultural perspectives will be considered in significant examples, since these perspectives have affected this structural morphology strongly and seriously. This practice contained the diffusion and transfer of knowledge and of political power. Several architectural projects are examined in order to illustrate how these influences have played significant roles in the cladding of constructive elements, that is, walls, in the construction history of the westernised Far East. | Skeuomorph, Structural morphology, Transfer of knowledge, Cladding, Cultural influences, Representation, Conversion, Brick, Tiles, Earthquake resistance, Elevations, Architectural history, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Wünnemann, A., Holzer, S.M. & Voigts, C. | 2012 | Wooden "Italian" Wide-Span Roofs of German 19th Century Theatre Buildings. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, III, 193-201. | Timber constructions of the 19th century have hitherto received little attention, although timber continued to be employed a lot, at least until the beginning of the last third of the century. Even for buildings exposed to a high fire hazard, such as theatres, railway stations or industrial buildings, timber was a common material. The present paper analyzes several 19th century timber roofs in Germany, with particular attention to theatre roofs with a span around or beyond 20 m. The paper focuses on the import of the Italian-type purlin roof and its assimilation into autochthonous carpentry practice in Germany. | Roof trusses, Fires, Timber construction, Munich, Coburg, Germany, Italy, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Yao, B-H., & Hsu, M-F. | 2012 | The Developmental Procedure of Traditional Architectural Woodworking Tools in Taiwan. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 465-470. | As the Han people immigrated into Taiwan, the traditional wooden architecture inherited the styles of Fujian and Guangdong. In 1895, the Qing’s ruler ceded Taiwan to Japan, initiating the 50-year colonial period. At that time, a large amount of Japanese and Western architecture was introduced in Taiwan. After World War II, the regime was returned to the Han people. Although Taiwan experienced the change in regime, its high tolerability to different ethnicity and culture and the rise of trend of storage of cultural relics lead to the cultural diversity of architecture in Taiwan. The carpentry tools of the Han people were originally used to build traditional wooden architecture in Taiwan. During the Japanese colonial period, most of the craftsmen in Taiwan used both Chinese tools and Japanese tools. The cultural diversity in the use of carpentry tools has been extended until now. | Woodworking tools, Carpenter, Wooden structure |
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Zakia, S.A.P. | 2012 | The First Building Code of Campinas – 1934: A Legal Instrument of the Urban Modernization Process of the City. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 537-544. | Campinas, a city located 90 km from Sao Paulo which was, during the second half of the 19th century until the early 20th century, an important economic center of the country responsible for producing most of the coffee exported from Brazil survived the 1929 crash and subsequent fluctuations in the coffee market, by encouraging an industrialization process which would completely alter the physical appearance of the city. A process of urban modernization was initiated by the government between the 1930s and 50s. Through the initiative of the municipal government a committee consisting of four engineers was organized – three professionals from the private sector and one from a public power, entrusted with drawing up a code of construction, the first of the city. The article focuses on the development of the new code that established rules and building norms in accordance with modern pre-requisites. | Building code of Campinas [Brazil 1934], Urban improvement plan of Campinas [Brazil, 1934], Prestes Maia’s Urban Plan of Campinas [Brazil], Codes: Building practices and standards, Legislations, Regulations: Building, Politics: Construction, Specification |
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Zaragozá Catalán, A., Calvo-López, J., & Natividad-Vivó, P. | 2012 | Stereotomic Exchanges between Iberia and France in the 16th Century: Benoît Augier, Valencian Stairways and the Escalier de Toulouse. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 385-392. | One of the main archetypes of French stereotomy is l’escalier de Toulouse, a lost staircase in the Capitole, or town hall, built between 1531 and 1542 by Sébastien Bougereau from drawings by Benoît Augier. Jean-Marie Pérouse de Montclos and Bruno Tollon remarked that Bougereau had previously worked in Spain; recent research has shown that a Benet Augier was also active in Reus and Ontinyent, in Eastern Iberia. After a brief account of the Spanish work of Bougereau and Augier, this paper analyses a number of Spanish stairways, focusing on an example in Ontinyent. Next, it examines the Toulouse staircase, using as source material a number of drawings and photographs taken just before the demolition of the piece in 1885. The paper ends by discussing the implications of these examples in the broader picture of stereotomic exchanges between France and Iberia. | Stereotomy, Stone construction, Staircases, Ontinyent, Valencia, Toulouse, Benoît Augier, Sébastien Bougereau, Historical period: 16th century |
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Zastavni, D. | 2012 | Maillart’s Practices for Structural Design [ETH-Bibliothek’s Virtual Exhibition].Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, I, 89-96. | On the occasion of the future release of the ETH-Bibliothek’s virtual exhibition some time in 2012, this paper synthesizes Maillart’s approaches and reasoning on the structural issue applied to concrete structures from material that has now been collected. The idea behind the exhibition is to bring researchers and ETH-Bibliothek’s resources together in order to present the original documents to an interested wider public in a modern way and within a scientific context. In the specific case of Maillart’s works, the focus of the virtual exhibition is primarily on a technical analysis of Maillart’s structures, methods and innovations. It is in this respect perhaps that the virtual exhibition differs from others, with the difficulty of conveying it to a non-specialist audience. This contribution resumes Maillart’s methods following the main chapter of the exhibition including graphic statics, simplified calculation or analysis, full-scale testing, implicitly resorting to plastic theorems and more. | Bridges, Concrete structures, Design methods, Education, Geometry, Graphic statics, Robert Maillart, Morphogenesis, Structural design, Historical period: 19th-20th centuries |
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Zessin, J., & Ochsendorf, J. | 2012 | Efficiency in Form: Thomas Jefferson’s Serpentine Walls at the University of Virginia. Nuts and Bolts of Construction History, Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, II, 375-382. | Thomas Jefferson, founder and architect of the University of Virginia, included a number of innovative building systems in his design of the school. In particular, Jefferson designed a series of undulating brick walls, known as serpentine walls, to enclose the gardens at the University. This paper describes the history and origins of serpentine walls, as well as the development of Jefferson’s walls, in order to track the transfer of technology to the United States. In addition to understanding the intent of the design, particular attention will be paid to the performance of the walls, with a cursory discussion of the effects of curvature on the lateral stability of walls. A preliminary analysis of the walls based on Jefferson’s original description of the walls is included. This analysis, combined with new information regarding the history of the serpentine walls, provides a new understanding of a major work of American construction. | Architectural history, Architecture/Construction, Brick, Complex shapes, Construction history, Drawings, Geometry, Heritage, Technical innovation, Institution, Landscape, Masonry construction, Transfer of knowledge/Technology, Wall: Serpentine, Historical |
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Mallard, J-C. | 2019 | Fondations sur pilots de bois des piles des ponts de Gauthey en Bresse bourguignonne in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1025-26 | Entre 1781 et 1790 Émiland Gauthey, ingénieur en chef des États de Bourgogne, fit construire treize ponts dont huit en Bresse Bourguignonne. Les coûts des fondations sur pilots des ouvrages édifiés dans les autres provinces représentaient alors 50% du montant de la dépense totale. Compte tenu de l’importance du programme de construction de ponts en Bourgogne, Gauthey proposa des solutions techniques optimisant l’emploi des matériaux tout en simplifiant les tâches. Les dispositions qu’il adopta, pour les fondations et les superstructures, permettaient de construire des ponts en site aquatique dont le coût était voisin de la moitié de ceux construits dans le centre de la France. Certains lui reprochèrent de pousser l’épargne un peu loin, particulièrement avec la mise en œuvre de son système simplifié de fondations des piles en site alluvionnaire. L’analyse comparative des modèles : « fondations traditionnelles XVIIIe » et « système simplifié de Gauthey » intégrant les paramètres respectifs de battage des pilots a montré, après estimation des forces portantes par différentes méthodes, que la stabilité des fondations des piles était assurée pour les deux modèles avec sensiblement le même niveau sécuritaire. Gauthey prescrivait une mise en fiche plus importante que celle préconisée par ses maîtres et prédécesseurs afin de compenser le manque d’encastrement de l’assise de la maçonnerie au fond du lit. Bien qu’ayant œuvré avec beaucoup de compétence, il aurait cependant pris quelques risques liés à l’appréciation de certains niveaux de plus basses eaux. S’appuyant sur l’expérimentation et quelques essais in situ, il avait su mettre en évidence les différences de comportements au battage des pilots en milieu cohérent et en milieu pulvérulent. En se démarquant du confort habituel, Gauthey avait choisi la voie de la difficulté, panache du talent. | Fondation en milieu humide, pont, stabilité, Époque moderne, XIXe siècle, France, Bourgogne. |
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Pane, A. | 2019 | Ponts et paysages: la ligne de chemin de fer Avellino-Ponte Santa Venere dans le contexte de l’ingenierie ferroviaire italienne au XIXe siecle in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme CFHC (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1037-48 | Le chemin de fer Avellino-Ponte Santa Venere, construit entre 1888 et 1895 en Irpinia, zone intérieure du Sud de l’Italie, est un témoignage d’un grand intérêt dans l’histoire de la construction et dans le contexte général de l’ingénierie ferroviaire italienne. La présence d’un territoire avec une morphologie complexe rend également le chemin un épisode important aussi sur le plan du paysage, grâce à la relation étroite entre l’infrastructure et l’environnement naturel. Jusqu’à présent l’histoire du chemin de fer a été étudiée pour ses aspects historiques étroitement liés aux politiques foncières de l’Irpinia à la fin du XIXe siècle, mais pas en détail pour l’histoire de la construction des viaducs et la relation étroite entre ces derniers et le paysage. En revanche, le chemin de fer est marqué par 58 viaducs en maçonnerie ou en acier, nécessaires pour surmonter les aspérités considérables du territoire, dont certains d’entre eux témoignent d’un effort technique considérable pour leur construction. Par conséquent, la contribution proposée sera concentrée sur l’analyse de l’histoire de la construction des viaducs, spécifiquement de ceux d’entre eux qui paraissent plus considérables pour leurs portées, pour leurs caractères constructifs et pour leurs relations avec le paysage naturel. L’étude sera fondée sur documents d’archives et dessins originaux, la plupart inédits, et elle sera mise en étroite relation avec les manuels de cette période, afin de tracer les liens entre le cas spécifique de cette voie ferrée et la littérature technique dans l’Italie de la fin du XIXe siècle. De plus, ils seront mis en évidence les profils des ingénieurs qui jouèrent un rôle important dans la conception et construction du chemin. Enfin, en raison de son importance pour l’histoire de la construction et les valeurs du paysage, le chemin de fer sera identifié comme un ensemble digne aujourd’hui de protection et conservation. | chemin, espace naturel, ingénieur, littérature constructive, littérature technique, paysage |
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Maughan, N. | 2019 | Le bassin de decantation de Saint-Christophe et la clarification des eaux du Canal de Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhone, 1877-1882) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1049-60 | Entré en service en 1849, le canal de Marseille, permis de pérenniser et de sécuriser de manière définitive l’approvisionnement en eau de la ville dont les pénuries avaient des conséquences dramatiques. Mais, cette eau prélevée à 80 km de la ville, sur le secteur aval de la Durance, était toujours fortement chargée en sédiment. Trois bassins de décantation avaient pourtant été construits par les concepteurs du canal afin de permettre à l’eau de se débarrasser de ses limons avant d’arriver dans le terroir de Marseille. Mais, les flux de matières en suspension ayant été fortement sous-estimés ils s’envasèrent rapidement. Les ingénieurs des Ponts et Chaussées décidèrent donc la construction d’un nouveau bassin équipé d’un système de décantation et de vidange novateur dans le vallon de Saint-Christophe à 300 mètres au sud du Canal. Construite entre 1877 et 1882, cette structure d’une superficie de 20 ha, et d’une capacité de 2 000 000 de m3, va permettre grâce à sa conformation due d’une part à son fond tapissé de rigoles et à son canal de ceinture et, d’autre part, à un siphon-déversoir unique un dévasement optimal. Après avoir présenté un court panorama du canal de Marseille, nous détaillerons les choix technologiques qui ont été faits lors de la construction du bassin de Saint-Christophe en détaillant son double siphon-déversoir. Puis, dans un deuxième temps, nous présenterons son fonctionnement hydraulique et la manière dont sa configuration permet une évacuation efficace vers la Durance des sédiments accumulés. Enfin, nous verrons si, 130 ans après sa construction, ce système qui est un modèle de l’ingénierie hydraulique de la fin du XIXe siècle et qui reste une des pièces maitresses du pré-traitement de l’eau potable de Marseille a connu des innovations techniques ou s’il est resté identique depuis sa conception. | Canal de Marseille, bassin de décantation, hydraulique, sédiment, Saint, Christophe, XIXe siècle |
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Boris, B. | 2019 | Le pont de la Motte-Rouge a Nantes: le prototype d’un pont metallique a arche unique pour l’ingenieur Jean Resal in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1061-70 | La réalisation du pont de la Motte Rouge se comprend comme l’un des derniers aménagements du canal de Nantes à Brest. Dans la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle les intérêts stratégiques et économiques de cette liaison fluviale n’étaient plus d’actualité. Par contre, l’enjeu militaire d’un large franchissement sur l’Erdre aux abords d’une caserne devenait l’élément décisif pour la construction d’un pont en remplacement de l’étroite chaussée Barbin. Son auteur, Jean Résal, arrivé à Nantes en 1878, se fera rapidement remarquer comme ingénieur, par la réalisation d’un pont en fer sur la Loire qui a longtemps porté son nom. Ce pont en treillis a été démoli. En 1882, l’ingenieur, René de Kerviler est chargé de mission sur le canal de Nantes à Brest. Chef hiérarchique de Jean Résal, il lui demandera de reprendre le projet du pont Barbin. Jean Résal mettra de l’ordre dans les projets de ses prédécesseurs en simplifiant les propositions à plusieurs travées, pour imposer un audacieux pont de fer à une seule arche. Les ponts en fer permettaient de très grandes ouvertures (franchissements) ; ils étaient plus onéreux que ceux en fonte ; généralement réalisés en forme de treillis, ils étaient moins esthétiques. Contrairement à la fonte le fer resistait aux vibrations (passage de troupes). Les travaux démarreront fin 1883, pour un marché de 700.000,00 francs, financé par l’état et la commune. La rapidité d’exécution des sept arcs de quatre-vingt mètres en fer riveté permettra une ouverture au public début juin 1886. Cette splendide infrastructure urbaine illustre l’usage innovant du métal qui permis de redéfinir un nouvel élancement au tracé classique de la voute. A l’inauguration, Jean Résal souligna dans son discour l’importance qu’il attachait à l’esthétique. Il réalisera les ponts Mirabeau et Alexandre III sur le model du pont de la Motte Rouge. | aménagement fluvial, défense, franchissement, ingénieur, ouvrage d’art, pont |
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Bertels, I. | 2019 | La gare maritime de Bruxelles (1902-1910). Une structure de fer entre l’ eau et la terre in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1071-82 | La gare maritime de Bruxelles, construite entre 1902 et 1910, fait partie du site de Tour et Taxis. Ce lieu constitue le résultat logique d’une longue réflexion sur l’aménagement d’infrastructures portuaires et ferroviaires à Bruxelles. Pour la première fois, dans ce complexe qui reste encore aujourd’hui une exception en Belgique, les acteurs intégrèrent diverses fonctions au sein d’un même périmètre : le port, le canal, le chemin de fer, le triage des wagons, les douanes et les services postaux. Malgré la proposition de classement de l’ensemble du site au patrimoine mondial, l’histoire constructive de la gare maritime reste très mal connue. Son apparence extérieure altérée au cours du temps, ainsi que ses fonctions inaccessibles au public, ne favorisèrent pas sa renommée. Le bâtiment est donc aujourd’hui un véritable trésor caché. Pourtant, ses sept halles de fer, fonte et verre couvrant un total de 45 000 mètres carrés en font une construction unique en son genre. À partir de l’étude de la littérature de l’époque, de documents d’archives récemment mis à jour, de la documentation de la Commission Royale des Monuments et Sites et d’inspections in situ, nous étudions le projet original d’un point de vue architectural et constructif, tout en incluant le rôle des acteurs clés. De plus, nous positionnons le projet dans le contexte constructif et typologique propre aux constructions maritimes et industrielles au tournant du XXe siècle. | Zone maritime, XXe siècle, Belgique, Bruxelles |
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Burgos Núñez, A. & Defrance, C. | 2019 | Les infrastructures de transport terrestre sur la cote mediterraneenne du Sud-Est de l’Espagne in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1083-96 | Le sud du littoral méditerranéen de la péninsule ibérique est un espace bien particulier sur le plan géographique. La Cordillère Bétique y forme une grande barrière montagneuse, jouxtant la côte, et ne laissant qu’une étroite bande côtière. Cependant cette bordure de quelques kilomètres de large, souvent parsemée d’obstacles –torrents, reliefs- a toujours présenté un attrait certain pour l’activité humaine, aussi son peuplement a-t-il été intense et ininterrompu depuis les temps les plus reculés. D’abord colonisée par les Phéniciens, puis très tôt incorporée à l’Empire Romain, elle constitua une base essentielle du commerce méditerranéen. Au cours de la période sous domination islamique, elle y conserva toute son importance. Son développement fut seulement contrarié lors de l’ère moderne lors qu’elle devint un des champs de bataille entre l’islam et le christianisme. C’est seulement dans les dernières années du XVIIIe siècle qu’elle commence à retrouver potentiel comercial. L’intense occupation démographique imposant la création d’infrastructures de transport terrestre, malgré l’étroitesse de l’espace disponible. Les voies romaines, les chemins médiévaux, les chaussées du XVIII et XIXe siècles, un chemin de fer du début du XXe siècle et les autoroutes actuelles se sont succédées tout au long de bord de mer. Parfois en parallèle, parfois aussi en réutilisant des sections ou des éléments antérieurs. A cette concentration de voies s’est superposée une structure défensive essentiellement linéaire, au cours de l’ère moderne, pour protéger la côte des incursions barbaresques. Ces deux systèmes territoriaux ont contribué à former, de manière unique le paysage de cette région où bon nombre de ces éléments demeurent encore, en dépit de la forte pression urbanistique dont elle souffrit ces dernières années. | aménagement des berges, espace de circulation, paysage, chemin, pont, phare, défense |
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Vidal, R. M. | 2019 | Expansion et developpement des voutes sexpartites en France: differences typologiques selon les regions in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1097-1108 | Apparues dès le gothique primitif, les voûtes sexpartites françaises se sont diffusées et se sont développées au cours des XIIe et XIIIe siècles. Une étude approfondie nous a permis de mettre en lumière les connaissances techniques ayant été nécessaires pour mener à bien leur construction, expliquer leur évolution ainsi que leur diffusion sur le territoire qui est aujourd’hui la France. Un inventaire complet des voûtes sexpartites encore conservées révèle en effet que ces dernières avaient été principalement élevées dans la moitié orientale du pays. Nous basant sur des critères géométriques et constructifs, la taxinomie résultante a pu préciser les contours de deux aires de diffusion opposant deux modèles de voûte sexpartite. La première couvrait l’ancien Domaine royal français articulé autour de Paris tandis que la seconde coïncidait avec les territoires d’anciens fiefs relevant de la couronne capétienne. Un constat s’impose, si le premier modèle ne s’était répandu que sur l’actuel territoire français, le rayonnement du second avait en revanche touché l’Europe occidentale, probablement pour les atouts géométriques du système constructif de ses voûtes. Notre analyse s’est portée aussi sur les rares exemples de voûtes sexpartites élevées sur le territoire de l’ancien domaine continental Plantagenêt. Ces « sexpartites normandes » (selon la formule d’Auguste Choisy) ayant constitué une typologie radicalement différente n’ont donc finalement pas été intégrées au sein de notre classification précisément en raison de leur principale différence constructive : il s’agissait de quadripartites renforcées d’un pignon. Cette analyse exhaustive nous a conduits à la conclusion suivante. | architecte, âge, moyen, chantier, circulation des savoirs, matériau traditionnel, savoir, faire |
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Palacios Gonzalo, J. C., Talaverano, R. M. & Ibbarraran, E. I. | 2019 | La voute de la croisee du transept de la cathedrale d’ Amiens in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1109-20 | La voûte du transept de la cathédrale d’Amiens est l’une des voûtes les plus remarquables d’Europe. Dans son Dictionnaire raisonné, Viollet-le-Duc attire notre attention sur celle-ci. Ainsi dans le chapitre portant sur les voûtes, Viollet s’y arrête longuement; il en attribue la construction, qu’il situe autour de 1240, à l’architecte Robert de Luzarches, et lui prête le mérite d’être la première voûte européenne réalisée avec des arcs tiercerons, ce qui implique l’apparition de la voûte à cinq clés. En outre, d’autres caractéristiques font également de la voûte d’Amiens une construction remarquable, notamment la forme extraordinaire de ses lignes faîtières dessinant une ligne brisée qui descend depuis la clé centrale jusqu’aux secondaires, pour s’élever ensuite jusqu’aux clés des arcs périmétraux, atteignant une hauteur supérieure à celle de la clé centrale. Il s’agit donc d’une voûte singulière dont la hauteur du périmètre semble supérieure à celle de son centre. Fait intéressant, Viollet-le-Duc ne prête aucune attention à cette spécificité. Dans l’étude qu’il fait de cette voûte dans son Dictionnaire, il la dessine avec une ligne faîtière plate qui ne correspond en rien à la réalité. La forme singulière de cette voûte et l’approche qu’en fait Viollet nous a amenés à l’étudier en profondeur. C’est ainsi que l’École d’Architecture de Madrid a construit une reproduction à échelle 1:5 afin de connaître les particularités constructives de la voûte qui a eu le plus grand impact sur le gothique européen: la voûte à tiercerons à cinq clés. Cette communication présente les conclusions de cette expérience. | Structure, Mise en œuvre, Matériau traditionel, Constructeur, Chantier, Architecte |
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Rabasa Díaz, E., López Mozo, A. & Alonso Rodriguez, M. | 2019 | Transmission de connaissances techniques du gothique tardif sur le territoire francais: le cas des voutes asymetriques in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1121-30 | L’évolution de la construction gothique de voûtes s’est produite de façon différente dans les divers pays européens, en particulier en ce qui concerne les méthodes de conception de l’élévation du réseau des nervures ou de la volumétrie des voûtes. Certaines de ces procédures ont été reprises et sont plus ou moins connues. Mais les particularités de la conformation spatiale pour une voûte concrète ne sont actuellement pas faciles à déduire par la simple observation de leur apparence ou du plan, et ça ne l’était certainement pas non plus à l’époque pour un maître maçon : il faut pour cela une explication ou l’accès aux traces. Ce travail vise à approfondir la transmission technique des connaissances dans le gothique tardif européen par l’analyse du volume des voûtes apparemment semblables. De ce point de vue, cette communication vise à étudier la propagation en Europe d’une sorte de voûte asymétrique très particulière, qui a un diamant central et dont les arcs diagonaux sont souvent partiellement absents, et qui apparaît dans trente-quatre bâtiments différents et dans diverses sources écrites originales. Nous connaissons quatre cas de ce type de voûtes en France ; ils constituent sans aucun doute un élément important dans les rapports que nous pouvons établir, depuis ceux que l’on trouve en Allemagne, certains même dans le SO de la Pologne, jusqu’à ceux que l’on peut trouver en Espagne. Basée sur un relevé photogrammétrique de ces voûtes françaises, cette communication aborde l’approche du processus de conception du réseau tridimensionnel des nervures réalisé par leurs créateurs, pour pouvoir établir des rapports avec le reste des cas connus et confirmer ou démentir la transmission de connaissances techniques au-delà de la similitude apparente des types et de l’ornementation ou la présence de maîtres dans différents lieux. | circulation des savoirs, projet constructif, modèle constructif, transfert artistique, architecte, apprentissage |
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Bares, M.M., Fallacara, G., Lechelon, S. & Mannuccia, F. | 2019 | L’ escalier a vis de Saint-Gilles dans le Bassin mediterraneen. Conception et construction in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1131-44 | L’escalier à vis de Saint Gilles représente pour tous le développé d’une courbe constitué d’un plafond rampant nommé "voûte en berceau annulaire rampant". Une réalisation compliquée qui ne répond à aucune exigence fonctionnelle, mais qui, résulte cependant comme un des éléments les plus complexes au monde de la stéréotomie que l’on retrouve autour du basin méditerranéen. Les exemples de la fin du XIIème siècle se trouve en grande partie dans le sud de la France (Saint Gilles dans le Languedoc), qui jusqu’à présent répond aux hypothèses d’un cas d’école ou sujet expérimental, qui explose aux yeux du monde autour du XVIème siècle, grâce aux études de personnalités comme Philibert Delorme ou encore Andrés de Vandelvira. La découverte de mêmes escaliers dans d’autres zones du bassin méditerranéen complique et diversifie les modèles et les interdépendances historiques. Une des vis les plus élégante se trouve au Château Maniace de Syracuse (première moitié du XIIIème siècle), en revanche, d’autres plus anciens, montrent différents ouvrages réalisés dans les fortifications Fatimide du Caire (relatant une probable Vis Saint Gilles quarrée). Ces solutions, semblent en un certain sens être toutes en relations, ne serait-ce que par le regroupement chronologique des ouvrages réalisés. Ceci étant dit nous ne pouvons éluder l’hypothèse des éléments autonomes, qui ont été réalisés et conditionnés par des modèles antérieurs et pour lesquels le temps s’est chargé de détruire les traces de leur existence. En examinant avec attention, les géométries, tracés et découpes des pierres, (suite à l’analyse détaillé des éléments à notre disposition à l’aide d’instruments numérique), il est possible d’élaborer des réponses plus tangibles concernant les croisements et rencontre qui traversaient le bassin Méditerranéen durant l’époque Médiévale. | circulation des savoirs, espace de circulation, mise en œuvre, modèle constructif, montage, Savoir, faire |
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Chassagnoux, A. | 2019 | Genese et morphologie des voutes a arcs porteurs et nervures in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1145-56 | Deux peuples ont élevé les techniques de voûtement de l’architecture vernaculaire mésopotamienne au rang d’architecture monumentale : les Romains et les Iraniens. Dans un premier temps ils créèrent des voûtes massives, dont la morphologie parfois identique, parfois différente, résultait de la symbolique de l’espace propre à leur culture et des matériaux et techniques disponibles. Un premier répertoire de formes naquit : le berceau, la coupole sur plan circulaire ou carré et la voûte d’arête pour l’essentiel. Les Orientaux développèrent des techniques d’arcs porteurs sous leurs coupoles dès la fin du IXème siècle, et les Occidentaux créèrent des voûtes nervurées au début du XIIème siècle. Aux XIIème et XIIIème siècles, Occidentaux et Orientaux mirent au point presque simultanément deux techniques de structures voûtées modulaires d’une très grande flexibilité : la croisée d’ogives en Occident et la voûte à berceaux transversaux sur arcs doubleaux en Orient. Beaucoup d’historiens de l’architecture, dès le XIXème siècle et jusqu’à aujourd’hui, ont soit voulu voir l’origine de la croisée d’ogives dans les arcs porteurs orientaux, soit voulu dénier toute influence orientale dans la genèse de la croisée d’ogives, avec souvent l’utilisation d’arguments fallacieux dans l’un ou l’autre cas. En fait les techniques de voûtement orientales et occidentales ont été élaborées pour couvrir des espaces d’essences symboliques très différentes. En Orient la voûte doit permettre le passage le plus harmonieux entre l’espace cubique terrestre et l’hémisphère représentant la voûte céleste, alors qu’en Occident il s’agit de couvrir un espace basilical processionnel. | Structure, Stabilité, Mise, en, œuvre, Modèle constructif, Appareillage, Franchissement. |
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Duprat, B. & Fleury, F. | 2019 | La stabilite et le dimensionnement des arcs et des piedroits, par Antoine d’Alleman, architecte-ingenieur (1679-1760) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1157-68 | La bibliothèque Inguimbertine de Carpentras conserve trois manuscrits inédits de l’ingénieur Antoine d’Alleman (1679-1760). Celui-ci, « chevalier et citoyen de cette ville », alors capitale du Comtat Venaissin, eut une longue carrière de géomètre topographe et d’hydraulicien dans ce territoire pontifical alors indépendant mais enclavé dans le royaume de France. Il conçut et dirigea d’importants travaux de génie civil représentatifs de ceux menés par les ingénieurs militaires : routes, digues, canaux, aqueducs et alimentation en eau des villes, cartographie du territoire. Il dressa aussi les projets d’édifices importants, hôpitaux, églises, chapelles, à Carpentras et Orange, ainsi que celui d’une église à Mahon dans l’île de Minorque. Parmi les différentes méthodes de dimensionnement des claveaux et piédroits des arcs et des voûtes élaborées et discutées au XVIIIe siècle, celle qui est exposée par Antoine d’Alleman dans le manuscrit Ms 1127 présente la particularité de recourir exclusivement à des tracés géométriques simples qui construisent la moyenne proportionnelle entre deux quantités dûment choisies. En appliquant cette méthode à différents types d’arcs et en faisant dériver les calculs les uns des autres, l’ingénieur d’Alleman lui donne une portée générale et un formalisme que les seules considérations de stabilité des cas traités ne justifient pas. La présente contribution vise à évaluer la validité et le contenu mécanique d’une telle méthode conçue pour déterminer des optimums qualifiés de « moindres épaisseurs » et à la comparer aux autres de la même époque (de La Hire, Gautier, Belidor, Couplet, et Danysy) pour en discerner les origines et fondements épistémologiques. Ce travail vise aussi à mieux comprendre le processus lent d’appropriation du nouveau savoir scientifique par les praticiens de l’architecture, qui opèrent par des moyens pratiques sur le terrain la transition entre l’art de bâtir et la science de la construction. | architecte, ingénieur, constructeur, littérature technique, structure, stabilité |
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Radelet de Grave, P. | 2019 | Entre mathematiques et architecture, l’ etude de la stabilite des voutes par le chevalier de Nieuport (1747-1827) in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1169-78 | Il est difficile de caractériser d’un seul terme l’œuvre de Charles-François le Prud’homme d’Hailly, vicomte de Nieuport. Elle oscille entre les mathématiques, avec l’étude des équations différentielles, la logique de Condorcet et la mécanique, avec l’étude de la stabilité des voûtes qui retiendra particulièrement notre attention. C’est précisément cette diversité qui nous a amené à nous pencher sur ses travaux qui contribuent aux échanges entre disciplines. La vie mouvementée de cet érudit d’origine belge né à Paris, ruiné par la révolution de 1789 et membre de l’Académie royale des sciences, des lettres et des beaux-arts de Belgique, le mène de Paris à Malte où il est au service du grand-maître de l’ordre des chevaliers de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem. Plus tard, il sera membre de l’institut des Pays Bas ainsi que des académies de Zélande et de Stockholm. Ses publications gardent les traces de ses échanges avec d’Alembert et ses biographes relatent ses relations avec Condorcet et Charles Bossut. De Nieuport contribuera ainsi largement aux échanges interdisciplinaires comme aux échanges interculturels. | de Nieuport, Stabilité des voûtes, d’Alembert |
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Fantin, M. | 2019 | Les plates-bandes et la coupe des pierres: evolution d’une regle geometrique in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1189-1200 | L’orientation des joints en coupe des voûtes clavés est généralement dictée par un principe implicite de normalité des joints à l’intrados (Rondelet). Le cas des plates-bandes forme exception, car ce principe de normalité conduit aux plates-bandes à joints verticaux, et il n’est donc pas appliqué. Le concepteur est alors libre de choisir l’orientation des joints selon des critères géométriques, statiques, pratiques, ou esthétiques. La règle la plus couramment évoquée est de faire rayonner les joints autour d’un centre correspondant au sommet d’un triangle équilatéral inversé (e.g. Jousse). Les traités d’architecture et de stéréotomie de l’Epoque Moderne, ainsi que les procès-verbaux de l’Académie Royale d’Architecture permettent de dresser une synthèse des règles géométriques pour le clavage des plates-bandes qui se sont diffusées chez les architectes. La confrontation de ces règles géométriques à la pratique des tailleurs de pierre actuels illustre la différence entre le dessin d’architecte, d’échelle réduite, et l’épure du tailleur de pierre, en grandeur réelle. Cette confrontation indique l’existence probable pour des raisons pratiques de méthodes alternatives pour le traçage des épures à celles transmises par les traités. Le choix de l’inclinaison des joints des plates-bandes répond à des exigences antagonistes : les enseignements théoriques tirées de la mécanique des voûtes développée par de La Hire, et la fragilité liée à l’aiguïté des claveaux nécessiteraient de faire évoluer les règles géométriques dans des sens opposés. L’évolution des règles géométriques pour la construction des plates-bandes montrent que les observations pratiques de chantier l’ont emporté sur les considérations d’ordre statique au XVIIIe siècle. | Plate, bande, Époque moderne, appareillage, sources, stabilité, structure |
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Alvarez Altadill, J. | 2019 | Les propositions non construites de Viollet-le-Duc: analyse de la stabilite de la nef voutee in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1213-22 | Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879) fut non seulement un influent restaurateur, mais aussi un grand théoricien de la construction du XIXe siècle, et son abondante œuvre écrite est souvent reconnue comme étant à l’origine du mouvement moderne. Ses écrits incorporent des propositions constructives qui malgré avoir été amplement divulguées, n’ont jamais été suffisamment étudiées du point de vue de leur stabilité. Cette communication aborde l’analyse structurale d’une de ces propositions. Pour atteindre cet objectif, l’étude se centre sur un des projets les plus emblématiques et les plus célèbres de l’architecte français : la nef voûtée. Décrite dans la conversation numéro douze des Entretiens sur l’architecture, cette proposition est à la fois un projet non construit et un traité de construction en lui-même, puisqu’il synthétise les plus précieuses contributions de Viollet-le-Duc à la discipline constructive en une complexe structure qui combine sagement le briquetage avec les nouveaux matériaux métalliques. L’étude suivie prend pour point de départ la réinterprétation objective de cette structure à partir de la documentation graphique et des descriptions originales. À continuation on formule les hypothèses matérielles sur la base du raisonnement constructif, et finalement on étudie la stabilité de l’ensemble en analysant par statique graphique les différentes structures et à partir de la méthode de Wolfe pour l’étude des coupoles. Les résultats obtenus confirment le profond savoir constructif de l’architecte français et démontrent l’adéquation de la statique graphique comme outil pour l’analyse des structures historiques. D’un autre côté, on confirme le besoin de revoir l’œuvre de cette importante figure de l’architecture, plus encore après la célébration l’année 2014 du deuxième centenaire de sa naissance. | sources, projet constructif, méthodologie, matériau traditionnel, matériau industriel, littérature constructive, architecte, stabilité, structure, XIXe siècle, France |
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Weber, C. | 2019 | Les travaux de consolidation du pilier Knauth (1903-1926) - les architectes de la cathedrale de Strasbourg et le beton arme in Bienvenu, G., Monteil, M. & Rousteau-Chabon, H., Construire! Entre Antiquité et Époque contemporaine, Actes du 3eme Congres Francophone d’Histoire de la Construction (Nantes, 21-23 June 2017), pp. 1223-34 | Le thème de cette contribution est le transfert technologique dans la région frontalière entre la France et l’Allemagne au début du XXe siècle, à travers l’exemple de la consolidation du pilier nord de la cathédrale de Strasbourg. L’architecte de la cathédrale, Johann Knauth (1864-1924) avait recours à un nouveau matériau, le béton armé, pour sauver la célèbre tour de la cathédrale gothique. Il avait visité Bayeux et consulté des spécialistes de restauraration, tels les professeur Landsberg, à Darmstadt et le professeur Möller à Braunschweig, responsable de la rénovationde l’église Marienkirche à Wolfenbüttel. Knauth avait sollicité des entreprises pionnières dans le domaine du béton armé en Alsace et en Allemagne pour proposer des solutions. En 1910, les entreprises de construction Wayss & Freytag, Dyckerhoff & Widmann ainsi que les sociétés strasbourgeoises Eduard Züblin et Ed. & Th. Wagner avaient soumis leur propositions. Strasbourg, alors capitale du Reichsland Elsass-Lothringen, était un des centres du béton armé dans l’Empire allemand et Eduard Züblin et Theodor Wagner figuraient parmi les concessionnaires de François Hennebique. Finalement, ce fut le bureau d’étude Wagner-Züblin en collaboration avec Johann Knauth qui a réussi à trouver une solution aux problèmes posés par l’étaiement du pilier, grâce à un « tabouret » en béton armé. Malgré ses services, Knauth, qui avait gardé la nationalité allemande,fut expulsé en 1920. Son élève, l’alsacien Charles-August Pierre – diplômé de l’école impériale technique de Strasbourg – fut chargé de la direction des travaux jusqu’à 1925. La contribution est basée sur des documents desarchives de l’ œuvre Notre Dame ; il s’agit surtout des projets et des plans d’exécution des entreprises, ainsi que des photos du chantier et notamment le « Baustellenbuch » (journal du chantier), cahier rédigé en écriture gothique (KTEPK/1 boîte 205). | début XXe siècle, entrepreneur, ingénieur, restauration de la cathédrale de Strasbourg, béton armée, France, Alsace, Strasbourg, archives |
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Edward Dobson | 1850 | A Rudimentary Treatise on the Manufacture of Brick and Tiles | Read 7th edition online free: http://www.archive.org/stream/rudimentarytreat00dobsrich#page/72/mode/2up Content: The original 224 pages in 2 volumes contain many engravings of tools, machinery and kilns used in brick making in mid-19th century England. A valuable account of traditional and early industrialized brick making. | Bricks; brick making |
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R W Brunskill | 1997 | Brick Building in Britain | A very extensive and good account of brickmaking and brick building in Britain from the fourteenth to the late twentieth century - very readable and well illustrated. | Bricks; brick making; brick laying; Britain |
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John Woodforde | 1976 | Bricks to Build a House | Content: Specially recommended for the general reader - a history of brickmaking and the development of the industry in Britain to modern times. Discusses applications of brick to the building of various periods in British history and is well illustrated with engravings and photographs. | Brick making; brick building; Britain |
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Douglas, Hume, Moir and Oglethorpe | 1985 | A Survey of Scottish Brick Marks | Content: Lists manufacturers and brick marks recorded during a university survey project. A valuable guide to the Scottish brick manufacturing industry | |
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Graham Douglas and Miles Oglethorpe | 1993 | Brick, Tile and Fireclay Industries in Scotland | Content: Presents results of the 1970s Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey of factories engaged in the manufacture of heavy ceramics. Contains introductory sections on brick, tile, fireclay and sanitary ware industries. These are followed by an account of different types of kilns, a gazetteer of sites, a glossary of terms relating to the industries, information on some of the larger companies and a section of photographs, many of which show the works in operation. | Bricks; brick making; tiles; ceramics; fireclay; Scotland |
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Abrahamson, M. | 2015 | ‘DECENT AND SUITABLE’ MODULES: THE POLITICS OF CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH IN HUD’S OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH, 1969-1974 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Vol. 1, Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 31-8 | In 1969, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began a research program called ’Operation Breakthrough’ to encourage industrialized construction and overcome barriers to technological advancement in code, labor, and management. Breakthrough was predicated on an understanding that industrialized housing would not only reduce the costs of new housing but also that technological advances were required to meet skyrocketing need. Prior to the program’s launch, research data had led HUD to a specious prediction that by 1980, two-thirds of all new housing units in the US would have to be built using methods of prefabrication. It seemed at the time that without increased efficiency and lower cost, the construction industry would be unable to produce sufficient new housing to accommodate an increasing (and increasingly impoverished) urban population. Responding to this massive need, HUD solicited Breakthrough proposals from architects, contractors, developers, and producers of construction materials, eventually building several hundred demonstration units at nine sites across the country. The program was restricted by its small output, slow pace, and retrograde technologies, yet in order to justify their investment in Operation Breakthrough, HUD engaged in premature efforts to convince the public and industry groups of their program’s success. It hoped to overcome some of the barriers to industrialized housing inscribed in building codes and labor practices, but in the end, Breakthrough’s limited scope deluded its administrators. Against all evidence to the contrary, they were convinced that Breakthrough’s streamlined code enforcement procedures and hard-fought union production agreements—which were counted among the program’s early successes—would receive widespread adoption. | Industrialization in construction industry, Federal housing and construction policy, Trade unions, History and construction of specific projects |
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Albani, F. | 2015 | PREFABRICATION IN ITALY AFTER WORLD WAR II: ZANUSO VERSUS CAMUS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Vol 1., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 39-46 | The paper intends to investigate the meaning given to the term “prefabrication” and “industrialization” in the construction industry in Italian architectural production from the end of World War II down to the sixties. Italy, unlike other European countries, never opted decisively and in a widespread way for this type of approach. However, it did develop its own response to this issue, on an occasional basis, in the period between the wars and in a broader and more highly articulated way in the 1950s and 60s. The issue of the rationalization of building production, arising out of obvious economic and productive requirements, became central in the immediate postwar period, especially since it was seen as a possible solution to the housing shortage, made even more urgent by wartime destruction. As awareness spread of Italy’s backwardness compared to other European countries, in northern Italy there was a willingness to pick up on the echo of experiments in the rest of Europe, especially Britain and France. A central moment was the Italian experimental program, small in scale but extremely significant for the cultural and architectural context, begun by the Milan Triennale, which initiated the construction of a housing complex, QT8, where new solutions could be studied with the aim of developing building systems from an artisanal to an industrial stage. In the early sixties, to meet the real need for housing, the idea of making use of prefabrication was consolidated, even if the country’s economic policy had prevented it from developing beyond the experimental phase of the systems tested in Milan between 1947 and 1951. Thinking was now moving in the direction of “heavy” prefabrication, in which France appeared to represent the state of the art in Europe. | Prefabrication, Italy, 20th century, after II World War, Concrete Panel System, Marco Zanuso |
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von Behr, N. | 2021 | The Influence of Standards and Regulations for Steel and Reinforced Concrete on the Development of Modern Architecture in Pre-WW1 Paris and Brussels, Campbell, J.W.P. et al, The History of Building Trades and Professionalism: the Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, 2021, pp. 355-63 | How did technical standards and associated building regulations for steel and reinforced concrete influence the development of modern architecture in preWW1 Paris and Brussels? This is the core research question of my PhD project at the Universities of Kent and Lille begun in September 2020. The paper sets out some initial markers on the topic, results of a scoping exercise I have undertaken since September and from which I hope to elicit wider contributions from peers. Our state of existing technical and practical knowledge about the specifications and use of building materials in the past is founded on a plethora of published literature by academics and professionals studying in a broad range of fields, which can be usefully brought together under the collective umbrella of construction history. There is considerable research evidence available on the use of metals and concrete in monumental, industrial and other buildings in Britain, France and then the USA during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. | standards, materials, regulations, steel, reinforced concrete, France, Belgium, modern architecture |
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Heaton, M.J. | 2003 | A late medieval timber frame at Nos 21-22 High Street, Bath. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Society, 146, pp 73-79. | Short paper presenting the results of an ad hoc ’building recording’ exercise undertaken during the refit of a shop in central Bath (GB), at the request of the building’s owner and with the active co-operation of the builder Emery’s. Two cross-frames of a late medieval - probably 16th C - timber building were recorded and their structural re-configuration postulated. The report incorporates the principal author’s otherwise un-published observations of similar discoveries in adjacent buildings and suggests that the ’comprehensive’ rebuilding of Bath in the late 18th C was not quite as comprehensive as hitherto assumed: rather, in many cases the Georgian builders and their clients merely re-faced medieval buildings. Unfortunately it was not possible to obtain a dendro-date because the LPA’s Conservation Officer demanded the immediate reinstatement of the plasterboard skins behind which the frames now stand. | Britain, Bath, medieval, timber frame, archaeology, Georgian, re-development. |
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Fiorani, D., and Boothby, T. | 2021 | Openings in masonry walls in early Christian and medieval Roman churches. Technical, Architectural, and Construction issues. Construction History, Vol 36 No. 1, pp 1-24 | Windows are the product of a conscious choice of material and technique, related in an empirical way to the proportions of the empty and solid part of the walls. The selection of material was associated with the economic availability of materials and related to the structural possibilities of the building. The combination of different technological components allows the builders to reach the structural limits of the single building element in order to satisfy the architectural requirements of the form. In this essay, we consider the openings in the medieval Roman churches looking at the whole spectrum of building solutions and we wish to clarify how these choices follow a precise structural and building process. The study of the way in which windows are organized in a wall can give us useful clues for understanding the builders’ competences and the conditioning of a culture and a society in architecture. Of course, we cannot consider the construction of wall openings without an additional overview of the general construction, but the persistence of some building features allows us to find a common base on which is possible to compare and to understand the different constructive strategies adopted in the Papal city over time. | Rome, Early Christian, medieval, arches, openings, masonry, proportions |
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Galavan, S. | 2021 | Permitted designs: regulatory control and the late nineteenth-century Brussels row house. Construction History, Vol 36 No. 1, pp 25-48. | The paper considers the impact of municipal authority on the design and construction of the late nineteenth-century row house in Belgium. It will focus on one block built in the squares district of Brussels, a bourgeois neighbourhood to the north-east of the capital. It will follow the process of regulatory control on these buildings, from the submission of documentation and timelines, to communication with building owners and enforcement. How did the building permit shape these houses, and how was it used by the municipality as an instrument of control? Who were the actors responsible for their development and what was their prime motivation for speculation? Situating the topic within a broader European context, this paper moves the discussion of the row house beyond the realm of social, stylistic and formal analyses, to uncover some of the construction processes and actors behind this architecture. | Belgium, Brussels, 19th century, rules regulations, domestic |
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Burgos Núñez, A., Kite, M.A., and Olmo García, J.C. | 2021 | The Durcal and Gor Viaduct: A Bridge Built Twice (1885-1925). Construction History, Vol 36 No. 1, pp49-68. | The article presents an investigation into an iron bridge which can be seen near to the city of Granada, Spain. The bridge was originally built in 1905 in a different location to where it is now. Its creation was the result of an integrated process of design, in which Belgian, British and Spanish techniques were used. The bridge became unusable due to technical problems at its first location. Some years later it was transferred to another site where it was utilized in a different transport infrastructure. In this article, we analyse the process of its design and construction and the particular circumstances that were experienced that reveal interesting aspects of bridge engineering of that epoch. | Spain, 19th century, railways, iron bridges, engineering, design |
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Gifford, J. | 2021 | Frank B. Gilbreth, General Contractor: construction projects 1895–1910. Construction History, Vol 36 No. 1, pp 69-96. | This paper introduces the construction projects managed by efficiency expert Frank Bunker Gilbreth in his first career as an industrial builder between 1895 and 1910. It establishes some 90 construction projects representing more than 150 structures executed by Gilbreth’s three companies across North America. Gilbreth’s body of construction work is extensive in scope, from large private residences to office buildings, warehouses, factories, mills, dams, powerhouses and complete mill towns. A significant number of these works are standing and in use. The source information is drawn from biographical material, lists in Gilbreth advertising, and references in contemporary newspapers and journals of construction, engineering and the trades for which the construction was undertaken. Although these findings are likely incomplete, it is believed to be the first comprehensive listing of his construction projects since the loss of the original company files. With supporting information, this paper adds to the understanding of Gilbreth’s professional accomplishments that preceded and contributed to his better-known era as a motion study and scientific management pioneer and establishes him as a prolific and innovative mid-scale builder of his era. | America, 19th 20th, contracting, cost-plus, contract law, innovation, bricklaying, reinforced concrete |
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Fuentes, P. | 2021 | The construction of tile vaults in Belgium 1900-1940: Contractors and Patents. Construction History, Vol 36 No. 1, 97-122. | Tile vaulting, a technique generally associated with Mediterranean countries, has been revealed as a common technique in Belgium in the first half of the twentieth century. Several contractors were specialised in the construction of tile vaults (known as voûtes légères en briques creuses). These contractors, separate from the general contractor, were specifically commissioned to build the vaults. Tile vaults were used in churches and other significant buildings, such as museums, hotels, palaces or casinos. Some of these contractors patented their own vaulting systems. With different variations, the main principle is the same: to build light and economic vaults, using hollow bricks ca. 40 mm thick, placed flatwise. The vaults were often built with only one layer of bricks, sometimes coated with mortar both in the intrados and the extrados. Special moulded bricks were used for the ribs when required. The possibility of avoiding the use of centring is not always referred to, but it was certainly a great advantage. The paper presents the principal tile vault contractors in Belgium in the period from 1900 to 1940, the patents they developed and some of their buildings. | Belgium, 20th, vaults, tile, brick |
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Silva-Contreras, M. | 2021 | Industrial architecture in México 1950-1970: Between artisanal and industrialised construction processes. Construction History, Vol 36 No. 1, pp123-149. | This article presents a study of long span roof building techniques in Mexican architecture from the middle of the twentieth century up until the 1970s. During this period, widely used artisanal techniques, that utilised lost timber formworks for the insitu casting of reinforced concrete structures, coexisted with the prefabrication of large prestressed concrete components produced on site or in workshops. This research fills a gap in the historiography of Mexican and even in Latin American architecture, and opens a new chapter in the history of construction. The paper covers a time when some designers used traditional hand-crafted construction methods, which became part of the identity of their buildings, whilst others made important contributions in the development of new fabrication techniques in relation to economic factors, equipment and labour skills. The main sources of information about the building companies, structures and techniques for the research are specialist journals published during the period of study, as well as drawings from the archives of designers and builders. The article is illustrated with images of mostly unknown industrial structures, since most of them have never been identified for study, with some of the builders barely known, even in their own countries. The article identifies types of buildings which used reinforced or prestressed concrete components, as well as the key players (designers and contractors) involved in these new building processes, and outlines some hypothesis and lines for future research. | Mexico, contemporary, 20th, Walter Hill, Ciceron Tamped, Alvaro Ortega, Felix Candela, ICA, PREMESA, standardized |
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Albuerne, A. and Williams, M.S. | 2015 | STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING IN THE HISTORIC STUDY OF ARCHITECTURAL REMAINS. THE BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS: A CASE STUDY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol 1., pp. 47-54 | Structural Engineers can offer insight into certain historic questions related to the construction or life of heritage structures. An evident example is explaining how (and even, when) a construction collapsed. The Department of Engineering Science of the University of Oxford, in collaboration with the School of Architecture of the same university, have run a project aimed at studying the collapse of the Basilica of Maxentius (Rome). The project aimed at combining archaeological examination with structural engineering to gather and apply data to formulate possible collapse mechanisms and their causes. The Basilica of Maxentius is believed to have collapsed under the effect of an earthquake. There is, however, no firm historical evidence of this. The aim of the research project was to validate or refute this theory based on the analysis of existing remains, such as standing walls, broken vault fragments or damaged foundations, from the perspective of structural science. The research involved two main lines of work. The first line comprised the study of the physical remains of the Basilica of Maxentius. Part of the findings -a study of the as-built geometrywere presented in the last edition of the ICCH (Albuerne, Williams & DeLaine 2012). The second line of work aimed at studying the behavior of relevant structural elements under ground motion. The structure of the Basilica of Maxentius is made of Roman concrete, a composite, pseudo-monolithic and quasi-brittle material that exhibits some tensile strength. Although it is typically used in compression structures (arches, vaults, walls), it is monolithic in its undamaged state, not featuring regular joints the way ashlar masonry would. The structural behavior investigations have focused on understanding the effect of the residual cohesion in the dynamic behavior of these vaulted structures. Shaking table tests of continuous circular arches and cross vaults have been carried out and have helped gain | Masonry, Roman concrete, structural analysis, surveying, limit analysis, thrust line analysis, Basilica of Maxentius, seismic loading |
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Almac, U. & Ahunbay, Z. | 2015 | STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF A 16th CENTURY OTTOMAN MASONRY BUILDING: SIYAVUSH PASHA MADRASAi n Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 55-62 | Siyavush Pasha Madrasa is a late 16th century Ottoman masonry structure located in the historic core of Istanbul. The building was founded by Siyavush Pasha in memory of his wife princess Fatma Sultan. The structure suffered from earthquakes, fires and alterations in its long history but continued to function until 1914. During the twentieth century, it was not properly maintained and repaired, although it is a Grade I building and under legal protection. The General Directorate of Pious Foundations is responsible for its conservation and management. Recently a project has been developed to restore the structure and works continue with funding from the Governorate of Istanbul. The building is located on the northern slope of Historic Istanbul, overlooking the Golden Horn. It has a unique layout due to its location on a narrow plot surrounded by narrow streets. The madrasa consists of domed cells for students and a spacious classroom. The northern wing of the cells had to be raised on a vaulted basement to create the terrace for the madrasa courtyard. The structural system of the building consists of masonry walls built with stone and brick, ashlar piers supporting brick arches, cross vaults and domes on pendentives. The perfection of construction skills used in the sixteenth century are reflected in the details. During the documentation of the monument and the inspections conducted in the course of repair works, the use of timber lacing in the masonry construction was noticed and recorded. Timber tie beams of varying dimensions were identified in the load bearing walls; they ran through the span of arches, forming belts. The use of timber beams and bonding was a tradition in Ottoman masonry structures; they were used for many centuries securing masonry structures against lateral excitations. The fact that timber elements deteriorated during the long life of the building resulted in the weakening of the structure. | Ottoman architecture, masonry structures, construction techniques and materials, timber tie beams, conservation. |
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Andrews. W. | 2015 | INNOVATIONS IN ENGLISH WALLPAPER MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURE FROM 1824 TO 1938: EVIDENCE FROM THE COWTAN ORDER BOOKS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 71-8 | Wallpaper, like paints and other surface finishes, provides a wealth of information about a building’s history. Materials, production techniques, designs and installation methods can reveal much about when buildings were completed or remodelled, how rooms and interior spaces were used and who occupied them. Cowtan & Sons was a London decorating firm who manufactured and supplied wallpapers to thousands of customers including royalty, aristocracy and the growing middle classes in the UK, the USA and across the world. The Cowtan Order Books held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London provide a detailed illustration of materials and manufacturing techniques used in the production of English wallpapers and wallcoverings, together with insights into the decorator’s trade and the skilled craftsmanship employed on a wide range of buildings. This paper examines some significant technological innovations in wallpaper production and considers what can be learned from an important source that has not previously been the subject of doctoral research. | Wallpaper materials and manufacture UK and global trade in wallpapers Cowtan & Sons |
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Andrzejewski, A.V. | 2015 | EDUCATING THE POSTWAR BUILDER: COLLEGE PROGRAMS FOR ASPIRING MERCHANT BUILDERS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1945-1965 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 79-86 | This paper examines post-secondary education programs for builders in postwar America and assesses their impact on builders and building practices between 1945 and 1965. Higher education programs targeting builders played a short-lived, but significant, role in the postwar American building industry. They offered an outlet for dissemination of the latest ideas about building materials and methods of construction as well as a means by which builders could learn business skills necessary to succeed in a vastly changed landscape. Although their heyday was short-lived (most courses were eliminated or transformed by the end of the 1960s), University courses contributed to the growth of the American residential suburbs between the mid-1940s and mid-1960s by helping builders learn new skills, especially in marketing, finance, and management. These programs also helped facilitate a transition in American building practices between the apprentice system that had dominated up until World War II and the more contemporary system of building, which is reliant on a “general contractor” and a system of specialized subcontractors. | National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), building industry, postwar United States, education |
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Anthony, R.W, and Diebolt, K.S. | 2015 | INVESTIGATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF A NINETEENTH CENTURY WOODEN FLUME SUSPENDED ON A CLIFF in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 87-94 | Constructed by the Montrose Placer Mining Company in the 1880s to mine gold from placer deposits in the river, the Hanging Flume is a unique example of what is also known as a “bracket flume”. It is significant an important artifact of the history of mining engineering history. The construction of the Hanging Flume began in 1887 and consisted of the over 10 miles of earthen ditches, wooden flume (on a trestle) and hanging flume (suspended on the cliff) took three years and 1.8 million board feet of lumber to complete. Approximately 14,000 lineal feet of the Flume is suspended on the sandstone cliffs snaking above the Dolores River. No notes, sketches or photographs are known to exist that show the methodology of the flume construction. In 2011, a reconstruction project was initiated to restore a segment of the Flume to its original construction configuration to highlight the engineering complexity and construction difficulties of the Hanging Flume. The reconstruction, described briefly in this paper, was intended to provide an opportunity to interpret the structure by allowing people to see how it originally looked and functioned, offer a way to learn more about the Hanging Flume’s construction. | Mining Structure, Hydraulic Mining, Bracket Flume, Hanging Flume |
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Antuña, J. | 2015 | GANDÍA CHURCH ROOF SHELL: A SLENDER FOLDED ROOF SHELL BY EDUARDO TORROJA in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 95-102 | Reinforced concrete roof construction must be of minimum thickness to reduce weight. But reduced thickness can lead to instability problems which affect the final design. This cylindrical shell design by Eduardo Torroja after the failure of the Recoletos Fronton vault includes reinforcement rings, in order to reduce slenderness and to avoid local and overall buckling. In 1958 Torroja proposed a new way of constructing slender concrete shell structures, and he implemented this in Gandía Church. This consists of two asymmetric beams supported by two reinforced concrete walls. The two beams are reinforced concrete folded plates with transverse reinforced beams. Light pre-stressing counterbalances the torsion due to the asymmetric section, and the reinforced beams make it possible to use 150 mm thick plates. While the description of the design does not include any reference to analysis of the instability of the plates, their number and the distance between reinforcement beams makes it possible for the instability effect to be ignored. This paper studies the effectiveness of the reinforcement and the possibility of its being reduced or even eliminated. We first study an alternative design using only thick beams, under the supposition that the means of supporting the shell is solved. The viability of the same design without the use of reinforcing beams is then analyzed. This showed that the problem can be solved by using deep beams, provided that the shell can be supported by another element. This has been shown in other examples with this type of solution. Furthermore, the shell with an unreinforced Z section beam can be used, once again with another system to support it. | Folded concrete roof shell, pre-stressed concrete shell. |
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Brucculeri, A. | 2015 | BALANCING ART AND SCIENCE: EMMANUEL BRUNE AND THE TEACHING OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AT THE ÉCOLE DES BEAUX-ARTS IN THE EARLY THIRD REPUBLIC in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 219-228 | The beginning of the Third Republic in France coincides with new developments of the debate about the architect skills compared to those of the engineer. After the appointment in 1865 of an engineer, Elphège Baude, in the chair of construction at the École des Beaux-Arts, Emmanuel Brune (1836-86) resumes, starting from 1871, the building construction course in this school. His teaching highlights in a singular way the relationships between engineers’ and architects’ curricula. The training of Brune puts in evidence a profile of builder combining artistic sensibility and technical culture. A pupil of the École polytechnique since 1854, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts (1858) and concludes his formation with the Grand Prix de Rome (1863) and the stay at Villa Medici. Later, Brune became professor at the École des Beaux-Arts. The analysis of the courses, the exercises and general construction competition programs and students’ drawings during his teaching term (1871-86), shows how he integrated aesthetic and scientific approach. Consistent with the structure of the course, a constructive eclecticism corresponding to the eclectic approach to the architectural forms, is at the heart of the practical teaching of Brune. | The history of construction teaching, The changing role of the professions in construction, The role of construction history in education, Construction in architectural writing |
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Bachmann, M. | 2015 | THE FINAL ACT IN OTTOMAN TIMBER CONSTRUCTION in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 103-112 | The last decades of Ottoman wooden architecture in Istanbul from 1880 until World War 1 are characterized by dramatic structural changes. Often not readable in the exterior, a reduction of artisanal wood joints occurs in combination with minimized treads and use of materials. Since the majority of preserved wooden buildings of Istanbul belong to this period, they nevertheless are representative of the entire Ottoman wooden architecture. In the microcosm of the historic summer residence of the German ambassador in Tarabya this decline can be examined in a well-preserved ensemble of wooden buildings from the years 1885-1894. Two buildings, the carriage house from 1886 and the so called „Matrosenhaus“ (sailors’ house) from 1894 provide the poles of this development. In both cases the supporting structures of these buildings were meticulously documented during recent studies and compared. While the coach house consists of a good joined and stable oak timber construction, the „Matrosenhaus“ is minimized on spolia and narrow boards like an improvised erected shack, but covers the miserable skeleton highly effective with its cladding. An encompassing project was started in 1978 with the documentation of the residential buildings of Zeyrek on the historic Peninsula. Approximately 250 houses were analysed from aspects of construction, city architecture, sociology, history and monument-preservation. Detailed studies confirmed the high proportion of the buildings from the years immediately before World War 1 in the total stock of wooden houses. Political upheavals in the Balkans led to a significant increase in population of the capital, bustling building activities and a final flowering of timber construction. However, this flower did not affect the structural scaffold, which was reduced to narrow boards and industrial treads. | Building Materials, Their History, Production and Use; Building Archaeology |
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Balboni, L. & Corradini, P. | 2015 | THE CONSTRUCTION OF ICE HOUSES IN THE ARISTOCRATIC RESIDENCES IN THE EMILIA COUNTRYSIDE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 113-120 | The present research focuses on the ice-houses built between the 17th and the 19th c. in the numerous villas and palaces in the Emilia countryside, more specifically in the former Este dukedom. These were a necessary element to preserve ice and perishable foods both for the aristocracy summer holidays and for the production of their surrounding agricultural properties. The investigation is centered on how the ice-houses were built. Within the field of material culture, its purpose is the identification of the technical expertise of workers beneath the construction of these functional buildings. Thus, it was based on close and direct survey of a number of ice-houses, pointing out the aspects of continuity and change. A critical reading of treaties, adapted to the evidence coming from such material documents, contributed to the interpretation of the data. The study analyzes the dimensions and distribution of the ice-houses, the features of their masonries and of their brick vaults and also the internal finishing, an essential element proper functioning of the system. Lastly, also the peculiar drainage system was taken into consideration, which, though rare that may be, in a few cases have been preserved until present day. The data were interpreted taking into account the different situations that can be found in this area. For instance, the structures which were partially dug in the ground in the villas built from scratch as well as the ice houses realized in the deep moats during the renovations of the ancient feudal fortresses. To better understand how they worked, conserve are not considered as isolated elements, but the wider context of the villas in which they were integrated has been evaluated. | ice house, countryside house, villa, construction history, preservation, Emilia Romagna |
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Barber, J. | 2015 | CONSTRUCTING DRYSTONE BUILT IRON AGE BROCH TOWERS IN SCOTLAND: INITIATING A CONSTRUCTION HISTORY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 121-30 | Some 600 drystone built broch towers survive, unique to Scotland’s Iron Age, the largest of which measures roughly 13 m high, 5 m thick and 20 m in external diameter at ground level. They comprise a circular and highly standardised enclosing double wall with a single ground-level piercing for the entrance passage. The self-loading of the tower wall elicited particular engineering responses in the formation of the entrances and other wall voids. Using the methodologies of the archaeology of standing buildings, the structural engineering of the surviving remains have been recorded for analysis, by survey, laser scanning and excavation. Recent excavations (Barber, Cavers et al. In Press) have been pursued into the constructed elements of the brochs’ complex walls and radiocarbon assays supported by statistical analyses have identified a higher than anticipated scale of significant structural modification throughout the life spans of individual brochs. The implications of these studies for the structural integrity of the monuments have been further explored and tested by computer analyses and physical modelling at scales ranging from 1:15 to 1:1 and fundamental constants of drystone masonry have been identified and measured (Sutherland 2012, Theodossopoulos, Barber et al. 2012). Conservation work has been initiated at Clachtoll2 in Assynt, NW Scotland where norms and standards for the conservation of drystone built structural remains are being evolved in line with international conservation charters and in discussion with national curatorial agencies (Barber 2012). A common base of costing for the construction of brochs using estimates of the energy costs of quarrying, transporting stone and building broch towers is used, both to help understand the scale of social engagement and resource commitment involved in their construction and to provide an informed basis for comparisons between monuments. | Building-archaeology; Canonicity; Mutability; Laser-Scanning; Economics; Modelling. |
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Gelder, J. | 2021 | The documentation of stonework in the ancient world. In J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021., pp 15-22 | Stone has been used as a construction material since humanity first started to build. Its properties have not changed – granite quarried today is essentially the same material as granite quarried in the ancient world. Indeed some ancient quarries are still in use, such as the marble quarries of the Apuan Alps in Italy, and the Greek rosso antico quarries (Warren, 2012). On the other hand, the way stonework is designed and documented has changed somewhat over the centuries (Gelder, 2001). But there are some continuities, such as the preparation of full-scale drawings of stonework. This has been the norm since antiquity, from drawings inscribed on unfinished in situ stonework for the Greek temple at Didyma, to those inscribed on medieval tracing floors, to rolls of full-scale details provided for stonework in London in the 1980s, to contemporary 1:1 BIM documentation. This paper will outline the nature of technical stonework documentation – written, drawn and modelled – in the ancient world. How these documents were read together will be considered. For example, several Greek stonework contracts refer to paradeigmata and anagraphe – the contexts suggest these are drawings or models. Conditions of contract will be referred to where they are specific to stonework. The possibility of inter-cultural transmission of ideas about stonework documentation will also be considered. The paper will draw on extant stone and stonework specifications and contracts from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece (Hellmann, 1999; Jeppesen, 1958) and Greco-Roman Egypt (Hunt & Edgar, 1934), drawings of stonework from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Greco-Roman Egypt (Heisel, 1993), and models of stonework from ancient Egypt (Arnold, 1987), Greece and Greco-Roman Egypt (such as the stone maquettes at Petrie Museum, London, and Louvre, Paris) (Muller, 2001). Vitruvius’ De architectura and works by other ancient authors will also be considered where relevant. | |
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Gelder, J. | 2021 | Professional roles in Greek construction contracts. In J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 23-32. | The classical Greek architect did not have the same function as the modern architect. The role was more akin to that of the medieval master builder. To some extent it was defined in contractual documents of the time. More than 25 construction contracts survive from classical Greece (Hellmann 1999; Scranton 1960; Jeppesen 1958; Davis 1937) and Hellenic Egypt (Hunt & Edgar 1934, 1932). Several of them mention architects, contractors (or sub-contractors) and guarantors, often giving their names and inferring or stating their roles. Clients and other agents on the client side are also often identified. This paper collects this information and interprets it. For example, the architect is mentioned in at least 11 classical Greek contracts, including five for the works at Eleusis, and contractors in nine. On the contracting side, as well as guarantors, witnesses were often also listed, and in some cases these also had a contractual role. The discussion will be informed by other works on these professions (Holst 2017; Coulton 1983, 1977; Kostof 1977; Burford 1969; Bundgaard 1957; Briggs 1927; Frothingham 1908), mentions of them in construction accounts, and references to these professions in Greek and Roman literature, such as Vitruvius’ De architectura. The architect features widely in this material, and the other professions less so. Revealing how they agreed to work together is an expected outcome of this paper. | |
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Rosada-Torres, A.L., Gilabert-Sansalvador, L., & Montuori, R. | 2021 | Stonecutting in Maya Architecture: The Palace of the Governor at Uxmal (Yucatan, Mexico), In J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 47-62. | Developed in Mesoamerica between 1,500 B.C. and 1,500 A.D., the ancient Maya civilisation reached an advanced understanding in various fields of knowledge, which can still be seen today in its many architectural remains. Maya architecture has been studied from multidisciplinary perspectives, including some architectural surveys, which have made it possible to identify important, regional differences in its architectural production in terms of its typological, aesthetic, and formal development. As a result, different architectural styles are currently associated with geographical areas, revealing a long constructional tradition. Particularly noteworthy is the Puuc architecture in the Yucatan peninsula, with some extraordinary examples of buildings created by ancient Maya stonemasons during the Classical period. Located in the Ancient City of Uxmal, the Palace of the Governor stands out from the rest of the Puuc buildings, among other reasons because of the technical quality achieved in the stonework of its ashlars, vault stones, and mosaic-type decorative pieces, which demonstrates exceptional advances in stonecutting techniques. Despite the great interest in Puuc architecture over the past century, with some important architectural surveys as those from Harry E. D. Pollock, George F. Andrews, and Paul Gendrop, there is still a lack of specialised studies on the constructional aspects of these buildings. In this communication, we propose the study of the Palace of the Governor from the point of view of stereotomy. Based on George F. Andrews’ identification of specialised stones required for the construction of a classic Puuc building, we classify the different pieces that make up the Palace of the Governor, therefore creating its own chart. Together with drawings, this chart will allows us to identify and study those pieces where there is an evident need to specify the form as a previous step to the cutting process. This work is part of an ongoing PhD | Construction in the Ancient World, Stone construction, Transmission of building technology |
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Campbell, J.W.P. | 2021 | The Manufacture of Iron Water pipes before 1800, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 33-46. | ||
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Gutiérrez-Hernández, A.M. | 2021 | The Art du Trait in the Monastery of La Vid in Burgos (Spain), in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 63-72. | The architectural construction in stonework has been accompanied, since ancient times, by the Art du Trait. This, in turn, is closely linked to the Art of Stonemasonry since one cannot be understood without the other. And it is that the existence of mountains in some buildings has been known since Hellenistic times, as Haselberger (1991) already announced. The use of these graphic control tools for construction continued to be used for centuries until the arrival of new materials such as concrete, which relegated the use of stone in buildings. This also caused the construction techniques of the past to stop being used, losing in a certain way the construction systems of the past. In countries with a long stone construction tradition, some of these traces have remained hidden in the same buildings for which they were made, such as the traces located in the cathedrals of York and Wells (Holton, 2006). In Spain, a large number of these traces have been located in some of its most significant monuments from practically all historical periods, such as in the cathedrals of Sevilla (Pinto & Jiménez), Santiago de Compostela (Taín, 2003) or Jaén (Gutiérrez- Hernández, 2017), and the monastery of El Escorial (López, 2008), among many others. In this work I will present some of the traces that I found in the church of the monastery of La Vid in Burgos (Spain), which refer to some aspects of its construction history and the different historical moments in which it developed. On the other hand, it is important to highlight that the Art du Trait in Spain was reflected in its theoretical aspect in the workshop notebooks or treatises in which the master architects themselves left reflected the knowledge they possessed about the Art of Stonemasonry and that they help us understand the constructive processes of the past. In this sense, the consultation of this “literary” material will allow me to identify the nature of the traces preserved in this monastery and give them the ne | |
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Mazzone, G. | 2021 | Through the Layers of Time – The Evolution of Interlaced Ribbed Domes from Islamic Spain to the Italian Baroque, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 73-84. | The Mediterranean Sea played a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange from the dawn of Western civilization. Beside the great chapters in human history, there are a myriad of other stories which, while passing sometimes unseen, contributed to light the firmament of civilization. The spreading of the Islamic empire throughout the Mediterranean shores of North Africa during the 8th century C.E. gave birth to the kingdom of al-Andalus in south-eastern Spain. This flourishing outpost of the Umayyad emirate and its progressive independence from its original homeland nourished a cultural cradle mingling Islamic architectural heritage to Roman and Visigoth principles. The most astonishing results of this intercultural exchange appear in the design of Cordoba’s mosque. Here the linkage between East and West acquires a physical counterpart through interlaced arcades and ribbed domes. This article traces the origin of these structural components looking at both local examples (the Roman aqueduct in Merida) and Islamic precedents (such as the Great Mosque in Damascus) focusing particular attention on the vaults from Cordoba’s masqura (a three-bay domed structure of Umayyad origin leading to the mosque’s mihrab hosting the holy scriptures). The article analyses these interlaced ribbed domes paying attention to the nature of their structural joints and their re-interpretation centuries later in the works of the Italian Baroque architect Guarino Guarini. Emphasis is particularly given to the unquestionable visual parallelism between the vaults in Cordoba’s masqura and Guarini’s dome from San Lorenzo in Turin. Current literature on the topic is implemented by presenting a comparison between these two similar structures looking at differences and evolution in terms of geometric definition, material choice, and structural execution. Additional inquiries presented in the article focus on the origin and spread of these vaulted systems in Spain by looking at local examples fro | History of architecture; analysis of stone construction techniques; Islamic architecture in Spain; Italian Baroque; interlaced ribbed domes |
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Mazzanti, C., & Gransinigh, F.B. | 2021 | Medieval watchtowers of the mountainous areas of the Abruzzi Region: typologies, construction techniques and territorial landscape, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 85-96. | The aim of the research is the cataloging for knowledge of this specific kind of fortified architecture, regarding to the building typology and construction techniques. For this purpose, the study will analyze the most significant examples of watchtowers in central Italy, focus mainly on medieval structures. These ancient towers, currently largely preserved, have a square or circular plan, in rare cases even triangular or polygonal in shape. Throughout the Middle Ages, local workers and master builders from the papal territories and France were involved in the construction; French stonecutters and architects were present in this area in the Angevin period and slowly they replaced the Apulian masters, previously prevalent in this area. In the Abruzzi Region, the defensive architecture was related to more or less sloping land and by the topographical conditions. The castles and fortresses were connected to the cities by the main routes, used by armies, but also by the so-called tratturi, that is sheep tracks, along which huge amounts of livestock were brought from the mountainous areas to the lowlands of the Puglia Region. In this territorial and social context, the building features of the watchtowers were determined by the construction sites, but also by the workers, the quarries from which the stones were extracted and the materials available; moreover their technical characteristics are linked to the conformation of the land, defense needs and visual communication functions between these buildings. This towers were placed at the top of the hills for best visibility, just a few kilometers apart among them; they provided communication between strategic locations, especially mountain passes or river crossings, and the main fortifications or cities of the time, creating a radial network. | |
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Rocio, M-V. | 2021 | Two Masters, Two Methods. First Steps Towards English Standardisation in The Construction of The Sexpartite Vaults in Canterbury Cathedral, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 97-110. | One of the most interesting documents for the history of construction is the well-known manuscript written by Gervase the monk, which describes the works carried out after the fire that destroyed the Norman cathedral of Canterbury in 1174. Gervase (1141-1210) witnessed the works directly and his account provides important information that serves to understand the complicated organisation of the work and the considerable mobilisation of resources for a construction of this type. His detailed description also allows us to attribute the vaults over the choir to a French master, presumably from Sens, and those over the high altar to a master from England. I analysed the construction and geometry of these vaults on the basis of photogrammetric measurement, which has enabled me to corroborate this change of master. Comparing these results with an analysis carried out in Sens Cathedral (1138-1175) enables us to confirm the origin of the first master mentioned, William de Sens, who used the geometric and construction resources of the French vaults. His English successor, on the other hand, replaced the geometry and the standardisation system with a completely new method, which had not been used in France, but which was later developed in all its complexity in the neighbouring Rochester Cathedral (1180-1240). This is known as English standardisation, where the particular use of geometry differs from that used in continental Gothic and was to give rise to one of the most refined and beautiful styles in Europe, the Perpendicular Gothic. The construction of the sexpartite vaults in Canterbury Cathedral (1174-1180) is one of the first steps towards the development of this distinctively English system. | |
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Vandanabeele, L., | 2021 | Medieval formwork imprints in the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 111-120. | The construction of medieval arches, vaults and domes required the widespread use of temporary timber works of which practically no evidence remains. With only few ancient depictions available, the current understanding of these medieval scaffoldings and formworks mostly relies on reverse engineering and reconstruction attempts. Within the context of an ongoing research project on the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua (XIII-XIV c.), this contribution provides an in-depth analysis of rare medieval formwork imprints recorded in the massive brick church. Indeed, the abundant use of mortar enabled numerous recordings of diverse types of formworks and scaffoldings once supporting barrel vaults and arches. On various surfaces in hidden parts of the church, the exact geometry of each board can be recovered, as well as the position of the underlying scaffoldings. Based on a detailed survey of these traces supported by high-resolution laser scanning and photogrammetry, the several types of temporary timber works used during the erection of the basilica in the 13t and 14h century are reconstructed and discussed. Finally, the paper addresses the recent discovery of eight original boards left in place by medieval builders, which miraculously survived to this day. As some of these elements appeared to be suitable for dendrochronological analyses (currently ongoing), they might provide a first absolute dating of the brick structures. Hence, these findings contribute to highlighting the importance of a Construction History approach, as well as its potential to unlock long-standing mysteries surrounding ancient buildings. | Building in the Middle Ages, arches, vaults and domes, bricks and brick construction, scaffolding, cranes and temporary works. |
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Celli, S., & Ottoni, F. | 2021 | From construction to maintenance. The history of the wooden chain encircling the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 121-132. | The present paper aims to illustrate the events that shaped the wooden ring surrounding the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore from its construction until the present day. Indeed, among the elements composing Brunelleschi’s masterpiece, this probably represents the least analysed, especially in reference to its history. The encircling tie rod was already included in the first Cupola Programme (1420), which stated that the structure was to be provided with «chains of great oak beams between one spur and the next which bind the said spurs (together) and encircle the vault(s) inside». Such chains, to be positioned every twelve braccia along the height of the vault, were only one of the several expedients developed by the designers to overcome the typical collapse mechanism of masonry domes. Although empirically, Brunelleschi must in fact had acknowledged the risks connected to the vaults’ horizontal trust and tried his best to avoid it. However, since «in building only practical experience will teach that which is to be followed», the original plan was changed along the way, and only one of the intended four wooden chains was actually realised. For this and other reasons, ever since its construction, this device has been the subject of a debate concerning its original role and current contribution to the monument’s equilibrium. Even though over the years numerous scholars [1-9] formulated hypothesis to address these issues, a systematic historical study of the artefact had not been yet conducted. | |
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Maissen, M. | 2021 | Late Gothic Vaulting in the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 133-146. | What happens when, in a relatively isolated area, practically overnight, the previously established building knowledge is fundamentally revolutionised and the traditional church building pattern is profoundly changed? This is exactly what occurred after the middle of the 15th century in the canton of Grisons, in south-eastern Switzerland, when the clearly antiquated art of vaulting suddenly rose to a Central European standard with the arrival of the Austrian master builder Steffan Klain. Not only in the capital did the building industry change substantially, but also through the dissemination of this new constructional knowledge – which can be traced surprisingly well due to the alpine, mountainous location of this almost self-contained territory – the entire canton prospered within a few years. As in probably no other region, the example of Grisons shows the spread of a new building technique in an almost laboratory controlled environment following a single external impulse. This hypothesis has been extensively researched over the last four years in the course of a dissertation project, which was only recently successfully completed. The basis of the thesis was always the building itself, which means that the conclusions and results of this study are not based on objective and aesthetic details, but can be verified by exact measurements with total station and laser scanner. Through a series of exact measurements of Late Gothic vault constructions, long discussed research topics, such as the planning and execution of vault ribs or the construction of rubble stone vault webs, could be verified on a variety of church buildings. Comparisons within this group of master builders and their respective buildings thus provided a wealth of new insights into Late Gothic construction in the northern Alpine regions. It is the intention to present and discuss the results and conclusions at the CHS Conference in Cambridge for the first and only time in English, as the d | |
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Knobling, C. | 2021 | Vaults Without Buttresses: A Survey of Swiss Roodscreens, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 147-156. | In the beginning of the 15th century an architectural motif appeared and became very common within a short time: vaults on very slender supports - or to say it pointedly: vaults without buttresses. These vaults are usually designed as small-scale architecture integrated into a larger building context. In northern and central Italy, this motif - in the form of the ubiquitous portici - is a natural part of the image of the historic city. In the North, they were mostly applied to late gothic rood screens. At first glance, the two architectural motifs do not seem to have much in common - but in terms of construction history they are more or less the same phenomenon. The particular challenge of the design is that the desired delicacy requires slender columns and thus excludes the construction of massive abutments. The master builders therefore used iron tie rods to anchor back the horizontal part of the loads from the vaults. Highly sophisticated masonry technology comes together with a thoroughly experienced use of iron. Both testify to the master builders’ high level of understanding of the constructive problems and their innovative translation of high architectural demands into built reality. Two particularly slender rood screens from the late 15th century were recently studied in the Stadtkirche in Aarau (before 1479) and the Leonhardskirche in Basel (1455/60, enlarged at the end of the 15th century). The results illustrate the above-mentioned aspects and will be discussed in the presentation. This research is part of a larger project entitled "Vaults without buttresses", which deals with the construction of slender arcades from the german speaking countries to central Italy and is currently being evaluated by the Swiss National Science Foundation. At the end of the presentation a short outlook on this project will be given, especially on the comparability of the phenomena north and south of the Alps. | |
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Carocci, C., Finocchiaro, R. & Macca, V. | 2021 | The ‘Palazzetto’ in the Palazzo di Venezia Complex, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 157-168. | The paper illustrates the events relating to the translation of the so-called “Palazzetto di Venezia” from the site where it had been built in 1464 – at the behest of Pope Paolo II – to its current position not far from the previous one. The Viridarium, so the earliest palazzetto was called, had been conceived as the pope’s private garden, accessible directly from the piano nobile of his residence (the current palazzo Venezia) by means of a private passage and connected to the adjacent Capitoline hill by a raised walkway supported by arches. In the framework of the great urban transformations related to the construction of the monument dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II (first monarch of the new unified Italy) on the northern slope of the Capitoline Hill, in the early twentieth century the Viridarium was demolished and rebuilt – according to the pre-existent building’s architectural language – in a position which still allowed the connection with Palazzo Venezia without interfering with the organisation of the new great plaza realised in place of the historical urban fabric. These consecutive building sites – demolition before, reconstruction then – lasted from 1908 to 1911 and involved a series of interventions on Palazzo Venezia’s masonry structure itself, aimed at strengthening the tower to which the Viridarium was previously adjacent and at modifying the wing of the palace which the new Palazzetto had to join with. Simultaneous to the overall transformations involving the palazzo Venezia were the events directly connected to the construction of the new Palazzetto. | |
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Diaz, M. | 2021 | Contextualisation of the timber trade between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries in the Basilica of St Anthony, Padua, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 169-182. | From the 13th to the 19th century, timber for private and public buildings in northeastern Italian regions was provided by floating and rafting from the Alps. Two mainstream systems ran along the rivers Brenta and Piave towards the trading posts in Verona, Padua, and Venice. The floating supply involved diverse actors such as woodcutters, community establishments, traders, conductors, as well as in certain cases carpenters selecting timber directly on site. On preserved timber, notches, traces of withes, wooden pegs, and marks are direct evidences of these historical trading processes. Marks appearing in wooden frames in the Venetian and Padua area make use of various typologies and alphabets. Initials or signs relate to different merchant families. In some instances, acronyms of community organizations side private owners’ branding. The present contribution will concentrate on marks found in the timber structures of the Basilica of Saint Anthony, Padua. The domes of this church are covered by wooden superstructures which have been dated by dendrochronology to the 13th–19th centuries. Provenience and actors involved in the historical building site are not well documented in archival sources since a great part of the archives has been lost; trademarks on the timber can therefore contribute substantially to understanding the building’s construction and repair history. Most of the marks are actually found in four of the eight domes of the Basilica which were rebuilt after a fire in the middle of the 18th century. Some other marks testify to renovations in the three remaining domes which have essentially preserved their thirteenth-century structure. | |
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Bentz, B. | 2021 | On The Origins of Hydro-Technics: The Gardens of Noisy (1570), in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 183-196. | The development of large gardens is linked to the rise of hydraulics. Versailles and then Marly, at the end of the 17th century, were among the most spectacular achievements, thanks in particular to the Machine on the Seine and a large network of water catchments. To understand how it all came about, you have to go back a century before when the first hydraulic techniques for making water jets were developed. Water collection systems, water retention and water supply had long been perfectly mastered, first of all for their utilitarian uses. Vertical projection, which met a sumptuary need, appeared with the ornamental gardens of the Renaissance. The case of the gardens at Noisy reveals an innovative achievement: designed around 1570, the water jet in the grotto was about 8 m high. It is documented both by the archives, which mention an original machine and device, and by the remains recently unearthed during the archaeological digs carried out on the site in 2019 and 2020. These discoveries shed light on the design of this device, the layout of the hydraulic network, the piping and the technical devices. The analysis of the hydrotechnical system at Noisy highlights origins in both Italy and France. The owner, Albert de Gondi, is of Florentine origin and entrusted the creation of his gardens to Italians who inspired the creation of the grotto, the terraced gardens and the hydraulic games. However, the construction of the villa and the implementation of the hydraulic system were the work of craftsmen and a French engineer, Claude de Montconis. | |
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Holzer, S. | 2021 | How to Build a Dome, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 197-206. | Perhaps it is one of the biggest enigmas in construction history how master builders erected vaults and domes. Although vaults were very common through many centuries and even domes were built rather frequently (particularly in the 17th century), detailed sources on the erectional procedures seem to be more or less absent. While centering and formwork are key issues in the erection of barrel and groin vaults, building a partly self-supporting dome is less dependent on the supporting structures, but calls for solid scaffolding carrying the workers and the materials. The present contribution collects the scattered evidence on dome construction (mostly, but not exclusively, Italian sources) and establishes a fairly multi-faceted picture of historic procedures for building masonry domes. The contribution will show that the standard procedure applied by Italian master-builders was to establish a principal scaffolding or working platform called ponte reale at the base of the dome. This ponte reale was typically either supported directly from the ground or free-span. It served as the central place to arrange and distribute materials, prepare mortar, and provide access to the higher areas. Some exceptional sources permit to create a vivid idea of the ponte reale, above all, the design drawings for the scaffolding of the giant oval dome of Vicoforte di Mondovì. The contribution will show that the scarce scattered sources accord very well, and that procedures were more or less constant over considerable periods of time and across different architectural schools. Traces at the bases of existing domes confirm the theoretical picture. | |
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Pirlet, G., Schumacher, G. & Vanden Eynde, J-L. | 2021 | Ornamental Hydraulics in the Arenberg Park of Enghien in the 17th Century: a possible link to Salomon de Caus, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 207-228 | Between 1605 and 1610, the French hydraulics engineer Salomon de Claus was asked by the archdukes Albert and Isabella of Austria to build in their court in Brussels an artificial grotto decorated with hydraulic automatons such as: craft scenes, singing birds moved by water pressure or underpressure, fountains with surprises. He got married in Brussels in 1606. A little later, between 1610 and 1612, he was hired by the Prince Henry of Wales to work on the gardens in Richmond. And he designed the Garden of the Palatinate in Heidelberg for the Prince Palatine Frederick V between 1614 and 1620. He ended his life serving the King Louis XIII of France and the Cardinal of Richelieu and he died in Paris in 1626. He published: - La Perspective avec la raison des ombres et des miroirs, London, 1612. - Institution harmonique, Frankfurt, 1615. - Les Raisons des forces mouvantes avec diverses machines tant utilles que plaisantes ausquelles sont adjoints plusieurs desseign de grotes et fontaines, Frankfurt, 1615. - Hortus Palatinus, Frankfurt, 1620. - La Practique et la démonstration des horloges solaires, avec un discours sur les proportions, Paris, 1624. In his third work, he explains how to pressurize the water by means of pumps operated either by men, animals, a stream flow or by heat. He accurately describes how to use this pressure to set automatons in motion or to produce sounds. Between 1607 and 1635, the Princely-count Charles of Arenberg and the princess Anne de Croÿ, closely related to the archdukes Albert and Isabella, had a garden created in Enghien, near Brussels. In 1620, Anne de Croÿ ordered the construction of a grotto with a hydraulic organ. Later, she added a small pavilion with four water-driven scenes: a castle siege, the popinjay (Papegaaï) or pole archery, an aviary and Ovid’s fable Pyramus and Thisbe. In the park of Enghien you will also find a ring-shaped aviary and several applications of solar clocks inspired by Salomon de Caus’ trea | |
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O’Dwyer, D. | 2021 | William Colles (1702-1770) Kilkenny mayor, entrepreneur, and marble necromancer, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 229-242. | This paper details the works that were undertaken between 1755 and 1775 to make the river Nore in the southeast of Ireland navigable from Kilkenny to Inistioge, from which point the Nore is navigable to the sea. The Nore navigation was started in 1755 and received significant parliamentary funds but it was ultimately unsuccessful. Its construction coincided with a number of other Irish inland navigation schemes, including; the Grand Canal, the canalization of the river Barrow, the Munster Blackwater navigation and the Shannon navigation between Limerick and Killaloe. The original engineer who designed the Nore navigation and oversaw its construction was William Ockenden, who was also involved in other Irish canals. The roles played by other well-known Irish engineers in the navigation are detailed in the paper. The paper also addresses the role of William Colles in the Navigation. Colles, who was contracted to construct part of the canal, was also the owner of a substantial marble and flour mills on the Nore close to Kilkenny. The paper discusses Colles’s development of innovative water-powered equipment for sawing and boring marble. Colles’s works would have been one of the industries that would have benefited most from the successful development of the navigation. Despite considerable expenditure and the involvement of many qualified and experienced engineers and contractors the navigation was unsuccessful. The paper examines the possible causes for the failure of the scheme, which were somewhat obscure even at the time of the construction. The paper also discusses the subsequent schemes to rehabilitate and extend the initial canal works and compares the successful works on the river Barrow to those on the Nore. | |
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Cinta, L-T., et al | 2021 | The Behaviour of Tile Vaulted Structures in Spanish Military Engineering, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 243-256. | The Duke of Belle-Isle and the Count of Espié had known in their crusades of the War of Succession (1701-1715) la voûte à la Roussillon. These tile vaults received good feedback throughout Europe as well as in Spain (where they were well-known since the 14th Century) thanks to the dissemination of the texts of the Count of Espié (1754) and Pierre Patte (1777). We determine which use the tile vaults had from the point of view of military construction, favoured by their supposed mechanical qualities, and what the repercussion was among Spanish military engineers in the 18th Century. The survey concludes that the location of the projects carried out through this technique by military engineers in Eastern Spain coincides with the places where a specialized workforce already existed, and that people in these places already knew such construction technique. In Spain, the work of the Count of Espié had more influence among the architects of the Royal Academy of San Fernando, than among the Military Engineers of the Academy of Mathematics of Barcelona. Despite this, engineers used, from the beginning of the “Cuerpo” (1711), this locally sourced construction system with specialized labour in the Spanish military projects of Civil Architecture. | |
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Bill, N. | 2021 | Pioneering Education for a Unique Engineering Profession – British Military Engineers, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 257-268. | Based upon ongoing research, this paper focuses on the key professional developments of British military engineers during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Drawing comparisons with civilian engineers, it will demonstrate how they forged a unique engineering profession that was fundamental to the dissemination of technical knowledge across the British Empire. Often seen as being in competition with the “Westminster Elite” for lucrative appointments, the networks military engineers formed through the emerging professional institutions were actually of mutual benefit. Moreover, they were pioneers in the vocational education of indigenous populations and were directly involved in the establishment of professional institutions and technical colleges. For most of the nineteenth century, British military engineers operated at the vanguard of imperial expansion. During peacetime, successive governments, both at home and in the colonies, made extensive use of their expertise in science and engineering to further economic and technological development within their respective territories. Amongst their numerous responsibilities, military engineers were charged with developing infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and water works, that helped establish new colonies, often years before civilian engineers and architects arrived. In the case of British India, military engineers dominated the public works departments, leaving behind a rich architectural legacy, ranging from railways stations to cathedrals. At home, they became a vital instrument to the Board of Trade, serving on numerous royal commissions and advising Parliament on issues concerning infrastructure projects. Moreover, they facilitated direction governmental invention in the business of railways, provided an exclusive source of inspecting officers for Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate until the 1960s. | Royal Engineers, East India Company, engineering education, professional bodies. |
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Carvais, R. | 2021 | The social status of Parisian building contractors in the 18th century. A hierarchical and ambitious professional "body" between nobility and destitution, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 269-288 | In Early Modern France, while the labor world is regulated in part by crafts communities and these watch over the prerogatives of their members, some confusion develops between the different actors composing the crafts. We know of the internal struggles that certain trades engaged in, as early as the Middle Ages, in order to limit, or even eliminate, the competition of some of their dissident colleagues on the labor market. On the other hand, little is known about an external confusion. It concerns, among other worlds, that of construction and revolves particularly around the use of an ancient concept that will gradually take on a modern meaning, as early as the 16th century: that of the entrepreneur. Indeed, it has been customary for a long time - until the 19th century - to confuse the functions of people in the building trades. Is there a perfect distinction between the different types of builders, contractors, surveyors, architects and engineers? For example, has the French law, through the Civil Code of 1804, not retained the ambiguity of the Old Regime in this respect with regard to liability between contractors and architects? This is the starting point of our reflection. | |
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Buchenau, G., & Kuban, S. | 2021 | Time to Re-Evaluate? – New Findings on the Application of the Hennebique System in Germany, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 289-302. | The early history of reinforced concrete in Germany is mostly associated with names such as Wayss & Freytag, Dyckerhoff & Widmann or Züblin. In retrospect those companies were able to apply certain business strategies as a basis for their success. One of these strategies was to report on structures that were realised by the company in articles, company leaflets or technical books. Thus when analysing historical publications the contributions by these companies somewhat dominate the archival material. The historiography of early rein forced concrete in Germany in addition generally concentrates on the fact that the Monier System was more often applied than the Hennebique System. Kierdorf even argued that “Hennebique failed in Germany” compared to the company’s success in other coun tries (Kierdorf 2009). However, latest research shows that small and medium sized building contractors making use of the Hennebique patent played a significant role when (Krieg, Pommer 2016, Basiner 2012) introducing reinforced concrete in Germany. This includes the nowadays rather unknown company of Brenzinger & Cie. located in Frei burg im Breisgau in the South of Germany. The company applied a construction system according to the Hennebique patent as early as 1895. Brenzinger & Cie. was originally founded to produce cement goods and also to carry out general building works. The founder Julius Brenzinger, a trained stonemason and sculptor, specialised in producing arti ficial stones as imitations of natural stones. In the 1890s the company also started to build monolithic reinforced concrete structures. The malting factory in Dinglingen/Lahr opened business in 1889 and was originally run by a consortium of local malt producing farmers. In 1892 after the factory was taken over by the prosperous Schweizer Gesellschaft für Malzfabrikation (Swiss Society for Malt Production) from Basel it became part of a larger malting factory network with facilities in Switzerland, Fra | |
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Clifton, E. | 2021 | Agrarian Capitalism and The Cost of Building in Antebellum Virginia, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 303-312. | This paper seeks to reveal the causal links between intention and architecture in the American South during the antebellum period, and the implications and legacies of an environment built with unfree labor. Currently, there are no studies of the actual construction costs of antebellum building campaigns, and thus no studies that can consider both the monetary and human cost of construction of enslaved labor. The focus of this study is the mansion house that James C. Bruce completed at his Berry Hill plantation in 1845. This paper draws upon the original source material of the Bruce Family Papers, which are held at the University Virginia Library. Over the course of a calendar year, these documents were mined for evidence of James Bruce’s architectural legacy. | |
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Prisco, G.M. | 2021 | The Madrid-Delicias railway Station: between formal and technological innovation in the 19th century Iberian Peninsula, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 313-326. | Within a landscape, signs of the Industrial Era represent the latest stratification, a complex of buildings and newest remains that dwell in a void between past and present. The research on the Madrid Delicias Railway Station aims at recognizing the building and its constructive evolution in the overall context of the social, cultural, and economic transformations of the Spanish capital in the second half of the 19th century. It was the first monumental station to be built as such in Madrid, a motive force for the urban and technological development which left indelible traces on its present configuration. The general design will be carried out by the French architect Émile Cachelièvre in 1880, using experimental constructive solutions and remarkable artistic elements which still reveal themselves in the palimpsest and in the spatial progression of the interiors. | |
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Núñez, A.B., & Kite, M.A. | 2021 | Plate Girder Bridges in Andalusia, 1850-1910. The Spread of an Unusual Genre of Iron Bridges, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 327-338. | After their remarkable appearance in Great Britain about 1850, plate girder bridges spread rapidly throughout many countries. However, compared to the popularity of iron truss bridges, their acceptance was low and they were generally rarely used from the 1870s onwards.Nonetheless, such bridges were used for quite some time in Andalusia, the southern region of Spain. Between 1850 and 1910, about ten projects for bridges of this type were submitted, most of which went on to construction. In this interesting group of bridges, especially in the earlier ones, British iron construction had a notable influence, both in design (through the experiences of Fairbairn, Hodgkinson and Fairbairn, which were followed with interest by Spanish engineers) and in construction, some of the bridges being manufactured in the United Kingdom and later taken to Spain. This paper aims to report on the history of these original bridges, exploring all of these different perspectives. Original technical documents from different Spanish Archives (Archivo General de la Administración, Archivo Histórico Ferroviario, Archivos Históricos Provinciales de Almería, Málaga y Jaén) and some bibliographical references by the time of construction, as Fairbairn books and British and Spanish engineering reviews: Revista de Obras Públicas, Minutes of Proceedings of the the institution of Civil Engineers) | |
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Yagci Ergun, S.F. & Schuller, M. | 2021 | Timber frame system after the western influence on the houses of Istanbul, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 339-346. | In this presentation, timber frame structure of the houses, which were built in Istanbul at the last period of the Ottoman Empire will be explained in detail. Moreover, their fixing and joint techniques, as well as the exterior and interior surfaces, claddings, will briefly be mentioned. The statements are mainly based on the site investigations and measurements of numerous authentic elements from the timber houses built between late-19th century and early 20th century, but also the published data, mainly school books or lecture notes of the related period, are used to support the findings. Sizes of the structural elements and the gaps will be given to provide an objective comparison. The relationship of the developments on the structural system with the westernization will be discussed. | Lightweight structures, Fixings and joints |
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Spencer, C. | 2021 | Faulty Figures and Paper Technologies: Cost Estimating in Late Nineteenth-Century America, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 347-354. | The shift from after-work billing by measure to prospective cost estimating has long been recognized by construction historians as fundamental to the development of the modern, capitalist building industry. And yet the evolution of specific techniques used by contractors to produce “figures” for prospective construction work has not been studied in detail. This paper examines a collection of popular estimating handbooks published in the United States in the first decades of the twentieth century, a time when “faulty figuring” was a matter of acute concern, as the growing scale and expense of building contracts let through competition were raising the stakes of careless bidding. While architects like Cass Gilbert saw underbidding (and the poor workmanship that inevitably followed) as inherent to the general contracting system itself, the authors of estimating handbooks—themselves practiced contractors and estimators—diagnosed it simply as a problem of inadequate information and unsystematic technique. The paper presents estimating handbooks—with titles such as H. James Bradt’s Lightning Estimator, William Arthur’s New Building Estimator, and Frederick T. Hodgson’s Builders’ Reliable Estimator and Contractors’ Guide—as a rich source for understanding the diverse valuation and mensuration practices that were particular to each building trade in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. The paper’s primary aim, however, is to shed light on the “practical” techniques and mnemonic tools proposed by estimating handbook authors to aid contractors in organizing the tedious and time-consuming task of estimating itself—techniques for collecting, managing, and synthesizing the increasingly unruly amount of qualitative and quantitative building information needed to produce accurate figures in the modern American building economy. | |
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Campolongo, A., & Guagliardi, V. | 2021 | Architecture and building traditions in the territory of Cosenza: the 1910 Colonia Silana, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), The History of Building Trades and Professionalism. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 365-378. | Building heritage in Calabria is the expression of the several seismic events that occurred in the area also at the beginning of the Twentieth century. Soon after the earthquake of December 28, 1908, poor sanitary conditions developed and malaria spread through local population. The Lega nazionale contro la malaria (the Italian association against malaria) implemented a plan to control malaria, that included the construction of a Colonia (summer camp) for children with malaria. The Calabrian Committee, headed by Bartolomeo Gosio from Piedmont, together with a group of Calabrian physicians headed by Felice Migliori, selected the area called Federici, near Camigliatello, in the snow-clad mountains of the Sila Plateau, where the Colonia would be built. The camp, that at first consisted of a single building, was later equipped with guestrooms, a little hospital, a small church and new pavilions with verandas and sumptuous furniture. | |
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Baker, N. | 2021 | Development of the UK Government’s support for Construction-related Research in the 20th Century: the role of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in J.W.P. Campbell et al (Eds), Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 379-389 | The mid-20th century was a high point in government sponsorship of research in support of almost all the major industry sectors in the UK. The Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) emergence from the housing crisis after the First World War led to it also being a crucial player in reconstruction after the Second World War. The histories of the BRE and that of related government establishments, such as the Forest Products Research Station, Fire Research Station, and Transport and Roads Research Laboratory, plus that of some of the industry-funded research associations, are summarised. The trigger for this plethora of organisations was the realisation that, although the fundamentals of structural and civl engineering were well understood by this time, very little basic science had been done on materials, processes and systems used in any branch of construction. The government officially encouraged the blossoming community of industrial laboratory associations and also put significant funding into its own network of laboratories. This paper will provide a summary of some of the main research fields and their results up to the 1960s, as well as consideration of some of the main personalities involved. | |
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Yeomans, D. | 2021 | Not Just the Dirty Work: engineers’ contributions to architecture, in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 389-400. | The sociologist Everet Hughes used the term ’dirty work’ to describe the menial tasks performed by those who do the work that is essential if others whose work brings prestige and financial reward are able to carry out those prestigious tasks. Hughes’s example was hospital consultants and nurses, but in the building industry architects and structural engineers are often in the same relative position. Certainly in the early twentieth century that was the position as the design of steel and concrete structures was largely carried out by anonymous engineers working for contractors. However by WWII a number of consulting engineers had made their mark on architecture sometimes to the extent that architects felt threatened. At the turn of this century the contribution that structural engineers might have made to architecture was recognised in a number of books published jointly by the RIBA and the Institution of Civil Engineers under the general title The Engineer’s Contribution to Contemporary Architecture. These dealt with the work of specific engineers and looked at particular buildings. However, engineers may have contributed to architecture in different ways. They may have demonstrated an ability to undertake the total design of buildings, thus essentially acting as architect/engineers, they may influence the design of particular buildings by working in collaboration with architects, or they may have developed new forms of structure which other engineers and architects might use. The intention of this paper is to make explicit those different kinds of contribution noting particularly the engineers who may have invented or possibly facilitated those new forms of construction. Also it is clear that in working closely with architects engineers may have developed different strategies and these too will be examined. The findings of this paper may have implications for the education of engineers and architects | |
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Mestre-Martí, M., Jimenez- Vicario, P, J. & Rodenas-López, M.A. | 2021 | The History of the Construction of the Cuban National Capitol, in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 401-414. | The history of the construction of the Cuban National Capitol is full of both anecdotes and engineering feats that show the constructive and technical innovation that this work represented for its time. Constructed between 1926 and 1929, the monument is an outstanding example of the neoclassical reminiscences still alive in specific cultural enclaves in that period. Seen from a historical-technological angle, the communication highlights the intricate context in which the construction was designed and erected and its constructive methods, which are a direct consequence of the degree of success of North American construction means and methods brought to Cuba at the turn of the twentieth century. It also emphasizes the feats that managed to finish the work in a very short time for the conditions and techniques of the moment: only three years. This monumental building shows the contrast between the neoclassical ideal of the monumental buildings of the time and the innovative construction of reinforced concrete and iron, covered by stone, from one of the most pioneering New York companies in the execution of metallic structures and reinforced concrete in Cuba and New York: Purdy & Henderson. The findings of the structural behaviour and construction methods are properly described in the context of the published literature, such as P. Foraboschi.1994 and 2006. The Capitol building is also compared (size, shape, construction tricks…) with other most important domes (The Soufflot’s Pantheon in Paris, the Saint Peter´s Cathedral in Rome, the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and the United States Capitol dome, in Washington). | |
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Baker, N. | 2021 | Women engineers in UK construction research establishments in the mid-20th century. A preliminary survey, in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 415-424. | ||
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Greco, L. | 2021 | Construction Standardisation in Italian Service Stations (1930s-1950s). Projects by Luigi Piccinato and Mario Bacciocchi, in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 425-436. | The paper refers to the field of research on the evolution of construction techniques in the twentieth century, with particular reference to the Italian context; it is part of the study that the author is conducting on the development of building industrialization in the first half of the twentieth century. The paper analyses service stations as a case of design and construction experimentation that contributed to the development of typical solutions useful for the dissemination of the principles and methods of building industrialization. The typological sector, due to its universal functional features and the advertising value of the buildings, favoured standardisation of both spaces and construction elements. The study aims to offer an original contribution to the state of the art on the construction features of Italian service stations, comparing two experiences developed between the 1930s and 1950s. The first concerns the repertoire ofservice stations designed in 1939 by Luigi Piccinato (1899-1983) for Petrolea-Fiat, a company controlled in Italy by Fiat (the leading brand in automotive manufacturing) and referring to the urban service stations development. The second case concerns the repertoire of Mario Bacciocchi (1902-1974), developed in 1953 for Agip, a leading brand in the fuel distribution and sale sector, and concerning both the urban and motorway context. Studies conducted on this subject so far, also by the author of this paper, have mainly regarded Agip service stations. Piccinato’s stations have been treated as part of the architect’s overall work by Italian architecture historians. Starting from the existing literature and through the use of archival documents (Eni Historical Archive and L. Piccinato Archive), we intend to compare the two service station repertoires, highlighting the points of affinity and divergence in relation to construction standardization, considered as a necessary premise of building industrialization. | |
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Ladinski, V. | 2021 | A Century of Professionalism in Construction in North Macedonia (1920-2020), in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 437-450. | This paper identifies the key milestones in the development of the Engineering Institution of Macedonia and professionalism over the past century with emphasis on the construction related professions. The development of the engineering professions in the country is mapped alongside the key events related to the education of engineers and architects, as well as their professional certification to practice. The paper is based on research of archive materials, available publications and legislation charting the development of the construction related professions in the country. The results of the research identify that until the 1950s the ‘supply’ of construction related professionals was dependent either on immigration into the area or on education outside the area. The foundations of the Ss. Cyril and Methodious University in Skopje in 1946 and its Faculty of Technical Sciences covering Architecture and Civil Engineering in 1949 provided the initial opportunity for training of construction related engineers in North Macedonia and impetus for further development of the construction related professions. This, along with already established engineers in the country, provided a base to respond to the challenges posed by the 1963 Skopje Earthquake. | |
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Rusak, M. | 2021 | From ‘Workers’ to ‘Operators’: Labour of Moelven Brug, in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 451-462. | This paper proposes to look at the increasing professionalisation of construction workers within a Norwegian prefabrication company Moelven Brug that built housing, schools, sports halls and representative buildings across the country throughout the 1960s-70s. With increasing modernisation of Norwegian agriculture of the 1950s, the company’s production previously specialized in timber wheels became increasingly obsolete. Instead, Moelven had to find new markets and eventually started to produce ‘houses on wheels’ that grew into a full-fledged ecosystem of prefabricated timber panels, sections and components. Factory assembly required new technology, equipment and specialised labour and profoundly transformed both the traditional organisation of work and relationship to craft. While prefabricated elements on the one hand had become simpler, less demanding in terms of craft and diminished the agency of each worker, on the other, they grew more complex, as they were assemblies of multiple elements sourced from 80-90 different contractors put together on a conveyer belt. Instead of relying on local carpentry skills, passed down generations, the expertise shifted to technically educated engineers and process planners, whose numbers by the 1960s not just matched, but exceeded the number of people involved in shop-floor operations. In addition, a turn towards prefabrication profoundly transformed the nature of construction performed by Moelven: instead of building on site, the process was divided into production at the factory and then assembly on site. As the company offered prefabrication grade up to 90%, all building components—electricity, piping, finishes—had to be incorporated within prefabricated timber panels. Thus, the factory had to employ a wide range of specialised workers— electricians, sewage and piping specialists, carpenters—or professionally educate the already-existing workforce to perform select parts of new production. On site, a | |
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Yeomans, D. | 2021 | Frank Newby’s Star Beams, in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 463-472. | Shortly after WWII Felix Samuely advocated the use of star beams for constructing factory roofs. We have no record of star beams being used in this way but but it would have been a welded tell structure forming the hip rafters and ridge purlin of a roof and so eliminating the trusses normally used. In the event his first his first recorded use of the device was in reinforced concrete to support the gallery of a school assembly hall. His then assistant, Frank Newby, who eventually became the senior partner of the firm went on to use the device in a number of structures culminating in that for the Roman Catholic Cathedral at Clifton. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate Newby’s use of this little used structural device and show how with it he was able to contribute to architects’ development of their designs. | |
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Spada, F. | 2021 | Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI) Prefabrication Methods for Italian School Buildings in 1960s , in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 473-482. | The proposed paper contributes to studies on the evolution of construction techniques in twentieth century Italy. It presents Italian school building experiments of the 1960s, referring to the activity of Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI), a large Italian company working in all construction fields. Studying the extensive original collection of the company stored in Central State Archive in Rome, the author noted the particular commitment of SGI to using industrialized building solutions and prefabrication systems. | |
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Nozawa, S. & Komiyama, Y. | 2021 | High Tech Attitude as a Corrective of Japanese Industrialised Housing: The Work and Discourses of Kohko Takahashi, in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 483-496. | Japanese housing production faced its watershed moment during its industrialisation from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. During this period, Takahashi Kohko (1932-1997) began to work as an independent architect, returning to her alma mater, Japan Women’s University, to teach housing architecture and design. The social demand for industrialised housing, in which both the Japan Housing Corporation, a public institution for mass housing, and prefab home companies were involved, had shifted its focus from the availability to the quality of houses. This paper begins with an outline of some theoretical background on how to segmentalise a building for performance evaluation as well as prefabrication in the 1950s, when Takahashi joined Ikebe’s laboratory at the University of Tokyo as a research assistant. It will focus in particular on the influentialtheory of building elements, known as BE theory. We will illustrate that the segmentalisation of buildingsurfaces, such as the wall and ceiling, implicitly entailed a cultural process of recognition of type and quality of surface conditions, and imagining the final outcome of assembling segmentalised elements. | |
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Giannetti, I. | 2021 | Experimental structures and reinforced concrete in church building in Italy: design and construction of three hyperbolic paraboloids (1961-68), in Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of the Construction History Society, Cambridge, 27-28 August 2021, pp 497-508. | After World War II, in Italy, architecture was driven by the international success of structural engineering. In this framework, the reconstruction and development of church buildings, funded by the State, was the core of a design- and construction- related experimentation that involved, during the 1950s, engineers and architects, throughout the all national country. The topic focused in some recent study in the field of architectural history (Benedetti, 2000; Longhi, 2018) is still to be deepened in construction history (Gresleri, 1979; Sanna, 2009; Pugnale, 2010). | Reinforced concrete construction, 20th century, history of structural engineering, Italy, reinforced concrete, hypars |
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Barbera, P. | 2015 | CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: A NEW POINT OF VIEW IN ITALIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 131-8 | Much has been written about the changes in academic training and the profession of architects in Italy during the first decades of the 20th century. The new architect was not only a technician and not only an artist, he was called an “integral architect”, a complete professional figure in charge of old crafts and new tasks, ranging from history to restoration, from urban development to architectural design, from structural knowledge to ornamental matters. Less known is, instead, the debate about transformation in history of architecture or, better, about what Gustavo Giovannoni called “integral history of architecture”. History, which was able to connect in an organic vision different aspects of buildings: forms, functions, languages, construction, structures, materials and techniques. At the beginning of the 20th century, history of architecture was in Italy, traditionally, a field of research for historians of art like Adolfo Venturi. But, between 1920 and 1940, engineers and architects started claiming history as their own field of investigation. From the pages of the journal Palladio, an heterogeneous group, around Gustavo Giovannoni, started writing on the history of architecture. They knew perfectly well the lesson of Auguste Choisy (L’art de bâtir chez les Romains, 1873; Histoire de l’architecture, 1899) and also the books of Adolfo Venturi (Storia dell’arte Italiana, 11 volumes from 1901 to 1940), but they tried to unite different points of view and achieved autonomy from the history of other visual arts. The assignment to write the history of architecture was put into the hands of those who knew how to design and build. The change was relevant and a new historiography was born, especially based on construction history. Also drawings gained a different importance in new historiography, as one of the essential instruments in understanding and explaining architecture. | Architectural writing, Construction, Italy, 20th century, History of art, History of architecture |
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Barbolini, F. & Guardigli, L. | 2015 | A BRIEF HISTORY OF ACTIVE SYSTEMS IN SOLAR ARCHITECTURE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 139-46 | The paper outlines the evolution of solar architecture in the past 80 years. The goal is to consider the study of the morphology of architecture in its relationship with services, especially solar active systems; our purpose is to enhance the idea that history of services should help achieving efficiency targets in buildings. In this actual phase of massive production of active systems, a real integration is not always the final result of building design. The interpretation of the controversial term “solar architecture” is based on some milestone books in the United States and Europe over the last 80 years. With active solar architecture it is intended the exploitation of solar radiation with the use of mechanical systems (services), that are preferably integrated in the building. On the contrary, passive systems (greenhouses, etc..) don’t use mechanical systems, but exploit solar radiation (minimizing overheating) through architectural components, considering the shape and the orientation of the building. The first known example of active solar house can be found in Cambridge (USA) in 1939; the Solar House I was built at MIT to test an original thermal solar system, compatible with the morphology of a common American House; the water was heated in panels placed on the roof, then stored in a boiler underground, where the thermal energy of the fluid was exchanged with the cooler air of a pipe system; the temperate air was finally sent inside the house using some ventilators. After the Second World War the experiments at MIT continued (Solar II, III, IV, …). The houses in Cambridge proved that active buildings could no longer exist without the integration with passive systems. Passive and active systems found a very high level of integration after the oil crisis (1973), in particular in Germany with the work of Thomas Herzog. | Solar architecture, active and passive systems, morphology of architecture |
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Barelli, M. L. | 2015 | STOP AND GO. PATHWAYS OF EXPERIMENTATION WITH ARTIFICIAL STONE IN THE WORK OF SERGIO JARETTI AND ELIO LUZI (1955-59) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 147-54 | Construction history is full of stop and go, of interrupted or weakened technological pathways, which are sometimes taken up along new and unexpected directions. The paper focuses on an original experience carried out by two Italian architects, Sergio Jaretti and Elio Luzi, in a few works realized in Turin during the 1950s: works that retrieve and extend the use of the technology of artificial stone - typically adopted for the decorations of buildings between the nineteenth and twentieth century and hovering between art and serial production -, to the construction of the entire building envelope. Here references to Gaudi, the art nouveau, Wright, concern not only a world of forms, but also of materials and techniques, which are explored and recalled in depth, thanks to the permanency of traditional artisan skills, with an experimental attitude and making fun of the debate on technological innovation which began with the modern movement. In the so-called “Obelisk house” (1955-58), an emblematic and provocative work of the Italian “neoliberty” season, the curved walls, reminiscent of the architecture of Catalan modernism, are built with prefabricated elements of artificial stone, characterized in the surface layer by the use of white Portland cement, grit and mica; these elements are made in scagliola molds and then put one on top of another to realize the outer shell of the cavity walls, conceived to be continuous and flexible “like human skin” (E. Luzi, 1996). In a later house (1958-59), a similar building system, more rationalized, is extended to the realization of both the walls of the envelope: here the influence of Wright’s textile-block buildings is evident. Other projects by Jaretti and Luzi explore alternative ways of applying this particular form of prefabrication. | Artificial stone; history of an artificial stone workshop; textile-block system; Sergio Jaretti and Elio Luzi; post-war architecture. |
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Beard, J. L. | 2015 | Construction of American Slipways and Dry Docks – Far-Reaching Influence of US Naval Procurement from Gosport #1 (Norfolk, VA) to the Spearin Doctrine (Brooklyn, NY) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 163-70 | The opening of two massive granite dry docks in 1833 – one in Norfolk, VA and the other in Charlestown, MA – signaled the coming of age of an emerging sea power. Previously, only England and France had sizable modern dry docks for their fleets, consisting of enclosable basins that could be emptied or flooded by steam pump to enable repair and construction of ships-of-the-line (McGinley Kalsow 2007). For the young republic, design and construction of large-scale slipways and dry docks were enormous public works expenditures, only justified by Congressional reaction to continuing harassment of US ships in by European navies, as well as piracy affecting US flagged vessels off the coasts of the African continents. A public works program to support the growth of the US Navy was authorized by Congress and managed by a Board of Naval Commissioners during the first few decades of the 19th century. The Commissioners instituted a “feasibility study and report” process consisting of engagement of an engineer to serve as both technical designer and clerk of the works for new shipyard projects (Stuart 1852). During the construction of Dry Dock #1 in Gosport, VA and Dry Dock #1 in Charlestown, MA, Chief Engineer Loammi Baldwin II served in role that would be termed “Engineer – Procure – Construct” today. Procurement policy changes adopted in the middle of the 19th century, however, moved architectural and engineering design in-house, with plans and specifications completed by employees on the payroll of the US Government. This gradual shift had an inevitable outcome: the rise of the General Contractor, tasked with providing a bid on the work described by the government’s contract documents and completing the work as shown on the drawings and prescribed in the specifications. | Dry docks, US Naval, Spearin Doctrine, Procurement, Prequalification, Inverted Arch, Caisson |
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Beiersdorf, M. J. | 2015 | UNDULATING MUD BRICK WALLS IN ANCIENT PHARAONIC EGYPT in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 171-8 | The undulating mud brick walls from the 7th–4th Century BC are among the largest buildings in the ancient Egyptian culture, apart from the famous pyramids of the Old Kingdom. While the monumental temples of this period have continuously been the subjects of research, the exterior walls built with mud bricks have only rarely been the focus of scientific studies. In terms of an architectural semantics, Egyptologists’ research has so far mainly focussed on the ancient perception of the buildings and in doing so has assumed the existence of a link between the characteristic appearance of the walls and the ancient Egyptian mythology. Aspects in terms of historical building research as well as the structural analysis were, in contrast, much less examined and mostly only studied on the basis of isolated findings. As part of the project, numerous undulating walls were studied and documented during several fieldwork campaigns in cooperation with the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) since 2011. In the course of this work, the enclosure walls of Heliopolis and Elephantine could be examined in greater detail. This provided insights into the relationship between design and technological advantages. Built in alternate panels of concave and convex courses of mud brick, the sequence of construction could be accelerated by raising the concave panels first. The structural analysis of the walls allows the assumption, that the stability could be increased in conditions of permanent weight. Based on these observations it can be concluded that this construction technique brought essential structural benefits. The paper presents the archaeological fieldwork and illuminates the architecture and construction history of the individual buildings in more detail. Based on observations made from the enclosure wall of the temple of Atum-Re at Heliopolis, which was the largest temple complex in Ancient Egypt, the paper focuses on the organisation of construction work. | Organisation of construction work, Building Archaeology, Structural analysis and the development of structural forms |
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Bell, P.W.R. | 2015 | 19th CENTURY LAMINATED TIMBER ROOFS IN ENGLAND in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 179-86 | Until recently there has been misconception that the earliest surviving nineteenth century laminated timber roof in England is that of the assembly hall of King Edward VI College, Southampton (1860). However the author has found several earlier existing laminated timber roofs, particularly in two clusters in Northumberland (from 1840) and in the Liverpool area (from 1852). Related contemporary developments in France are also considered. Horizontally laminated timber arches were a simple and cheap method of constructing the supporting structure for a pitched roof. Much more substantial railway bridge structures using this technique were being built in Britain and Europe as the rail networks expanded. The bridges succumbed to decay but some roofs, occasionally with links to the builders of the bridges, have survived. The roofs and their designers are described. Where possible, connections are made between the various “professionals” working in the field. The state of knowledge of structural analysis and strength of materials in England at the time is examined. The horizontal thrust at the foot of an arch was not fully appreciated. The shear force at the interface between laminations was not understood. The methods used to connect the laminations are discussed. The arches can be considered as a stack of boards bent to a convenient shape, as a single properly-connected member or as something between these two states. The experimental and theoretical contributions of the John and Benjamin Green, Emy, Ardant, Brunel, and others are considered. Laminated timber was an innovation that suffered in the nineteenth century from a theoretical deficit in the understanding of structural analysis and a practical deficit in the lack of reliable methods of connecting the laminations. Effective glues and finger-jointing, now commonplace, which ensure that a single member is created, were not available. | Nineteenth Century, Laminated Timber, Roofs, Structural Analysis |
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Bellicoso, A. | 2015 | THE CASA DEL BALILLA IN L’AQUILA (1929-1931). MOVING TOWARDS AN INDEPENDENT SKELETON IN REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 187-94 | In the history of Italian construction techniques and in particular the transition from the use of masonry to reinforced concrete, the Casa del Balilla in L’Aquila is a meaningful case for the way the modern technology of reinforced concrete was adopted by the local building tradition. The construction of this building (1929-1931) shows clearly that the technique of reinforced concrete was absorbed into the established practice of masonry. A complete skeleton of reinforced concrete built of piers and ring beams and in certain situations by actual frames, associated with the usual practice of laying floor slabs of brick and concrete, forms the load-bearing structure and was built simultaneously, in a reciprocal, unbreakable collaboration ensuring the static stability of the building in such a way that the masonry and the reinforced concrete framework cannot exist without each other. The significant characteristic of this procedure is that the curtain walls were raised before the reinforced-concrete skeleton and that the masonry of the walls functions partially as the formwork for pouring the concrete. The procedure renders the union between the masonry and reinforced concrete, for all intents and purposes, indivisible. In light of the increased attention to the problems connected with seismic activity, the technique could be interpreted as the use of reinforced concrete as a response to the need to make buildings earthquake-resistant, adopted in the only way it could be understood and accepted by the traditional construction industry, which was characterized by independent owner-operators and local building traditions still tightly bound to the resources found nearby. The reasons for the intimate interweave between masonry and reinforced concrete, in a form of hybridization of the two techniques, can be read between the lines of the intense debate on the problem of earthquake resistance which appears frequently in the specialized journals of the t | Civil engineering, masonry, reinforced concrete, hybridization of the techniques |
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Bellin, E. | 2015 | THE CONSTRUCTIVE TURN: ON THE EVOLUTION OF DETAIL AS A DISCIPLINARY CONCEPT, 1755-1800 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 195-202 | In Pierre Patte’s 1769 text, Mémoires sur les objets les plus importans de l’architecture, he called into question the structural stability of the dome proposed by Jaques-Germain Soufflot in his designs for the church of St. Genevieve. In search of a ‘greater sense of spaciousness’ within the church’s interior, Soufflot rejected the use of large, heavy piers like those of domed precedents, St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London, instead employing only four relatively slender piers and making extensive use of free-standing columns in the plan of St. Genevieve. Such a configuration, Patte claimed based on precedent and established rules of thumb, would be insufficient to support not only Soufflot’s dome, but any dome of consequence. Structural collapse would be a near certainty. A public and heated debate ensued, engaging a collection of prominent practitioners, academics, and bureaucratic officials, and in the process it brought to light many of the critical issues faced by architects and engineers at the turn of the 19th century. The events surrounding the design and construction of the dome at St. Genevieve revealed a tension between traditional modes of practice and new ones embracing emerging methods of structural calculation based on mathematical law, the experimental study of materials, and new technologies of construction which expanded the possibilities of formal expression. From the machines developed first by Soufflot and later by Rondelet to test the bearing strength of stone, to the structural evaluations of engineers such as Jean-Rodolphe Perronet and Émiland- Marie Gauthey, to Rondelet’s design and systemic deployment of iron reinforcing within stone masonry on an unprecedented scale and level of complexity, work at St. Genevieve embodied an ethos of quantification, calculation, and precision that would increasingly guide building projects in the coming century. | Detail, Construction Detail, Engineering, Disciplinary Terminology, Technological Change, Iron Reinforced-Masonry, Blondel, Patte, Soufflot, Rondelet. |
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Berger, B. | 2015 | THE GASHOLDER – SHAPED BY ITS FUNCTION. THE ITALIAN EXAMPLE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 203-210 | Gasholders were introduced at the beginning of the nineteenth century for storage of locally produced coal gas, which was used for public illumination and later also for domestic use. These emerging iron structures presented a new kind of industrial architecture, which changed the cityscape substantially. The gasholder`s function determined its structure and was initially built with a water-sealed system composed of a water tank, a guide framing and lifts. Over the century the development went from the bell-type and telescopic gasholder (column and spiral guided), working with a water-sealed system, to the waterless or dry gasholder (piston gasholder). Today the historic gasholders are industrial relicts and have often been demolished. With the analysis of a selection of important gasholders in Italy this paper underlines the significance, development, shape and structure of the gasholders as a part of the engineering and industrial heritage. | History and construction of specific objects; structural analysis and the development of structural forms; recording, preservation and conservation; the theory and practice of construction history. |
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Bertels, I. and Dobbels, J. | 2015 | CATALOGING CONTRACTORS KNOW-HOW. AN ANALYSIS OF LATE NINETEENTH- AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY LIBRARY CATALOGUES OF BELGIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLSCATALOGING CONTRACTORS KNOW-HOW in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 211-18 | The diverse spectrum of actors in the construction industry, has (re-)emerged as a particular point of interest within construction history. Initially, after a strong focus on architects, the historians’ interest was directed towards engineers, or via socio-cultural studies towards the crafts and trades. Gradually also (general) contractors received attention in historiography. Hereby focus was put on the importance of building contractors in relation to the introduction of new materials and technologies on site or from an economical point of view on their business organisation, and as such leaving important questions open in relation to their socio-cultural profile. Henceforth, from a socio-cultural perspective, this paper wants to contribute to the research on the educational background of building contractors and the transfer of knowledge in relation to l’art de construire. Specific interest goes to the study of theoretical, technical and practical oriented handbooks and manuals used and/or produced by contractors in the Belgian educational contexts. The end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century provides a suitable backdrop for examining this knowledge transfer as in Europe and specifically in Belgium, the traditional building contractor, with its roots in artisan organization, evolves towards more modern forms of commercial professional associations around the turn of the century. The research adds to previous studies on the variety of educational programs and is based on a critical analysis of various nineteenth-century library catalogues of Belgian technical and industrials schools. These schools were developed since the mid of the nineteenth century and offered appropriate training to building contractors in order to ‘propager les perfectionnements apportés dans l’art du constructeur’. | The changing role of the professions in construction, The bibliography of construction history, Knowledge transfer, Library catalogues, Sources, Contractors, 19th and 20th century, Belgium |
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Brush, M.B. | 2015 | LESSONS FROM THE RESTORATION OF CHICAGO’S SKYSCRAPERS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 229-38 | Chicago’s primary contribution to Architecture and Engineering is the skyscraper. Now verging on 90 - 130 years old, our vintage structures are being restored. The restoration process has been greatly enhanced when the original documents have been available. Mysteries of building dynamics were solved when timely discovery of structural linens informed us of steel rail components in the upper walls of The Rookery Building (1888). Original construction of the Gage Block of buildings (1898, 1906) aided in the analysis of 12” of settlement on the north bay. Skyscraper technology reached impressive efficiency even by today’s standards in the construction of The Monroe Building in 1911. The article discusses the known value of original document resources for intellectual understanding of buildings - and how that knowledge has been applied in the professional service of Architecture to the renewal of Chicago’s built heritage. Knowledge of construction history in dating historic fabric is vital and yet so often overlooked in the practice of architecture. Case studies will be presented where the original documents directly influenced contemporary design decisions in the restoration of Chicago’s vintage skyscrapers. The Rookery Building (Burnham and Root, 1888) (2003-5 restoration architect Mary Brush employed by Klein and Hoffman, Owner ING, Contractor, Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration) The (Asher) Keith and Gage Group (Holabird & Roche with Louis Sullivan 1898, 1906) (2001-5 restoration architect Mary Brush employed by Klein and Hoffman, Owner The Gage Group, Contractor, W.J McGuire Masonry Restoration) The Monroe Building (Holabird & Roche, 1911) (2006-11 restoration architect Mary Brush employed by Holabird & Root and by Klein and Hoffman, Owner ARNACO, Contractor, Bulley & Andrews) | Skyscraper, Burnham, Root, Holabird, Rookery, Gage, Monroe |
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Buchanan, A. | 2015 | CONSTRUCTION IN THE WORK OF ROBERT WILLIS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 239-46 | Robert Willis (1800-1875) was one of the pioneers of what he termed ‘the history of the science of construction’ and established a set of methods which remain fundamental to the study of building archaeology and construction history. This paper sets out to explore how Willis conceptualised, used and communicated the evidence of construction, derived from the buildings themselves and associated documentation. It will argue that Willis’s writings treated buildings as problems of chronology and design, rather than as products of statical forces and human labor. Yet, as will be demonstrated, Willis also showed a hitherto unrecognised commitment to artisan education, with the aim of promoting ingenuity and practical problem-solving abilities at all levels of society. These apparently dichotomous aspects of Willis’s oeuvre are here brought together for the first time. The analysis of Willis’s treatment of ‘work’ and the worker across both words and deeds will lead to the conclusion that viewing historic buildings as the products of physical labor was too politically charged for a scholar who tried always to elevate his research above the taint of ‘party’ politics. | Robert Willis; historiography; history of construction; work; structural archaeology; medieval architecture |
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Buchmann, F.-U. | 2015 | CARL TUCHSCHERER: 1911-1934 AN INNOVATIVE GERMAN TIMBER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 247-254 | In Germany during the 1910s and the 1920s craft based timber construction developed into scientifically based timber engineering. One protagonist of this development was the Carl Tuchscherer Company of Breslau and later Berlin. Founded in 1911 the company built numerous halls for industry, the state railway, the military and for local government. Their leading position in timber engineering was achieved with the “Freitragenden Dachkonstruktionen System Tuchscherer“ (Tuchscherer Wide Span Roof Construction) based on the patent for cord and joint configurations. The frequently reproduced truss of parabolic shape was the first truss used in building construction made completely of timber. From 1919 onwards the “Geschlitzte Ringdübel Patent Tuchscherer“ (Tuchscherer Split Ring Connector) enabled the company to transfer tension force into rod connections efficiently and with reduced joint slip. This made any timber truss shape possible where formally only iron could be used. Well known architects such as Heinrich Straumer, Max Berg amongst others designed large public halls that shaped the picture of modern timber engineering. The Great Depression at the end of the 1920s and the resulting unstable economic and political situation however led to the end of the Carl Tuchscherer Company in 1934. | Modern timber engineering, construction company, truss and arch, split ring connector |
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Buchner, L.N. | 2015 | R. GUASTAVINO CO: FIVE DECADES OF CONSTRUCTION AT THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 255-66 | The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, located in New York City, was designed to be the world’s largest French Gothic cathedral; however, it was actually begun in a Romanesque style with Byzantine accents. The Cathedral, measuring 601-feet long, with Nave vaults soaring 124 feet, was primarily constructed in phases by two different architectural firms with staunchly different aesthetic intents for the expansive structure. Nevertheless, each architectural firm relied on the technology of the R. Guastavino Co. to realize their vision. The ability of the R. Guastavino Co. to adapt to suit evolving aesthetic tastes, their development of new technologies, and the efficiency of their assemblies facilitated the Cathedral’s construction. The bulk of Saint John the Divine was built between 1892-1941, spanning approximately two-thirds the period that R. Guastavino Co. was in operation. The construction consequently reflects the evolution of the company, whose work is found throughout the monumental building. | Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, R. Guastavino Co. |
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Bueche, D. and Bowen, B. | 2015 | TRESTLE: A PECULIARLY AMERICAN STRUCTURE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 267-74 | The Cold War presented the American military with multiple challenges in protecting the United States from potential destruction and damage. One of the lesser known threats was the fear of a nuclear detonation well above the earth that would create a major electro-magnetic pulse. It was feared that this pulse could disable all electrical devices in the country and render any military reaction futile. Arising out of this concern came a program conceived in the 1960’s, constructed in the 1970’s and operated in the 1980’s aimed at devising critical protection for the US Air Force fleet. The program required the construction of a raised platform large enough to carry a B-52 bomber. The only material capable of meeting all the design requirements was wood. This resulted in the construction of TRESTLE, the largest glued laminated timber structure ever built. The structure is all wood, from its massive preservative treated glued laminated timber towers down to its wooden nut and bolts This paper first examines the history of trestle design and construction unique to the United States and then follows the late introduction of glue laminated timber construction to the country in the 1930’s and its rapid expansion during World War II. A brief history of glued laminated timber use by the rail road industry in the United State is also examined. Finally the details of designing and building the USAF TRESTLE are addressed – continuing in some respects the character of trestle structural design with the adaptation of modern glued laminated timber. | Glued Laminated Timber, Preservative Treated wood, Split Ring Connector, Timber Trestle Construction, Electromagnetic Pulse Abstract |
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Buehler, D. | 2015 | HISTORICAL MODELS OF CIVIL ENGINEEERING IN COLLECTIONS IN AUGSBURG AND MUNICH in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 275-82 | Architectural models usually serve as a support during the design process or as a sales aid for the architect, giving his client an additional, three-dimensional idea of the finished building. Since architects used to work not only as designers, but also as master builders who had to resolve complex technical problems, many of them also built models that explained how their technical ideas could be realized. These models are few in number, rarely discussed and even less often displayed in exhibitions. They frequently show waterworks, bridges, and timber frames for wall and roof constructions. In Bavaria there are two important collections specializing in this kind of model: Augsburg’s “Modellkammer” (model chamber) – originally in the town hall and now part of the Maximilian Museum – includes models of famous waterworks representing canals, weirs, pumping stations, and wells, and structural models of the buildings designed by Elias Holl (1573–1646) – all built between the early 17th and mid-19th century. The second collection – at the Deutsches Museum in Munich – contains models of early bridges and related structures like the ones designed and built by such famous master builders as Hans Ulrich Grubenmann (1709–1783), Carl Friedrich von Wiebeking (1762–1842), Leo von Klenze (1784–1864), Friedrich August von Pauli (1802– 1883), William Howe (1803–1852), and Ulrich Finsterwalder (1897–1988). These engineering models, seldom the subject of study until now, have proved to be an inestimable resource for the study of construction history because they provide an insight – unavailable elsewhere – into a very practical component of the design process. The topics addressed by these models point out the main challenges, tasks, and problems that builders were confronted with and the particular ways they chose to resolve them. | Models, Civil Engineering, Museum |
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Buonopane, S. and Osanov, M. | 2015 | EVALUATION OF AUGUST KOMENDANT’S STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF THE SHELLS OF THE KIMBELL ART MUSEUM in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 283-90 | August Komendant (1906-1992) was the structural engineer of the Kimbell Art Museum (1972) in Fort Worth, Texas, designed by architect Louis Kahn. The iconic roof structure of the Kimbell consists of a group of nineteen thin shell, concrete barrel vaults, the largest of which are 102 feet (31 m) in span and only 4 inches (10 cm) thick. The roof vaults are cycloidal in crosssection and are prestressed in the longitudinal direction within the thickness of the shell. This paper will explore Komendant’s structural design from two perspectives: historical context of analysis and design methods for thin shells, and an evaluation of Komendant’s original design calculations. Complete analysis of thin shell behavior, including both membrane and bending effects, is mathematically complex. Practical design calculations were often based on approximate methods or manuals with tabulated parametric solutions. Several of the classical theoretical treatises on thin shell behavior mention the possibility of cycloidal cross-sections, yet the design-oriented resources focus almost exclusively on cross-sections of circular segments. Longitudinal edge beams and end diaphragms are critical to the load carrying action of the thin shells and ensure that the built structure conforms to specific assumptions inherent in the analysis methods. Komendant’s original structural design calculations for the Kimbell Art Museum are preserved in the architectural archives of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, two of Komendant’s books on structural design contain example calculations related to Kimbell. Komendant employed the beam-arch method of Lundgren, in which the longitudinal behavior is based on a beam analysis and the transverse behavior is based on a modified arch analysis. Although only about 50 pages in length, Komendant’s calculations reflect a deep understanding of shell behavior. | structural design, thin shells, prestressed concrete |
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Calabria, C. | 2015 | GEOMETRIC AND CONSTRUCTIVE RATIONALIZATION IN THE MULTIRIBBED VAULT: THE “NODE” AS A CRITICAL ISSUE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 291-8 | This study analyzes the geometric origins of multi-ribbed vaults, with particular reference to the Portuguese area. In these types of vaults, geometry is closely related to construction: the gothic drawings graphically break down the lattice into working plans rather than using plan and elevation, as would be the norm. The complex rib compositions are therefore always developed on the basis of a bidimensional reference. In this way, the lattice can be represented and controlled with immediate impact. The late-gothic multiplication of ribs, as well as being an overall compositional problem, focuses on the problematic nature of the node, which is subjected to different configurations depending on the technical possibilities. The case of the transept vault of Santa Maria de Belém in Lisbon is significant because it has a complex composition in which the ordering principle is not immediately perceived. A possible method of geometric definition is proposed through the analysis of curves, types of intersection and constructive elements. The curves that describe the ribs have been univocally determined through various methods of architectural survey (photo modeling, metric survey and /or total station), to deduce the compositive- geometric sequence used to obtain the required aesthetic result. Here the simplification of the bosses goes hand-in-hand with the increasing overall complexity. Seven types of bosses will be analyzed and classified as examples of different interpretations of the intersection node within the system. Finally, an example of tracement of one ideal boss is led through the traditional late-gothic techniques to clarify the difficulties in the univocal determination of a connection piece and why approximation is sometimes a necessity. | Construction, Geometry, Tracing, Stereotomy, Rib, Boss |
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Caldas, R.M.V. and Fernando Diniz, M. | 2015 | JOINTS REVEALING THE ESSENCE: THE BOMBRIL FACTORY IN BRAZIL in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 299-306 | The concern of modern architects of making explicit principles and methods of construction is particularly evident in industrial buildings. Among the strategies to create an architecture in which its constituting parts were clearly evident, the logic of industrial system of construction, such as the prefabrication of its parts, was commonly used. However, in Brazil, the logic of prefabrication usually met obstacles, such as the lack of techniques and workmanship, particularly in the North and Northeast. Usually, local modern architecture presented a high dependence on handcrafted methods in the modeling of concrete structures and its details. These apparent shortcomings, however, were overcome by the inventiveness and resourcefulness of local professionals who have found alternative solutions to construct buildings which required the use of non-existent prefabricated elements in the region at that time. An example of this mediation between advanced and sophisticated architectural conceptions and adverse building conditions is the Bombril factory, located in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, State of Pernambuco. It was designed by Acácio Gil Borsoi, Janete Costa and Rosa Aroucha in 1979 for a Brazilian company in order to produce steel wool. The unique design of a portable wall-system made of concrete panels mounted on concrete supports established a module which articulates the entire building. The on-site built panels have many variations in terms of openings, dictated by complex internal needs, which created, with its repetition, a network of geometrical motifs that provides identity and unity to the building. Based on the study of the design solutions and interviews with architects, workers, contractors and users along with taking into consideration ideas of Gevork Hartoonian, Vittorio Gregotti and Marco Frascari we will show that the joints revealed the essence of the building. | Prefabrication, Standardization, Technical Gestures, Concrete Plaques, Detailing, Metal |
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Caldwell, A. | 2015 | PHAROS LIGHTHOUSE: AN EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 307-14 | More than 2,000 years ago the ancient Pharos Lighthouse towered 129 meters over Alexandria, equivalent to a 35-story modern building. Compared to earlier lighthouses, the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world represented a significant leap in architectural design, engineering and construction technology. Faced with scant archaeological evidence, conflicting texts, and schematic pictorial representations, scholars have long argued over the design and appearance of the lighthouse. This research draws upon the historical data, but takes as its primary basis a close analysis of the structural and construction challenges of the project. Based on the tenets of experimental archaeology, the resulting digital reconstruction posits a technologically realistic result, calibrated and tested using engineering software. The Great Pyramid of Giza built two millennia earlier was taller, but as a solid structure with little habitable space, it relied on simple compression. Building of the pyramid was an impressive achievement, yet its engineering was quite ordinary. The lighthouse of Alexandria responded to the new programmatic needs and scientific knowledge of the Hellenistic period. With this project, the Egyptians and Greeks erected a towering multi-story stone building with multiple interior chambers, thus displaying a more complex understanding of structural forces. The solution was a series of post and beam stories, stacked with column and bearing members aligned in the manner of framed buildings of the modern era. | Pharos, Lighthouse, Alexandria, Reconstruction, Experimental Archaeology |
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Calvo-López,J., Alonso-Rodríguez,M.A., Rabasa-Díaz,E., López-Mozo,A., Pérez-Ríos,C.& Natividad,P. | 2015 | GEOMETRY AND CAPRICIOUSNESS IN 11TH-CENTURY ARMENIAN ARCHITECTURE. THE SCRIPTORIUM OF THE MONASTERY OF SANAHIN in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 315-22 | Due to the lack of clay and trees, Armenian architecture makes intensive use of hewn stone; this fosters the use of complex geometrical schemes that may recall at first sight Western stereotomy of later periods. The scriptorium or library of the Monastery of Sanahin is a notable example of these constructions. Located in the northeastern corner of the monastery, between the churches of Saint Astavacacin and Saint Gregory, the library was built in 1063, under the patronage of Princess Anuš, the daughter of David Lackland, using only dressed stone as apparent material (Strzygowski 1918, I:67-68, II:822; Cuneo 1988, 290-294; Maranci 2001, 149-151). The library is laid out on a square plan; a second rotated square is inscribed in the exterior one, with its corners placed at the midpoints of the sides of the outer square. Without an obvious reason to do so, the four triangles between both squares are covered with different members. Trumpet squinches are laid over two diagonally opposed triangles, while pairs of ramping half-barrel vaults meeting at right angles are placed over the other triangles; in Western terms, we could say this later triangles are covered by one half of a cloister or pavilion vault, cut along the diagonal of the plan. The lesser, inscribed square is materialized by four arches that support four approximately spherical pendentives, although the bed joints are not exactly horizontal. On top of the spandrels lies a circular ring that supports a vault with eight pseudo-cylindrical severies, featuring horizontal mouldings along the bed joints and crowned by an oculus. Taking into account its early date, the precision of the execution of this ensemble is quite remarkable. In this paper, we shall analyze the geometry of this ensemble, using a precise survey based on crossing-image photogrammetry. | Armenian architecture, stonecutting, trumpet squinches, pavilion vaults, pendentives, octagonal domes |
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Campagnol, G. and Caffey, S. | 2015 | CONSTRUCTION OF THE MUSEU DE ARTE DE SÃO PAULO in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 323-32 | When Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) opened in 1968 its 74-meter free span was unprecedented. Designed by the Roman-born Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi (1914-1992) and constructed in collaboration with civil engineer and University of São Paulo professor José Carlos de Figueiredo Ferraz (1918-1994), the museum hovers above a 2100-square-meter belvedere on Avenida Paulista in the heart of the city. The concrete slabs that form the museum’s floors were suspended through the Ferraz Process, a patented technical innovation for prestressed concrete developed by the engineer. Equally innovative was the architect’s approach to overseeing the project: Bo Bardi maintained close collaborative contact with the crews responsible for the construction and technical functions by transforming the construction office into a makeshift design studio in which collaborative experimentation could take place on site. It was this experimentation, along what Zeuler Lima (2013) characterizes in his recent book on Bo Bardi as a primarily artisanal approach to construction labor practices that distinguish MASP as one of the twentieth century’s most idiosyncratic achievements in design and construction. Drawing upon construction documents, archival sources, and recent Portuguese and English-language scholarship on MASP, this paper traces the history of the museum from initial concept through construction, adjustments and recent renovations. | Prestressed Concrete, MASP, Lina Bo Bardi, History, Construction |
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Campisi, T. and Saeli, M. | 2015 | ARISTOCRATIC PALACES IN THE XVIII CENTURY IN PALERMO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF MERENDINO-COSTANTINO PALACE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 333-40 | Palermitan XVIII-century palaces constitute a proper housing typology aimed to reach the highest standards of artistic quality and representativeness. Supported by unlimited financial resources, aristocrats commissioned to famous architects the design and the direction of their construction- sites; nevertheless, technologies were essential and often influenced by an instance of economy with the most effective exploitation of local resources. This work focuses on the constructive specificities of the Palermitan palaces, with reference to the construction history of the Merendino-Costantino Palace, one of the most representative of the historical centre. Its history defines a repertory of constructive cases that marked fundamental steps of construction, in relation to specific events (earthquakes, city ordinances, etc.). Ultimately, this work is aimed to define a repertory for scholars and technician working/ studying in historical construction. Furthermore, such information spread over local applications: frequently, indeed, Palermitan – and Sicilian in general - technical culture can be observed in national and international spheres with particular reference to peninsular Italy, Spain, and France. | Palace, constructive technologies, knowledge, preservation, Palermo, Sicily |
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Camporeale, S. | 2015 | CONCRETE BARREL VAULTS REINFORCED WITH STONE VOUSSOIRS ARCHES IN THE WESTERN PROVINCES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (MAURETANIA TINGITANA AND BAETICA) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 341-50 | In the Roman towns of Sala (Morocco) and Baelo Claudia (Spain) concrete barrel vaults reinforced with stone voussoirs arches were used in the Capitolia as well as a cistern. At both sites the vaults represent an exception in the regional panorama of building techniques and this paper attempts to explain their use in relationship to the wider diffusion of vaulting techniques in the Roman world, and to assess why they were introduced in these specific projects. Both vaults at Sala (beginning of 2nd c. AD), as well as the vault at Baelo Claudia (AD 50- 65) supported an upper floor level and this probably determined the need to reinforce them. Other explanations, however, for the use of reinforced vaults at these sites are possible. One concerns the adaptation of Roman concrete that, due to the use of local materials, needed a long setting time before acquiring its final strength. In addition, the adoption of reinforced vaults could aid the construction process, since small centerings could be used to first build the arches, followed by the concrete sections of the vault. Parallels for this kind of construction are found in the barrel vault of the temple of Diana at Nîmes, France (Augustan or Trajanic-Hadrianic period) and the Arch of Trajan in Mérida, Spain (ca. AD 30). In the case of the Capitolium of Sala, the arches also acted as vaulting ribs, such as those used in the architecture of Rome, in order to divert the loads of the upper levels of the building and channel them to the foundations. The spread of reinforced vaults could have been aided by the wide diffusion of a particular vaulting technique used in the heated rooms of the bath complexes of the western Empire, made of spaced-out arches in order to allow hot air to circulate in the remaining hollow spaces. Finally, these arches represent the importance of the diffusion of Roman monumental architectural models as a vehicle for the transfer of construction technologies to the provinces of t | Roman Imperial architecture; Roman provinces; vaulting techniques; technological transfer; building process |
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Cappeto, J. | 2015 | BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: THE HISTORY OF METAL LATH IN AMERICA in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 351-8 | Throughout history, builders and inventors have sought innovative building technologies to reduce construction costs, increase the speed of construction, and improve building techniques. Many of these innovations have been well documented, but lurking inside our walls is one of the most overlooked improvements to building technology: metal lath. For centuries, plasterers perfected the technique of nailing wood lath to studs and joists and covering it with three coats of plaster. In the third quarter of the nineteenth century, however, metal lath began to appear on the market in the United States. It was so positively received by plasterers and builders that its use spread rapidly throughout the United States, and it became the industry standard by the turn of the twentieth century. Not only did metal lath improve the fireproof qualities of plaster walls but its large sheets could be installed rapidly and it reduced the cracking characteristic of plaster applied over dry wood lath. This paper reviews the history of metal lath in the United States and its use as a plaster support. It examines the evolution of the three types of metal lath available in the United States in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries: woven wire, perforated sheet metal, and expanded- metal lath. It also reviews the period in which each type of metal lath was used, as well as the major manufacturers of each type of lath. Finally, it examines the reasons why expandedmetal lath eventually overtook woven-wire and perforated-metal to become the standard metal lath available today. | Metal lath, expanded-metal lath, woven-wire lath, perforated sheet-metal lath |
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Ribeiro, M.C. and Melo, A.S. | 2015 | ORGANIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN MEDIEVAL PORTUGAL: A COMPARATIVE APPROACH in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 359-66 | This paper aims to identify and characterize the organizational models of construction site and building activity in late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, through the analysis of specific Portuguese case studies, related with important buildings financed by the royal power. This paper also intends to develop a comparative analysis between those different organizational models, identifying the main features of each one, as well as their similarities and differences. In this sense, we intend to present a comparative analysis between the two main models of organization of the construction site, through a methodology of crossing different types of sources, including written ones, such as books of accounts, but also iconographic and material sources, as well as the buildings and monuments still preserved today. In terms of written sources, the construction site accounting books allow us to study several specific aspects of the construction process, but also allow us to infer the organizational models of the construction activity. | Organization of construction activity, models of organization, medieval and early modern construction; Portuguese royal constructions; Monastery of Jerónimos (Lisbon) |
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Carocci, C.F and Tocci, C. | 2015 | LEARNING FROM THE PAST. ANTI-SEISMIC TECHNIQUES IN THE L’AQUILA POST-1703 RECONSTRUCTION in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 367-74 | The research illustrates the anti-seismic constructional techniques developed after the disastrous 1703 earthquake for the reconstruction of L’Aquila and the surrounding towns, and aims at composing a preliminary outline of building methods that were used continuously until the end of the nineteenth century, highlighting their relevant features and emphasizing their explicit antiseismic intention. These methods reveal that historical builders fully understood the typical forms of vulnerability of the historical buildings and tried to prevent seismic damage by means of the systematic introduction of "ligatures" (following the definition of Leon Battista Alberti) between the various structural elements. Their main aim was not simply to prevent the overturning of the façade walls (commonly detectable in seismic areas) but more strictly to increase the capacity of the building to act as a whole, in spite of the inherent discontinuity of the historical masonry assembly. The research started in the aftermath of the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, with the damage survey that both authors carried out in several historical centers in successive steps and with different levels of in-depth analysis. The results of the research are illustrated in detail in the paper and include a description of the more common constructional devices as well as the types, materials and workmanship used. Moreover some hypotheses are formulated concerning chronological aspects, for both monumental and residential buildings, underlining the progressive abandonment of that early anti-seismic engineering as the earthquake became a distant memory. The analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of the eighteenth-century technique and seems to suggest that it could still form a valid architectural and structural model in view of the massive restoration task which, still today, is necessary in the most severely struck historical centers in Abruzzo. | Historical construction, anti-seismic techniques, 1703 earthquake |
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Carocci, C.F | 2015 | CONSTRUCTION HISTORY OF THE SYRACUSE’S LYRICAL THEATRE. REMARKS ON THE MASONRY WORK IN A SECOND HALF OF NINETEEN-CENTURY SITE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 375-82 | «In the ‘70s of the nineteen-century in Syracuse, in the bright island of Ortigia, designed by the Venetian architect Antonio Breda, the construction of the Lyrical Theatre was started. The memorable date of laying the ‘first stone’ is March 14th 1872. It would be better not to mention the fact, all of Syracuse, which in the City Council assembly of October 18th 1887, fifteen years later, the completion project of the theatre - still unfinished - is defined as “the beginning of the end”, end that could only be reached in May 1897» (Giuffrè 2010) when the theatre was inaugurated with the Faust of Charles Gounot. In 1874, when the construction arrived in an advanced stage some problems - economic and technical – arose, so that the City Council was forced to call consultants for an opinion on the validity of the work under construction. Between 1875 and 1878, both Giovanbattista Basile and Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda, designers and builders of the Massimo and Politeama theatres in Palermo, visited the site and expressed their opinion on the work by means of reports that identify defects and recommend solutions to heal them. After a long standoff, in 1887 Damiani Almeyda is in charge of the project to completion, and since 1888 he directed the construction site until the opening in 1897. The paper reconstructs the construction stages and events of the theatre, focusing in particular on strengthening interventions implemented on its masonry structure, through the reading of the documents preserved in different Archives. The reading of historical documents show a constructive culture that, at the end of the nineteen century, on the threshold of a radical change in the practice of construction and calculation methods, still belongs to the same technical horizon of the traditional ‘art of building construction’ and manages the masonry site in its multiple and diverse aspects - structural, economic, aesthetic, functional. | Masonry work, lyrical theatre, construction site, stability, masonry reinforcement |
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Carvais, R. and Nègre, V. | 2015 | PARISIAN SURVEYORS (1690-1792): FOUNDING AN EXPERT CORPS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 383-94 | Since the Antiquity, surveying buildings was a mission traditionally carried out by masons. But after a century of conflicts between the King, the Parliament, the building communities and some “bourgeois, fond of Architecture” or “amateurs” who acted as real “architect-experts”, the mission was eventually shared with modern architects. In 1690, the profession of surveyor in Paris was established as a public office, comprising a group of 25 “architect experts” and 25 “contractor experts,” and had disappeared by the French Revolution. Their invaluable reports were nonetheless preserved in the National Archives (Reference Z1J 256-1214) thanks to the community of building clerks. The corpus left by these surveyors, about 250 contractors and architects over a hundred year period, had a central role in the field of construction. The lives of these men, however, are largely unknown. Their administrative and legal tasks have been closely scrutinized (Carvais 2001; Lemas 2003), but little is known about their economic mission (measuring and estimating the cost of buildings), personal details, activities and knowledge, relationships with their employers or leaders, or social networks (particularly how they were involved with Freemasonry and learned societies). This paper will introduce some considerations from an ongoing study. We will highlight the role of surveyors in the codification and the normalization of construction rules and also in technical inventions. We will show how those building specialists focused their attention on construction methods relating to the public interest (safety, hygiene and comfort) and argue that they were crucial to the rise of a technical “public sphere” challenging the authority of well- known architects and members of the Académie royale d’architecture. | Surveyors, contractors, architects, measuring, estimating, building regulation, invention, technical knowledge, technical literature, Paris, Early Modern Period |
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Castillo Martínez, A. | 2015 | THE TRANSPYRENEAN RAILWAY VIA CANFRANC in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 395-402 | At the beginning of the 20th century, it was remarkable that Spain was just joined to France by two railway links over 250 miles apart, one at Irún, along the shores of the Bay of Biscay, opened in 1864, and the other, along the Mediterranean, at Port Bou, opened in 1878. On the wide stretch in between there has been no railway connection at all until the decade of the 20s, the obstacle being the Pyrenees Mountains, with the highest peak, Maladeta, rising to 11,426 ft. The objective of this paper is the description of the engineering project created in the 20s for the Transpyrenean Railway through the little village of Canfranc, being one of the most ambitious works of construction of the 20s decade in Europe, due to the amount and size of bridges and tunnels for an early 20th century railway design. The low amount of available documentation referring to this project has been searched and digitalized, as well as ancient photographic material. The current state of the premises has been described. An analysis of the building construction procedures chosen by the designers has also been included. The final references are details related to the industrial machinery, most of which have been found in European engineering journals of the 20s decade. Graphic documentation found for this case study has been considered enough for a good reconstruction of the railway project works. Descriptions included in the paper are of great help towards the catalog of these premises as part of the Spanish public works and industrial Heritage, as the railway is nowadays out of service. | Railway, history of construction, Canfranc, methods of construction, construction materials. |
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Caston, P. S. C. | 2015 | THE AMAZING MATHEMATICAL BRIDGE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 403-10 | The Mathematical Bridge over the river Cam in Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK can easily be described as one of the world’s most enigmatic and unique wooden structures, even though it is only 50 feet (15.4 m) long and eight and a half feet (2.6 m) wide. The modest free span of 39 feet (11.9 m) is traversed by two intriguing truss frames, each constructed using the geometry of a circle divided into 32 parts. Based on this geometry the angled posts are traditionally called radials and the intersecting members clasped by them tangents. The tangents extend out from the intrados of the arch and intersect with each other in the same plane at different angles along their course. There are many ways the designer, William Etheridge, could have resolved the detailing of the intersections, but he chose an ingenious weaving of the tangents by dividing them into foreground and background layers and by staggering and overlapping individual lengths with each other to form composite members that weave around each other. The first known use of this idea of weaving wooden members together in this way can be found in a design by the local carpenter James King for a c. 1000 foot (c. 300 m) long multiarched wooden bridge over the river Thames at Westminster. The design only made it as far as a wooden model. When the decision was made in 1738 to build a stone bridge instead James King was retained to build the centering for the stone arches and it appears that his woven truss system, or something similar, was used. By this time William Etheridge was employed as King’s foreman and would have had access to the weave design or possibly even had a hand in its original development, though this has yet to be proven. After King´s death in 1744 Etheridge designed a complete new bridge upriver at Walton-on- Thames. This three-spanned c. 285 feet (c. 86 m) long wooden structure with woven tangents had already been designed and was probably under constr | Footbridge, Timber, History, Construction, Design, Carpenters |
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Chamorro Trenado, M.A., Ripoll Masferrer, R. and Salvat Comas, J. | 2015 | PUBLIC WORKS AND THE HISTORICAL CITY IN 19TH-CENTURY SPAIN: THE ISABEL II BRIDGE OF GIRONA in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 411-18 | Our aim is to analyze the relation between public works and the historical city in the midnineteenth century; a period straddling the boundary between the traditional and the modern city, in which many urban reforms stand out for being modern in construction, located in an urban area, and socially acceptable. Finally, we will demonstrate that public works expressed not only the new concept of rationality in construction at the service of society, but also reflected a new city model. The construction of the Isabel II Bridge in Girona between 1850 and 1856 is a good example which leads us to reflect on the importance of civil works projects and modern building management in urban reforms at that time, and on their repercussions (as replacements) on present- day urban planning. | History and construction of specific projects, organization of construction work, wages and the economics of construction |
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Chiuini, M. | 2015 | THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE BY ADLER AND SULLIVAN: STRUCTURAL SYSTEM AND TYPOLOGICAL INNOVATION in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 419-26 | The rapid development of the skeleton construction in Chicago was accompanied by a great deal of experimentation on structural design, particularly in the 1890s when the replacement of cast iron with steel allowed more efficient solutions. Adler and Sullivan were, among the many architectural offices working on skyscraper design, the most innovative with regard to typologies and structural systems. Their skyscrapers were among the first to use an all-steel frame with curtain walls supported at each floor. Two of these, the Schiller Theatre and the Stock Exchange Building, are also examples of the early use of transfer trusses, designed on the model of railroad steel bridges. These solutions represent an interesting case of technology transfer from an area of engineering which at that time represented the most advanced technology and provided the very icon of American progress: the steam locomotive. Both the Schiller and the Exchange were demolished respectively in 1961 and 1972, but the surviving documentation has been used for a computer reconstruction of the structural system of the Stock Exchange. The digital modeling of the structure of the Trading Room in particular is a method to compare Adler’s solutions for the Exchange with bridge technology of the 1890s. The construction documents, which include the steel shop drawings, also shed some light on the collaboration of the Adler and Sullivan office with the consulting engineer Abraham Gottlieb. | Adler and Sullivan, Chicago Stock Exchange, skyscrapers, steel skeleton |
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Chrimes, M. | 2015 | ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER ?: PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY IN PUBLIC WORKS IN BRITISH INDIA 1800-1910 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 427-38 | From the late eighteenth century the British administrations in India took an increasing interest in public works, a responsibility generally of engineers who had initially been trained for military service. Much of their work was involved in the civil engineering of roads, railways, irrigation and public health, but there was also a demand for public buildings whether associated with civil engineering or not. The designers of these buildings are generally referred to anachronistically as architects, although their grades in the PWD hierarchy were generally engineering positions. By looking at the careers of some of these ’architects’ conclusions can be drawn about the professional training, architectural inspiration, structural approaches and project leadership of the creators of the buildings of empire. From this it will be suggested that, before 1900, in a meaningful sense there were no architects of empire, but a cadre of engineers whose training enabled them to take on all tasks across the built environment. | Professions, civil engineers, architects, architecture, India |
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Ciblac, T. and Fantin, M. | 2015 | REDISCOVERING DURAND-CLAYE’S METHOD USING FORCE NETWORK METHOD IMPLEMENTED FOR CONSTRUCTION HISTORY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 439-47 | The study of masonry domes stability is an important research topic since the 18th century. Each study is based on a set of hypotheses according to each author’s understanding of the structural behaviour of domes. The study itself then relies on high mathematical skills (Bossut, Bouguer), and/or graphical skills (Eddy, Durand-Claye) in order to produce an equilibrium solution. For the first ones, due to the difficulty of analytical calculus, and in some case the inexistence of analytical solutions, their studies were limited to simplified geometrical and load cases. Today, the development of computation methods on masonry stability offers new and powerful means of study. However, some care is needed in order to use computational methods in the framework of construction history. The force network method replaces the well-known inverted catenary by an inverted net, called thrust network. It was first published by O’Dwyer in 1999, and then extended by Block in 2009 under the name of thrust network analysis, both in the field of limit analysis. The aim of this paper is to introduce a specific implementation of the force network method for construction history, named Manacoh. It aims at providing a tool capable of reproducing various equilibrium solutions of published studies of historic interest, using for each of them their own stability criterion. O’Dwyer’s force network and Block’s thrust network are the same objects, and are the 3D equivalent of the funicular polygon. As the line of thrust is deduced from the funicular polygon, for each joint the point of application on the section of the resultant of stresses is deduced from the force network. Since the historical methods are usually based on joints resistance, the knowledge of these points is essential. To do so, the geometrical characteristics of the joints are taken into account, whereas they are usually disregarded in force network methods. | Masonry, Dome, Modeling, Stability, Limit analysis, Yield design, Resistance criteria |
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Ciccarelli, L. | 2015 | ARCHITECTURE AS CONSTRUCTION IN THE BEGINNINGS OF RENZO PIANO. FIVE PATENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS AND “PIECES” OF BUILDINGS (1965-1969) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 447-55 | Between 1965 and 1969 Renzo Piano registered five “industrial inventions” at the Patent Office in Genoa. They are a construction system for modular walls, a shelter made with inflatable elements of polyethylene, an interlocking system for precast reinforced concrete beams and piers, a machine for producing shell structures and a reinforced polyester roof shed panel. Piano, having graduated in Architecture at the Milan Polytechnic in 1964, had just begun his professional activity focusing, especially, on lightweight construction systems, by using the labor force and the workshop equipment of the construction company of his family. This paper analyzes these youth experiments - following figures like Jean Prouvé (1901-1984) Pier Luigi Nervi (1891- 1979) or Richard Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) – in which Piano developed conceptual and construction strategies that he will employ in the project and building site of the Centre Pompidou (1971-77). In particular: designing the elements of the construction, where the architecture is a sheer assembly of “pieces”, conceiving nodes and joints, using prefabricated components and the figurative and conceptual dominance of the coverage over the walls. | History and construction of specific projects; History of specific builders; Development of construction tools; Building materials, their history, production and use |
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Cirigliano Villela, A. T. and Andrade Tirello, R. | 2015 | “ARCHAEOLOGY OF ARCHITECTURE”: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF BRAZILIAN CONSTRUCTION - REFLECTIONS ON THE APPLICABILITY OF "HARRIS MATRIX" in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 455-62 | For the History of Construction, old buildings are often considered cultural products. They are physical evidences of a society in regard to their architectural achievements in terms of social arrangements, material resources and construction systems, bringing together the "know-how" and the "art of building" of the people. The discipline Archaeology of Architecture (AA) is relatively new and, since the 1970s, in Italy, in addition to the positive contributions to the field of Architectural Conservation, has contributed significantly to improve the knowledge about the History of Construction to the extent that considers the "architectural substance" itself as the main source of information. It is structured by the methods and tools of archaeological nature used to temporal and material recognition of buildings. In "AA", the conformation of historic buildings - as we see in contemporaneity - is considered the result of constructive and destructive actions resulting from various periods that have focused on formal and material changes on the architectural object, not always obvious or documented by documents, texts or photos. Among the main methods borrowed from Archaeology to study "constructive timelines", applicable to the History of Construction, is the Harris matrix, much used by architects and European archaeologists who raised the first debates about vertical stratification. Experimentally, we have analyzed a remarkable example of a historic industrial architecture of São Paulo, Brazil, the former headquarters of Lidgerwood Manufacturing Company, in order to verify the potentiality of the Harris matrix in the study of architectural three-dimensionality, covering the interfaces between Architectural Preservation, History of Construction and Archaeology of Architecture. | Harris matrix, Architectural Preservation, Archaeology of Architecture |
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Clarke, J. | 2015 | AMERICAN-TRAINED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS IN LONDON, 1895-1910 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 463-72 | This paper focuses on the activities and works of a small handful of structural engineers and construction managers with American experience who were active in London in the period 1895- 1910. Their arrival was against the wider backdrop of the influx of American finance, goods, manufacturing techniques and business methods that gathered momentum in the late 19th century, and which, by the first years of the 20th century, was perceived as an ’American invasion’. The spectre of gigantic American buildings was perhaps the most emblematic - and worrisome - manifestation of this so-called invasion. The individuals considered here were all versed in steel-skeleton construction, most with experience of building skyscrapers, yet they responded differently to the restrictions of the London building regulations. Charles Vivian Childs, who had no wish to see London overshadowed by skyscrapers, resisted full steel framing as uneconomic under the prevailing building regulations. Louis Christian Mullgardt in concert with James Stewart, head of the St Louis-based contractors James Stewart & Company, employed ‘American methods … up to the full limit allowed by the Municipal Building Acts’. And most decisively Sven Bylander, with his right-hand man John W. F. Bennett, and the backing of the Waring- White Building Company, worked both within and without of the regulations, winning waivers, and agitating for a revision of the 1894 London Building Act. This came in 1909, with Americanized know-how instrumental in its passing, and in the take-up of multi-storey steel skeleton framing in Edwardian London. Yet, it is concluded, whilst American methods in architectural engineering and construction management might have challenged the London building laws regarding construction technique, history shows that London in this period was not ready for the skyscraper. | Steel-framing, London, America, biography, engineers, building contractors |
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Cleemann, J. G. | 2015 | EARLY HISTORY OF THE CONCRETE TRANSIT MIXER, 1900-1930 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 473-80 | This paper traces the development of the concrete transit mixer in the first three decades of the twentieth century. Commonly known as “cement mixers,” transit mixers are heavy trucks with large rotating drums that allow the component parts of concrete to be mixed in transit. By carrying various mixtures of concrete from central mixing plants to construction sites, transit mixers have allowed for the widespread distribution of concrete construction, a signature feature of the modern built environment. In the early twentieth century, the proliferation of automobiles stimulated the large-scale construction of roads, which were increasingly constructed entirely or partially out of concrete. With their constantly shifting job sites, contractors working on road building projects came to value the portability of machinery and materials. At the same time, the automobile industry was developing increasingly sturdy trucks. Crucially, this same period also saw the appearance of the central concrete mixing plant. Putting these elements together, a series of inventors beginning in the 1910s began applying for patents for machines that resemble the modern transit mixer, although the evidence suggests that through the 1930s truck engines still were not powerful enough to power the mixing drum and provide motive power simultaneously. Nonetheless, these early inventions play a vital role in the history of the development of concrete as one of the most significant building materials of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. | Concrete, Transit Mixer, Distribution, Construction Materials, Road Building |
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Collette, Q. and Wouters, I. | 2015 | UNRAVELING THE DESIGN OF END-OF-THE-19TH-CENTURY RIVETED CONNECTIONS IN BELGIUM in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 481-90 | The appraisal of existing riveted metal structures generally involves the understanding of their connection details. Unfortunately, it is tough to decipher how historical riveted connections were designed given the obsolescence of the hot-riveting technique. The design of riveted connections has to be analyzed to support the structural assessment and potential interventions. Practicing engineers, architects and heritage care specialists need to gain insight into the original design philosophy of the connection details to preserve both the service life and heritage value of iron and steel structures. Therefore, we unraveled the design of riveted connections by referring to historical literature and carrying out on-site surveys. This paper reveals the design philosophy of structural riveted connections of the end of the nineteenth century in Belgium. Belgian educator-engineers mainly referred to the findings of French, German and English investigators but two to three decades after their original publication. From the 1880s onwards, the design philosophy of riveted connections took the geometry, the strength and the applied loads into account. However, rules of thumb and simple derivations of the 1850-60s still influenced the design markedly. The study of a built connection detail confirmed that practical matters impacted the as-built geometry of riveted connections. End-of-the-19th-century design methods are delicate to analyze since they combine both empirical and analytical considerations. The study of historical design methods allows to perform overall appraisal procedures of existing riveted structures with more confidence and can contribute towards more suitable remedial works. | Metal construction, riveted connections, design methods, Belgium, L. Lemaître, JW. Schwedler. |
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Como, A. and Smeragliuolo Perrotta, L. | 2015 | "IS ARCHITECTURE MOVING TOWARD IMMUTABLE FORMS AND CHARACTERS?" AN INVESTIGATION AT THE THEORETICAL LEVEL OF THE THOUGHT OF THE ITALIAN ENGINEER PIER LUIGI NERVI THROUGH TEXTS AND IMAGES in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Procs of the 5th International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 491-8 | In 1945 the Italian engineer Pier Luigi Nervi publishes his first text Scienze o arte del costruire?. In those years his professional activities were very intense and his works were very successful within the national environment. The structures realized then for the Roman Olympics during the 1960 defined his uncontested prestige and the beginning of his professional and academic career at the international level. The so called Nervi System becomes a guarantee label of technical, constructional and aesthetic quality, which is exported all over the world. Behind the certainty of the Nervi thought there’s a question which the same engineer started to ask himself within his first text and that he continued to deal with also in other occasions, as well as in other texts and within conferences and seminars: Is architecture going toward immutable forms and characters? This question is present in the text Scienze o arte del costruire?, also giving title to one of the chapters of the book, addressed toward the current issue of art within construction. The issue of the form and the immutable characters became the specific concern both at the theoretical and professional levels. According to Nervi, the best solutions within the architecture of great dimension – often the only possible ones - were those whose structure better responded to the statics laws. This technical and constructional necessity was connected to the specificity of the employed material. Nervi thought that the search for an increasing perfection within the finding of structural forms would lead to solution-types which could be repeated in time and space, till arriving to a single style within the architecture realm. There would have been no risk of uniformity thanks to the designer, who would have guaranteed the originality of the oeuvre, through his creativity. Aim of the study is to investigate within the differences which Nervi refers to, in order to contrast a world of all identical | Form-finding, Model, Interpretation |
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Conan, S. | 2015 | FLATS ARCHES WITH JOGGLE JOINTS: THEIR USE IN TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH CENTURY CISTERCIAN ABBEYS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 499-506 | A technique known since Antiquity, the use of flat arches paired with grips was hardly used during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, but flourished in the following centuries. However, the limited use of flat arches with joggle joints does not mean that twelfth and thirteenth century builders did not know the technique; they simply reserved it for specific works. This paper aims to show, through examples from Cistercian abbeys, that Gothic builders knew the technique of flat arches with joggled joints. Many examples, however, show that the Cistercians were not the only ones to master this technique. The joggle joint developed along shaped stone construction and it required real skills, in design and in the stone cutting, both characteristics of the art of stereotomy. | History and construction of specific projects, Building archaeology, Structural analysis and the development of structural forms, Buildings techniques in response to their environments. |
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Cook, E. | 2015 | LABOR DISPUTES, PRICE GOUGING, AND ORNAMENTAL ARCHES: NEGOTIATING A NEW BUILDING CULTURE AT THE VIRGINIA STATE PENITENTIARY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 507-14 | This paper explores the tensions inherent in the construction of late eighteenth-century Richmond, Virginia, as they played out during the construction of the Virginia State Penitentiary. Not only was the city still building the infrastructure necessary to function as a state capital, but the men in the building trades responsible for that development were navigating an occupational culture that was fragmented by regional knowledge, trade specialization, and generational differences. In creating a coherent built environment appropriate to a state capital in the new American republic, these men also had to reconcile their individual occupational traditions in order to create a unified building culture in which they could continue to ply their trades as they constructed the city. | Building Culture, Labor, Changing Professional Roles, Penitentiary |
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Cook, E. | 2015 | FROM SUSQUEHANNA PINE TO NORTH CAROLINA CYPRESS: REGIONAL LUMBER SUPPLIES IN ANTEBELLUM RICHMOND, VIRGINIA in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 515-22 | This paper uses the business receipts of a builder in antebellum Richmond, Virginia, to examine the regional supply chains that provided the raw materials from which Richmond was built. Though Richmond’s boosters dedicated themselves to creating an independent southern market, to create the physical infrastructure to do so required men in the building trades to source materials from outside their immediate area. Pine boards came from the Susquehanna River Valley, just as hemlock planks floated down the James River from the Shenandoah Valley, and cypress shingles made their way north from the Great Dismal Swamp. This created a built environment which was more an aggregate of both northern and southern materials than a monument to southern independence. | Building Materials, Supply Chains, Lumber |
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Coomans, T. and Xu, Y. | 2015 | GOTHIC CHURCHES IN EARLY 20TH-CENTURY CHINA: ADAPTING WESTERN BUILDING TECHNIQUES TO CHINESE CONSTRUCTION TRADITION in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 523-30 | This paper presents the first results of collaboration between the universities of Beijing and Leuven. The method of this pioneering research program confronts resources from Western missionary archives (plans, pictures, construction handbooks etc.) and building archaeological analysis of Western churches in China at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The aim is learning from the material source what the archives do not tell about construction and technological transfer. It is not known how technological transmission happened concretely, but there is evidence of a wide range of hybridized forms and techniques. The paper is divided into three parts. First, an overview of church construction in China at the time of late Qing dynasty and early Republic periods. Second, an introduction to an exceptional handbook on church construction in Northern China, published by French Jesuits in 1926. Third, building archaeological investigations realized in July 2014 in the Gothic church of Daming (Hebei province), built by French Jesuits in 1917 and mentioned in the handbook of 1926. | Technological transfers between Europe and China, Building techniques in response to their environments, Church architecture, History and construction of specific projects, Building archaeology, Organization of construction works. |
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Cruise, R. B. | 2015 | THE 300 METRE TOWER in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 531-8 | The Eiffel Tower is often termed “iconic” and its curved profile is an instantly recognizable silhouette. Prior to the Tower’s construction, Eiffel suggested that the profile was directly generated by the wind pressure expected on the 300 m wrought iron Tower. Eiffel’s proposals have been investigated by several researchers who have used Eiffel’s explanations to establish different models to fit the profile of the Tower. This paper presents the results of translating part one, and the first three chapters and appendix of part two of Eiffel’s retrospective compendium of drawings, calculations, and technical descriptions in ‘La Tour de Trois Cents Mètres’, which was published after the Tower’s construction. This paper thereby uncovers the actual set of calculations, based on static graphics, and discusses the real relationship between the wind pressures assumed and the constructed profile. It is shown that in fact the proposed design strategy linking the profile to the wind pressure was not rigorously adhered to. This paper compares the proposed design strategy, the design methods assumed in the derivations of the published models and the methods actually used. The paper raises the question of whether the profile of the Eiffel Tower was purely defined by engineering principles or if more subjective decisions were made. | Historical case-study, Eiffel Tower, structural forms, structural analysis |
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Cruse, A. | 2015 | ARE YOU COMFORTABLE NOW? : THREE AMERICAN THERMAL COMFORT MODELS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 539-48 | The definition of indoor thermal comfort has a significant impact on the design, construction and use of buildings; it also directly affects their energy consumption. Because of its broadreaching impact, it is highly contested. Engineers, architects, equipment manufacturers and public officials have and continue to vie for influence over indoor thermal comfort. This paper examines the development of three comfort standards—Effective Temperature (ET), Predicted Mean Value (PMV) and adaptive thermal comfort—from the 1910s to the present largely through the lens of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE) and its later incarnations. During this period, the Society established its Research Bureau, one of whose primary goals was the definition of indoor thermal comfort using their psychrometric test chamber. Their work initially viewed thermal comfort as the result of heat balance, where the heat produced by the body was in balance with the heat lost to the environment. Soon however field studies pointed to non-heat balance factors affecting thermal comfort, such as seasonal acclimatization, geographic variation and other behavioral and psychological influences. While engineering research broadened the understanding of thermal comfort, engineering practice pushed for a clear, simple definition. In response to this call for clarity, the PMV method proposed a neutral, static definition of thermal comfort that typically relied on a sealed building envelope. Since the 1970s, adaptive thermal comfort has tried to revive a discussion about what constitutes indoor thermal comfort. It has also directly linked thermal comfort to building energy use. Legal, economic and professional barriers challenge the broader acceptance and implementation of the adaptive thermal comfort model. However some examples of current practice point to the commercial, sustainable and design possibilities it offers. | Thermal comfort, air conditioning, energy use, ASHVE, ASHRAE |
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Curbach, M., Hänseroth, T., Hensel, F., Scheerer, S. and Steinbock, O. | 2015 | GENIUS AND NAZI? WILLY GEHLER (1876−1953) − A GERMAN CIVIL ENGINEER AND PROFESSOR BETWEEN TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE AND POLITICAL ENTANGLEMENTS IN THE 20TH CENTURY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 549-56 | Willy Gehler, born in 1876 in Leipzig, studied natural sciences and civil engineering. As an executive civil engineer of the renowned German construction company Dyckerhoff & Widmann, he played a leading role e.g. in the construction of the Centennial Hall in Breslau and of the largest terminal station in Europe at that time in Leipzig (Germany) at the beginning of the 20th century. His greatest contribution to German and international civil engineering was the research, experimental testing and application of new materials. As the "father of standardization," his comments and explanations on the new design specifications and standards for reinforced concrete elements and structures were relevant to other researchers and civil engineers. Unlike most of his colleagues, Gehler acted strongly politically. In the Weimar Republic, during the Nazi era and again in the GDR, he was a member of a political party. He joined the Nazi Party shortly after Hitler’s appointment as chancellor. He was also a supporting member of the SS. In particular, his proximity to leading members of the Nazi elite is controversial. It is also known that he had performed numerous experiments for the Organisation Todt and the military on behalf of the SS. In the Soviet Occupation Zone and the former GDR, he was also closely linked to the political elites. Although he was demoted academically, he was involved in technical and policy decisions. In later decades, Gehler’s work was largely ignored; younger generations of engineers are not familiar with his name. Willy Gehler − a personality full of contradictions: highly respected expertise and social engagement on the one hand, party memberships in partly dictatorial systems on the other. Today, civil engineers and historians at the Technische Universität Dresden work together to investigate the person Willy Gehler with the method of scientific biographic. A main point will be the examination of his controversial proximity to the | Engineers in society and politics; development of building codes and standards; history of material science and of building materials, their production and use; biographies |
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Currà, E., Liberatore, D., Paolini, C., Pizzoli, E. and D’Amico, A. | 2015 | HISTORY, DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF ANTI-SEISMICTECHNIQUES: THE POST-EARTHQUAKE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE “PIO MONTE DELLA MISERICORDIA” IN ISCHIA in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 557-64 | In the South of Italy, awareness of seismic hazard strictly affected the development of masonry techniques. Several innovations and construction systems have been developed over the ages in order to withstand the effects of earthquakes. The paper is mainly devoted to report on the distinctive construction system implemented for the reconstruction of the historical complex Pio Monte della Misericordia in Casamicciola. The designer, engineer Giuseppe Florio, followed the regulations specifically set for majestic works in terms of building location, height, elevation irregularities as well as materials, but not for the construction details. Actually his original system is oriented to obtain the same performance of the traditional casa baraccata, reinforced using wood, without interrupting masonry continuity and basing on metal standard profiles. In conclusion, the presented case is a unique snapshot illustrating a rare path within the gradual replacement of the traditional unreinforced masonry with the new construction systems and materials. | Reinforced masonry, Historical seismic construction, Built landscape, Building materials, Lime-concrete vaults, Masonry techniques |
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Daniel, M. | 2015 | CONSTRUCTING HEALTH – THE PURSUIT OF ENGINEERING A “HEALTH-PROMOTING INTERIOR CLIMATE” DURING THE 1830S AND 1840S in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 565-72 | Taking a close look at the planning process of a major hospital built during the 1830s and 1840s opens up a new perspective into the process of selecting, implementing, and improving heating and ventilation systems during a period during of ever-expanding technological options. Based on original planning documents and committee reports, as well as on contemporary treatises and articles, this paper seeks to shed light on the process of defining minimum standards and specific requirements. Furthermore, it will explore the reasons why, out of a wide range of systems proposed in technical magazines, only a few were practically implemented and further developed. By 1830, public health had become a major economic impact factor. Spending a substantial sum of public money to improve the general health care situation appeared to be a worthwhile investment. Hence, the Zurich cantonal government decided, in 1835, to build a specialized hospital dedicated to curable patients only. “The elderly, infirm, miserable, and terminally ill” were explicitly excluded from this new kind of institution. In those years, prominent hygiene enthusiasts proclaimed that, through a „health-promoting interior climate‟, almost any disease could be cured. Despite the fact that, by 1830, it was far from clear which parameters exactly constituted such a climate, the Zurich authorities decided to engineer just that. Planning and installing an actual heating and ventilation system turned out to be a process that lasted over 6 years. First of all, an expert committee had to be formed that could agree on the particular requirements. A specific system had to be chosen out of numerous technological options, quotes had to be compared, and expert advice obtained. Subsequently, systems were partially installed, tested, and amended. Compliance with technical parameters turned out to be just one important criterion. | History of services (heating & ventilation), development of standards and codes |
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del Cueto, B. | 2015 | PORTLAND CEMENTS IN THE SPANISH CARIBBEAN AS AGENTS OF CHANGE: HYDRAULIC MOSAICS AND CONCRETE BLOCKS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 573-82 | The late 19th and early 20th century building trades were transformed by Portland cement products that promised “quick” beauty and efficiency, and required relatively little previous experience in their manufacture or installation. Some of these products were initially advertised and gained popularity through European Expositions and American Trade Fairs, and reached the Caribbean region by the 1890s. The new Portland cement architectural elements were advertised as permanent, water-proof and fire-proof, in the catalogs of important large enterprises in Europe and the United States. As a consequence, highly ornamental hydraulic cement floor tile or mosaics and hollow-core concrete blocks became part of the vocabulary for residential, religious, and institutional architecture in the Spanish Caribbean during the first decades of the 20th century. The innate characteristic of Portland cement, of setting especially well in an extreme wet and humid climate as well as in hot weather, made it the perfect material for the molded fabrication of innovative cement products in tropical regions. The relative simplicity of the process, which required no ovens, artificial heat, nor large manufacturing areas, facilitated local production of these building materials. The hydraulic mosaic and the concrete block accelerated building methods and contributed to producing new permanent tropical buildings which could resist hurricanes and earthquakes. Early 20th century building technologies have been understudied, specifically in the tropical Caribbean. Structures from this period that have survived have been mostly neglected and ultimately demolished for lack of historic relevance or as a result of ever-changing architectural tastes. This has occurred in spite of the durability and relatively un-scathed survival of some of these structures, precisely, due to their building products which were made with Portland cement. | Building materials, their history, production and use; Development of construction tools; Use of construction history for dating historic fabric; Recording, preservation and conservation |
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Dermody. R.J. | 2015 | DAVID B. STEINMAN - DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE MACKINAC BRIDGE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 583-90 | The five mile long Mackinac Bridge, designed by David B. Steinman, crossing the straights to the Upper Peninsula, opened to great acclaim in 1957. Fifty-seven years later, its 3800 ft. main span is the third longest of any suspension bridge in the United States. It opened seventeen years after the catastrophic collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, designed by Leon Moisseiff, in Washington State. The disaster at Tacoma Narrows had a profound impact on the structural engineering profession, and on Steinman in particular. Consequently, he devoted a significant portion of his professional career to thoroughly researching the effects of wind on bridges, and developing improved bridge design methods. These efforts would ultimately result in the design and construction of the “Mighty Mac”, the most significant bridge span to be built since the Tacoma disaster, and the crowning achievement of Steinman’s long career. This paper will focus on the underappreciated career of David B. Steinman, his contributions to the profession, and his design strategy for the Mackinac Bridge. A brief review of a few of his prior bridges, and his extensive efforts after Tacoma to research and fully understand the behavior of long-span suspension bridges under wind loads, will be addressed. Steinman had been practicing for over 20 years when Tacoma collapsed, and had recently completed several suspension bridge projects. At least two of these bridges; Thousand Islands Bridge in New York in 1937, and Deer Isle Bridge in Maine in 1939 experienced wind-induced oscillations. Steinman successfully designed retrofits for both of these bridges to reduce or eliminate the oscillations. During this period, Steinman was actually consulted on the design of the new Tacoma Bridge with its early designers. Ultimately, his designs were not selected, and after the collapse he devoted the next seventeen years of his career to relentlessly researching the issue of aerodynamic stability. | Steinman, Mackinac Bridge, suspension bridge design, wind loads |
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Devos, R. and Mollaert, M. | 2015 | A QUEST FOR EARLY TENSILE STRUCTURES AT EXPO 58 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 591-600 | Expo 58, the first post-war world’s fair (Brussels) was appreciated for its unprecedented collection of lightweight structures. Recent study has revealed how hanging roof structures have pushed contemporary building practice to its limits. These pavilions demonstrated an early mastering of tensioning calculation and specific building techniques, but both design and construction phases met with unexpected problems. In particular the choice of the materials to cover the curved surfaces presented a challenge difficult to meet with contemporary means. New archival research revealed three textile structures at Expo 58, which help to further probe the state of knowledge and practice in lightweight building in Belgium from 1955 onwards. The bandstand cable net by architect O. Schomblood and engineer A. Paduart; the roof of the snackbar by architect R. Bastin and engineer R. Greisch and the ceiling of the International Science Exhibition by architect A. Jacqmain and engineer L. Culer are textile structures using cotton fabric as cover. These structures were erected as part of the fair’s functional equipment supervised by Expo 58’s Technical Service and have remained unpublished. Archival material documents the planning and construction processes through letters, plans, photographs, building specifications, bills, construction site accounts and calculation reports. This paper highlights the methods and tools used, and the issues at stake during the design and construction of these early textile structures. Cotton canvas was chosen in all three cases in spite of several experiments with Cocoon, a sprayable plastic. Different structural concepts were developed, blurring the difference between cable reinforced tensile structures and tensioned cable nets. The work of engineers, architects and controlling agency reveals the state of knowledge on, and ambition in, building with innovative, precisely calculated and detailed tensile structures in textile. | Tensile structures, Textile architecture, Building materials, Form finding and structural analysis, 1958 World’s Fair |
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Domènech Casadevall, G. | 2015 | PROTECTIONISM, CORPORATISM AND ENDOGAMY IN THE BUILDING GUILDS OF CATALAN COASTAL CITIES DURING THE MODERN in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 611-8 | During the mediaeval and modern eras, the all-powerful trade guilds of Catalonia exercised absolute control over their members. In a society where guild membership was sine qua non for obtaining work, the guild regulations governed not only every aspect of professional activity (access to trades, apprentice systems, etc.), but also impinged on the private behaviour of their members (with explicit prohibitions and obligations concerning individual and group conduct). In the case of the building trades, examination of the guild rules existing in Catalan cities reveals meticulous regulation of members’ personal and professional lives, consistently designed to promote corporate spirit and to ensure protection from competition. The protectionism carried out by the guilds gave rise to endogamic relationships and to thecontinuity of family businesses passed from father to son, or through marriage to the daughter of a master craftsman, which resulted in dynasties of frequently inter-married families all working in the same trade. | Social history of labour, trade guilds, protectionist policies, social assistance, endogamy |
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Di Nallo, M. | 2015 | ‘CONSTRUIRE MIEUX, PLUS VITE ET MOINS CHER’ – SWISS INDUSTRIALISED SCHOOL BUILDING SYSTEMS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 601-9 | The title of the present paper – ’building better, faster and cheaper’ – was the fundamental requirement of the program of rationalisation for school building developed during the 1960s in Canton Vaud, but it could be assumed as a general paradigm for the prefabrication in Swiss school buildings. In the post-war Europe, following the stalemate of the building sector and several changes in the educational system, the rationalisation of building and the aim of reducing costs and production time involved also school buildings. In comparison to other countries, which knew intensive industrialisation programmes, in Switzerland – due to its political and administrative structure –the standardisation of school buildings was characterised indeed by single, but not unimportant, episodes which were often due to urgent circumstances, or conceived on the initiative of individual architects and specific builders. The characteristic of the Swiss case is the great variety of solutions which during the 1960s fosters the debate on school building, especially compared with the international context. The paper presents this great variety of experimentations, examining the reasons of their achievement or failure. Swiss industry is characterised by an outstanding attention to detail and by a high level of innovation, some results of which command niche prominence also outside the country. Aim of the paper is to relate the unique solutions developed in Switzerland to the European development and investigate the relevance of the diverse development for prefabrication industry in Swiss school building. Through period magazines and original documents, the paper focuses on four particular episodes, which deal with different aspects of the history of construction. | Building systems, Prefabrication, Import-export, History of the building trades or specific builders |
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Draper, K.L. | 2015 | BUILDING FOR WAR: EXAMPLES OF TEMPORARY STRUCTURES DESIGNED FOR WARTIME USE IN BRITAIN (1939-1945) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. | In Britain, the twentieth century and its two world wars ushered a period of rapid development of prefabrication as a building method, and created a wide variety of temporary wartime buildings that are often mistakenly and generally referred to now as Nissen huts. In actuality, the wartime demand for lightweight, easily erectable designs that made use of alternative building materials to steel and timber, was met by nearly sixty unique designs. While not all secured lucrative government contracts, many were put into mass production. The most successful were those that were easily adapted to a variety of uses. These temporary wartime buildings, called huts, were employed across the military and civilian spectrum as schools, hospitals, offices, workshops, radar stations, accommodation, storage sheds, aircraft hangars, kitchens, canteens, and even cinemas. Using primary and secondary sources, this paper provides new insight into Britain’s wartime building programme and highlights several lesser known huts such as the Quetta, the Seco and the Ministry of Works Standard hut. In 2015, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. As such, it is interesting to note the unexpected longevity of temporary wartime construction. Where temporary accommodation is still a key issue in emergency operations around the world, as this paper will show, there is much that can be learnt from history that would be equally applicable today. | Wartime Construction History, Huts, Prefabrication, Building Materials, Building Archaeology |
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Dreicer, G.K. | 2015 | HISTORY OF ENGINEERING, REVERSE-ENGINEERED in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 629-34 | This paper explores the impact of the nationalistic perspectives that have dominated the history of engineering design and construction. It focuses on the beginnings of industrialized construction as a global endeavor. Examples include the transnational development of the lattice bridge, the Britannia Bridge as a civil engineering and national-identity building project, and the notion that one person could be the inventor of the skyscraper. Nationalistic viewpoints determine how bridges are labeled (‘wood’ or ‘iron’), who historians focus on, and our understanding of the process of invention. | Historiography, Industrialization, Nationalism, Lattice Bridge |
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Dunkeld. M. | 2015 | THE PORTRAIT COLLECTION OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 635-44 | The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is one of the oldest professional bodies associated with building in the UK, having been formed in the early nineteenth century. Over generations the organisation has acquired considerable ‘paraphernalia’ associated with its activities: these objects - which include fine furniture, commemorative medals, silver, miniatures, marble busts and pictures - are mainly contained in the headquarters building and have been acquired through bequests, donations, subscription, purchase and gifts from other professional bodies. An insurance valuation of this material carried out by Bonhams in 2010 valued the collection at £4.8 million. The major part of the estimate was the ICE paintings collection (valued at £2.7 million) whose antecedents date to the 18th century and which mainly consists of portraits in the form of oil paintings. Currently the Institution owns over 170 portraits, the vast majority of which are presidential portraits that record the heads of the Institution. This constitutes one of the largest collections of engineer’s portraits in the world. The aim of this paper is to give a brief introduction to the collection and to assess whether any kind of ‘meaning’ can be given to the paintings. | History of the professions, portraiture |
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Dusi, C. | 2015 | ROAM HOME TO A DOME, FROM METAPHOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION: DANTE BINI’S PNEUMATIC FORMWORK THINSHELLED REINFORCED CONCRETE DOMES in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.1, pp. 645-52 | In the two decades following the Second World War, the research on thin shell structures, as final outcome of the evolution of vaulted structures, achieved results today still unsurpassed. New materials, new methods of calculation, together with the research of a renewed positive and rational synthesis between the building and its expression, led to a series of systematic experiences on vaulted structures. Actually, there has been no technique or technology, traditional or innovative, that has not been tested up to its structural and expressive limits, leading to a new typologies: from the architecture created by catalan vaults of Eladio Dieste, Ricardo Porro and Vittorio Garatti, to the progressive improvement of thin concrete shells by Felix Candela and Heinz Isler and to innovative spaces of Richard Buckminster Fuller and Frei Otto. All these researches have also a highly pragmatic approach: through the rationalization and the industrialisation of the construction process, economy, optimal use of the materials, solutions for the new globalized and mass society are sought. Within this context, the work of Dante Bini, architect, Italian by birth and education, who moved in the ’80s to the U.S.A., is an innovative contribution. Bini’s interest in automated methods of construction led to the development of a system, the Binishell, for the construction of thinshelled reinforced concrete domes, improving several previous experiences, i.e. the domes of Wallace Neff and Eliot Noyes. The Binishell system, patented in 1965, is based on the use of a pneumatic formwork, which once inflated, lifts off the ground and put in shape all the materials that makes the structure, i.e. the concrete, the steel reinforcements and the insulation materials. Dante Bini’s construction company built around the world more than 1500 "Binishell": houses, schools, shopping centers and sports centers, in Europe, Australia and U.S.A., even whit monolithic domes up to 40 meters | Development of structural forms. Building techniques, History and construction of specific projects |
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Motamedmanesh, M. and Rückert, K. | 2015 | Form Follows Construction: A Technical Analysis Of The Arch Of Ctesiphon, The Widest Ever Built Adobe Vault in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 31-40 | The Arch of Ctesiphon is not only the landmark of the Sassanian architecture, but it is also one of the masterpieces of architectural engineering, which to this day remains unprecedented in the whole history of construction. The parabolic shape of this widest ever built un-reinforced vault is in complete harmony with thrust lines resulting from the weight of the structure. Despite scholarly efforts toward justifying the reasons for the emergence of this specific form, none of the acclaimed hypotheses gives a definite answer. In this paper, the authors present a new agenda that explains how and why a form similar to that of a hanging chain was used in this building approximately one millennium earlier than the time Robert Hooke commenced his studies of catenary. Studying the gradual development of structural forms and techniques of construction, including the thorough analysis of the ideological background of building trends in ancient times with a particular focus on the Sassanian Persia, help to decipher the complicated geometry of the vault. Notwithstanding the lack of sources for appropriate material, building difficulties and even the absence of what is today called the theory of the analysis of structures, this paper determines how ancient engineers have given rise to their novel achievements. Furthermore, it offers an understanding about how obligations that were rooted in the process of construction, resulted in the emergence of special architectural forms, masterpieces which demonstrate the integration of architectural forms, construction techniques and our ancestors’ perceptions about the universe. | The Sassanian Architecture, Barrel Vault, Corbelling, Pitched-Brick Vault, Catenary, The Golden Proportion |
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Murphy, J. | 2015 | Norman Cherner And DIY After World War II in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 41-8 | The self conscious idea of “doing it yourself” is a twentieth century phenomenon; before that, it is simple to assume that most people did things for themselves. A 1998 publication (and 2002 exhibition at the National Building Museum) called “Do It Yourself: Home Improvement in 20th Century America” provided an overview of the development of the tools and market for do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement; it focuses on the hobbyist with a pre-existing dwelling, rather those seeking alternatives not represented in the marketplace. Although a wealth of houses was available in this post-war market, there were still many who chose or found it necessary to build on their own. This paper will consider the general climate of do-it-yourself (DIY) construction after World War II, and its relationship to modern design and construction by looking at the work of one designer, Norman Cherner, who promoted the idea that one could build one’s own house. Writing first about the making of furniture and toys in the early 1950’s, by the late 1950’s, Norman Cherner had drawn on his experiences of designing and building houses to author the book Fabricating Houses From Component Parts. A soft cover edition was published under the name How to Build a House for $6000; the hard cover edition was aimed at professionals and design schools “under the more technical title of ‘Fabricating a House from Component Parts’. It (was) expected to appeal to architects, builders and design schools”. Acknowledging the need for some specialized labor and subcontracting, the emphasis is on using standard building elements and methods, sometimes in unconventional ways, and to the necessity of securing financing. The appeal to both the layman and the professional, and the promotion of non-traditional building techniques and design sets the work apart from many contemporaneous efforts. | 5ICCH, Residential Construction History, Do-it-yourself, DIY, history and construction of specific projects, furniture, construction in architectural writing |
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Murphy, J. | 2015 | FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND THE SMALL HOMES COUNCIL in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 49-56 | An early beneficiary of funding for housing research was the Small Homes Council at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, established in 1944 at the request of the president of the university to “consider the role of the university in meeting the demand for housing in the United States.”(Building Research Council 2012) As a research group they built demonstration homes to test everything from construction technologies such as site-fabricated roof trusses and wall panels to the development of affordable residential air-conditioning systems and efficient kitchens. Though they self-published much of their research, they also had a close relationship with the Housing and Home Finance Agency’s Division of Housing Research, contributing publications that document in great detail the construction and cost of several houses. The authors of the research papers are also cited as being the builders of the houses, “at their own expense”, with costs recovered after sale of the houses. This paper looks at the impact of both the federal research initiative and industry sponsored investigation in the before, during and after World War II on the development of small, low-cost housing construction, the construction techniques that were developed and tested at the Small Homes Council, and the eventual impact of the Small Homes Council’s work on low-cost housing construction in the United States. | 5ICCH, Light wood frame, Post war housing, Low-cost single-family houses |
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Myjer, I. | 2015 | A COMPARISON OF THE CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF THREE 18TH CENTURY SPANISH COLONIAL MISSION CHURCHES IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 57-66 | The grand churches at Mission La Purisima Concepcion and Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo in San Antonio, Texas are two of the largest and most sophisticated stone masonry structures constructed during the 18th century in the colonial territories that now form the United States. The churches at the other three missions in San Antonio were intended to be as large but they were never completed. Historians have looked at a number of possible reasons why the other churches were not completed including political and economic factors but they have never compared the materials or construction methods at the completed and uncompleted churches. Surveys of the two completed churches Missions San Jose and Concepcion as well as the the uncompleted church at Mission Valero were undertaken by the author while preparing preservation plans for all three structures. The surveys revealed previously undocumented details of their construction as well as differences in the materials and methods used to construct them. One of the principal findings is that the builders of the unsuccessful churches attempted to replicate at three of the missions the technology and approach that was current at the time in Europe, while the builders of the two completed churches selected different materials that enabled them to adopted an approach that is much closer to Roman construction methods than to European construction in the 18th century. | Spanish colonial missions, masonry construction |
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Nozhova, E. | 2015 | Assembled Without Scaffolding: The Construction Of Schukhov’s Timber Lattice Hyperboloids in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 67-74 | The works of the Russian engineer Vladimir Schukhov (1853-1939) relate to the most cited examples of advanced engineering design from the turn of the 20th century. He developed and constructed new structural types such as hanging roofs, arched vaults and hyperbolic lattice structures. Schukhov`s lattice metal towers, patented in 1899, were built without scaffolding, which was feasible due to the special assembly sequence. On the eve of WWII, in a time of metal shortage, timber prototypes of lattice hyperbolic towers were developed: the cooling tower and the water tower for mass production. Researchers from IDB ETH Zürich found the only standing example of the former while the water tower exists in the form of detailed project documentation and a scaled experimental mockup of 1931. The paper focuses specifically on the assembly process of these two timber towers. | Schukhov, lattice hyperboloids, scaffolding, timber structures, tower |
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Ormecioglu, H.T., Kucukdogan, B. and Er Akan, A. | 2015 | BRIDGING THE GOLDEN HORN: A CHALLENGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 75-82 | Bridging Golden Horn was a challenging engineering problem strived since Byzantine period because of the complicated physical conditions of the inlet. Nevertheless, this challenge had remained unsolved until technological threshold of the 19th century. After numerous short-lived wooden bridges, and two steel bridges (Galata and Unkapanı II bridges, 1875) the great leap forward was the construction of the third one (New Galata Bridge, 1912), which would be Istanbul’s first modern bridge on which tramway lines would cross and connect the both shores of Istanbul, and be the first modern floating bridge in the world. The second pontoon bridge for Golden Horn (Gazi Bridge, 1939) was designed in the early years of the Turkish Republic by Piegaud, the vice manager in Ecolé de Ponts et Chausses. Meanwhile, alternative projects had kept on being discussed. American Waddell & Hardesty Consulting Engineers proposal for Gazi Bridge was a vertical lifting deck, a type invented personally by Waddell and applied in many bridges in America since 1890s. Ernst Egli who taught architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Istanbul for long years also put forward a conceptual suspension bridge proposal. Proposals were vividly discussed in the newspapers of the 1930’s. Hence, the project had been not only a popular debate for engineering but also for urbanism and for architecture, on the eve of new planning for Istanbul by Prost and in pursuit of identity and representation of the new republican architecture. Within this framework, this article aims to convey the history of bridging the Golden Horn, which had been far beyond a sole problem of engineering. Together with built and unbuilt projects, it was a multifaceted discussion on engineering, architecture and technology, displaying not only the constructional problems but also the questions of transfer of technology and its social construction together with national identity. | Pontoon Bridge, Vertical Lift Bridge, History and Construction of Golden Horn Bridges |
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Palacios Gonzalo, J.C. and Tellia, F. | 2015 | INCLINED KEYSTONES IN SPANISH LATE GOTHIC in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 83-92 | In European Gothic architecture of the 14th and 15th century, the keystone, that is the stone block placed at the intersection of two or more ribs, has been generally built as a decorated stone boss or a protruding cylinder perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the vault. The geometrical method employed to determine the shape of the block was based on an horizontal plane opportunely translated to the extrados of the keystone, as wonderfully described by Robert Willis in reference to the English Gothic. In Spain, however, most of the gothic ribbed vaults built thorough the 16th century have been characterized by the use of inclined keystones, that are cylindrical keystones whose vertical axis is oriented towards the centre of the vault. This constructive detail of the Late Gothic has been scarcely investigated. At first glance it appears that this change is an aesthetic adjustment to the new taste of the Renaissance: the orientation of the keystones would emphasize the sphericity of the intrados of the vault. A more detailed study reveals that the volume of stone used is notably reduced and the operation of cutting is simplified. Nevertheless, this method requires a new geometric tools, that is the projection on the tangential plane. The faculty of Architecture in Madrid has begun the study of Gothic vaults through the construction of models at 1: 1 scale and the results that refer to this topics have been collected in this paper. We would like to flag out this characteristics of the Late Gothic that has been scarcely investigated through the study of examples in the Spanish Peninsula. | Late Gothic, Vault construction, Stereotomy |
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Pardo Redondo, G. and de Miguel Alcalá, B. | 2015 | PERCEPTION OF THE TOWER BUILDING - NEW YORK 1889 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 93-8 | In 1889 the Tower Building, located at 50 Broadway in New York City, was completed. With eleven stories above ground the 40-meter building was the slenderest building ever built. Its height was six times its width; in comparison, the tallest building in the USA, the Auditorium Building in Chicago (84 m), was as tall as less than two times its width. The nature of the lot, only 6.5 m. wide at its narrowest part, and the need for rental space in Downtown Manhattan urged the architect Bradford Lee Gilbert to work out an innovative solution. Being the traditional construction with thick brick walls impractical, Gilbert came up with a clever solution. He designed a 5-story brick-bearing-wall building over a 6-story metalframe building. At the time of the construction, the vast majority of the buildings in Manhattan were four stories tall. Furthermore, tall buildings in the city were constructed with heavy exterior brick walls and having a low height-to-width ratios. Not without several conflicts, the Board of Examiners of the New York City Building Department approved the design. The concerns of the Board came not only from engineering judgment but rather from public opinion. This building was rare at the time and still is subject to a broad analysis. It was the first time that the modern concept of skeleton construction was used in a building, and therefore it opened minds for the next generation of tall buildings. This paper aims to discuss the perception of the Tower Building and, by analyzing the structure, clarify whether the people’s and engineers’ perception of peril was based on real assumptions. | Early Skyscraper, New York, Building Frame, Cast Iron, Wrought Iron |
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Paskins, J. | 2015 | CONSTRUCTING THE HOVERPORT: BUILDING HOPE, RAISING FEAR in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 99-106 | Ramsgate International Hoverport was the first purpose-built port to operate hovercraft between England and France. Opened in 1969, the hoverport brought a taste of the future to a regional backwater by facilitating the rapid transportation of passengers and vehicles to Calais in forty minutes. The modern buildings and giant hovercraft bore little resemblance to existing maritime infrastructure, yet the construction of the terminal depended heavily on local resources. The existence of the hoverport was intimately connected to the decline of the local coal mining industry, and the region’s ecological, economic and urban future. Delving into the construction of the hoverport, this paper analyses how the location, design and building of the project had deep implications for local communities. I ask how the construction project resonated with economic, social and historical conditions in east Kent and at a national level in the 1960s. My research draws on governmental records, local newspaper reports, material produced by residents’ associations, alongside documentation in the construction press. First, I explore how the construction and operation of the hoverport brought the promise of economic regeneration. Second, I ask how the construction of the hoverport anticipated in a material way the collapse of heavy industry and the development of a leisure and service-based economy. Third, I investigate how opponents of the construction project raised fears of environmental destruction and of neighbourly disruption. I consider how these local concerns reflected broader anxieties about urban expansion and socio-economic change. Ultimately, this paper asserts that construction history is more than analysis of building specifications and materials, but is deeply rooted in social, political and economic factors. | Hovercraft, Infrastructure, Mines, Politics, Ports, Shale |
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Fabbri, M. | 2021 | The City-wall in the Roman Age: The case study of Pompeii. Construction History, 36 No.2, pp 1-21. | The city wall represents an inexhaustible source of information, not only in the domain of military architecture but also in the study of both urban history in general and the different ethnic and cultural composition of the inhabitants of the settlements it enclosed. In the Italo-Roman world the juridical boundary that marked urban space was connected to the building of the city wall. Such an ideal line, delimited by stone cippi, was called pomerium because it was drawn post murum, in Latin, meaning ‘behind the wall’. In this the city wall of Pompeii, by no means represents an exception. Since its foundation the city has been occupied and ruled by peoples of different cultures, experienced many sieges and wars, which initiated important processes of cultural cross fertilization that resulted in the development of new building skills. Information collected about the Pompeii city wall since the eighteenth century has been an essential point of reference for scholars of Roman architecture. In this paper the principal reconstructive hypotheses advanced regarding the succession of different fortification systems over the seven centuries of the life of Pompeii, will be surveyed. In addition an account of new information collected in the course of the recent campaign jointly promoted by the Archaeologic Park of Pompeii and the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” will be presented and briefly examined. | Pompeii, Archaeology, Urban History of the Roman Age, Architecture of the Roman Age, Building techniques of the Roman Age, City-wall, Fortification, Pomerium |
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Holzer, S. | 2021 | On the role of temporary works. From medieval to early industrial construction. Construction History, 36 No. 2, pp 21-40. | Processes on construction sites for buildings rely on temporary works such as scaffolding, centring and lifting equipment. All these auxiliary works are dependent on each other. They are strongly determined by the issues of transport of labour and material on site. The type of crane available has direct consequences on the type of scaffold to be employed, and vice versa. Another important influence is the type of material used. Movement of single largesize blocks requires different auxiliary structures from those used for the transport of large quantities of small materials. The present contribution highlights the interdependencies between scaffolding, cranes, and materials and structures, and attempts to sketch an outline of the history of auxiliary construction site works from Early Medieval to Early Industrial times. | Scaffolding, centring, lifting equipment, temporary works, putlogs, cranes (ginpole, slewing), Gerueste, Hilfskonstruktionen |
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Antipov, I. | 2021 | New type of bricks for a new era: Brickmaking production in medieval Novgorod (late 13th – 15th century). Construction History, 36 No. 2, pp 41-56. | Novgorod was a city in northern Rus’, where the first masonry churches were built in the middle of the eleventh century. The Mongol invasion of 1238–40 became a watershed in the history of the architecture of Early Rus’. A change can be observed in construction practices — Novgorodian builders of late thirteenth century started to use large size and shape “bar bricks” instead of ‘plinthoi’ of the Byzantine type. The bricks of the bar type were the main ceramic building material up to the end of the fifteenth century. The source of this new type of brick is the early Gothic architecture of the Baltic region. The existence of a large number of dated monuments of Novgorodian architecture from the late thirteenth to fifteenth centuries allows us to form an idea of the development of production technology and the evolution of the size of Novgorodian bricks over that time. Characteristics of the moulding and the size and shape of bricks make it possible to date the masonry found during archeological work. The bricks of late thirteenth–fifteenth centuries are compared with the Novgorodian tradition of the pre-Mongol era and the bricks used in the Gothic architecture of the Baltic Sea countries. | brickmaking, mediaeval architecture, Novgorod the Great, moulding of bricks, brick size |
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Parry, K. | 2021 | Our Bridge is Down, what do we do? Repair and maintenance of Marlow’s wooden bridge over the Thames 1620-1820. Construction History, 36 No.2, pp 57-80. | Marlow had a wooden bridge over the Thames for over six hundred years. The bridge was a series of wooden piles, grouped in ranges which were linked together by wooden joists. It was typical of many bridges spanning the Thames between Reading and London. Rents from the Bridge Estate funded bridge repair. Two Bridgemasters, recorded their income and expenditure from 1628-1830. This paper analyses these records. Periods between bridge closure for repairs and its replacement by a ferry averaged eleven years. Usually more than 50% of the total repair cost was for timber. The repair team contained up to ten core workers - three carpenters, ca. six workmen, and in the earlier repairs, a pair of sawyers. Details of their pay rates, team structure and phasing of their employment are given for six repairs spread over 1628-1750. Repairs rarely started before the end of May and were complete by the year end. Most repairs were in four phases: a preparatory phase - purchasing wood, collecting resources; removal and replacement of rotten piles; superstructure repair and making good the roadway. The only complete rebuild was in 1790. In 1830, the County took over bridge management from the Bridgemasters. | Bridge, wooden, Marlow, Thames, repairs, bridgemasters, accounts, maintenance. |
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Zheng, H., and Campbell, J.W.P. | 2021 | History of Early Reinforced Concrete in Modern Shanghai, 1890-1914. Construction History, 36 No.2, pp 81-122. | Structural building technologies played a crucial role in the modernization of Chinese architecture in the twentieth century, none more so than reinforced concrete. Using contemporary sources from China and elsewhere, this paper examines the introduction of reinforced concrete in Shanghai before 1914, the year the Shanghai Municipal Council of the International Settlement began to formulate new building regulations including reinforced concrete. The paper demonstrates that the introduction of reinforced concrete in Shanghai was initially based on the importation of economic systems, knowledge and technology from the West. It shows how this began with the introduction of new technologies in the Western concessions in Shanghai, with Western architects and engineers as the key agents, and imported cement and steel. It also discusses how the development process coped with particular conditions in Shanghai such as poor sub-soils,climate, materials and low-skilled workforce, and how these developments quickly led to the development of a sophisticated local building supply industry, and changes in construction techniques to suit local conditions. | Early twentieth century, Shanghai, reinforced concrete, globalization, localization, China |
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Mugayar Kuhl, B. | 2021 | Railways in São Paulo, Brazil: Impacts on construction culture and on the transformation of the territory (1860-1940). Construction History, 36/2, pp 1234-144. | This article deals with the impacts of railways on construction culture in the State of S.o Paulo. Railway expansion was interconnected with the development of coffee cultivation. In addition to transporting cargo and inputs for agroexport and industrial activities, railways were also responsible for the transport of workers for these activities, which had a significant impact on the migratory flows. The railway expansion process also led to the occupation of areas in the State of S.o Paulo previously populated by native forests, and the growth or creation of cities, resulting in the modification of the entire territory of S.o Paulo. To address this broad theme, this article is structured into four parts. The first part presents data on railways in Brazil and the State of S.o Paulo. Then, some of the disciplinary approaches to the study of railways in S.o Paulo will be discussed, followed by an analysis of the characteristics of the railway lines and buildings, evidencing the impacts of expansion on construction culture. In the last section, the challenges faced today in Brazil in railway studies will be analysed, highlighting the difficulties posed by interdisciplinary approaches and the lack of specific studies on technical building aspects. The conclusions will emphasise the need for a complex approach to the subject. | Brazil, Railways; Sao Paulo; construction culture; transformation of territory; 1860-1940 |
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Stracchi, P. | 2021 | The ghost of Pier Luigi Nervi in Martin Place. The Italian contribution to the design and construction of the MLC Centre and CTA building in Sydney. Construction History 36/2, pp 145-164. | Designed by Harry Seidler with the collaboration of Pier Luigi Nervi and his office in Rome, the MLC Tower in Martin Place, today known as ‘25 Martin Place’,1 is both an icon of modern Australian architecture and one of the last structural concrete skyscrapers. In 1978, the opening of the MLC Tower also heralded the end of a period, which had begun in the 1950s, in which reinforced concrete was used as the preferred structural material for tall buildings and concrete structures were used as the architectural medium. In addition, three Nervi ceilings and one mushroomlike structure were incorporated in the multifunctional podium of the tower. Podium and tower form the so-called MLC Centre (1972-1978). The Centre was completed with the addition of the CTA building which features a mushroom-like structure designed by Nervi in 1973. In implementing these ceilings and structures, different construction techniques had to be developed and finalised to shape the fluid forms in accordance with Nervi’s unmistakable style. By analysing original materials, including letters, drawings and technical reports, which have been conserved in Italy and Australia, this paper traces the design and construction history of these structures. In doing so, this paper highlights the significant, albeit geographically distant, Italian contribution to their design and provides an overview of a pioneering period in the Australian construction industry. | Pier Luigi Nervi, Harry Seidler, Sydney, Australia, skyscraper, concrete, ferrocement. |
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Zwerger, K., & Mallikamarl, S. | 2021 | Granaries in Ban Nam Loung - Testimonies of a Declining Building Culture. Construction History 36/2, pp165-188. | This article results from field research in Northern Laos (2016-2018) exploring granaries as a living tradition of Khmu, a Mon-Khmer speaking people. The evidence presented here derives from documentation work, interviews with a carpenter, and the observation of building repairs. Firstly, Khmu granary’s highly developed carpentry technique is analysed considering different functional requirements - the demand to erect the granaries as weather-resistant and prohibiting all kinds of intruders as well as providing sufficient ventilation for the careful storage of rice. Secondly the paper scrutinises a notion of building development assuming its one-directional evolvement: from simple to complex. Complex being understood as more considered, using better and more refined tools, providing building methods that ensure increased durability and/or less maintenance effort, improving details that facilitate usage and functionality. The analysis reveals quite different conditions driving an unexpected development. Thirdly the article addresses the Khmu people’s flexible approach to material scarcity and the migration to a different geographical environment, foreign economic influences, and societal transformations which caused the change of a traditional structural system at least twice during a lifetime. Despite his impressive efforts our main informant was not successful in sustaining traditional building methods. | Louang Namtha province, Khmu people, granary, building technology, carpentry, material scarcity. Introduction. |
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Pelke, E. and Kurrer, K.E. | 2015 | ON THE EVOLUTION OF STEEL-CONCRETE COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 107-16 | Little has been written so far about the historical development of the joining of rigid elements made from steel and concrete – steel-concrete composite construction. This article therefore describes the individual phases in such a way that the reader gains an overview of the evolution of composite construction with steel and concrete. The composite beam in the sense of Emperger’s ideal of the friction/adhesion bond between the materials marked the initial phase (1850–1900). This was followed by the constitution phase (1900–1925) with its constructional separation of the elements of the cross-section. During the establishment phase (1925–1950) it was gradually realized that the elements of the cross-section had to be connected structurally, initially as positional restraint, later as mechanical shear connector. The quantified connection of the elements of the cross-section through standardized testing and the formation of theories in the classical phase (1950–1975) enabled the realization of multiple forms of steel-concrete composite construction for industrial buildings and bridges. | structural analysis and development of structural forms, use of construction for dating historical fabric |
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Ellowitz, J.C. & Ochsendorf, J.A. | 2015 | CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION HISTORY OF GUASTAVINO VAULTING AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp 31-40. | The R. Guastavino Company constructed structural masonry vaults for wings E and H of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (the Museum) between 1910 and 1912. The construction of these wings represents one of dozens of collaborations between then leading architecture firm McKim, Mead and White and the R. Guastavino Co. In the early 1960s, the Museum relocated the Egyptian and Near- and Far-Eastern galleries to these wings. This, in combination with growing numbers of visitors, significantly increased the loading to be resisted by these vaults, so the Mu- seum demolished them in favor of new steel beams and (presumably) reinforced concrete slabs. Surprisingly, consulting engineers had not performed a thorough structural assessment prior to demolition. The historic vaults, part of a landmark McKim, Mead and White building, warranted appropriate analysis to determine their capacity under increased loading demand. In the absence of such a structural assessment, the vaults were destroyed without quantitative rationale. This paper investigates both the history behind the construction of the vaults in question and the history of the client-engineer decisions that promoted their demolition. Methods include • Drawing on primary resources such as letters and telegrams; • Referencing construction contract documents and sub-contractor accounts; • Referencing contemporary architectural and engineering drawings and elevations. Primary sources reveal that consulting engineers hired by the Museum were unfamiliar with the structural mechanics of unreinforced masonry vaults, and that this unfamiliarity directly precipi tated the decision to demolish the Guastavino vaults in wings E and H. Earlier in the renovation planning process, a structural engineer retained by the R. Guastavino Co., who understood unre- inforced masonry mechanics, assessed the vaults and concluded that they were safe. Nonetheless, the Museum and its consulting engineers persisted in their plan of demoliti | |
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Peters, T. F. | 2015 | RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND WOODEN TRUSS CONSTRUCTION IN THE GERMAN-SPEAKING WORLD in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 117-26 | Construction history has many examples of unexplained bursts of innovation. Why did wooden truss bridges proliferate in the 18th-century German-speaking world and not in England or France? One reason was the availability of old-growth wood and the rise of the academic discipline of forestry; a less obvious one was religious affiliation. Religion played a central role in technology and all other aspects of western culture until the French Revolution secularized education. By far the greatest number of books on wooden bridge building between the mid-17th century and the 1790s were in German, far fewer in French and none in English. All of those written in German were by Protestant authors, and even in France an unexpectedly high percentage were by authors of Huguenot background. Protestant literacy and education fostered the development of wooden bridge construction in the German-speaking areas of Switzerland, Bavaria, Saxony, Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia rather than in the monolithically Anglo- and Roman- Catholic nations Britain and France. The tension between Catholic and Protestant pedagogical thinking in heterogeneous Germanic culture provides a plausible reason, or at least a major factor for the sudden appearance of innovation in this area. This phenomenon was not limited to large-scale structural work alone; the contemporary development of the modern pianoforte and the three-dimensional, multi-pointed “Moravian star” (a pedagogical device to illustrate Monge’s Descriptive Geometry and then an industrially produced Christmas ornament) illustrate that Protestant educational thinking permeated Germanic industrial development generally. | Wooden bridge truss culture education religion Germany |
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Espion, B. | 2015 | THE FOUNDING EVENTS OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE IN BELGIUM SEEN THROUGH THE BLATON ARCHIVES. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp 41-48. | The recent discovery (2013) of the archives of the Belgian contractor Blaton-Aubert who pa- tented and developed in Belgium during the Second World War a system of prestressing concrete by post-tensioning similar to Freyssinet’s has allowed assessing with a new vision the contribu- tion of all actors involved in the early history of prestressed concrete in Belgium. The cross in- fluences of Freyssinet, Magnel and Blaton are analysed, and a precise chronology - which was lacking - of the first prestressed concrete constructions that were realized in Belgium during the war is given. Searching through the Blaton archives has revealed: - the extent of the partnership between the Blaton brothers and Magnel in the promotion and design of the first prestressed concrete projects; - the crucial role of the engineering office of Blaton-Aubert in the detailed design of the pro- jects and the industrial development of the "Sandwich" system; - the role of the representative of Freyssinet in Belgium. An account of the chronological development of the following important projects is given: roof at V. Trief Works, cement silos and gantry at A. Dapsens cement plant in Tournai, the rail- way bridge decks and experimental beam tested in situ at the Rue du Miroir in Brussels, a foot- bridge in Malheide, and a footbridge Rue de Gosselies in Brussels. Thanks to these experimental structures designed or built in the years 1942-1944, Blaton was in excellent position from 1945 onwards to take part to competitions for the construction of buildings and bridges in prestressed concrete, not only in Belgium but also abroad, and Magnel was regarded as a leading authority on prestressed concrete worldwide. | Prestressed Concrete, Post-tensioning, Magnel, Freyssinet, Blaton-Aubert, Sandwich system |
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Plunkett, J.W. and Mueller, C.T. | 2015 | THIN CONCRETE SHELLS AT MIT: KRESGE AUDITORIUM AND THE 1954 CONFERENCE in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 127-36 | This paper presents original research on two historical developments in the field of thin-shell concrete structures in the United States, both at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the 1950s. The first topic is the design and construction of MIT’s Kresge Auditorium (1953-1955), enclosed by a concrete shell on three supports designed by architect Eero Saarinen (1910-1961). The second topic is a seminal conference on the architecture, engineering, and construction of thin concrete shells hosted by MIT in 1954, which included presentations by architect-engineer Felix Candela (1910-1997), engineer Anton Tedesko (1903-1994), architect Philip Johnson (1906-2005), among many important designers and scholars. Both the building and the conference are historically significant, and together, they mark the peak of a design era optimistic about the enduring value of thin-shell concrete structures. However, they also reflect the underlying tensions and contradictions of thin-shell concrete technology that contributed to its limited use in subsequent decades. The project therefore serves as an early example illustrating the limitations of thin-shell concrete applied to arbitrary formal ideas. The concurrent conference often related directly to the design and construction of Kresge Auditorium: both its structural engineer (Charles Whitney, Ammann and Whitney) and contractor (Douglas Bates, George A. Fuller Company) presented papers, and a proceedings summary notes that “this conference has…cantilevered out from Saarinen’s dome.” The conference highlights broad enthusiasm for thin-shell concrete structures, but also reveals disagreements between theoreticians and practitioners, architects and engineers, and designers and builders. This paper gives a critical review of the influential conference, based on conference proceedings and supporting historical documents. | shell structures, Eero Saarinen, thin-shell concrete, twentieth century shell design |
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Etlin, R.A. | 2015 | The strength of Vaults. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp 49-60. | Between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the discourse about vaults radically changed. Whereas previously master masons and architects talked about “la force des voûtes” (the strength of vaults), in the eighteenth century this phrase was replaced by reference instead to “la poussée des voûtes” (the thrust of vaults). This paper explores the meaning of the earlier term, which reveals a broader understanding of structural behavior than is customarily assumed. In effect, the idea behind the “strength of vaults” was to find the shape for a vault that gave it the most strength while reducing its thrust. The first section of this essay addresses the issue of strength derived from the shape of the vault. Historical and modern buildings discussed include the Romanesque church of St.-Hilaire (c. 1130) in Poitiers, Philibert Delorme’s basket-handle arch wooden laminated beams (1561), Jules-Hardouin Man- sart’s vault over the vestibule of the City Hall of Arles (1673-74), and the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (2006). This discussion is followed by a consideration of how the arrangement of stones (appareil) was used to redirect vault thrust in Victor Louis’s Grand Théâtre (1780) in Bordeaux and in the Romanesque church of St.-Philibert in Tournus. The third part discusses the ancient understanding of the virtue of the in- verted catenary as evidenced in the Taq-i-Kisra in ancient Ctesiphon and its relationship to reed struc- tures still built by Marsh Arabs in Iraq. The pure compression structure of the inverted catenary vault is contrasted with the semicircular vault whose thrust was ingeniously turned into an advantage in buildings such as the Pantheon and Hagia Sophia to brace the thrust of the central dome. Earthquake protection is also considered. Part four addresses the subject of the rib vault, offering historical (Delorme) and modern (Jacques Heyman) accounts of the structural function of the rib, while also considering De- lorme’s argument about how tiercerons and l | |
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Predari, G., Mochi, G. and Gulli, R. | 2015 | HISTORICAL CONSTRUCTION IN THE 30’S: THE CASE STUDY OF THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING IN BOLOGNA, ITALY in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 137-44 | Within the current research framework on the comprehension of history and construction of buildings belonging to Modern architecture, the paper deals with the analysis of the Faculty of Engineering in Bologna (Italy), designed by the architect Giuseppe Vaccaro in 1932 and built between 1933 and 1935, which is one of the first reinforced concrete frame structures in Bologna. This research study aims at understanding the relationship between architectural shape and building construction, deepening the design techniques and the structural concept of a highly significant historical and architectural example. The analysis is primarily based on an in-depth examination of the building under the architectural and construction profile, then on the personality of its designer. To better understand the design principles that have led to the construction of the building, following the architectural and structural analysis, the original calculation methodology and the design procedure have been examined. The analysis has been performed from a structural point of view, through the appropriate archival and documentary searches. These research data have allowed to acquire the original structural plants, the calculation report, the construction activities transcripts and the structural details of columns and beams for particular parts of the building, on whose basis the deduction of reinforcing bars’ features has been possible. Furthermore, on the basis of formularies of the time, hypotheses about the materials’ characteristics have been formulated. By combining the found documents with the measurements of the entire building, it has been possible to analyse it in terms of architectural and structural relevance. | History and construction of specific projects, historical buildings, reinforced concrete frames, construction techniques, structural performance |
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Fedorov, S. | 2015 | EARLY PREFABRICATED IRON-RIBBED DOMES: ST. ISAACʼS CATHEDRAL IN ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, 1838 –1841. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp 61-70. | One of the major architectural icons in Petersburg’s historic center, St. Isaac’s Cathedral (1818–1858) has to date fully preserved the ingenious iron structure of its dome (1838–1841). Essentially dealt with in available publications and research papers, it has mostly remained the least studied aspect of this architectural monument (e.g. Nikitin 1939; Shuisky 2005; Montferrand 2009 a,b). This paper represents an attempt to lay the foundation for a comprehensive analysis and appreciation of St. Isaac’s dome as a unique monument of construction history and an attempt to prove the advantages of cast-iron in dome structures of early industrial time. The design planning and construction of St. Isaac’s iron dome were carried out by the architect Auguste de Montferrand in very close collaboration with the largest private metallurgical enter- prise in Petersburg, the iron works of Charles Baird. The prototype for St. Isaac’s dome was that of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London (1697–1710). The latter’s massive conical stone structure was transformed into a “hybrid” ribbed dome structure of prefabricated cast and wrought iron, filled with brickwork made up of hollow clay pots. In 1845, the architect of St. Isaac’s Cathedral publish- ed an album containing elaborate documentation of all the architectural and technical details of his largest work project in Petersburg (Montferrand 1845). Owing to this publication, the Cathedral soon thereafter became widely known in professional circles, which in particular is reflected in the well-known fact that St. Isaac’s structural design concept directly influenced that of the dome of the U. S. Capitol building in Washington, D. C. (1855 –1866), which represents an independent variation of the ribbed iron dome (Bannister 1948).Generally speaking the cast-iron domes of the 19th century have proved to be a kind of cul-de- sac in the further structural development of early dome structures and were consequently replaced by lighter structures of | Development of structural form, Iron architecture, St. Isaac᾽s Cathedral in St. Petersburg, August Ricard de Montferrand, Charles Baird, William Handyside. |
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Fivet, C., Zastavni, D., & Ochsendorf, J.A. | 2015 | WHAT MAURICE KOECHLIN’S SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION TELLS ABOUT HIS LIFE (1856-1946). Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp 71-78. | In 1879, then 23-year-old Maurice Kœchlin became the lead structural engineer of Gustave Eiffel’s construction company founded 13 years before. Together, they pushed the boundaries of steel and iron structural design. They were responsible for the design of the Garabit viaduct (1879-1884), the Tarde viaduct (1881-1884), the inner reinforcement of the Statue of Liberty (1881-1886) and the 300 meter-high tower in Paris (1884-1889). In 1900, Kœchlin succeeded Gustave Eiffel to head the company, a position he held until his retirement in 1940. Whereas Maurice Kœchlin’s engineering works are known by many and considered as masterpieces, very little is known about his written scientific contribution. This paper first attempts to draw a comprehensive list of Kœchlin’s publications. A total of 28 have been identified among which one book and 14 papers provide original findings on struc- tural engineering science. Written between 1884 and 1925, they address the resolution of specific structural problems using graphic statics or numerical methods, they develop the design process of structures built by the Eiffel Company or they describe pioneering implementations for steel. As this original survey sheds new lights on Kœchlin’s research interests and their chronolo- gy, the paper also restates Maurice Kœchlin’s influence on the introduction of graphic statics in French-speaking Europe and further contextualizes the collaboration between Maurice Kœchlin and Gustave Eiffel and the contribution of Maurice Kœchlin to the Société de constructions devallois-Perret. | Gustave Eiffel, Karl Culmann, 19th century, graphic statics, journal papers |
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Quist, W.J. | 2015 | J.A. VAN DER KLOES (1845-1935). A PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY OF THE FIRST DUTCH PROFESSOR IN BUILDING MATERIALS in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 145-52 | Prof. Jacobus Alida van der Kloes (1845-1935) was appointed teacher in building materials at the “Polytechnische school” of Delft in 1882. From 1905 until his retirement in 1915 he was promoted to full professor on the subject of knowledge and research of building materials at the “Technische Hoogeschool Delft”, the predecessor of the current Delft University of Technology. Van der Kloes is well known in the Netherlands for his – over one thousand pages - magnum opus “Onze Bouwmaterialen” (Our Building Materials) that was first published in 1893 and followed by a revised edition in 1908 and followed by a third revised edition in 1923. Less known is that, together with different academic and professional co-authors, he published several manuals for craftsmen, for building in the Dutch colonies and reports on different topics. His manual for the bricklayer and stonemason has even been translated and published into English and German. Also other publications in German, English and French are known, for example in the journal of the International Association for Testing Materials. Van der Kloes was editor in chief of the (weekly magazine “De Ambachtsman” (the craftsman), published from 1885 until 1905 and he published frequently in other Dutch architectural magazines such as “Bouwkundige Bijdragen” and “Architectura”. Many of his magazine publications cover topics of new inventions, discussions on durability of certain materials, testing methods or techniques for good craftsmanship. Recent publications and reports on early twentieth century architecture and building materials suggest that prof. Van der Kloes was the one and only authority in the field of building materials in the Netherlands and that he, almost personally, invented all new techniques and materials. This paper investigates whether this is true or a myth by describing, categorizing and analyzing his writings. | Van der Kloes, Biography, Bibliography, Craftmanship, Building Materials, Delft University of Technology |
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Radelet-de Grave, P. | 2015 | THE CATENARY AS INSPIRATION in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 153-62 | Even if we oversimplify the problem of architectural design, it still depends on three completely different criteria, namely, technical, mechanical and aesthetic. Technical criteria tell how to build with the materials at one’s disposal and how to determine the best ways to put them together. The mechanical criteria are the laws nature imposes to assure stability for example. Finally, esthetic criteria are more contingent and less well defined. The three criteria are not independent and vary also in time and space. The techniques used to build vaults and the mathematical knowledge of the catenary itself, as well as the knowledge of the laws of nature that describe the role it plays in stability, vary greatly from one epoch to another. For these reasons, the aim of this paper is to analyze the evolution of the role played by the catenary in the design of vaults or cupolas from three different points of view: those of the history of mathematics, of mechanics and of architecture. | Catenary, Parabola, Arc, Cupola, Parallelogram law |
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Fleury, F., & Duprat, B. | 2015 | ANALYSIS OF AN UNPUBLISHED TREATISE OF AN 18th Century ENGINEER, ANTOINE D’ALLEMAN (1679-1760). Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp79-86. | Military culture has occupied a central place in the constitution of constructive knowledge amongst the French intellectual elite since the beginning of the 17th century. The royal engi- neers, whose trade is rapidly institutionalized and developing in the 17th and 18th centuries, are important agents and vectors of this complex of practical knowledge backed by geometry, math- ematics and the new physics. Despite the recent scientific advances in structural mechanics and strength of materials, it is mainly the knowledge in geometry and mathematics that are put forth in the military architecture and engineering treatises as fundamental and strategic for the engineer, be they considered as prerequisites for access to the physical sciences, as necessary tools for good design and their in- field concretization, or as a reliable training method of rational thinking. Antoine d’Alleman is “Chevalier and citizen” of the city of Carpentras, which at the time was the capital of the Comtat Venaissin. He is a specimen of this generation of architects and engineers, having studied a good number of military and scientific treatises, implementing his knowledge throughout a long career as topographer surveyor and hydraulics engineer in this pa- pal territory, an independent state landlocked in the French kingdom. He designed and conducted in the Comtat important civil engineering works representative of those undertaken in the neigh- boring French provinces by the Corps of military engineers: roads, dikes, canals, aqueducts and water supply for cities, cartography. He also designed important buildings, hospitals, churches and chapels, at Carpentras and Orange. Besides his professional activity, he undertook the pro- ject of writing a treatise of architecture. The review of the mathematical parts of these manuscripts informs us of the relationship that such an engineer could establish between theory and practice: a partial mathematization of the topographer surveyor’s graphical an | Engineering trade, applied geometry, 18th century, unpublished treatise, Antoine d’Alleman, France. |
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Rauhut, C. | 2015 | Bauplatzstatik – How Structural Theory Altered Average Building Processes And How Daily Routine Influenced Structural Analysis in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 163-70 | With the advent of structural theory in the nineteenth century, calculation and dimension processes began to be implemented in the design of various building elements. Structural theories and their models were used to explain the properties and performance of iron trusses, vaults and reinforced-concrete elements, amongst others. This development resulted in the creation of novel structures, a growing importance of the civil engineering discipline, an expansion of systematic material testing, etc., all of which are aspects of construction history that have been researched rather thoroughly. However, almost completely neglected is the question of how this development changed the building processes on typical construction sites in the nineteenth century, such as those of housing, shops and schools. Moreover, the influence that these building practices have had on the structural analysis used at the time has only been scarcely discussed. The first part of the paper discusses the implementation of structural calculations within the setting of a 1900’s construction site: Were design and building processes being altered? Who designed the structures? Who was in charge of the calculations? The second part analyzes the structural analysis used and shows how the calculations were altered for application on construction sites. The reasons for modification are discussed (such as constraints in the building process and the idea that certain aspects could be neglected in practice), as well as the significance of these modifications. The main source of evidence for this line of argument is the analysis of the specific planning processes for a reinforced-concrete ceiling. The case is taken from the construction site of a municipal office building in Zurich during 1900, which can be seen as a representative site for typical building processes at the time. | Structural theory, structural analysis, construction site, role of engineers, reinforced concrete |
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Frame, R.M. | 2015 | PRESTRESSED SUBURBIA: A NEW MATERIAL IN POSTWAR CONSTRUCTION. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp 87-94. | Post-World War II suburban communities needed infrastructure—schools, stadiums, church- es—in addition to houses. For commerce, developers created shopping centers and industrial parks with expansive low-rise buildings. The limited-access Interstate Highway System, launched in 1956, required thousands of bridges of standardized design and size. Architects, en- gineers, and contractors stressed speed, economy, and efficiency of construction over complex and unique architectural styles. Prestressed-concrete components, new on the market, provided one solution. Not only was a prestressed-concrete beam stronger, longer, and lighter than its rein- forced-concrete counterpart, it was the product of off-site, assembly-line manufacturing, result- ing in reduced costs and faster production. Faced with a nationwide steel shortage in the early 1950s, engineers turned to prestressed concrete components for availability and lower cost. Largely developed in Europe, postwar prestressed-concrete technology arrived in the U.S. in the form of Philadelphia’s Walnut Lane Bridge, a precast, post-tensioned beam bridge completed in 1950. At the same time, another significant but short-lived model was the post-tensioned block-beam bridge of engineers Bryan and Dozier in Tennessee. Their simple technique required minimal plant infrastructure and provided the model for early prestressed bridges and structures in several states, including Minnesota. In the decade after Walnut Lane, individual states followed various routes to implementation of prestressed concrete in bridge construction, especially for Interstate bridges. Meanwhile, other firms developed prestressed-concrete components adapted for buildings and structures. Engi- neers in Florida and Colorado pioneered double-tees and other structural members. Entrepreneurs sold proprietary systems for prestressed-concrete planks, along with licensed extrusion machines to cast them. The pre-casting plants themselves were often built in areas | Concrete, Prestressed, History, Bridges, Construction, Suburbia |
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Friedman, D. | 2015 | ABOVE-GROUND ARCHAEOLOGY OF DEMOLISHED BUILDINGS. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp95-102. | Building archaeology, the study of buildings as physical artifacts to reveal their history, is most typically used by people studying extant buildings or standing ruins; the study of buried and abandoned foundations is closer to traditional archaeology. However, there is another possi- bility in construction history: we can study extant above-ground traces of buildings that have been demolished when those traces are preserved by neighboring structures. There are several mechanisms by which a building can leave above-ground traces after its de- molition. The most obvious is the presence of party walls, bearing walls that are shared by two adjoining buildings. The demolition of one building cannot include the demolition of the party wall, as that would destabilize the second building, and face of the wall exposed by demolition is changed from interior to exterior. Details of the interior structure of the demolished building are visible as remnants or scars on the exposed face: the location and geometry of stairs, partitions, floor and roof joists, and fireplaces and flues may all become visible. A new building may be built that incorporates an old wall, and may show these remnants on both the inside and outside wall faces. New buildings may be constructed with accommodations for adjacent older struc- tures, such as chimney extensions or geometry that wraps around old projections. New buildings may hide remnants of windows and doors of demolished structures, or the removal of buildings may allow new windows to be opened in previously inaccessible locations on neighboring struc- tures. Physical history is often studied within single buildings that have complex construction histo- ries, such as medieval cathedrals, or in efforts to virtually reconstruct ancient monuments, but can be of use in studying ordinary buildings in city centers. Adjacent buildings with different owners are in many cases treated as independent structures, even when the presence of party walls is | |
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Fritzsch, A. | 2015 | INNOVATION AND RECEPTION: HISTORIC HEATING SYSTEMS IN EUROPEAN MUSEUM ARCHITECTURE OF THE 1ST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp103-110. | ere invented at the turn of the 19th century, predominantly for factory buildings and greenhouses. In the following five decades they developed from curiosities to an independent branch of industry and conquered the newly emerging architecture of ad- ministration, ecclesiastical, cultural and industry buildings. The main inventions and systems of the individual types of central heating from this period were named in general in older publications such as Vetters Bericht as well as in the current publications written by E. Gallo and C. Manfredi and individual examples were described in more detail. A detailed treatment, comparing the individual central heating types in terms of construction, function principles, integration, dimensions and performance is lacking to date. This paper outlines, how this ‘gap’ can be closed, by presenting in detail three selected cen- tral heating systems of one building type and comparing them with one another in accordance with the aforementioned criteria. The first independent European museum buildings are particu- larly appropriate for such a comparative treatment. A Europe-wide comparison furthermore facil- itates a conclusion as to what extent the British technical innovations were absorbed or modified. The following representative heating systems are considered in this paper: • The steam heating system in Dulwich Picture Gallery, near London (1812) • The hot air heating system in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich (1822-36) • The hot water heating system in Neues Museum in Berlin (1841-55). Through these three buildings, a wide net is cast over the three main central heating types (steam, hot water and hot air heating) as well as the designated period (1st half of the 19th century). The results indicate that one of the main driving forces of the industrial revolution, the steam engine, was also the breeding ground for central heating and that the scientific findings of ther- modynamics were used for the dimensioning of the he | services , heating |
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Fuentes, P., & Huerta, S. | 2015 | CROSSED-ARCH VAULTS IN LATE-GOTHIC AND EARLY RENAISSANCE VAULTING: A PROBLEM IN BUILDING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp111-118. | Crossed-arch vaults are a particular type of ribbed vaults. Their main feature is that the ribs that form the vault are intertwined, forming polygons or stars and leaving an empty space in the middle. The firsts appear in Córdoba in the second half of the 10th Century. Afterwards, the type diffused through Spain and North Africa, 11th -13th Centuries. These vaults reappear in Armenia in the 13th Century. In the 14th and 15th Century a few examples are found both in England (Durham, Raby) and Central Europe (Prague, Landshut, Vienna). At about the same time, Leo- nardo da Vinci produced designs for the Tiburio (Ciborium) of Milan cathedral with a cross- arched structure and proposed tests to assess the strength; he also, made use of the same pattern of vault for Renaissance centralized churches. Eventually, the type can be tracked through the 17th (Guarini) and 18th (Vittone) Centuries, until Spanish post war architecture in the 1940-60s (Moya). Some questions arose, which so far, have not been answered. How was it possible that a particular type of vault had such enormous geographical spread? How was it transmitted from Córdoba to the Caucasus? The matter is one of transfer of knowledge, ideas, and technology; it relates both aesthetics and construction. | Rib Masonry Vaults, Building technology transfer, Leonardo, Late-Gothic vaulting |
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Fuhrmann, R. | 2015 | THE EVOLUTION OF STREAMLINED AIRSHIP HANGARS. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp119-126. | After 1908 the airship became an important aircraft for military and civil use, especially in Ger- many. Until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the hangars that housed them came in a num- ber of different designs. Most used door wings, the idea being, that the open doors would act as windbreaks and thus protect the airships against dangerous crosswinds when entering or leaving the hangar. In actuality, however, the surfaces of these doors in conjunction with the angular shape of the hangar itself disrupted the laminar flow of the environment, creating vortices that were even more dangerous than the crosswinds. One exception was the airship hangar designed by little-known German engineer Ernst Meier in 1910 and built in Dresden in 1913. Meier’s hangar used spherical gable closures, later referred to as “orange-peel doors”. This design avoid- ed the dangerous vortices of the door-wing design and had an important impact on the large post- war airship hangars in Germany and abroad, especially in the United States. This paper will begin with a quick history of airship hangars before focusing on Meier’s first orange-peel door hangar in Dresden in 1913, showing how it differed from its predecessors and contemporaries. It will then look at the impact of this design on subsequent hangars, most notably the Airdock in Akron, Ohio, from 1929. Akron Airdock, still existing today, was directly influenced by Meier’s Dresden design. It was a great success and a benchmark for all future air- ship hangars, like those in California, Massachusetts and North Carolina. In addition to the in- ventor of this type of airship hangar, Ernst Meier, this paper will also show other engineers who enhance the aerodynamic hangar design, including Wolfgang Klemperer, Karl Arnstein, Paul Helma, Alfonso de la Peña Bœuf and Anton Tedesko. Until now the construction history of airship hangars has either been investigated in a structural perspective (Sonntag 1913) (Wulf 1997) or from an angle focus | hangar, wind load, aerodynamics in architecture, streamlined shape |
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Gallo, E. | 2015 | PARISIAN SWIMMING POOLS OF THE NINETEENTH AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURIES, EXAMPLES OF “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” AND SAVINGS. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp127-134. | While studying the restoration purpose, the architectural organization, technical equipment and devices of the Henri Sauvage’s 1926 rue des Amiraux swimming pool, I discovered that since 1783 most Parisian swimming pools systematically recycled energy, using natural warm water or existing embodied energy. Some swimming pools were reused the heat of an existing boiler, often a steam boiler (pump or not) or gas plant. Other pools used natural warm water flowed from artesian wells, an early use of geothermal energy. Few examples fits in buildings or part of buildings already existing and thus, saved a great amount of building costs. The housing block surrounding the Amiraux swimming pool forms an insulation mass around the sports area. This paper presents a series of case studies of a variety of such recycling systems. The choice of those systems was certainly economic but perhaps also moral. At that time, arming such im- portant volume of water, just for leisure, was not considered as a relevant idea. | Swimming Pool History, Grey Energy, Energy Recycling |
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Garcia Bano, R., & Calvo Lopez, J. | 2015 | ABOUT AN EARLY 16TH-CENTURY STONECUTTING MANUSCRIPT IN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SPAIN AND THE ORIGINS OF MODERN STEREOTOMY. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp135-142 | A fair number of Early Modern stonecutting manuscripts are preserved in the National Li- brary of Spain in Madrid. One of them, Ms. 12686, includes a number of drawings of trumpet squinches, arches, rear-arches and barrel, groin and rib vaults, including the templates used to dress the voussoirs of these members. Most of the drawings carry along an explanatory text. Up to 1998, the manuscript was considered a derivative of the well-known stonecutting ma- nuscript of Alonso de Vandelvira (c. 1580; see Barbé-Coquelin de Lisle 1977, 29-30). However, Javier Gómez-Martínez (1998, 31-32) posited than some features in the square and rectangular rib vault drawings in the manuscript, such as the combination of loops around the main keystone and curved ribs connecting the ends of the tiercerons and the keystone of the wall ribs, are only present in a number of vaults around Cuenca. However, within these examples, the church at Garcinarro is the only one to include rectangular-plan vaults. All this led Gómez-Martínez to attribute the manuscript to the designer and builder of the Garcinarro church, Pedro de Alviz. This attribution seems rather likely, since there are a number of similarities between the ste- reotomic solutions in Ms 12686 and the Vandelvira manuscript, in particular the extensive use of triangulation and Alonso de Vandelvira’s father, Andrés, was the son-in-law and close collabora- tor of Francisco the Luna, who had assessed the work of Alviz at the parish church of Priego (Galera 2000, 11-14; Rokiski 1980). All this would place the date of the manuscript or its origi- nal source in the 1540s, earlier than the first known texts of classical stonecutting, the manu- scripts of Hernán Ruiz (c. 1550) and Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón (c. 1550), predating by two dec- ades the first printed book on classical stereotomy, the treatise by Philibert de l’Orme (1567).Anyhow, there is an alternative hypothesis that cannot be discarded from the start: the set of drawings may ha | Stereotomy, stonecutting, rib vault, Francisco de Luna, Pedro de Alviz, Vandelvira |
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Garcia Garcia, R. | 2015 | SPATIAL STRUCTURES IN SPAIN 1950-1970. FIRST EXPERIENCES BEFORE THE STANDARDIZED SYSTEMS. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp143-152. | The first steel spatial structure for a roof dated in Spain was erected in 1952. From this pio- neer experience authored by Eduardo Torroja and Florencio del Pozo, a series of other interest- ing realizations were followed by different architects and engineers. A special characteristic of all these early experiences was the limited availability of bars and manufactured elements spe- cific for the special complexity of this kind of structures. For example, it was not until 1962 that steel tubes could be used in a spatial truss in Spain. Before that, ingenious solutions with stan- dard rolling profile elements were employed. In spite of these difficulties, from the beginning of the 60s, simple ways of union between bars were developed and the first important structures of this type were assembled in Spain. Af- ter several previous experiences, at the end of the decade, engineers Bueno y Calavera designed and constructed a roof for a sport arena in Madrid covering a rectangle of 70 x 50 m. The joints of the structural elements were always welded and an extensive use of skilful labor was needed. Only some years later but already in the early 70s, the engineers Calavera and González Valle built the most important spatial truss of this early period: the roof for the National Cattle Market in Torrelavega (Cantabria). The solution there was a low rise vault measuring 250 x 60 m. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze the particular systems used in Spain these first years, a period leading to the outbreak of international patents later widely used as Mero and others. The Spanish experiences shall be exemplified by their most outstanding achievements, but also by other minor but interesting examples of a more peculiar character. Among them de- serves mention the removable system developed by the designer Carrillo Figueras and used for the Spanish Pavilion of the Teheran 1969 exhibition. For all of them it was not only important the structural design but also the m | History, construction, projects, building techniques, spatial structures, spatial grids, spatial trusses, Spain |
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Garcia Munoz, J., & Magdalena Layos, F. | 2015 | EQUILIBRIUM AND PREFABRICATION. PREFABRICATED BRICK VAULTS IN LATIN AMERICA. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp153-160. | Since mid-twentieth century several groups of Latin American architects and engineers, be- ing experts in both the rich tradition of the ceramic construction in Latin America and the inno- vations brought by modern architecture, implemented an innovative and different brick architec- ture. An architecture different in the forms and materials it used, full of reclining walls, crossed arches or roofs that looked like vaults but were not exactly so. Large reinforced ceramic build- ings by Eladio Dieste are the best known examples of this revitalization, but many other systems, with smaller results in scale but not in interest, also arose in that period. One of this innovative architectural systems was the so called "prefabricated brick vault". These vaults were, in essence, brick vaults built with conventional ceramic tiles, and they had some elements in common with vernacular systems, especially with tile vaults, but were different from them on an essential point; unlike conventional vaults, these precast vaults were not built directly into its final position in the building, but prefabricated using a mold off-site in a work- shop, and lifted by mechanical or manual means to their final position in construction. This paper aims to detail the most interesting examples built with this system, mainly between the 1960s and 1970s, and to remark the differences with other contemporary systems. | Tile vaults, prefabrication, shells, Latin America. |
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Gasparini, D.A. | 2015 | WHISTLER, HOWE AND STONE: THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE WESTERN RAILROAD’S BRIDGE OVER THE CONNECTICUT RIVER 1840-1841. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp161-168. | The Western Railroad’s charter was to construct a railroad from Worcester, Massachusetts (MA) to West Stockbridge on the MA-NewYork border. The principal engineers for the line were William G. McNeill, William H. Swift and George W. Whistler, all protégés of the engi- neer Stephen H. Long. The Railroad authorized the construction of a bridge in the village of Warren, MA using a new truss form devised by William Howe, a builder who worked with Amasa Stone. Howe improved Long’s 1830 patent design by introducing wrought iron vertical rods and bearing blocks notched into the chords. These changes, for which Howe was granted a U.S. patent in August 1840, had a profound effect on ease of construction and reliability of the truss. Chief Engineer Whistler clearly recognized this, adopted the form, and awarded Howe and Stone the prized contract for the construction of the Connecticut River Bridge. The bridge that was designed and built was a single-track, through Howe truss with seven 180ft spans. The white pine trusses were 18ft deep and continuous over the interior supports. The sizes of the chords, diagonals and iron rods did not vary along the span. One of the most im- portant advantages of Howe’s truss was the ease of pre-fabrication, fit-up, disassembly, and on- site re-assembly. For weather protection, the trusses were “boxed-in,” and to guard against fire the entire floor was covered with tin sheets. The Connecticut River Bridge, completed in July 1841, was a transformative achievement for railroad bridge design and construction both in the U.S. and internationally. Overnight the West- ern Railroad abandoned Long’s truss; all its bridges west of Springfield as well as all the bridges on the railroad connecting West Stockbridge and Albany NY were Howe trusses. The design was broadly and quickly adopted by the expansive American railroads. The 1843 book by Weale and the 1845 book by Ghega contributed to the dissemination of the Howe truss in Europe and, on Whistler’s | Western Railroad, Connecticut River Bridge, George Whistler, William Howe, Amasa Stone |
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Ghoche, R. | 2015 | TOWARDS A PARABOLIC ARCHITECTURE: THE PARABOLA AS POLEMIC IN MID-NINETEENTH-CENTURY FRENCH ARCHITECTURE. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp169-176. | This paper continues on a theme first broached in my contribution to the 4th International Congress on Construction History in Paris, which dealt with the symbolic use of the parabolic form in S.-C. Constant-Dufeux’s tomb for Dumont d’Urville (1844). Here I delve a little more deeply into the ever-recurring form of the parabola in iron projects for the concours de construction at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. I examine a project for a parish church by François Dainville, designed for concours of 1846. I discuss its use of parabolic arches for the clerestory windows of the nave, and examine the complex geometries of the iron vaulting system. | Nineteenth-Century Architecture, France, École des Beaux-Arts, Parabola |
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Giannetti, I. | 2015 | THE ITALIAN STORY OF FERDINANDO INNOCENTI’S TUBOLAR SCAFFOLDING (1934-64). Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp177-184. | How were realized the reinforced concrete works of Italian structural art in the dimension of the handcrafted construction site? The construction process of the arch bridges of the Autosole or the Pier Luigi Nervi’s Palasport domes based its challenge on a unique construction tool: the In- nocenti tubular scaffolding. Deus ex machina of this revolutionary construction tool was Ferdinando Innocenti, a black- smith who, grew up in the paternal laboratory, patented in 1934 a revolutionary “device for unit- ing tubes of metallic structures”, consisting of a clamping bolt with a T-shape head and a hinge. Of rapid assembly, portable, reusable and much more cost-effective than traditional timber fram- ing, the system immediately established itself on the national building and still outstands among the steel products manufactured in Italy. In the Thirties, it was applied to reinforced concrete construction projects, to set up imposing, temporary works to suit the needs for Fascist propaganda, and also for military use. In post-war years, following the establishment of a new company (Ponteggi Tubolari Dalmine Innocenti) founded by a team of structural engineers, the system was used in the construction of awe- inspiring, dismountable and portable steel tube scaffolds designed to support viaducts connecting the new motorways. In 1958, the transfer of the scaffold to be applied to the construction of the twin arch bridge across the Aglio river along the Autostrada del Sole was a pioneering technolo- gy performance. During the same months, even Pier Luigi Nervi used the pipe joint system to combine the precast and cast-in place components of his Palasport domes. In the 60’s, as the system had risen fast on international scene, construction gradually turned to more standardised solutions. Between 1961 and 1963, the pipe joint system was used in the construction of the last arch bridges connecting the Autostrada del Sole in the Florence-Rome. That anticipated also the end of th | History of the specific builders, History and construction of specific projects, Development of construction tools and scaffolding |
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Gil Crespo, I-J. | 2015 | LATE MEDIEVAL RAMMED EARTH TECHNIQUE IN THE FORTIFICATIONS OF CASTILE, SPAIN. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp185-192. | Rammed earth was used as technique in several late medieval fortifications (14th-15th centuries) in the Crown of Castile. The paper analyzes three representative examples: the castle of Palenzuela, the outer walls of the castle of Turégano, and the castle of Fuentidueña. These three castles were palatine residences of several Manors. Despite their late construction, several of these castles have been erroneously dated as Islamic. The three castles have been built with lime-crusted rammed earth. The putlog holes are passant and they are formed by a lintel of stones placed over the putlogs to allow their extraction; this is the prevalent rammed earth technique during the Late Middle Age in the Christian Spain and it is different to the Islamic. The study of the techniques is fundamental to, by establishing chronological and constructive types, propose an approximate dating when there are no architectural, aesthetic or documental criteria that yielded that information. | Spain, castle, putlog, modulation |
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Giron, J. | 2015 | THE "PARALLEL" AND THE COMPARATIVE METHOD IN JEAN RONDELET TRAITÉ THÉORIQUE ET PRATIQUE DE L’ART DE BÂTIR. Proceedings of 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp193-200. | In Jean-Baptiste Rondelet’s Traité théorique et pratique de l’art de bâtir parallels and charts which compare construction information frequently appear as relevant features. However, Midleton and Baudoin-Matuszek’s (2007) masterful study on Rondelet does not value them so much. This communication proposes to revisit the relevance of this features, taking into account the context in which they appear: a treatise that aimed to be a course and also, the first treatise on comparative construction. Firstly, we shall examine the context that legitimated a project of comparative construction. At the beginning of the XVII century, in the Académie Royale d’Architecture, the search of rules through a comparative method was already a common approach when dealing with other archi- tectural issues; this same approach began to expand to constructive elements (Desgodet’s domes). And in the middle of this century (with Patte) some voices started to demand the use of parallels in compared construction studies. Then, we shall review how Rondelet ambitious project may be seen as a reaction to that chal- lenge, and how he could find in his preparatory travel to Italy a validation for his method, as he had the occasion to know that scientists (Lalande, La Condamine, Jacquier) had been as well col- lecting and comparing measurements of ancient buildings in their enquiries. Finally, we shall evaluate the results obtained by Rondelet. Charts and Parallels proved to be less useful to determine design rules than expected. Nevertheless, some of them eventually served in some specific cases (stability of walls) to delimit a range of safe measures, or they were useful to verify different design formulas. The ratio tables of walls surface and supports versus space covered and the parallels associated to them were eventually destined to define a new cri- teria for evaluating whole systems of construction: their economy of constructive material. | Parallel, comparative, method, construction, Rondelet |
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Gleave, D.R., Ochsendorf, J.A., & Kemp, E. | 2015 | HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE TIMBER STRUCTURES OF LEMUEL CHENOWETH. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp201-210. | Lemuel Chenoweth was a carpenter and bridge builder who played a key role in the de- velopment of the infrastructure of Virginia during the mid-19th century. Theodore Burr and Lew- is Wernwag are among the designers who influenced the structure and construction of his bridg- es, two of which are currently standing in West Virginia. His structures include the 155-foot span Beverly Covered Bridge, the famous Philippi Covered Bridge, which was the site of the first Civil War land battle, and the Tygarts Valley Presbyterian Church, designed by Isaac Pursell, an architect of English Gothic Revival churches across the eastern United States. Chenoweth built over a dozen bridges in what is now West Virginia before construction was halted by the Civil War. The bridges at Barrackville and Philippi are standing today, along with the Presbyterian Church. This paper will establish Chenoweth’s contributions to timber construction in the 19th Century United States. His major works will be discussed, drawing on primary sources such as bridge contracts and his structures that remain standing after more than a century. Focus will be centered on the timber covered bridges at Beverly, Barrackville, Philippi, and Marlinton, all of which were located in West Virginia and were combined arch-trusses built using timber of local oak and yellow poplar. The importance and history of the bridges will be explored, including a brief summary of structural modifications through their lifetimes. Typical details of his bridges will also be discussed with reference to their structural performance and construction. An exam- ple is timber truss connections pinned by a single iron through bolt, which is similar to the“Economy Bridge” method of construction used by Wernwag.Finally, the structure of the bridge at Beverly will be discussed. The bridge was demol- ished in the 1950s and no plans or drawings of the bridge exist. A recreated geometry of the bridge is proposed based on examination of historica | Covered Bridges, Timber Construction, Bridge Engineering |
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Gomez, M. | 2015 | DEFINING MODERN IN POSTWAR AMARILLO: THE SCHELL- MUNDAY CO. AND THE 1947 PERMA-STONE PROTEST. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp211-221. | From the 1930s to the 1950s, Perma-Stone, Formstone and similar wonder-claddings began transforming façades across America. Artificial stone veneers offered a low-cost option to mid- dle-class Americans seeking to beautify and modernize their homes or businesses. This paper considers the consequences of “modernization” by examining the conflict between the aggres- sive marketing of these materials and a traditional, craft-based building culture. In the summer of 1947, local bricklayers and tile setters in Amarillo, TX would make front- page news by staging a picket line at the Tri-State Fairgrounds to protest the application of Per- ma-Stone. The clash between tradesmen, outraged that despite their skills in construction they had been deemed unqualified to apply the veneer, and the Schell-Munday Company, the region’s exclusive Perma-Stone dealer, brought conflicting ideas about tradition and innovation, authen- ticity and economy to a head. This paper uncovers the degree to which both consumers and tradesmen were willing to accept Perma-Stone’s artificiality, as long as an appearance of tradi- tion was maintained. For consumers this meant a modern, maintenance-free ideal in the guise of familiar aesthetics. Likewise, tradesmen attempted to recast the industrial nature of its applica- tion as a conventional building process. This paper argues that in each case, homebuyers and homebuilders found in Perma-Stone the opportunity to define what it meant to be “modern” in postwar America. | Perma-Stone, Artificial Masonry, Postwar Building, Construction History Abstract |
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Gonzalez-Redondo, E. | 2015 | FIRST IRON STRUCTURES IN BUILDINGS: A FIREPROOF TRANSITION CASE STUDY IN MADRID. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp221-228. | Timber-framed structures, including structural walls, floors and roofs and buildings from two to six stories, were built in Madrid from sixteen to nineteen hundred. Since 1878, the new iron structures such as the cast iron columns, the wrought iron structures in floors, roofs and stairs together with the first elevators, started being commonly used in new residential buildings; the most common construction system for most structural walls, some floors and roofs remained timber. The last decades of the eighteen hundreds mark the start of a transition period from tim- bered skeletons to the new iron skeletons. Construction books written at that time referred a con- struction practice widely spread, while original projects consulted have revealed that only a fa- cade plan and short information of works were included. A selection of original projects discovered containing some written and graphic evidence, to- gether with buildings that have been preserved, used as case studies, and construction details found in construction books, will be analysed. They will show most important features bringing up more details. Main facts have been taken from records found in the Historical Archive of No- taries Protocols of Madrid (AHPM), the Historical Archive of the town of Madrid (AVS) and the Historical Archives of the Official College of Architects of Madrid (COAM). A review of these first iron structures, which replaced the timbered old ones, will be introduced to discussion. The research carried out in the Historical Archive of Notaries Protocols of Madrid (AHPM), where documents more than 100 years old can be consulted, has led to the discovery of the un- published construction contract of works of this particular building. In 1884, the project of a new building that should keep all the Historic archives of Madrid was proposed. Due to its main pur- pose, the most important condition was to be fireproof and therefore not timbered. A deep study of this document has in fact bec | Iron structures, Timber-framed structures, fireproof construction system, Architectural herit- age, Madrid Historic Centre |
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Govaerts, Y., Verdonck, A., Meulebroeck, W., & de Bouw, M. | 2015 | DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL STONE IMITATIONS AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY THROUGH PATENT ANALYSIS IN A BELGIAN CONTEXT. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp 229-236. | In the late 19th century, the introduction of Portland cement and understanding of hydraulic binders led to innovative compositions towards decorative finishing materials. To avoid grey and dull cement appearances, craftsmen started to manipulate the mortar mixtures by adding mineral particles and pigments, creating a material resembling a particular natural stone. Such a stone imitation could be applied as a render layer on facades or implemented in walls as brick ele- ments, which are respectively known as ‘simili-plaster’ and ‘artificial stone blocks’. Both tech- niques were developed as a substitute for the more expensive quarried natural stones, like mar- ble, sandstone and limestone when they were locally not available. Apart from the existence of a few commercialized ready-mix imitation renders, we do not know a lot about the technological evolution of the Belgian stone imitation industry. This knowledge is essential for historical preservation, since these materials were extensively applied in facades during the interwar period and today more and more young heritage needs to be re- stored. Therefore, the aim of this research was to gain knowledge on the development of these popular artificial stone claddings with an important focus on their manufacturing process. By studying patents requested between 1880 and 1940 in Belgium, original mortar compositions could be determined, and a quantitative analysis sheds light on their glory days and the degree of knowledge transfer from neighboring countries. | Stone imitation, Artificial stone, Patents, Compositions, Quantitative analysis |
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Graciani, A. | 2015 | BUILDING THE PAVILIONS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE IBERIAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION (SEVILLE, 1929). Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp237-244. | The United States of America attended the Iberian-American Exposition of 1929, held in Se- ville (Spain) from 9 May 1929 until 21 June 1930, with three buildings, designed in Neo- Californian Style by the architect William Templeton Johnson (1927). The Consular Building, which was permanent, served as the consulate office during and after the closing of the Exposi- tion. The others –the Cinema Building and the Exposition Building– were temporary, since their lands should revert to the city after the Exposition. As expected, only the first one remains today, although the Cinema Building was re-used as a theatre for several decades, before being disman- tled. The Consular Building was built, in general, with common procedures in the city at that time. On the contrary, the others were constructed with a balloon frame, a traditional system in Ameri- ca but totally unknown to the Seville workers, who carried it out under the direction of the tech- nicians of Dwight P. Robinson Company & Company Incorporated, Engineers and Constructors. Despite its uniqueness, the construction process did not elicit any interest in the city, where jour- nalists and photographers were more interested in the works already completed than in their evo- lution; in fact, the only graphic testimony of the process are the pictures taken on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the USA, which are included in the photo album analyzed as part of this research. Information sources so far are still partial. Constructive information must be com- pleted from of the study the project of these three buildings, although the whole project is not conserved in the documentary resources of the Exhibition and to date it has not been located. | History and construction of specific projects, Building Techniques, Spanish Revival Style, Neo-Californian Style, William Templeton Johnson, Balloon Frame |
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Graf, F. | 2015 | THE DUVAL FACTORY AT SAINT-DIÉ – PURISM IN TRANSITION (1948-1950). NOTES TOWARDS A CONSTRUCTION MONOGRAPH. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp245-255. | This paper looks at the construction of the Claude et Duval factory, at Saint-Dié des Vosges, France, by Le Corbusier and l’Atelier des Bâtisseurs, between 1948 and 1951. An understanding of this work is crucial for 20th century architecture; through studying its construction we are able to grasp the building’s importance. Its form-finished concrete frame and sun-shades, oak-framed glazing and insulated glass, hot-air heating and artificial lighting, are all treated experimentally with remarkable flair in what would be a pivotal work, blending purism and brutalism. Moreover, we see Le Corbusier testing out the Modulor system and developing a form based a " Synthesis of the arts " in what would be the architect’s only factory and weiterbauen. The main value of this monograph is to establish a broader understanding of the material identity of a work that, though little altered from its original form, has not before been thoroughly investigated. This in turn may serve as a substrate for the imminent works of restoration. | |
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Gray, L. | 2015 | Lift versus elevator. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp255-262. | Oscar Wilde, in his 1887 short story The Canterville Ghost, described one of the main char- acters as follows: “Indeed, in many respects, she was quite English, and was an excellent exam- ple of the fact that we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language” (Wilde 1887). This is one of the earliest versions of an often-repeated senti- ment that the United States and England are “two countries separated by a common language.” A cursory examination of this separation reveals the obvious fact the United States and England use different words to refer to the same thing: for example lift versus elevator. However, it would be wrong to assume that this difference is simply semantic, i.e. that both words carry the same precise meaning. This paper will trace the history of lifts and elevators from their common ori- gins in the 1860s (Upstairs Omnibus versus Vertical Railway), to their separate but parallel his- tories (lift versus elevator), to their more recent shared history (lift equals elevator). The materi- als examined for this paper include manufacturers’ catalogs, professional journals, the popular press, and elevator books published in the United States and England between 1860 and 1950. A comparative reading of both text and illustrations reveals critical cultural differences in mechani- cal design, performance expectations, and anticipated (and desired) passenger experiences. These differences may be attributed to the emergence of a distinctly high-rise urban environment in the United States and the staunch commitment to a low-rise environment in England in (at least until the 1950s). However, the argument can also be made that they resulted from important differences in their builders’ and users’ perceptions of the appropriate character and purpose of vertical transportation. Unfortunately, the uniquely British and American cultural perspectives about this technology have been gradually lost due to changes in urban form | Vertical Transportation, Elevators, Lifts, History |
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Grindstaff. B.K. | 2015 | DEMOBILIZATION, CONSTRUCTION, CONVERSION: AMERICAN VETERANS HOUSING IN THE IMMEDIATE POST-WAR ERA. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp263-268. | Post-war American housing is often epitomized by privately-owned, single-family homes in suburban tract developments such as Levittown. Before these units came to signify the stability and prosperity of the “American Dream,” however, the immediate end of the World War II found great waves of veterans returning to severe housing shortages occasioned by pent-up de- mand, construction deferred during the Depression and the war, limited quantities of materials allocated for new residential construction, and restrictions over total combined costs of land and materials for new builds. Entrenched shortages in lumber, metal and other construction materials also continued; indeed, the search for suitable locations was simultaneously one for building ma- terials unavailable on the commercial market. Federal measures addressing this national problem included the Taft-Wagner-Ellender Housing Bill introduced by Harry S Truman and calling for fifteen million new homes. State efforts focused on temporary emergency housing for the initial crunch of newly returned military members (and that in many cases remained in place through the mid-1950s and later). In New York, Governor Thomas Dewing declared, “We are faced with an emergency in housing. About 1,000,000 soldiers are coming home to the State of New York in the next twelve months. Most will probably resume living with their parents, but there is a substantial number who are married and must have dwelling units to live in.” Conversion of ex- isting structures promised the fastest results, and candidates included Quonset huts and similar prefabricated structures and the 27,000 unoccupied tenements, cold-water flats, and boarded-up buildings in New York City. Decommissioned and repurposed military facilities in and around New York City presented the best options, and Governor Dewing dedicated $800,000 for con- verting them into 900 one- to four-room units serving 2,500 people. “This housing is by no means desirable or perfect. It w | |
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Guillerme, A. | 2015 | FIRST TREATY On THE INDUSTRIALISATION OF BARRACKS (1804-1811). Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp269-276. | At the time, the young French Republic considered it was the State’s duty to provide protec- tion and arms to the State Boards against the Kings’ enemies. The armies recruited young men who were sent to garrison fortresses at a distance from cities as deemed more appropriate to drill- ing and bivouacking. Not every army provided huts, most offered single blankets. As the Revo- lutionary and Napoleonic wars evolved into moving wars, troops alternatively traveled on foot by etapes and encamped outside cities to rest and get ready for battles. Consequently, the tech- nique of wood paneling developed: it offered stronger protection & security to soldiers and offic- ers alike. It was an improved version of wood-stakes-reinforced canvasses. Yet the innovation could not be profitable until a significant homogeneous series of it be produced. In his work, Instruction pratique sur le baraquement des troupes en campagne2, written in between 1804 and 1811, the author took up the challenge « set by Napoleon to Lomet, in which the latter eventually excelled given the precision of his logarithmic calculations and his scathing- ly ironical and bold style. Carnot, Monge, Pommereul and Marescot ranked the work as the mas- terpiece top of the list among various technology treaties » (Arnault 1823). Lomet was an engineer graduated from the Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées and a division head of military affairs in the War Ministry. His work runs 800 pages and includes as many as 100 drawings. In the work, the two outstanding innovative concepts formerly applied to field battery by Gribeauval apply, this time, to light construction – the “form similitude” i.e. the calibration or tight fitting of elements to allow not only piece-interchangeability as previously done with can- nons but also «homogeneity» of materials, i.e. using wood only, as with bronze in cannon mountings. Taking as a basis the Tables des constructions des principaux attirails de l’artillerie3, the technology treaty incl | |
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Hancock, L. | 2015 | Turner City. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp277-284. | In 1902, Henry Turner established Turner Construction in New York City as a company spe- cializing in the newly invented material of reinforced concrete. In 1910, the growing company developed a distinct marketing tool: a single drawing recording all of its completed building pro- jects formatted to appear as a city. Each succeeding year, Turner Construction published Turner City as a record of what had been built the year previously. The Turner City illustrations present a visual key of the construction firm’s completed buildings and its impressive client base. As the company grew, Turner City provides a record of how this specialized contracting firm transi- tioned into a global general contractor responsible for the construction of 20th century architec- tural icons and an array of building typologies. In addition, Turner City depicts a utopian image of what industrialization and capitalism could bring to urban centers. The first Turner City predates the ideal cities of Tony Garnier (1917) and Le Corbusier (1922). The designs emphasize a dense urban sector surrounded by lower lying buildings set in a bucolic landscape spreading to the horizon line. Exhibiting wide tree lined streets devoid of traffic and detritus, Turner City presents a model of utopia. Through analysis of the Turner City drawings, this paper reveals the unfolding history of a single construction company, an encapsulated view of advancements in technology within the construction industry, and a utopian vision of urbanism that directly influenced the birth of modernism. | |
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Hays, B. | 2015 | THE MANY LIVES OF THOMAS JEFFERSON’S ROTUNDA. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp285-294. | Thomas Jefferson’s Rotunda, built between 1823 and 1826, embodies the ideals of the statesman, president, and educator. Modeled as a half size interpretation of the Pantheon, its lo- cation at the physical center of the University of Virginia as well as its original function as the University’s central library, speaks to Jefferson’s twin passions for architecture and education. As one of only three UNESCO World Heritage Sites built in the United States since the nation’s founding—the other two being the Statue of Liberty and Independence Hall—the structure is unmatched in its significance on US college campuses.2 Given this architectural and cultural pedigree, one might imagine that the Rotunda has been maintained over the last two hundred years, like Monticello, in a way that exhibits Jefferson’s vision throughout its fabric and detail. But in contrast with Jefferson’s home the Rotunda has been constantly manipulated by the University and its architects every three to four decades. This paper explores the designs, materials, and details of these Rotundas, by examining the record drawings, specifications, historic photographs, and archival records associated with each period. Jefferson’s original use of the French-conceived, wood-ribbed Delorme dome in the 1820s, coupled with the electrification of the massive “Annex” added in the 1850s, set the stage for an incredible fire that destroyed much of these first two Rotundas in 1895. Following the fire, archi- tect Stanford White, along with Spanish born Rafael Guastavino, designed and constructed a Ro- tunda that was both grander and materially “fireproof” when compared to its predecessors. Four decades later, a Public Works Administration project served as a large maintenance project— correcting several failed details from the previous restoration—and marked the biggest change of use for the building through its life. During the 1970s, in an attempt to “restore Jefferson’s Ro- tunda” in the face of perceived design | Rotunda, University of Virginia, Delorme, UNESCO, preservation, Thomas Jefferson, Rob- ert Mills, Stanford White, Rafael Guastavino |
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Hernando de la Cuerda, R. | 2015 | THE EXHIBITION AND INFORMATION CENTRES IN MADRID AND BARCELONA, THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND MODERN CONSTRUCTION IN SPAIN. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp295-302. | Exhibition and Information Centres were a valuable means for disseminating building techniques among professionals and the general public. Organized by associations of architects and industrialists, the activities of these groups included an important communication effort, mainly through the publication of specialist journals, but also by opening up premises which, apart from acting as headquarters, permitted the organization of exhibitions and other activities designed to reach the general public and not only specialist circles. The Deutscher Werkbund, is a mixture of architects, artists and industrialists, part-funded by the State to bring together traditional crafts and industrial production techniques in Germany. Founded in Munich in 1907, the founding manifesto was signed by 12 artists and 12 companies. 1912 also saw the foundation of the Werkbund in Austria, followed in 1913 by associations in Bohemia, Hungary and Switzerland, the Swedish Arts and Crafts Federation (Svenska Slöjdföreningen) in 1914 and Britain’s Design and Industries Association in 1915. The Architects Samples Corporation was founded at 101 Park Avenue in New York in 1920 and the Building Centre on London’s Store Street in 1931. In Spain, the GATCPAC opened its headquarters in 1931 at number 99 on Barcelona’s Paseo de Gracia and the Construction Exhibition and Information Centre was founded in the Carrera de San Jerónimo in Madrid in 1934, the home of the journal “Re-Co” (Construction References).The permanent exhibition on display at both institutions, the temporary shows held in their venues, the activities carried out, as well as their journals AC and Re-Co, constitute an indispensable and representative material on the construction sector at the time.The fracture caused by the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship fostered the mistaken idea of an imagined marginality of Spanish architecture in the 1920s and 30s. This paper explores in depth the activities of these organizations | Modern Movement, Spain, GATCPAC, Construction References “Re-Co”, exhibitions, materials |
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Hof, C. | 2015 | BUILDING CONVERSION AS DEMANDING TASK IN LATE ROMAN CONSTRUCTION – ADDING VAULTS TO THE TOWERS OF THE SIXTH CENTURY CITY WALL OF RESAFA (SYRIA). Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp303-313. | The Late Antique city wall at Resafa was originally completed in the early sixth century with wooden ceilings in its towers. Its builders ignored contemporary recommendations for fortifica- tions which clearly called for highly resilient and fire proof vaulted floors. Facing increasing po- litical threats this weak link in the city’s defensive system had to be corrected a posteriori. The task was to build masonry vaults into 29 towers of different ground plans and height proportions. The remains of these vaults were investigated and surveyed to gain facts on their precise geomet- ric forms. Analyzed typological features include the curvature of the arc and the solution of the abutment. Besides the semicircular form, which remains typical in Late Roman times, also seg- mental arcs are found, and this to an astonishing degree of shallowness. Even flat vaults can be found as supporting structures for specific room vaults. The variants found for the impost zone show very clearly, how the builders additionally reacted to the given proportions between the room widths and the story heights. In combination of both features eight types of vaults were identified and their particular frequency reveals the sequence of favored solutions. The daring constructions with the flat faults seem to hint to an evolution after mistakes. The dispersal of the types, mapped in the plan of the city wall, leads to conclusions regarding the involved building groups and the effects imposed by the building sequence of the original city wall. The vault mor- phology is finally better understood when seen in comparison to other structures at Deir Zaʿfaran and Zenobia, which also deliver a good frame for a possible dating in the late 530s AD. | City wall, Resafa, Syria, vaults, building conversion, Justinian I |
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Holz, C. | 2015 | ART AND INDUSTRY AROUND 1850. THE CIVIL ENGINEER FRANZ JAKOB KREUTER. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp313-320. | Franz Jakob Kreuter (1813 Lohr / Main -1889 Vienna) worked as a civil engineer in Munich since 1839 and he is seen today as the "first freelance architect of Bavaria". According to the English model, he combined the activities of an engineer and architect as well as a chemist, economist and social politician. Like no other he maintained contacts with other eminent archi- tects and engineers at home and abroad: he regularly traveled to London, Paris and Berlin. As a correspondent, he reported from all over Europe for the Allgemeine Bauzeitung in Vienna, the general architectural magazine edited by Ludwig Förster. Thus he is of utmost importance for the transfer of knowledge of architecture, techniques and materials in the 19th century. In his own buildings, these influences can be detected. However, Kreuter used materials such as terracotta, zinc and iron, which had arrived in 1850 to a special appreciation (for example decorations and engineering constructions by Stüler at the New Museum in Berlin). | |
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Honda, Y. & Kobayashi, I. | 2015 | COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE ARCH STRUCTURE OF THE KINTAIKYO BRIDGE AND OCCIDENTAL TIMBER ARCH BRIDGES. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp321-328. | Kintaikyo Bridge is a timber arch bridge of 5 spans originally constructed in 1673 (repaired and reconstructed many times until today). This bridge characterizes itself by its unique timber arch ribs. This successful bridge is an excellent proof of the Japanese timber culture and the car- penters’ technique. There is a question about how Kintaikyo can be evaluated comparing with occidental timber arch bridges. To find an answer of this question, we will firstly overview the Japanese carpenters’ understanding of the arch structure and book of secrets in which the meth- ods for drawing the arch were explained. They knew how to design an arch but did not know the principle of the arch. Next, picking up some examples, we will trace back the history of occi- dental historical timber bridges from the following viewpoints: 1) importance of masonry arch bridge, 2) emergence of upper-deck timber arch bridge, 3) role of timber arch rib for truss bridge. We will see that the existence of the masonry arch brought about rapid development and diffu- sion of timber arch in occidental countries and that such situation might have limited the inven- tion of a unique timber arch structure. At the same time, the rapid development helped the emer- gence of iron bridge which would eliminate the timber arch bridge. The timber arch was used also with truss whose elaboration will also eliminate the timber arch. On the other hand, having much less information, Japanese carpenters had no choice but to manage to create an arch rib with their own know-how and techniques. | |
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Ibarra-Sevilla, B. | 2015 | UNUSUAL CONDITIONS = NOVEL SOLUTIONS; GUASTAVINO’S STRATEGIES AND UNDERLYING GEOMETRY FOR THE VAULTS OF IRREGULAR PLAN IN NEW YORK MUNICIPAL BUILDING. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp329-338. | Rafael Guatsavino, whose work on tile vaulting is well known in North America, faced a unique challenge during the construction of the Municipal Building in New York City. This building designed by the firm of McKim Mead & White between 1911 and 1915 presented unu- sual circumstances: the layout of this building columns responds to the conditions presented by the subway trains running underneath, therefore all bays form irregular shapes in plan. Guastavino’s company was forced to adapt the vaults built for the first floor to these unique con- ditions using irregular geometries and rare shapes forming one of the most complex vaulting sys- tems in North America. This paper will unveil the geometric and constructive challenges for the construction of these unique tile vaults while situating them within a broader picture in the history of construction. In order to assess the vaulting system’s underlying geometry, the author of this paper carried out a documentation of the structure using photogrammetric technology. Once in the digital environ- ment, the complex vaulting system has been divided in segments in order to develop a systematic analysis that allows understanding of the nuances, details, and design criteria implemented by Guastavino Co. The original drawings were obtained from the Avery library and compared with digital results. The digital files were transferred into the NURBS software environment where the vaults’ surface could be modeled. This process unfolded in intriguing questions about the use of ellipse and its practical use in the context of these vaults. Finally, the paper shows how the vaults studied in this project provided an excellent envi- ronment to reveal the connections between form and structure in the classroom. The paper will include this link with pedagogic strategies by showing the construction of a replica in smaller scale by students. Through this hands-on experience, the students were able to obtain insightful view to the constructio | |
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Ingold, L. & Rinke, M. | 2015 | SERGIO MUSMECI’S SEARCH FOR NEW FORMS OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp339-346. | The work of the Italian engineer Sergio Musmeci (1926-1981) is based on the ideal of a har- monic relationship between structure and architectural form, which leads to an extensive search for an integral structural form. During the prospering years in postwar Italy and in the shadow of the prominent Italian engineers Pier Luigi Nervi and Riccardo Morandi, Musmeci researches concrete surface structures. He calls for new approaches to form finding, particularly in respect to moldable concrete: “The form is the unknown, not the inner stresses”. Starting in the mid-1950s with first projects for thin, folded roof structures made of rein- forced concrete, Musmeci is led by the idea of geometrical surfaces. At the same time he begins to experiment with double-curved surfaces in several designs for bridges and large-span halls. By exploring the possibilities of form finding for these minimal surfaces, he sets his focus away from defined, calculable geometries and towards a simple definition of boundary conditions, from which a form is self-generated by the use of textile or soap film models. This methodical change towards a “form with no name” does not happen abruptly, but can be traced in several steps by the inversion of the relation between form and model. While early folded plate designs derive their form from a simplified linear bending beam model, the form idea of the arch-like surfaces of the Basento Bridge is measured directly from a physical model and then calculated afterwards. This new design approach does not only reflect the understanding of efficient struc- tures as minimal forms but must also be seen as corresponding to the new understanding of plas- ticity and continuity of concrete. In contrast to other concrete pioneers Musmeci’s work is poorly received both in his time and today, and public recognition is limited to his outstanding main work, the Basento Bridge in Potenza. In an exceptionally short period of time the chronology of several key projects s | |
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Iori, T. & Poretti, S. | 2015 | THE LANGUAGE OF STRUCTURES. THE ITALIAN SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp347-354. | This paper intends to present the most important results of the “SIXXI - 20th Century Struc- tural Engineering: the Italian contribution” Research (ERC Advanced Grant 2011). The SIXXI research is designed to trace and tell the tale of structural engineering in Italy. It has been an enthralling, sometimes stunning and undeniably unique, tale of progress. Italy had always lagged behind other industrialized nations; yet, in the Twentieth century it was able to start a new trend that would be up to the most advanced European standards. Under the autarchic regime, Italian structural engineering created its own unique identity, and then in the enthusiastic second post-war reconstruction period and the economic booming years it produced outstanding works, and made a name for itself as one of the most prominent schools in the world. In the fol- lowing years, it faded into oblivion as quickly as it had risen on the international scene. There is an objective difficulty to see the history of structural engineering against a specific disciplinary context. A structure requires a radically trans-disciplinary approach. In the development of the Italian school of Engineering, the theoretical contribution made by Menabrea, Castigliano, Danusso, Colonnetti is no less important than the work of designers like Nervi, Morandi, Zorzi and Musmeci. To get the secret of the originality of the great post-War achievements – it is necessary to investigate the close collaboration between scientists and de- signers. An operator and a theoretician, the protagonist of the Italian school is a multi-faceted figure that is at the same time a scientist, an entrepreneur and a craftsman, a reincarnation of the 19th-century engineer. Based on that strange combination, he finds the conditions for a short, anachronistic survival in the unique setting of Italian (belated and constantly proto-industrial) modernization. The challenge faced by the SIXXI research is to discover the history of structural en | History of Engineering, Evolution of Structural works, History of the theory of structures, XX Century Italian Engineering |
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Isaacs, N. | 2015 | WHAT’S HOLDING THE ROOF UP? USING CENSUS DATA TO EXPLORE DWELLING CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURE CHANGES. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp355-362. | Documenting large-scale changes in construction and structure over time provides a frame- work for better understanding of the development of building technologies. An innovative analysis of census data offers a new approach to understanding these changes. From 1858 to 1981, the 26 official New Zealand censuses recorded dwelling wall appearance. The questions were dropped from the 1986 census due to little use being made of the data coupled with coding difficulties due to limited respondent knowledge. The census reports noted that until 1916 there was a slow increase in the proportion of timber clad walls, but it was not until 1981 that “fewer than half of the country’s dwellings were clad in timber”. But was this change in construction (appearance or surface materials) matched by a change in the structure (material supporting the cladding and roof)? A re-analysis of the data based on construction practices used during each relevant census period reveals that the primary structural material has remained unchanged over nearly 1¼ centu- ries. Regardless of changes in construction, timber framing has largely maintained its structural primacy, only declining to below 90% of dwellings after 1971, with the remaining 10% mainly concrete masonry. In the following decade to 1981 (two censuses), the percentage of timber struc- ture decreased to 85% of dwellings, while concrete masonry increased to 14%. The data also shows that while the construction reflected national industrial and economic development (e.g. in the 1860s canvas structures were used by transient gold miners), the arrival and departure of new materials (e.g. asbestos sheeting) was not always matched by structural changes. It can be seen that natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes) resulted in changes not only in construction but also in structure. The paper concludes with a discussion of the relevance of this data to other countries. | Structure, Construction, Dwellings, Houses, Wall, Roof |
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Jaenen, M., de Bouw, M., Verdonck, A., & Leus, M. | 2015 | CONSTRUCTING THE ANTWERP INTERWAR INTERIOR: THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION OF FIRMS. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp363-372. | For the final implementation of an interwar interior the architect had to collaborate with different firms and craftsmen. The active firms during the Antwerp interwar period can be divided into two groups, namely joint-stock companies and one-man businesses. The companies produced and/or delivered building materials. Through advertising these companies tried to convince architects as well as clients. According to these advertisements, their progressive products could guarantee a colourful, hygienic, durable and affordable modern home. Present research shows that for doors, floors, tiles and kitchens, Antwerp architects, tended to work with companies while they repeatedly worked with local one-man businesses for the finishing of their interior design. They collaborated with the same craftsmen, in particular with building contractors, house painters and cabinetmakers, in a very consistent manner. At the end the choice to cooperate with a certain firm or craftsmen depended on taste, price, workmanship and mutual trust. | |
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Jager-Klein, C., et al | 2015 | THE INTERRELATION OF STRUCTURE, NATURAL VENTILATION AND DAYLIGHT INPUT IN THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE OF JEDDAH, SAUDI-ARABIA. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp373-380. | In 2014, the historic city center of Jeddah on the West coast of Saudi Arabia attained world heritage status for its traditional residential architecture of three-to-six-story high coral stone build- ings with horizontal wooden beams for pressure distribution. Today those unique domestic build- ings are at risk of deterioration. A combination of high levels of humidity and heat characterize the climate of the port town of Makkah. The facades, with their projected screened windows made of wood are a particularly striking element of the traditional Jeddah houses. Unfortunately, there is very little in terms of advanced building documentation of the local architecture, including in- depth analysis of the historic structure as well as an understanding of daylight input and natural ventilation as important formative factors. However, a recent interdisciplinary study by experts in history of architecture and building archaeology, including daylight studies and airflow simulation, made it possible to test building parameters and the smartness of building physics in a house that represents a typical middle class residential building of old Jeddah. The selected object, Al Nawar house, is situated in the heart of the historic city center, and the oldest original parts of the house are approximately 300 years old. An integrated high-tech building survey was used to make a detailed examination of the architecture and structure of the object. Afterwards, a physical model on a scale of 1:20 permitted physical testing to be done in the light laboratory. Additional curl- and ventilation-simulation programs were applied to shed light on the complex interplay between natural ventilation and burning solar radiation heating up some of the surfaces of the building volume. The results of the study show the variety of physical principles used in the intelligent original design. They are used in the architecture of that traditional house to tailor it perfectly to inhabitants and provide fo | ventilation, services, arabia |
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Kahlow, A. | 2015 | BÜTZOW’S WROUGHT IRON LATTICE TRUSS BRIDGE ACROSS THE NEBEL RIVER, 1848: DESIGN, HISTORY, AND RECONSTRUCTION. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp381-388. | This paper explores the history of a lattice truss bridge built near Bützow in Mecklenburg, Germany in 1848 and partially reconstructed in 2013-2014. It was the first German lattice truss bridge to graduate from its experimental phase to the railway network. August Borsig, its design- er, ran tests by spanning the Havel River near Potsdam, Germany, in September 1846. The his- toric assessment of the bridge is compared with results derived from recent material testing. This paper concludes with a discussion of the dismantling of the bridge and the incorporation of its latticework as a non-supporting element in a new bridge. | |
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Kahya Sagar, Y., et al | 2015 | CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES AND BUILDING MATERIALS OF A 19TH CENTURY OFFICIAL STRUCTURE IN ISTANBUL: ADJACENT OFFICES OF OTTOMAN BANK AND THE REGIE COMPANY. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp389-396. | The historical structure designed for the use of Ottoman Bank and the Regie Company is lo- cated in Galata; one of the old districts of Istanbul. The building is an impressive structure stand- ing on an important commercial street of the 19th century today named as “Bankalar Caddesi”. The street name can be translated as “Banks Street” which may reference its commercial identi- ty. The building has also become one of the significant elements of the silhouette of Galata by the Golden Horn after its construction. The masonry structure is one singular rectangular build- ing designed for the use of two offices by architect Aléxandre Vallaury and historical sources indicate the opening date of the building as 1892. The building has two identical entrances for two companies. The eastern half of the building, served as Ottoman Bank for long years, has been owned by another bank company (Garanti Bank) since 1996. After the building changed hands, the usage of this part was replanned dominantly for cultural purposes such as Museum of Ottoman Bank, library, conference and movie halls etc. giving the visitors the opportunity to ob- serve the historical installations of the building for instance; big metal bank safes. The eastern part has undergone an intensive restoration in 2009 and is now being used as a cultural center. The western part has owned and been used as the Istanbul Branch of Central Bank of Turkey since 1934. The restoration of this part is still in progress.The restoration works related to both parts of the building has been conducted with a univer- sal understanding of conservation and scientific approach. The detailed surveys are prepared us- ing advanced instrumental techniques and methods. The materials and deteriorations are deter- mined by analytical surveys on elevations and sections. The structural condition of the structure is investigated by a scientific team. The original building materials are analyzed in the conserva- tion laboratory for their char | 19th Century, Facades, Masonry, Aléxandre Vallaury, Istanbul, Ottoman Architecture. |
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Reha Kavas, K. | 2015 | STRUCTURAL PATTERNS IN THE HISTORY OF ANATOLIAN COMPOSITE MASONRY. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp397-406. | This paper derives structural patterns through the historical analysis of Anatolian composite masonry systems constructed by stone, timber and mud-brick. The objective is to present a general framework for conceiving chronologically detached masonry constructions within common struc- tural terms. Related archaeological sources indicate that in the Anatolian history of architecture, almost all of the vernacular and monumental structures were composite. They were combinations of stone, timber and mud-brick. This study analyses composite masonry types from different his- torical periods of Anatolia with respect to their underlying structural principles and derives general through inductive method and synthesis. The structural patterns, which guided masonry configu- rations, indicate that structures followed common principles of reinforcement and counter-balance. Hence, these patterns provide a basic guide for conceiving, evaluating and classifying historical structural systems according to their material configurations and underlying structural principles. | Anatolia, History, Structure, Pattern, Composite, Masonry |
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Kelley, S., et al | 2015 | THE OLD COURTHOUSE REVEALS THE ROLE OF ST LOUIS AT THE FOREFRONT OF ARCHITECTURAL CAST IRON IN THE UNITED STATES. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp407-414. | The Old Courthouse is located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri near the Mississippi riverfront. It served as the center for political and social activity in the mid-nineteenth while the courtrooms hosted significant trials in American history including the Dred Scott case. The Old Courthouse was completed in 1862, the product of years of planned additions beginning in 1839. When completed, the new building featured representative elements and details of the formal Greek Revival style. In 1849, a fire began that set warehouses and stores along the river and burned its way inland to destroy 418 buildings situated in fifteen blocks of the riverfront. Through the efforts of the St. Louis volunteer fire departments, the blaze was stopped before it consumed the Old Courthouse. Full scale use of cast and wrought iron was introduced into the construction of all wings of the Old Courthouse by 1852 and thereafter. It is apparent that its location on the Mississippi River and the role in river commerce, along with the great fire of 1849, provided a catalyst for the use and de- velopment of cast iron in building construction that placed St. Louis on the forefront of architectural cast iron production in the United States. This sophisticated and utilitarian use of cast iron in particu- lar is comparable to better known East Coast structures of the era. Of the wealth of architectural cast iron buildings that were constructed following the fire, the ma- jority were demolished circa 1940 to make room for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The Old Courthouse remains as one of the earliest known examples of the use of this new technology in the United States. | Cast iron, Greek Revival, architectural cast iron |
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Kiomars, N.K., et al | 2015 | A SURVEY INTO THE EVOLUTION OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS IN IRAN: TWO 19TH CENTURY CONTRACTS. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp415-422. | Construction contracts are defined as contracts specifically negotiated for the delivery of an asset or a combination of assets that are interrelated and/or interdependent in terms of their design, function or ultimate purpose. They are one of the most important constituents of each project as they play the critical role of defining the scope of the project, assigning the responsibilities, and regulating financial transaction among the parties to contracts. Construction contracts have a long history in Iran. The most ancient documents of this kind date back to Achaemenid era (500 B.C.). These contracts were inscribed on mud slates. Documents after this period have changed in different ways and according to our research, they have evolved to an almost standard form by the end of Qajar era (1785 -1925 A.D.). The objective of this study is to investigate construction contracts in the 19th century. Two historic documents, consisting of construction contracts and their financial transactions, from the mid-years of Qajar dynasty (about 1880 A.D.) were ana- lyzed. These contracts were selected as paragons of their kind, since as long as the rights and du- ties of parties, financial relations and technical issues of construction are concerned, these con- tracts are detailed and accurate. Besides, taking into account that the subject matter of these con- tracts- residential construction- is the most common type in every society, they are perfect candi- dates for this study. Sections of the selected contracts were collated with the clauses from the standard construction contracts currently used in Iran’s construction industry, including “cost- plus” contracts. It was found that in almost all of the crucial articles, there was a complete con- formity between the former and the latter. The Investigation into these documents unveils some significant aspects of the foretime contracts such as “quality metrics” used to define the owners’ expectations as well as a well-developed str | Contract Evolution, Finance of Construction, Historic Residential Construction, Quality Met- rics, Iran, 19th Century |
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Kitagawa, D. | 2015 | MODERNIZATION OF JAPANESE NATIONAL ROUTE 1 IN 1920’S AND 1930’S. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp423-430. | This paper describes the process of the modernization of Japanese National Route 1 in 1920’s and 1930’s in terms of technology and politics. After the promulgation of the Road Act, road improvement accelerated on a nationwide scale in Japan. In particular, National Route 1, principal artery linking Tokyo to Osaka, was the most prioritized highway to adapt emerging car traffic. Running along the Pacific coast, it was the first highway to be equipped with 1,000-meter-long steel bridges in the country, for instance, which become a model of long bridges in Japan after the World War II. Besides long bridges, remark- able urban bridge, monumental reinforced concrete structures or landscaped highway were also built along the route. In addition to technological challenge, this paper discusses political issues concerning the development of the national infrastructure. Faced with lingering depression in 1920’s and 1930’s, the central government provided labors as widely as possible for the unemployed through the roadworks. However, different policies adopted by two major political parties resulted in differ- ent designs for the improvement of highways. | |
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Kuban, S. | 2015 | INNOVATION AND STANDSTILL: EARLY APPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE “MONIER SYSTEM” IN BERLIN. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp431-438. | A variety of publications – focusing on specific countries, engineers or companies – highlight the development of reinforced concrete in continental Europe. But so far none has focused on the city of Berlin. This comes as a surprise, as Berlin was a very dynamic major city with close to a million in- habitants when the former capital of Prussia became capital of the German Empire in 1871. In the following years the number of inhabitants tripled and it became the biggest industrial me- tropolis in continental Europe at the turn of the century. Within this socio-economic backdrop in Berlin first examples of reinforced concrete applications, dating back to 1880s can be found. The best known being the Reichstag with Matthias Koenen as the engineer in-charge of its structural calculations and Gustav Adolf Wayss as one of the contractors promoting the use of reinforced concrete as part of the structure. The cooperation of Koenen and Wayss counts as the starting point of scientific application of reinforced concrete in construction industry in Germany. A first outcome being the Monier Broschüre published in 1887 where Koenen defined an initial theory on the structural behaviour of reinforced concrete based on results from material testing. During 1880 and 1904, a large number of industrial buildings, factories, store and ware- houses were built in Berlin. With rather restrictive attitude of public construction authorities it took quite some time to get reinforced concrete acknowledged as proper building material with the earliest official German regulations being published in 1904. With significant findings show- ing the use of the Monier System during the early years the paper first highlights the formation of relevant building companies of that time in Berlin. Furthermore the paper outlines essential rein- forced concrete applications based on an analysis of archive material. The compilation of the material will be published for the first time in this context. In concl | Reinforced Concrete, Monier System, M. Koenen, G.A. Wayss, Construction History |
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Kuhnast, S. | 2015 | THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BUILDING MATERIALS IN GERMANY FROM 1919 ONWARDS AND THEIR STANDARDIZATION USING THE EXAMPLE OF HOLLOW AND PERFORATED CLAY BRICKS. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp439-448. | The aim of saving heat, and hence energy, is demonstrated by the development of hollow and perforated clay bricks. A study of this subject reveals that the developments following the First and Second World Wars were fundamentally different. Various hollow bricks were developed from 1919 onwards, which were first patented and then approved for use in construction works. The multiplicity of types was then curbed by the introduction of DIN 4151 (perforated bricks for loadbearing masonry). There was no similar development after the Second World War; standard clay bricks were used without exception. Not until the oil crisis of 1973 did we see an upsurge in development similar to that after 1919. However, the developments concentrated on existing technical improvements to lower the thermal conductivity; up to five possible features were varied. Further analysis shows the relationship between the development booms to reduce the thermal conductivity of hollow/perforated clay bricks and the political measures in the form of legislation covering thermal insulation and energy conservation. | hollow clay bricks, perforated clay bricks, thermal conductivity, standards, patents, National Technical Approvals |
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Lamborghini, S., et al. | 2015 | HISTORIC TIMBER TRUSSES IN EUROPE. THE CASE OF ST. PETER IN BOLOGNA. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp449-456. | The paper aims at giving an original contribution in the field of historic timber construction in Europe. The work is based on a recent survey and subsequent analysis of the roofing system of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Peter in Bologna, Italy. The width of the central nave is one of the largest of the Roman Catholic Church: the eighteen trusses of the roof have probably the longest span in European churches until that period, overcoming the size of the biggest church in Rome, that is St. Peter in the Vatican City. Considering the concept of simple truss, made with rafters, tie-beam, king post and raking braces, the 24,68 meters span was covered with a combination of invention and practice. The re- sult was the construction of extremely elegant and almost unique structures. Given the long span, some supporting beams were placed under the tie-beam to contrast the bending moment. A “false collar beam” was included in the scheme of the trusses; these are composed of compressed brac- ing elements which create an arched system, without interrupting the king post. Another peculi- arity of the structure was the use of soft german timber (fir), which is probably the only suitable species of wood for such a slender solution. The Cathedral of Bologna was extended over a period of fifty years, starting from 1570. There is no evidence of the origin of the design and there is no clear reference in any publication of the period; a similar scheme was proposed by Giuliano da Sangallo in a drawing fifty years before; similar – even bigger – trusses are also present in the Farnese theatre in Parma, built by the architect Giovanni Battosta Aleotti in the same years. The presence in Italy of this type of trusses should be further addressed. Nevertheless, the first goal of the study was already achieved, in having accurately surveyed such a complex roof- ing structure. The paper offers a technical interpretation of these structures and suggests a classi- fication. Besides, the | |
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Lancaster, L. | 2015 | "ARMCHAIR" VOUSSOIR VAULTS IN BATH BUILDINGS OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp457-464. | This paper examines a unusual method of vault construction that was confined to a series of Roman bath buildings (over 150 examples) in France, Morocco, the Iberian peninsula, and Brit- ain. The vaults were built with ribs composed of bricks formed with projecting flanges at the in- trados (i.e., the "armchair voussoirs"). When made into an arch the bricks formed flanged ribs, which in turn supported flat tiles in between them at the intrados and extrados such that hollow spaces were created. This technique is often said to have been used to create heated ceilings in the warm rooms of baths, but, in fact, it was first developed for unheated rooms using only a sin- gle slab between the ribs. Rather, the original purpose appears to have been aimed at creating a lightweight, moisture proof vault that could be built with minimum wooden centering. Later, it could have been used for heated vaults, but definitive evidence is lacking. Interestingly, the larg- est known example occurs in the cold room (10 m span) of the North Baths at Cimiez (Nice, France). A thrust line analysis of this vault demonstrates that the structure would not have been stable if roofed with a normal concrete or stone vault, thus implying that, in this case, the tech- nique was used mainly for structural reasons. A chronological study of the development of the technique reveals much about the changing social and economic context of the regions in which it was used. The early examples (first centu- ry CE) were in small public baths in cities of southern France, which was undergoing a period of urbanization beginning under Augustus, but by the second century, the technique was used large- ly in private villa baths. It seems to have been adopted as a type of prefabricated bath building kit that responded to the desire of wealthy Roman landowners to embellish their countryside villas with small, luxurious bath buildings. Following the development of this one vaulting technique provides insight into both | Roman vault, bath, tile, thrust line analysis |
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Levine, M. | 2015 | GETTING PAID: HOW U.S. BUILDER AND GENERAL CONTRACTORS FOUGHT TO GET PAID WHEN DISPUTES AROSE ON THEIR PROJECTS, 1890-1990. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp473-480. | In a previous paper, “Getting the Job: How U.S. General Contractors Secured Building Contracts, 1870-1970.” I researched the endeavors of four builders and general contractors to secure building projects. In this paper I will present the business negotiations, legal methods and other techniques used by the same four builders to try to collect their money when problems arose on their projects. | Business, Negotiation, Claims, Legal, Litigation, Disputes, General Construction, Contracting |
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Levine, M. | 2015 | BUILDING IN CHICAGO: THE STORY OF BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp465-472. | There have been many books and articles written about the history and development of building in Chicago. There are volumes written about the famous architects, and to some degree the engineers involved in the building of Chicago. However, not much has been written about the famous and not-so-famous builders, contractors, and subcontractors. This paper shall chronicle the history of a number of these firms and discuss their formula for longevity. | Builder, Contractor, History, Chicago, Construction |
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Liu, Y. | 2015 | THE INVENTION OF DA VINCI’S WOVEN STRUCTURES. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp481-488. | Of all the bridge designs that Leonardo da Vinci, the great Renaissance architect, engineer and mechanic, drew, one of the most fascinating is the so-called “woven arch bridge”. In this kind of structure, each structural element is supported whilst also supporting its neighbor members. Together with a coadjutant system, the whole bridge forms an interlocking arch- shaped structure. By tracing the origin of Leonardo’s idea of this design, this article will first go further back to Roman Gaul, when Julius Caesar built his Rhine Bridge to invade Magna Germania. Caesar’s description on the structure of this peculiar bridge inspired studies in Renaissance Italy by architects and scholars and reached a climax with Andrea Palladio’s great work. Following on from the analysis of Palladio’s reconstruction, this article will look at Leonardo da Vinci’s bridge sketches to establish clues and evidence, that demonstrates da Vinci’s train of thought for the invention of his miraculous “woven” structures: from the starting point of Caesar’s Rhine Bridge, to the apex of his theoretical design, namely the three-dimensional “reciprocal frame” structure. | Caesar’s Rhine Bridge, Palladian Bridge, da Vinci Bridge, Woven Arch Bridge, Reciprocal Frame Structure |
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Lopez Ulloa, F.S. | 2015 | THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DRAWINGS OF G. E. STREET, A RESOURCE FOR UNDERSTANDING SPANISH GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp489-496. | 150 engravings comprise the book about Spanish Gothic Architecture published by George Edmund Street in 1865, a summary of more of 500 drawings realized in three consecutive ar- chaeological trips to Spain in the middle nineteenth century. This book was considered the first catalogue of this architecture in Spain, and was the first great reference for many people to know its global importance, in an age where little was known about Spain. The drawings made availa- ble the first references about the construction history of Gothic architecture in Spain, with the registration of several plans, facades, furnishings, and complements related to this architecture style, for which, Street used a particular representation method, not free from the influences of previous travelling draftsmen, which allowed him to offer a complete and reliable record. A job, which also included research in several archives, and the description of absolutely everything that he visited. | Building Archaeology, Gothic Drawings, Gothic Architecture, G.E.Street |
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Lopez-Mozo, A., et al | 2015 | ASYMMETRICAL VAULTS IN LATE EUROPEAN GOTHIC: BASEL AND BEBENHAUSEN AS CASE STUDIES. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp497-504. | In the 15th and 16th centuries a peculiar type of Late-Gothic vault lacking symmetry about longitudinal and transversal axes of the plan appears in at least thirty two buildings throughout Europe; the oldest examples could be located in Poland. They are tierceron vaults with diamond shaped liernes, where the main keystone and the whole or part of diagonal ribs are absent. A number of written European sources include instances of this type of vault: the Frankfurt Lodge Book of Master WG (c. 1560-1572), the Wiener Sammlungen collection (spanning from mid-15th century and the beginning of 16th century) and the Musterbuch of Hans Hammer (last decades of the 15th century). The design of this kind of vault is not simple; it does not seem to arise from a mere process of ribs multiplication. Although some types of Late Gothic vault were developed in particular countries, master masons travelled throughout the continent, an a permanent exchange took place amongst the different lodges. In many occasions, conscious copies of models were likely made, perhaps reflected in travel sketchbooks nowadays missing. Lacking other documents, a method to go beyond superficial resemblance and look for deeper connections is to analyze how the geometrical layout for both plan and volume has been addressed, since methods for deriving overall elevation from plan were only exchanged among masons. This paper deals with two examples of this kind of vault that use the same plan layout to span different types of bay: a square one at a corner of the cloister of Basel cathedral (c. 1440-1645), and a rectangular one at the crossing of the church of Bebenhausen Abbey (c. 1467) (fig. 1). This study, supported by a precise data gathering based on crossing-image photogrammetry, is focused on the layout of the rib network. Although both vaults seem to follow the same design, the geometrical construction of plan and elevation is entirely different. The two cases show an othic design procedures to solve p | Late Gothic ribbed vault, stonecutting, Theory and practice of Construction History, prinzipalbogen |
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Lorenz, W. & Heres, B. | 2015 | THE DEMIDOV IRONWORKS IN NEVYANSK (URAL MOUNTAINS) – IRON STRUCTURES IN BUILDING FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp505-516. | Although the use of single wrought or cast iron structural elements such as tie rods, plates or columns goes back to the ancient world and became more and more common in the 17th and 18th centuries, the roof structures erected in Paris at the Théâtre Francais (1786–90) and the Salon Carré du Louvre (1789) are commonly regarded as the first examples of complete iron roof trusses in the history of construction. However, an earlier, larger application of an iron truss has been found in Russia dating from the first half of the 18th century. Considering the dominant role of Russian iron production in the 18th century, this is hardly surprising. The “golden age of Russian iron” goes back to the strategic decision of Peter the Great, at the end of the 17th century, to push forward the foundation of iron-making plants in connection with pre-industrial “works towns” in the Ural Mountains. Within a few decades, the Urals became the centre of Russian iron production, with plants often equipped with larger and better tools and machinery than in Europe. Nevyansk, 90 km north of Yekaterinburg, was the first of these new plant towns. Founded by the state in 1699 but transferred into private hands (Nikita Demidov) in 1702, Nevyansk, the “grandfather of the Ural plant towns”, became one of the most important factories – not only in the Urals, but also in Europe in terms of both the quantity and quality of the metal produced. From the structural point of view, the 58 m high “Leaning Tower” of Nevyansk and its porch are of central interest. Work on these began in 1722 and they are still standing today. Whereas the tower contains an impressive array of cast and wrought iron elements, including composite girders made of both materials, the porch is covered by a delicate roof truss built entirely of wrought iron; it spans about 9 m and reaches a height of 7.50 m. This essay analyses these iron structures in the context of the iron industry in the Urals in the 18th century. | Russian iron industry, bloomery iron, cast iron, reinforced cast beam, iron roof truss |
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Louw, H. | 2015 | A QUESTION OF IDENTITY: EVOLVING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ENGLISH CARPENTERS AND JOINERS FROM THE MID-SIXTEENTH TO THE EARLY-TWENTIETH CENTURY. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp517-524. | The distinction drawn between the trade of a carpenter and that of a joiner in England goes back at least to the thirteenth century and by the fourteenth century they were already organized into separate guilds in London. By end of the seventeenth century this separation was a common feature of trade organization for them throughout England and the source of a number of local quarrels, some of which that lasted for generations. While these demarcation disputes between the two crafts eventually subsided when industrial relations in this country were transformed un- der the great leveling force of the industrial revolution, the notion of carpentry and joinery as two separate but conjoined entities survived to this day. Historically wood was unique in the scope of its application in architecture, and the range of the skills and tools required in processing it was correspondingly wide. Carpentry and joinery lay midway on a spectrum of activities that stretched from the breaking-down services of the sawyer to the expressive flair of the woodcarv- er – exactly at the point where decorative skills began to divide from constructional ones. Be- cause of this geographical position and their overlapping skill-base the shifting relationship be- tween the two trades was therefore a sensitive indicator of the evolving character of contempo- rary industry. The period under consideration divides broadly into two: a proto-industrial era, which saw the progressive breakdown of the structure of a medieval building industry under the influence of Renaissance culture – that process started in the sixteenth century and had run its course by the end of the eighteenth; and, an industrializing era, which started with the Napoleonic wars and reached maturity in the aftermath of WWI. As far as the building crafts are concerned, before the reign of Henry VIII we are dealing with medieval practices and attitudes; after 1918 these are recognizably “modern” and “industrial”. This transformation | English Carpenters and Joiners, Identity, Craft, Industrialization, Demarcation Disputes |
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Maejima, M. | 2015 | A STUDY OF MILITARY FACILITY PLANNING FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER FROM FRANCE TO JAPAN 1868‐1930. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp525-533. | Former Japanese Army buildings built from the Meiji to the Showa era are still found throughout Japan. Nevertheless their heritage value has not been sufficiently evaluated. However, since these structures face demolition, there are calls for their proper historical assessment, which is a necessary step to devising means for their preservation. In this paper, the term “Army Heritage” refers to former military buildings or structures of the Japanese Army that have architectural or technical importance for preservation. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the technological transfer in regard to this heritage from France to Japan, as there is evidence that the Japanese Army invited military missions from France in order to create new systems and facilities. The research is based on studies of original documentation in libraries and archives both in Japan and in France. The author also studied remaining military buildings, specifically Shirakabe Barracks, an early-stage military barracks of the 16th Infantry Regiment in Shibata. The investi- gation included the dismantling method in Shibata. In the formation period of the Japanese Army, garrisons were primarily built inside existing castle compounds. The barracks, which each housed a battalion, were placed in the form of a rectangle surrounding the inner yard. This plan- ning system was established in the mid-1870’s when the regiment system was introduced from France. The barracks planning principle was based on standardization from the very beginning of the Army, with wooden, two-story 15m-wide rectangular buildings, tile roofing, front and back entrances, porches with a curved gable roof over the entrance and wooden sash windows. The prototype for these buildings was designed in Japan by a French engineering officer, Captain Claude-Gabriel-Lucien-Albert Jourdan (1840-1898). The author analyzed the results in three categories. 1) The system and organization of mili- tary facility designs and plans; 2) The pr | Army Heritage, French Military Mission, Military Construction, Barracks, Japan, France |
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Maira Vidal, R. | 2015 | THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEXPARTITE VAULTS IN EUROPE. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp533-540. | Sexpartite vaults constitute one of the most interesting chapters in European Gothic architec- ture. Originally, the use of the square cross-ribbed vault was limited to relatively small spaces, but when the need arose to cover spaces of considerable size, a new vault with very peculiar characteristics appeared. This new vault was a cross-ribbed vault that was reinforced in the cen- tre by a rib that was parallel to the transverse ribs which effectively divided the vault in half. This configuration breaks the side arch into two fragments, creating a pair of windows on each side. The volumetrics of these vaults is extremely complex and the difficulties involved in their construction perhaps explain why they were abandoned in favour of the simple cross ribbed vault, now with rectangular sections. The existence of the sexpartite vault barely lasted more than fifty years, from the end of the XII century and the beginning of the XIII. Towards the end of the 19th century Viollet-le-Duc gave a succinct explanation of this type of vault. A. Choisy also, later, devotes some pages to the French sexpartite vault; since then, the subject has only been broached in a few references in later studies on Gothic architecture. How- ever, despite its short period of existence, the sexpartite vault spread throughout Europe and was used to build important vaulting. Viollet-le-Duc’s sexpartite vault could be considered to be the prototype of them all, while it is true that the studies that we have conducted so far lead us to affirm that there is a wide variety of vaults, with different volumetric spaces and different con- struction strategies. Therefore, we believe that this chapter of international Gothic deserves fur- ther study applying the knowledge and resources that are available today. This paper has been written to explore the most significant European sexpartite vaults. New measurement technology has led to a revolution in research into the history of construction, al- lowing st | Gothic construction, ribbed vault, construction history, stereotomy, geometry, keystone, severies, stone web, voussoir, tas-de-charge, springer, centering, development of construction tools, building techniques in response to their environments. |
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Manglitz, J.M. | 2015 | CLEVERLY CONCEALED: THE TRUTH BEHIND VICTORIAN ERA BUTTER JOINT RUNNING BOND. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp541-548. | Though usually associated with modern veneer applications, running bond face brick can be found in historic load-bearing construction. In the Victorian-era this bond pattern was typical- ly set using highly uniform brick with very fine joints, 1/8-inch or less, commonly called “but- ter” joints. This manner of bricklaying harkens back to rubbed or gauged brickwork found in Eng- land, the Netherlands, and northern Belgium. The precisely fit and finely jointed brickwork was used on high-style buildings, both civic and domestic, in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. In England, this fine brickwork reached its zenith in the Georgian period. It crossed the Atlantic to the North American colonies with immigrant masons. The stylistic intent was to showcase the ornamentation by minimizing the visual effect of the mortar joint pattern. The Victorian-era work took this aesthetic one step further and frequently matched the mortar color to the face brick. Changes in brick manufacturing in this era also changed the manner in which the work was executed. This style of face brick was more impressive in appearance and more costly to construct. Properly bonding the precise brick and thin joints of the running bond face wythe with backing brick wythes posed several technical challenges. The backing wythes were generally constructed using common bond and standard 3/8 to 1/2-inch wide bed joints. This presented issues with aligning the vertical coursing of the two bonding patterns. The fine joints in the face wythe gen- erally prohibited the use of metal ties; therefore concealed headers were frequently utilized. Con- cealed headers, sometimes called diagonal or blind headers, have approximately 45 percent of the bonding contact area with the face wythe than a conventional header, making this bond somewhat weaker than bonds with exposed headers. Common condition issues encountered with this construction include cracks and bulges in the wall. These conditions appear to be rel | Brickwork, Victorian, Load-Bearing Brick, Blind Header, Concealed Header, Diagonal Header, Running Bond, Stretcher Bond, Butter Joint |
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Martin Talaverno, R. | 2015 | KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE FOR HE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF SURBASED RIBBED VAULTS. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp549-556. | During late Middle Ages a quite important milestone took place in the Crown of Castile, when several master masons came from Europe to the Iberian Peninsula requested by the arch- bishops of some Castilian cities like Burgos or Toledo, causing an inflexion point in the evolu- tion of Spanish late medieval architecture, which is nowadays considered one of the highlights of gothic European architecture. However, the European influence has been deeply analyzed only from a stylistic and aesthetical point of view, and there is still a lack of knowledge about such influence on the geometrical and constructive criteria, especially in relationship with the design and construction of ribbed vaults. The objective of this paper is to go beyond the current analyses, developing a comparison of the technical criteria between several German and Spanish ribbed vaults to study the effect of the European masons in the Spanish late gothic vaults. Since this is a quite extensive field of re- search, a specific kind of works has been selected to serve as starting point: the surbased ribbed vaults, which were built at the west end of the churches supporting an elevated platform. Such vaults were an important challenge for medieval master masons, since they had to face some difficulties regarding to the limited height, which forced them to use basket or segmental arches with their specific geometrical complexity. Besides that, the spatial form of such vaults (less curved than usual ones) was the origin of some structural and constructive special features that were nevertheless cleverly solved, and master masons developed some geometrical resources which allowed them to optimize the construction process. Starting from an extensive geometrical and constructive analysis of surbased ribbed vaults in the Crown of Castile, some works of the German region have been analyzed to identify their main geometrical and constructive features. The comparative analysis of the same kind of ribbed vaults t | Late gothic ribbed vault, Stonecutting, Standardization, Theory and practice of Construction History. |
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May, R. | 2015 | SHELL SELLERS. THE INTERNATIONAL DISSEMINATION OF THE ZEISS-DYWIDAG SYSTEM, 1923–1939. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp557-564. | No history of modern building construction can avoid making reference to the Zeiss- Dywidag (Z-D) system. It will tell in brief the story of a nondescript test planetarium that had been erected 1922/23 on a factory roof in the Zeiss works at Jena, Germany, and that became the cradle of modern thin concrete shell construction. It will furthermore narrate how the building company Dyckerhoff & Widmann (Dywidag) developed out of this prototype within a couple of years an array of different shell constructions that gained world-wide fame such as the Frankfurt and Leipzig Market Halls. And, it will usually mention their planers, in particular Franz Dischinger and Ulrich Finsterwalder – names who are well-known to engineers dealing with thin shell constructions until today. Despite this extensive reputation, the Zeiss-Dywidag system usually is depicted as a signifi- cant contribution of the “German School” of engineering that – notwithstanding its fame – main- ly was of local importance for thin concrete shell design. Consequently, no thorough study on the Zeiss-Dywidag system’s influence on the early international development of thin concrete shell construction has been carried out so far. An important process of knowledge transfer during the beginnings of thin concrete shell construction therefore has widely fallen into oblivion. This paper wants to recall the fact that there were successful efforts to promote and establish the Z-D system far beyond the German borders. It describes the global dissemination of the Z-D system before the outbreak of the Second World War, which gave a vast number of engineers on four continents a first possibility of gaining practical experience in the erection of thin concrete shells. Furthermore, it reveals that the underlying concepts were acting as important stimulators for a world-wide growth in the examination of shell theories. | Thin concrete shells, Dyckerhoff & Widmann (Dywidag), Zeiss-Dywidag (Z-D) system, Chisarc system, knowledge transfer |
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McCurdy, L. | 2015 | MAYA CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: EXPLORATIONS THROUGH BUILDINGS ARCHAEOLOGY AND CONSERVATION. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp565-574. | This paper explores a unique integration of buildings archaeology and architectural con- servation through an anthropological methodology called ethnoarchaeology. Ethnoarchaeology is applied via an ancient Maya case study regarding the construction history of a monumental acropolis, called El Castillo, at Xunantunich, Belize (Early Preclassic period [2000 - 1000BC] – Terminal Classic period [900 – 1000 AD]). Research questions about El Castillo’s construction history involve architectural change, construction techniques and sequence, labor energetics and organization, material use and production, as well as worker practice and community involve- ment. To address these questions, buildings archaeology at El Castillo involves traditional exca- vation targeting diachronic architectural features, along with incorporation of 75 years of excava- tion data, and 3D survey to record features for virtual reconstruction. The dataset derived from traditional archaeological strategies is complemented by ethnoarchaeology with modern architec- tural conservation experts who restore and consolidate ancient Maya buildings. These experts from the Belize Institute of Archaeology (IOA) routinely experience the process and dynamics of (re)constructing monumental Maya masonry structures. Many of these processes and dynamics are analogous to ancient practices. Thus, these conservation experts are also Maya construction history experts (as much as any of us can be) and so are invaluable resources for research. I detail my work with Belizean conservators and discuss how this component of my re- search is an important complement to buildings archaeology. I explore the specific facets of Ma- ya construction history that modern architectural conservation can help to elucidate. For exam- ple, conservation offers distinct analogies for the construction of structural walls, masonry reuse, and workgroup composition. These specific insights will inform models of labor organization, construction se | |
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Melsens, S. & Bertels, I. | 2015 | SHAPING INDIA’S CITIES:THE CHANGING ROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS IN CONSTRUCTION SINCE INDEPENDENCE (1947). Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp575-582. | In India’s transition from a socialist to a neoliberal economy in the second half of the twentieth century responsabilities among the stakeholders in the construction sector have changed significantly and new actors have emerged. Broadly these stakeholders are patrons, consultants (architects, engineers, etc.) and executors (construction contractors, craftsmen and material suppliers). Building on data collected from contemporary professional journals, this paper analyses the impact of these stakeholders on the architectural quality of everyday buildings in Indian cities. In particular the effects of non-equipotent stakeholders on the typological diversity and tectonic intricacy of urban architecture are revealed. The argument is that this is the result of the inability of architects and skilled building craftsmen to establish themselves as influential professionals in the formal construction sector. The paper demonstrates how India’s colonial legacy combined with recent laissez-faire capitalism has contributed to this situation. | India, economic liberalization, urban architecture, the changing role of the professions in construction, twentieth century, construction sector |
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Mengali, M.A.L. | 2015 | THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST CURTAIN WALL OF VITERBO IN 1095 A. D.: A MODERN EXAMPLE OF STANDARDIZATION AND ORGANIZATION OF A COMPLEX FORTIFICATION WORK. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp583-590. | The present study concludes a wide research carried out on the medieval circle of walls of Viterbo (100 kilometers north of Rome) and, in particular, on the most ancient part of these forti- fications. These walls, erected on the east side of the town, date back to the late years of XI and early XII century, making Viterbo one of the very few European towns of those times with stone defenses. As it is possible to assume from the observation of this curtain wall, it must have been built in a quite short time, in spite of its length of 1 kilometer, probably to provide an urgent and more efficient protection of the town. To ensure grazing “fire” these walls were reinforced, on the ex- ternal façade, with towers then demolished during the Middle Ages. The specific analysis of the building techniques, developed through detailed drawings of the masonry surfaces, shows a complex organization of the construction work, with contemporary presence of many different figures of the building trades, from the stone-cutters and hodmen who prepared the building materials, to the carpenters who worked to the scaffoldings and the “archi- tect” or magister, that planned a structure built with a standardized method. In fact, the masonry shows the evidences that the erection of the defence walls was executed by several teams of ma- sons, working one beside the other, but building, each one, portions of stone curtain of limited length, constructed from the bottom till the merlons. The analysis of a number of masonry joints, combined to the study of the historical records, masonry techniques and materials, had permitted to elaborate a critical investigation of this forti- fication work. | |
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Miranowski, D. & Clifford, B. | 2015 | RE-LEARNING SIGURD LEWERENTZ: AN APPLIED HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER’S IN KLIPPAN, SWEDEN. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp591-598. | h architects of the 20th century, distinguished him- self through his playful mastery of masonry construction; most notably in his 1962 Church of St. Peter’s in Klippan, Sweden. Despite being revered for his novel approach towards material as- sembly, there remains a void in the historical understanding of Lewerentz’s construction meth- ods given the works were largely manifested through a process of on-site management and de- sign, rather than through drawings alone. The built artifacts possess traces of this knowledge, but it is possible to fill historical voids and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of Lew- erentz’s construction practices through the physical reproduction of his works. This paper pro- poses a method of scaled-construction whereby researchers re-create specific masonry tech- niques, using photographs, dimensional drawings, and historical accounts, to resurrect knowledge currently trapped within the brick. Through this method, the logic of certain geomet- ric operations and patterns emerge. The process unearths critical insight into the unique reciproc- ity between thinking and making in Lewerentz’s work. What begins as a void becomes an oppor- tunity for engaging the physical processes that define the architect’s contribution. This paper employs a method of knowledge extraction through physical making, which has the potential to flesh out a better collective understanding of Sigurd Lewerentz’s work as well as an application to better understand the works of other master architect/builders, whose techniques demand some form of action to bring them to light. | On-Site Design, Re-Construction, Sigurd Lewerentz, Masonry, Craft, Descriptive Geometry |
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Moller, E. | 2015 | INVENTION AND INNOVATION IN STRUCTURAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION – FREI OTTO AND THE MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUM 1972 – A HISTORICAL CASE STUDY. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp599-606. | On May 31st 2015 – only a few days prior to the 5th International Congress on Construction History – we celebrate the 90th birthday of Frei Otto, one of the most innovative and important architects and structural designers in the second part of the 20th century in Germany. His innova- tions and developments in the field of structural forms are extraordinary. Constructions like the German Pavilion at the Expo 1967 in Montreal or the Munich Olympic Stadium of 1972 could not have been realized without his preliminary works, his scientific investigations, his helpful advices and great personal engagement. Beyond this background the paper illuminates the conditions for invention and innovation in structural design and construction. In which climate such progress and new methods like these can grow? How about was the academic, the technological and practical environment for these enormous advances in the field of lightweight structures and constructions? Based upon a sys- tematic research on architectural writing about construction, structure and structural design some common views and trends are established but also remarked differences regarding to the quoted question. Selected contributions and key statements of relevant contemporaries like Bill Addis, Norman Foster, Fritz Leonhardt, Pier Luigi Nervi, Stefan Polónyi, Eero Saarinen, Jörg Schlaich, Werner Sobek or Eduardo Torroja (in alphabetical order) are included. | |
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Monin, E. | 2015 | THE DISCREET EFFICIENCY OF “IN-BILT” PRISMATIC GLASS LIGHTING SYSTEMS. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp607-616. | Exploring the history of a lighting system invented in America by the Holophane Company between the two world wars, the present article highlights the different strategies that served as milestones for the triumph of electric lighting in modern architecture. In effect, conditioned by rational or aesthetic factors driven by the work of architects, lighting specialists and manufactur- ers of lighting appliances, the incorporation of lighting in architecture at the end of the 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s led to simplified volumes and the eclipse of the cumbersome chande- liers that had previously pervaded the built space, consequently giving houses more light. Along with the ideological discourse that underpinned these transformations, this article highlights the gradual development of the exceptional optical properties of a technical device that would also contribute to the flowering of an art of lighting. From the first signs of the introduction of an optical chain in which several appliances ex- ploiting the reflecting and refracting qualities of prismatic glass interact, to the production of in- tegrated blocks designed to be fitted into false ceilings and wall recesses, this system illustrates the evolution of an art of construction that shaped a tempered environment adapted to the re- quirements of modern life. | Electric lighting, lighting units, built-in lighting systems, prismatic glass |
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Morales-Sigura, M. | 2015 | ANALYSIS ON THE ROOF OF THE SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, IN MADRID (SPAIN). CLARIFICATIONS ON THE PARTICIPATION OF FELIX CANDELA IN THE PROJECT. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp617-624. | The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a landmark building commissioned by the Con- gregation of Missionaries of the Holy Spirit (Congregación de Misioneros del Espíritu Santo). It was built throughout the 1960s. The Sanctuary is located at 1 Puerto Rico Street in the Northern Chamartin district in Madrid, Spain. The architectural compound consists of two volumes, a temple and a residence. The idea for the construction originally came up from the religious con- gregation itself. They were supported by Spanish businessmen based in Mexico. This document provides instructions for preparing a paper to be included in the Proceedings of the 5th Interna- tional Congress on Construction History. The paper can be written in any word processor that outputs standard PDF files. The first page is used only for the paper title, the authors’ names and affiliations, keywords and the paper abstract. Your abstract must fit on the first page below the keywords; the next section of the paper must begin at the top of the second page. The objective of this research paper is to analyze the construction process of the roof of the Sanctuary with main focus on the following points: - The several changes made on the design of the roof as the project was progressing. Spe- cially important are the changes made on its perimetral support. - The various calculations proposed and the results obtained from the different testings on a scale model. -The implementation process. A period of three months working around the clock. - The Felix Candela’s latest contribution to the project which was fully recalculated in Spain by calculation engineers and architects from the technical office founded by Eduardo Torroja (died in 1961. | Construction History, structural analysis, Hyperbolic paraboloid, Folded sheet, Catholic churches |
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Morganti, R. et al. | 2015 | STEEL CONSTRUCTION FOR A NEW PUBLIC COM ANY. THE RAI EXECUTIVE OFFICES. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp625-632. | The reference horizon of the Italian companies during the years of “boom economico” one part is the development of modern industrial capitalism and the other part the cultural context of a predominantly rural country until then. Among the different growth sectors also the communication in which the RAI company, Italian Radio Auditions, get, in January 1952, the Convention for the management of the national television service. The Rai buildings, one for the Milan office, designed by G. Ponti in 1939, the Rome office, by F. Berarducci and A. Fioroni in 1959 and the Turin skyscraper, by A. Morbelli and D. Morelli in 1961, than to represent the company’s philosophy of an organization producing communication and culture, become, in the collective dream-up, symbol of the progress and of the economic and social change of those years. Selecting in particular, the Turin and Rome experiences, with the realization of the General Head Offices, the present work analyses how of steel construction, to which is entrust the technical and formal solution of two buildings, becomes a field for design and construction experimentation of new and efficient architecture. The experimentation on the resistant structure of the steel pipe, developed by Costruzioni Metalliche Finsider for both buildings and the research made by Alsco Malugani company, for Turin skyscraper and Curtisa company for Rome head office, represent, in Italian context, a meaningful phase of traditional building technologies overcoming in favour of those prefabricated and pre-assembled in the works, using standardized procedures, obtaining a process of simplification and advanced of the assembly techniques and a rationalization of the cost and the time. The reading of the technical- constructional and architectural characters of these buildings, that it is multi-storey or high-rise buildings, highlights the complexity and multidisciplinary nature of the topic. The reading of the technical-constructional and architectural | Multi-storey and High-rise buildings, Steel Construction, Curtain wall, Italian companies |
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Morganti, R. et al. | 2015 | PATENTS OF ANTI-SEISMIC STRUCTURES IN IRON AND STEEL. 1908, MESSINA EARTHQUAKE – 1957, INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF EUROPE COUNCIL. Procs 5ICCH, Chicago, 2, pp633-?? | The Messina earthquake of 1908, with the impression produced on public opinion, opened to a new sensitivity to the issue of earthquake-resistant construction. Although building sector was sometimes indifferent to this specific theme, technological researches, carried out by different companies or individual designers, were engaged to propose effective solutions to critical issues of anti-seismic houses. The interest for this specific argument was stimulated by initiatives pro- moted by metallurgical companies such as two national competitions of Falck’s steelworks in 30’s. The experimentations followed the 1908 earthquake are spread until the beginning of World War II, when the technical and productive scenario changes. These studies have almost never got a direct experimentation on buildings but some of them introduce technological innovations which will transposed tout court or partially revised some decades later by the construction industry. However, these studies constitute a rich documenta- tion of patents. In Italy patents are in fact the favorite modality to which are addressed many of the research carried out, which often do not have a practical application for technological back- wardness of industry or high costs of manufacture. The industrial patents, granted in the first half of Twentieth Century, provide, in most cases, the use of seismic isolation systems while the ver- tical structure is typically resolved with frames or load-bearing walls or with mixed systems that involve the use of frames and walls. The technologies explored ranging from traditional masonry to metal construction and reinforced concrete. In particular, we want to propose an historical re- construction of researches which are based on metal constructive system, iron and steel struc- tures above all. We want to define different paths of technological experimentation implemented by these patents on steel anti-seismic structures. The documentary value of proposed experiences is not on | Steel, Anti-seismic structures, Patents |
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Reifsteck II, W.E. | 2015 | Two Million Bricks In 160 Days: The Construction Of Notre Dame Stadium In 1930 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 171-8 | This is the story of the construction of one of the most legendary and iconic sporting venues, the University of Notre Dame Stadium, the men that built it , and the unique set of circumstances that allowed the University of Notre Dame to finance the construction at the beginning of the great depression. This paper is the only one of its kind that details, with historic pictures, drawings and extensive correspondence only recently discovered, that gives new understanding to the spectacular undertaking of building such a monumental structure in only six months. Through firsthand accounts and historical research, the narrative details the economic and social impact that the construction had on the lives of the workers and the men that were involved in the construction. New technologies were developed that allowed the installation of “Two Million Bricks” in that short time. This project exhibited green construction techniques, prefabrication and other cutting edge technologies in 1930 that are only currently being adopted by today’s companies. Likewise this monumental project was built without one single lost time accident, an exemplary feat when matched with other large projects of the time. The Speaker is William E. Reifsteck, a nationally known construction expert and historian, who has been intimately involved with Notre Dame Stadium since 1974. Reifsteck worked for Sollitt Construction Company, the original contractor of the stadium, and was instrumental in facilitating the donation of the Sollitt Construction Company’s Notre Dame Collection to the Notre Dame Archives in 1985. Reifsteck has also collected and has permission to use over 25 original photographs of the construction and has access to over 100 pictures in the Sollitt Collection at the Notre Dame Archives. | CPM Scheduling, Stadium Financing, Logistics, Stored Materials |
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Reyes Pérez, R., Tello Peón, T. and Ponce de León, P.A.C. | 2015 | The Yucatecan Hacienda: Relations Between Production Systems, Construction Processes, Materials, And Settlements Morphology in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 179-86 | From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, the huge sisal haciendas of Yucatan were created, or transformed, with the use of different materials and constructive systems originated from an historic past and the innovative possibilities product of the introduction of new materials (as iron for example) these processes created an heritage that even now exits in domestic and collective life of Mexico’s inhabitants, in their houses, buildings, towns and landscapes in the rural and urban areas. The purpose of this work is to reflect and to look, with new and wide-open eyes, the significance of the production and construction processes in these haciendas. In order to achieve this purpose, this paper will be divided into two sections: First, we will establish the context of Sisal haciendas at the dawn of different processes and materials, designs, types of architectural or urban solutions, from houses to big sisal factories. In the second part of the paper it will underline the building and construction processes and new and old materials impact in them. | Construction techniques, Construction materials, Sisal haciendas in Yucatán |
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Ricaud, E. | 2015 | Pre-Columbian And Early Colonial Adobe Bricks In The United States: A Tool In The Service Of Dating Historic Buildings in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 187-96 | Thanks to the opportunity offered by the Richard Morris Hunt Prize2 and the grant of the Labex AE&CC3, I have developed since 2012 a research project about earthen architecture in the United States. During six months, I travelled all over the country in more than twenty states, not only in the most representative regions regarding earth architecture, but also in more unexpected areas. My approach is deliberately large and includes the extraordinary variety of earthen techniques (adobe, rammed-earth, wattle-and-daub, cob, sod, tabby, jacal…), and also a large historical period including the pre-Columbian and colonial periods, 19th and early 20th centuries. Thanks to an architectural, social and ethnological approach, the goal is to establish some transverse connections between fields of research (architecture, archaeology, ethnology) and between accepted cultural areas. In the end, this research proposes a “history from below” of the North American territory, that is to say a history based on minor communities and populations, secondary events and belittled material. This synthetic work (Ricaud 2014) highlights the close relation between political, social, geographical, scientific and cultural history of the United States. The present paper focuses on one of the most common techniques, but which is also often wrongly documented because original sources (historic testimonies, archaeologist reports and the building itself) are neglected. This technique is adobe brick, studied here during pre-Columbian and early colonial periods. This article presents the main phases of the evolution of their shape and manufacture process, and proposes statistics about evolution of brick size, that could help archaeologists and preservation architects to date adobe buildings. | Building materials, earthen architecture, adobe bricks, cultural history, United States |
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Rinke, M. | 2015 | Terner & Chopard And The New Timber – Early Development And Application Of Laminated Timber In Switzerland in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 197-204 | In 1906 German master carpenter Otto Hetzer (1846 – 1911) was awarded a patent for the concept of a curved glued-laminated beam. This development responded to an increasing shortage of large-sized timbers due to the extensive building activity at the end of the 19th century and was conceptually based on earlier developments from De l’Ormes (1567), Wiebeking (1817) or Emy (1837). Only a few years after Hetzer’s technological invention the Swiss based Romanian engineer Bernhard Terner (1875 – 1960) acquired the patent and the exclusive right to use Hetzer’s invention in Switzerland. Together with Charles Chopard (1879 – 1954) he found the engineering office Terner & Chopard in 1909. During the following 24 years they developed many extraordinary timber structures, a time, which turned out to be a first global climax of industrial largescale timber construction and benefited from the steel and coal crisis after World War I. Terner and Chopard’s timber works range from industrial long span halls to train station roofs, from road brigdes to architectural buildings featuring ambitious geometrical forms. Their most important works are the cupolas of the main building of the University of Zurich (1911) and the SUVA head quarter in Luzern (1914) as well as large tram depots and platform roofs throughout Switzerland. In parallel with their own technological and constructive development, Terner & Chopard have been involved in some important material research programs together with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) which led to a better understanding of stress limits and the performance of new component shapes. Chopard was also involved in the development of the first Swiss timber building code in 1925. Beyond their sense for delicate structural frameworks in both reinforced concrete and laminated timber they have proven great confidence and will to use timber in new ways and forms and to push its technical and cons | Laminated Timber, Material Industry, Material development, Prefabrication in timber |
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Roberts, S.M. and Bowen, B. | 2015 | The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station: Construction At The End Of The World in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 205-12 | Following the Amundsen and Scott expeditions to the South Pole in 1911, 40 years would pass before any serious efforts would be made to construct research settlements in Antarctica. In the 1950’s, international cooperation within the scientific community encouraged the establishment of the first research stations. All of these stations were located at the perimeter of the continent, with the exception of one ambitious American project that constructed a station on the South Pole to be utilized for international collaboration. This paper briefly describes the first two of these stations - operational from 1957 until the phased introduction of the third and latest station during the first decade of this century. The design and construction challenges of building at such a remote and hostile environment are discussed; specifically the logistical problems in moving 40,000 tons of material to the site and the features of the new station. | Polar construction history, Amundsen-Scott research station, polar construction techniques |
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Rodríguez García, A. | 2015 | Thinking With The Eye, Thinking With The Hand; Looking For A Modern Construction Between Industry And Craftsmanship: The Upper Lawn Pavilion By Alison And Peter Smithson 1959-1962 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Procs of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 213-20 | Alison and Peter Smithson (United Kingdom 1928-1993 and 1923-2003, respectively), two of the core figures in Team 10, began their professional activities in an international context mired in the aftermath of World War II and a critical revision of the Modern Movement. During the nineteen-fifties and -sixties, they developed a major part of their theoretical discourse and their oeuvre, in constant dialogue with tradition. A fundamental part of this process can be seen at Upper Lawn (1959-1962), their weekend home in Fonthill, in the county of Wiltshire. A small pavilion in wood, glass and aluminium, constructed to a large extent by the architects themselves as an experiment with an English country cottage from the eighteenth century in a compound with its boundaries marked by a stone masonry wall on which the pavilion rests. Europe’s reconstruction and the urgent need for large-scale housing enabled the realignment of the levels of production and development achieved by the war-fired industry of World War II. By way of example, the use of aluminium as a building material taking advantage of the production infrastructure of the aeronautical industry and the great spread of companies supplying this material such as the US company Reynolds. The aluminium sheet cladding the Upper Lawn Pavilion is without doubt part of the heritage of this industrial context. Simultaneously, the Smithsons’ work also reveals evidence of a great interest in the building culture of pre-industrial craftsmen as a source of learning, by incorporating nuances that form a natural and refined hybrid with modern industrial systems resulting in this work a brilliant example of this combination. Novel industrial materials just created co-exist on an equal footing, displaying their natural qualities placed deliberately alongside pre-existing materials. Industrial construction, pre-industrial vernacular construction, and the dialogue between the two, have turned Upper Lawn into on | Smithsons, Team 10, Upper Lawn, aluminium, craftsmanship |
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Roels, C. | 2015 | Literature Review On Rural Architecture In Belgium: Ideas To Modernize Farmsteads In Architectural Publications From 1847-1884 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 221-8 | his paper focuses on a case study of a PhD thesis aiming to investigate the historical trends and official discourses on rural architecture in Belgium. It is based on a serie of books on farm buildings published in Belgium between 1847 and 1884. On a methological level, it follows a bibliography made by the French agronomist Louis Bouchard-Huzard in 1870. According to Bouchard, various Belgian architects wrote on farmstead building and were involved in an architextural debate on ways to modernize farmsteads. An example of the innovative thinking spread by the architects books can be found in the idea of the barns feeding corridor. This literature review shows how modern farmsteads buildings became an important part in the architectural reflection of Belgium in the 20ths Century. | Construction in architectural writing, Literature review of construction history, Theory and practice of construction history, Farmsteads, Regionalism, Belgium |
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Alvarado, A.Y.R. | 2015 | Historical And Constructive Aspects Of The Iron Municipal Palace At Orizaba In The Nineteenth-Century in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 229-38 | This paper examines historical aspects of the construction process of the Palacio Municipal de Hierro (Iron Municipal Palace) located in the Mexican city of Orizaba. It will focus on antecedents, the purchase negotiation, the submitted budget, financial and assembly vicissitudes, and a formal architectural analysis. This eclectic building is the first example of the prefabricated iron buildings purchase that took place in the late nineteenth century in Mexican cities which had financial resources for it. In addition, this building was the specific reply to an imaginary progress of the local oligarchy during the regime of Porfirio Díaz (1876-1911), longing to put Orizaba into a national and international spotlight. The city was already an important strategic enclave of interregional trade with thriving textile industry. Therefore, the new municipal palace would be a representative space of strength and power with political, administrative and judicial purposes, as well as an attraction center for foreign investors. | Mexico, Regional History, Construction, Iron Architecture, Municipal Palace |
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Rosario Nobile, M. and Garofalo, E. | 2015 | Stereotomy Of The Late-Medieval Mediterranean. Crossroads Of Experimental Design in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 239-46 | This paper analyses some specific case studies of vault and spiral staircase construction built in Sicily in the 12th and 13th centuries during Norman and Swabian rule, as a site of experimentation in the field of stereotomy. The list of such examples still extant (in Palermo some details of the cathedral, the muqarnas in the Zisa Palace and its palatine chapel – the first stone muqarnas in the Mediterranean -, in Syracuse and Catania the castles built during the reign of Frederick II, etc) must be considered in conjunction with similar constructions, now lost or ruined, especially by earthquakes (eg. the intriguing Hall of Syracuse and Mongialino Castle). Among these examples are buildings of great interest, though almost unknown, that can be connected with the sudden appearance of innovative solutions in western stone architecture. Descriptions and travellers’ diaries, as well as the buildings themselves reveal clues that could help solve some unanswered questions about the origin and development of European stereotomy It is the aim of this paper to argue that the largest islands of the Mediterranean, such as Sicily, acted as bridges between East and West and contributed significantly to the subsequent flowering of stereotomy in the Early Modern period. | Stereotomy, Mediterranean, muqarnas, vault, spiral staircase |
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Sampoali, G. | 2015 | Electric Lighting In The Architecture Of Le Corbusier: Towards A History Of Technical Installations in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 247-54 | In 1923, Le Corbusier wrote: “Architecture is the masterly, correct and magnificent play of masses brought together in light”, with reference to natural light. But when it was a question of artificial lighting, only the best-known cases tend to be remembered, such as those presented in 1969 by Reyner Banham in The Architecture of the Well-Tempered Environment. The book, for example, is critical of the naked, glaring electric light bulb placed in Villa Cook in 1926, “in the geometric centre of [the] ceiling” of the large living room. Starting in the thirties, direct illumination was often replaced by indirect, and sometimes Le Corbusier himself designed the light source. Gradually the potential of electric light was exploited in the service of architectural design, in some cases by using products widely available on the market that were given a new function. To back up his studies of ways of controlling the artificial lighting environment in interiors and exteriors, Le Corbusier worked with various manufacturers and designers, including André Salomon, a French ingénieur éclairagiste who was one of the twentieth-century’s most important light engineers. This paper seeks to present the use of electric light in the works of Le Corbusier built in France and Switzerland, selected from those that represent the most specific design approaches. The work, carried out through a systematic, detailed and critical analysis of the artificial lighting systems present, has been conducted by archival research, the systematic examination of both period and current print and photographic materials, and site inspections to provide a full picture of the topic. | 20th century, history of technology, interior and exterior environment, lighting, innovation, experimentation |
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Schlimme, H. | 2015 | Western Style Spring Fountains, Plays Of Water And Hydraulic Construction In The Yuanmingyuan In Beijing And Their European Models in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 255-64 | Theme of the paper are the Western style spring fountains and plays of water in the Old Summer Palace Yuanmingyuan in Beijing, which were built on request of Emperor Qianlong in 1747-1759 together with the Western Buildings. In contrast to the latter, the fountains and the hydraulic constructions, all designed by the Beijing-based French Jesuit, mathematician and astronomer Michel Benoist (1715-1774), are less studied. Neither Benoist nor the Chinese craftsmen had practical experience with the artistic and technical design and the execution of this kind of fountains. In this specific epistemic situation Benoist had to dwell almost exclusively on European book publications on the topic. Concentrating on the first group of fountains around the Palace of Harmony, Wonder and Delight (Xieqiqu) the paper investigates the design processes and the role of the treatises of Morland, Mariotte and Bélidor, which offer concrete design and calculation methods and machine technology, and which were available in the Jesuit libraries in Beijing. | Beijing, Yuanmingyuan, hydraulic construction, spring fountains, Bernard Forest de Bélidor, Edme Mariotte |
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Senent-Domínguez, López-Mozo,A., Martín-Talaverano, R., Pérez-de-los-Ríos, C. and Rabasa-Díaz, E. | 2015 | Late Gothic Ribbed Vaults. Basis For Cataloging in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 265-72 | The ribbed vault is considered one of the four elements characterizing Gothic architecture. However, due to its constructive advantages, its success overtook the Middle Ages. Ribbed vaults were still built throughout Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, when Gothic had already been replaced by Renaissance principles coming from Italy. For centuries, these Late Gothic vaults have been considered a decadent anachronism even by the staunchest defenders of the Gothic style. However, current research on Late Gothic vaults has revalued this rich heritage, showing that these vaults don’t respond to an unnecessary complexity or to a mere stylistic mannerism, but to a deep understanding of Gothic construction system. The Late Gothic vault is now considered as part of an evolution, usually offering design or material advantages or expressing the mastery of a system. There is a huge Late Gothic vaults heritage in Europe and some interesting conclusions on this constructive element have already been achieved: stylistic and construction relationships between different countries have been identified, offering evidences of a knowledge transfer beyond a mere copy of patterns. Unfortunately, much of this rich heritage still remains unknown. Researches on these vaults are based on the analysis of particular examples, which doesn’t allow tackling the problem as a whole. We cannot answer with confidence seemingly simple questions such as: How many Late Gothic vaults are there? How many vaults with a diamond design are there? Or where did curved rib first appear? We don’t even know whether these questions are worth to be answered. | Late Gothic ribbed vault, Catalog, Theory and practice of Construction History |
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Serafini, A. and González- Longo, C. | 2015 | The Design And Construction Techniques Of Eighteenth Century Timber Roofs In Scotland: Glasgow Trades Hall and Tweeddale House In Edinburgh in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 273-80 | The few open roofs mentioned in literature seem to represent an exception rather than the rule: most Scottish timber roofs are hidden behind timber or plaster ceilings and characterised by a much simpler common rafter form. From the eighteenth century onwards they presented hipped and trussed arrangements as well as other more complex solutions developed to meet the requirements of evolving architecture. This paper attempts to shed some light on the design and construction techniques of eighteenth century Scottish timber roofs with the preliminary results obtained from the creation of a relational database of 1250 buildings (including structures, professionals, dates), related mapping, survey of 29 roofs across Scotland and a more detailed study of those at Tweeddale House in Edinburgh, and Glasgow Trades Hall. Both buildings have roofs from the period in which the Adam brothers worked on them as architects. The original sixteenth century Tweeddale House was remodeled by the Adams in 1752-3 and almost forty years later Robert Adam designed the Glasgow Trades Hall (1791/4), although the building was completed after his death with a modified design. Archival research combined with surveys has allowed to make an initial appraisal of the design and construction processes involved in the two projects. Many questions arise concerning the specific involvement of architects and wrights in the successive transformations of the roofs and an attempt to identify local and foreign influences has been carried out by analyzing the typology of roofs and joints. | Scotland, Timber, Roofs, Structures, Eighteenth Century, Wright |
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Comte, B.S. | 2015 | King’s Feet To Republican Metres: The Evolution Of Construction Drawings, Paris, 1782-1876 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 281-92 | In 1782, Jean-Jacques Lequeu prepared a coloured ink-and-wash drawing entitled “Des Instruments à l’Usage du Bon Dessinateur” intended as the introductory plate to his manuscript “Architecture civile.” It testifies to his professional experience as architectural draftsman, circa 1779-88, under Jacques-Germain Soufflot and his successors, architects of the Church of Sainte- Geneviève. His annotated repertory of drafting gear─crow’s quill, ash-wood ruler divided into pieds du Roi [King’s feet], copper-plate compass with lead slip, handmade rag paper, squirrelhair brushes, vegetable sponges, and Chinese ink block─conforms to orthodox drawing practices and codifications set forth in authoritative texts, including the 1750-80s Grande Encyclopédie. With increasingly complex post-Revolution civil programmes, codes and materials, Old Regime documents needed revamping. Against 1600s scanty, monochrome, architect or master mason’s drawings, complementary to on-site verbal exchanges, and 1660s-1780s colour-wash drawings responding to royal building regulations, by its 1795-1848 decrees the Conseil des Bâtments Civils regulated stiffer graphic and written documents for newly conceived contract sets, dimensioned in Republican metres. For Charles Garnier’s Opera commission (1861-75), twenty-one underpaid architects, apprentices and delineators generated 15,673 original working drawings in six years alone. Outnumbering all other drawing types, they functioned as an interlocking unit, delivered in triplicate, contractual bond among architects-in-chief, contractors, and artisans, to command site-work, guiding quantity surveyors, labourers, site supervisors and inspectors. | Working Drawings, Contract Drawing Set, Construction Procedures, Building Trades |
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Shotton, E. | 2015 | The Divergence Of The Professions: James Gandon, John Rennie And The Building Of The Revenue Docks in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 293-302 | he Scottish engineer John Rennie (1761-1821) is often attributed as author of the trio of docks built in Dublin for the Commissioners of Revenue in Ireland. However the original dock was actually the work of James Gandon (1742-1823), a British architect who rose to fame during the course of his career in Ireland. This original dock, constructed 1792-1796, formed part of Gandon’s first commission in Ireland to design the new Custom House and was built concurrently to the Grand Canal Dock by William Jessop (1745-1814) on the opposite side of the River Liffey. The confusion in authorship likely resulted from the significant rebuilding of the dock as part of Rennie’s commission to add additional docks and warehouses to the quarter twenty years later. Gandon’s original Revenue Dock was a near replica, in both form and technique, of the Old Dock in Liverpool, first constructed by Thomas Steers (1672-1750) in 1715 and largely reconstructed after 1743, again by Steers. But, while dock engineering in Britain and Ireland was in its infancy when Steers built the first dock in Liverpool innovations had been introduced by both Jessop and Rennie by the end of the eighteenth century that rendered Gandon’s work obsolete even as it was in construction. Gandon’s ignorance of the rapidly evolving technologies used in docks, even when they were being undertaken in such near proximity to his own work, speaks to the differences emerging between the disciplines of architecture and engineering in the late eighteenth century. The delineations, now so clearly apparent, between builder and designer, architect and engineer were still relatively ambiguous and fluid in the eighteenth century. Even between Gandon and Rennie, explicitly acknowledged as architect and engineer respectively, there was a degree of overlap in the types of commissions undertaken, including docks, bridges and buildings in both men’s careers. | John Rennie; James Gandon; William Jessop; Custom House docks; Ireland; architecture; engineering; training; changing role of the professions; docks; building techniques |
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Shotton, E. | 2015 | The Evolution Of The Iron Truss In The Work Of John Rennie in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 303-12 | Dublin’s nineteenth-century Tobacco Store built by John Rennie (1761-1821) is considered significant due to its cast- and wrought-iron roof trusses. Though by no means the first to experiment with iron, Rennie had been a firm believer in the superiority of this material over timber in warehouse construction and used it extensively throughout his portfolio. Less acknowledged is that a similar, yet more advanced truss was used in the New West Stores (demolished 1988), also built as part of the Dublin Docks ensemble by Rennie. That this achievement was overlooked was a result of the roof structure being replaced with a less adventurous timber roof following its collapse in a fire in 1833, ten years after its completion. Archival evidence suggests that the original cast- and wrought-iron truss designed by Rennie for the New West Stores mirrored that of the earlier Tobacco Store in profile consisting of queen-post truss, surmounted by a lantern structure and a smaller kingpost truss. However, this later truss far exceeded the earlier structure in span, being 52 foot 6 inches in comparison to the 38 foot 9 inch span of the Tobacco Store. As studies in the evolution of iron truss technology have suggested that the span of early trusses were limited to 40 feet, which was not exceeded until after the 1830s when such inventions as the Polonceau truss and various arched truss technologies were introduced, this early truss by Rennie was a significant achievement in the 1820s. In addition to its span, it is probable that this truss also represented an evolution in Rennie’s connection details. Prior to his work in Dublin Rennie had favoured connections made with slotted assemblies, using wedges and cotter pins to tighten and hold pieces together, which were often dependent on the structure’s own self weight to provide stability – a strategy employed in the London Tobacco Dock, the West India Dock sheds and even the Southwark Bridge. | John Rennie; history and construction of specific projects; iron truss evolution; truss connections building materials, their history, production and use |
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Shu, C. | 2015 | From The Blue To The Red: Changing Technology In The Brick Industry Of Modern Shanghai in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 313-20 | Modern Shanghai was built mostly of bricks, embedded in an epoch-making shift from “blue brick” to “red brick” in the history of building material in modern China. The classification are customarily defined by the apparent colour. In Shanghai red brick was introduced through the architectural culture from Europe. By the mid-twentieth century red brick had prevailed over the traditional blue bricks in both production and use, a new system was developed locally. The shift took more than half a century with arguably crucial steps in 1866-1936 in the sense of architecture. The paper addresses the changing technology of brickmaking during the material shift, aiming at the durability of the two kinds of historical bricks, which is important in conservation practice. The problem is generated by the incompatibility between the architectural historians’ ideas and the engineers’ scientific results on the mechanical and physical properties of the two kinds of bricks. It highlights the incompatibility and ascribes it to the technological issues existed in the initial stage of the locally developed modern brickmaking industry, which built on the centuries- old system with western machinery. It presents a brief state-of-the-art on the manufacturing history out of any systematic studies on those delicate and heterogeneous historical bricks. Accordingly, it proposes two most important questions about the argil and the production process that are arguably crucial to the deterioration and the durability of those Chinese bricks, based on referable European studies. Multi-field sources are utilized. One principal source is the technical publications according to different professionals such as architects, engineers, technological historians, experience-based or science-based, from ancient time to modern period. | Material History Shift, Blue Brick, Red Brick, Modern Shanghai, Production and Use |
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Silva-Contreras, M. | 2015 | The Guastavino System In Mexico: Rescuing The Unknown Work Of A Modern Builder in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 321-8 | This work is part of a research about the construction materials and systems used in Mexico during the first decade of the twentieth century. Many buildings of that time covered a modern soul, characterized not only by new demands, material, technical and constructive possibilities, but also new understandings in the management of the construction business. In this sense, this paper is focused in the analysis of the role of Rafael Guastavino (1842-1908) in Mexico associated with the contractor Antonio Prieto (1862-1949). Prieto built different timbrel vaults using Guastavino’s system in Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi, among others cities, sometimes aided by Guastavino, after he promoted the work of the Catalonian builder in Mexico City during the first two years of the twentieth century. In that way, those vaults where part of the most significant public buildings during the government of Porfirio Díaz, characterized by an important modernization of Mexican territory and cities. The ephemeral but great success even caused the project of a kiln for bricks production in San Luis Potosi. Prieto worked with timbrel vaults for about ten years, using them for all kind of buildings. Few of those structures survive today, so this paper has also the aim to make them visible, since they are almost unknown in the Mexican history of architecture. | Rafael Guastavino, Antonio Prieto, timbrel vaults, Guastavino system, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí |
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Simonnot, N. | 2015 | Architecture And Construction In Artificial Lighting Us And French Journals (1928-1939) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 329-36 | Professional journals based on the promotion of artificial lighting in everyday life, constitute a key historical resource enabling links between the development of a modern technology and the conception of a new spatial environment. Our aim is to provide an historical comparison in the Twenties and the Thirties of the representation of architecture between Transactions of the Illuminating Engineer Society, the Journal of the eponymous Society, and Lux, the French journal which promote modern architecture. We will try to understand their theoretical postulates and promotion of a new way of life, when such architecture emerged on the international scene, both in the United States and in Europe. Professional links between architects and engineers will be analyzed, and we will point out how foreign works are presented in both Journals. | Artificial lighting journals, History of lighting, Transactions of the Illuminating Engineer Society, Lux |
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Buršić, M.S. | 2015 | Problems Of Vaulting The Eastern Part Of The Gothic Cathedral Of Zagreb (Croatia) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 337-44 | The cathedral of Zagreb is the most important and the largest Gothic building in Croatia: ca 75 m long, ca 35 m wide, with vaults of the nave and choir spanning 13 m. Its eastern part (presbytery with three apses) was begun in the 13th century, following the model of the church of Saint-Urbain in Troyes (Champagne). According to historical documents, the two aisles of the presbytery (i.e. of the eastern part of the edifice) were vaulted by the end of the 13th century, but there are no historical sources on the construction of the first choir vault. Survey drawings from mid-19th century show a vault with late Gothic stylistic characteristics, with ribs forming patterns typical of Central-European late Gothic vaults. However, it was not constructed in the Gothic period: from the contract with master Hans Alberthal in 17th century it is known that he built this vault "exactly following the form of the old vault" which had collapsed shortly before. This was the only vault of the Zagreb cathedral with the late Gothic formal characteristics. All the other vaults of the cathedral were of the quadripartite type, typical of early and high Gothic. Therefore it might be concluded that the choir vault was built later than the other vaults of the cathedral – even later than the vaults of the hall-type nave, constructed in the 15th c. Also, the choir vault is the only vault of the Zagreb cathedral which collapsed in the earthquake in 1880 (Torbar 1882). Interestingly, from the historical sources it can be concluded that it collapsed several times before the 1880 earthquake – while the other vaults of the cathedral had never had serious structural problems. The cross section of the presbytery has unusual proportion of the heights of its central and lateral vessels: the springings of its choir vault are higher than the springings of its aisle vaults, but not enough high to enable high clerestory windows - as it was the rule in aisled early and high Gothic cathe | Gothic vaulting system, buttressing system, cathedral of Zagreb, structural flaw, construction history |
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Sire, S. and Douroux, J-F. | 2015 | The Electric Arc Welding Reinforcement Of Steel Bridges From The Paris Metro In The 1930s: The Case Of The Austerlitz Viaduct Over The Seine in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 345-54 | The first full-welded bridges were erected at the end of the 1920s, both in Europe and in the United States. In fact, electric arc welding replaced progressively hot riveting as assembly method until then the latter was largely used in metal construction since the 1840s. During the 1930s, the progress of this welding technique allowed a large number of bridges to be built. In the meantime some large riveted structures were reinforced with the electric arc process. In Paris, the main reinforced structure was the Austerlitz viaduct over the Seine river. This steel (Martin) viaduct, built in 1905 on the Line 5 of the Paris Metro has a deck suspended on two parabolic arches with a space of 7m80 in between. Each arch includes three articulations, one on the top and the two others located one meter above the deck. Due to the increase of load required by the Metro Company in 1931, a full study of the reinforcement of the viaduct was undertaken. Indeed, under the new operating conditions, the structure behaviour was calculated for a typical train of 185.4 metric tons instead of one of 121 metric tons (which was the load taken into account for the calculation of stresses in the structure in 1903). The Metro Company also paid special attention to the calculation where the bridge is under the heaviest load possible at the time: one single 410 metric tons train. The reinforcement operation started in 1936 and ended two years later. It included the choice of the reinforcement steel; its chemical composition and its mechanical properties were deeply studied. Each weld was calculated to support static and cyclic loadings according to the French circular of July the 25th 1935. The strengthening of Austerlitz viaduct was furthermore the occasion to make use of dedicated devices and original characterization experiments for structures. | Steel construction, rail bridge, welding strengthening, mechanical tests |
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Smallwood, J. | 2015 | A Historical Review Of Construction Health And Safety in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 355-62 | Worldwide, construction health and safety (H&S) constitutes a challenge due to fatalities, injuries, and disease. Historically construction was perceived to be inherently dangerous and accidents were perceived to be ‘part of the job’. The purpose of the study reported on is to relate the development of construction H&S by presenting the H&S endeavours and injury record relative to notable buildings and structures. Findings include: historically construction was perceived to be inherently dangerous and accidents were perceived to be ‘part of the job’; historically, contractors were cavalier in terms of construction H&S; construction H&S practices and interventions did not develop in tandem with developments in structural forms and types, materials and methods, and development of plant and equipment; construction was perceived to be the contractor’s problem; non-contractor stakeholders were oblivious to construction H&S, and H&S hazards and risks were known, but ignored. Conclusions include: construction workers were deemed expendable; construction H&S has evolved, but at the expense of those working in the industry; new materials and methods may entail hazards and risks, and construction stakeholders do not readily learn and evolve. Recommendations include: more historical reviews of construction H&S should be undertaken to raise the level of H&S awareness; H&S hazards and risks relative to new materials and methods must be assessed through premortems as opposed to post mortems, and History of Architecture, Construction, and Engineering, should include a module ‘History of Construction H&S’. | Accidents, construction, health and safety, history, perceptions |
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Şakar, F.S. and Güçhan, N.S. | 2015 | Traditional Structural Elements In Ürgüp: Walls And Vaults in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 363-70 | Ürgüp is a small town of Nevsehir Province located in central Anatolia in Turkey. It is considered the center of region Cappadocia which actually consists of five provinces of Anatolia. The area listed as World Heritage Site since 1985, is attracted with its spectacular natural and built environment. Volcanic eruptions are generated an outstanding landscape in that rural area. Over the time, rain and wind affects are shaped tuff fairy chimneys and rock formations which were used in many ways in order to supply some basic needs and housing requirements. They were carved and designed as spaces to live in and developed with stone masonry structures attached to the rock-cut spaces. Thus a unique vernacular architecture in Ürgüp was generated both by masonry and rock-cut structures. This study comprises of 20 traditional houses in Ürgüp and its environment which located in the heart of Cappadocia. Stone masonry two storied buildings and rock-cut spaces in different sizes form the traditional architecture of the Cappadocia region. Stone masonry buildings are the main focus of this paper. Masonry walls constructed with local stones have some variations not only in form but also in constructing technique. Their inter-relation with vaults as covering element needs to be especially emphasized. Vaults are one of the most determinative elements of Cappadocian architecture. Their special construction technique which generated by two single type of arches has to be examined in detail. A vault consists of approximately six arches in two types; however in some cases the number could be changed according to sizes of building lot. These arches generate the whole vault by sitting on each other’s’ springing edges. Thus the room which is a main space of Cappadocian vernacular architecture is generated and covered by stone masonry walls and traditional type of vault. In this paper, it is aimed to examine how to construct walls and vaults as main structural elements | Cappadocia, Ürgüp, vault, wall, stone masonry, building technique |
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Sprague, T. | 2015 | The Rise Of The Exterior Bearing Wall, Or “Tube”, Skyscraper: An Alternative Perspective From Seattle in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 371-8 | In the 1950s and 1960s, tall buildings in the United States underwent a significant structural transformation. As the booming economy pushed buildings higher, tall buildings transitioned from simple grids of steel columns and beams, to more strategic assemblies of force-resisting elements. One of the signature advancements of this time was the emergence of exterior bearing wall, or “tube” skyscrapers. Much of this innovation has been attributed to the Chicago-based engineering firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and the brilliant engineer Fazlur Khan. While indisputably significant, such focus overly simplifies the broader industry changes taking place, and overlooks the substantial contributions of other engineers and architects. This presentation describes an alternate sequence of development through the work of the Seattle-based engineering firm of Worthington Skilling Helle and Jackson. Led by renowned engineers John Skilling, Leslie E. Robertson and John V. “Jack” Christiansen, this west-coast engineering firm used developing technologies like prestressed concrete girders, high strength steel columns, and prefabricated structural panels to both satisfy and direct the evolving architectural demands, gradually defining an exterior wall system that supported nearly all gravity and lateral loads. This sequence is demonstrated through the designs of the Washington Building in Seattle (1960), the US Science Pavilion for the Seattle World’s Fair (1962), and the IBM Buildings in Pittsburgh and Seattle (1964). These structural advancements culminated in the design of the World Trade Center Towers in New York City (1973) – the two tallest buildings in the world at the time - and continued and inform tall building design across the country well into the late 1970s. This alternative viewpoint on the development of the exterior bearing wall, or “tube” skyscraper, offers a parallel and complimentary narrative to the established, Khan-focused scholarshi | Tall Buildings, Skyscrapers, Bearing Wall, Structural Engineering, Seattle |
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Sprague, T. | 2015 | Sculpture On A Grand Scale: The Structural Geometry Of Jack Christiansen’s Thin Shells in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 379-86 | This presentation explores the work of one of the most significant - yet often overlooked - thin shell designers of the 20th century, John V. “Jack” Christiansen. Despite designing the largest free-standing concrete dome ever built (the Seattle Kingdome) Christiansen’s accomplishments have been only partially explored, leaving a large number of innovative thin shell structures unexamined and under-appreciated. This presentation will show how Christiansen’s creative work was both geometrically expressive and structurally ambitious, becoming, in his own words, “sculpture on a grand scale.” Educated as both an architect and a structural engineer in the Midwest, Christiansen was influenced early on by both Anton Tedesco and Felix Candela. His later structures can indeed be seen as combining the scale and rationality of Tedesco’s airplane hangars, with the expressive diversity of Candela’s buildings. Upon moving to Seattle, Christiansen found a booming economy and a community open to new technical advancements in the building industry. With ample opportunity to design - both in collaboration with architects and independently - Christiansen designed over 75 thin shell structures between 1954 and 1992. In addition to developing a formwork system that allowed mass production of hyperbolic paraboloid umbrellas, Christiansen designed a sequence of signature shells with increasingly complex geometrical forms, and larger and larger spans. Working primarily (though not exclusively) within the discipline of the hyperbolic paraboloid, Christiansen designed his shells to use an absolute minimum of structural material, put in place through a logical, systematic construction process, while also shaping dynamic architectural space. These shell designs demonstrate a sophisticated manipulation of complex geometry, a critical awareness of structural performance and cost, and a driving ambition to achieve larger and larger spans. | Thin shell structures, Modern architecture, concrete, structural engineering |
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Stegmann, K. | 2015 | Experimental Cultures In Early Concrete Construction in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 387-94 | Concrete is sometimes attributed as a laboratory product. In fact, the countless experiments with concrete provided an important basis for the processes of creating and distributing knowledge in the field in the 19th and early 20th century. The experimental practice though was very heterogeneous: from single trials to systematic series of experiments. The protagonists were as heterogeneous as the experiments carried out. They ranged from often empirically working, early concrete pioneers, over engineers with university degrees to the materials testing laboratories established at many polytechnic schools in the 19th century. The paper analyses the development of experimental cultures in German concrete construction in a broader focus and, in particular, looks at the actors involved, their backgrounds and strategies. The central thesis is that until the early 20th century concrete pioneers and their companies gave the main impetus for the experiments. Moreover, the impetus from the building practice was an important basis for the later scientification of the field. There are different phases in the development of experimental cultures: Firstly, concrete pioneers carried out experiments on their own. Hereby they laid the basis in terms of material sciences and explored new areas of application for concrete especially in the field of engineering construction. Secondly, concrete companies carried out spectacular public experiments and published the results extensively to persuade customers of their building technique. In short: experiments became important arguments in advertising. To evoke a more “neutral”, scientific appearance of the experiments the companies awarded contracts for testings to materials testing laboratories. However, the lack of theoretical superstructure compared to iron constructions became a competitive disadvantage that the concrete companies tried to fight with own research. | Constitution, diffusion and transfer of knowledge; development of experimental cultures; history of the theory of concrete structures; relation between science and practice; building materials, their history and use (concrete) |
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Svenson, A.L. | 2015 | Building Harvard Stadium: Early Concrete Design And Construction in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 395-402 | Reinforced concrete was just coming into use as a standard construction material in the United States at the turn of the 20th Century. Research focused on civil engineering structures such as sewer pipes and sidewalks, and the development of cost-efficient skeleton frames for factory buildings. Harvard Stadium, constructed in 1903, became the world’s largest reinforced concrete structure. The original intent was that the structure be a more fire-resistant replacement to existing steel and wood grandstands along the Harvard football field. But the design team, guided by architect Charles McKim, looked to ancient Greek and Roman precedents and developed the idea of the athletic “stadium” as we know it today. Harvard’s design engineers, Ira N. Hollis and Lewis J. Johnson, had to navigate between McKim’s architectural ideal of a substantial classically inspired masonry monument and the reality of a tight construction schedule and limited construction budget. Encouraged by the performance of a series of reinforced concrete fence piers they had constructed near the Stadium site a few years earlier, they explored the feasibility of building their Stadium out of reinforced concrete. Johnson embarked on an ambitious testing and design program to determine the suitability of the material for the Stadium and to convince Harvard of its safety and aesthetic appropriateness. The scale of the project was so large that the contracting firm, selected based on its previous work constructing reinforced concrete sidewalks and building foundations, was hired on a time and materials basis as no one knew how to estimate costs. Construction techniques were adjusted and adapted as work progressed. Due to the novelty of the material used, the various stages of the Stadium’s design and construction were well documented in engineering journals and newspapers. Published accounts and several Harvard archives provide a view into the early challenges of reinforced concrete cons | 5ICCH, Reinforced Concrete History, Harvard Stadium |
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Svetz, R. | 2015 | Atrium (W)HOLES In The Code in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 403-12 | This paper argues for evolving a trans-disciplinary “code historiography” with which to better understand and appreciate design and construction precedents, and looks to the atrium as a paradigmatic case why. With vertical penetration rewards of interior light and air that are also the basis of its fire and smoke risk, the atrium has tracked an interesting history across the universals and particulars of building code evolution. What curiously took Vitruvius five cavaedium types to detail for the Roman domus takes in fact no fewer chapters - 2, 4, 7, 9 and 10 - to define and devise exception in today’s International Building Code. Honored there as much in the breach as in the observance, the modern atrium, “An opening connecting two or more stories other than enclosed stairways, elevators, hoistways, escalators, plumbing, electrical, air-conditioning or other equipment, which is closed at the top and not defined as a mall,” though neither mall nor high-rise, uniquely conflates the safety concerns of both. And as theory’s atrium promised an all-pervasive social panopticism, so, too, this unique code type’s ability to migrate among all forms of occupancy has insured its continued interest the world over with ever increasing sophistication and audacity. Yet perhaps more amazing than the gilded voids of its most vertiginous examples - from the revolutionary 22-story atrium of Portman’s 1967 Hyatt to the 60-story marvel of Dubai’s 1999 Burj Al Arab - is the time this ancient domestic feature takes to gain a contemporary model code foothold in the US. For despite a series of tragedies documented in the National Fire Protection Agency’s Fire Journal since the late 1960’s, the atrium proper does not enter NFPA’s Life Safety Code until 1981. ICBO’s Uniform Building Code followed suit in 1982, including a special clear minimum opening table that survived until the 1999 IBC. | atrium, building codes, historiography, Kahn, Koolhaas |
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Tanaka, N. | 2015 | Study On History Of Community Development Based Water Use In Minamiaso, Kumamoto in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 413-20 | Located in the southern half of the Aso caldera, the village of Minamiaso has a long history of utilizing spring water for both agricultural use and for everyday living purposes. This unique way of how the residents of Minamiaso utilize water resources is a special part of local culture and forms the foundation of the environment and landscape of the region. In recent years, due to an aging population combined with low birth rates, these region-specific histories and local rules are slowly dying out. It is therefore important to keep records of this culture in order to preserve the local identity of Minamiaso in the face of this continuing loss of local knowledge. The purpose of this study is to understand the cultures of water usage that underlie the local identities of the communities present in Minamiaso. This was evaluated through field surveys, literature reviews, and hearing surveys on water use in three areas of Minamiaso: the regions of Kase, Shimoda/Higashi-shimoda, and Matsunoki. First, field surveys and visual materials were analyzed, and the results of the surveys were used to create water channel network and land-use maps to understand the changes in the visible regional landscapes and spatial compositions of the region. The invisible changes that have taken place in social systems and local rules were investigated by reviewing historical literature and conducting hearing surveys of local residents and administrative officials. The results of this research shed light on the differences in water usage cultures between the three target areas. The area of Kase lies in a topographically harsh region where historically residents have had to share relatively limited water resources. Matsunoki has preserved its traditional culture of water usage, which centers on the Shioisha spring and its abundant waters. | Community Development, Cultural Landscape, Local Rule, Water Use, Water Network |
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Tardini, C. | 2015 | Brenner Railway Bridges: The Diffusion Of Howe Typology In Austrian Empire in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 421-8 | This paper is focused on the diffusion of Howe bridge typology in Austrian Empire. In particular the attention is on the bridges designed for the Brenner railway line by Wilhelm von Pressel. These unpublished drawings both of timber and iron bridges were made in 1865 and in 1867 are a sort of abacus that can be adopted as a design guide and adapt in different context. The dimensions of the depth of the truss is given according to the span length; thus the design of a railway iron bridge is made easy. The most widespread bridges are provided in details: cross section dimensions are based on the resistant moment diagram. These bridges adopted the same structural typology patented in U.S.A. by William Howe in 1840 and spread in Europe by Carl von Ghega and Karl Culmann. They had a study trip in mid 1840s: the reports of their trip on the North America railroad and bridges are absolutely essential for the diffusion of Town, Long and Howe structural system throughout Europe, especially in Austrian Empire. These structural layouts played a very important role in European railway bridge design. | Theory and practice of construction history, Wilhelm von Pressel, Howe bridge typology, 19th century, Brenner Railroad |
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Tarrio, I. | 2015 | The Buttressing System In Pol Abraham’s Criticism Of Viollet-Le-Duc’s Theories in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 429-36 | The aim of this paper is to discuss about the structural and constructive behavior of the buttressing systems of medieval architecture. During the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the interest in understanding how masonry buildings behave led to a number of publications on this topic. Most of these studies focused on the role of the vaults and the arches, some of them referred to the flying buttresses, and only a few authors paid attention to other distinctive elements of Gothic constructions such as buttresses, pillar, etc. E. E. Viollet-le-Duc stands out as a pioneer in developing a whole discourse on Gothic architecture, which includes an exhaustive analysis of those parts of the buildings that his contemporary scholars used to pushed into the background: the buttressing system. Even though he was not the first to write about the role of these elements, his ideas were the most influential ones on subsequent generations. Some authors blindly copied his theses; others, like Pol Abraham, flatly refused to accept them, calling into question the veracity of the rational/functional theory of Viollet-le-Duc regarding not only arches and vaults, but also the structural behavior of all the elements that comprise the buttressing systems of medieval buildings. This paper deals with the evolution of the scholarly thought about the behavior of the vertical elements of the medieval buttressing systems, aiming to identify mistaken or inaccurate points of view. For this purpose, both Viollet-le-Duc’s work and Pol Abraham’s devastating attack on Viollet-le-Duc’s theories concerning the stability of the medieval constructions will be discussed. The limit analysis of masonry structures, formulated by J. Heyman in the 1960s, will be used to evaluate the accuracy and validity of all the arguments. | Structural analysis, Construction in architectural writing, Buttresses, Pillars, Pol Abraham, Viollet-le-Duc, Limit analysis |
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Tostões, A. | 2015 | Learning From An Outstanding Process. The Gulbenkian Foundation Buildings (1959-1969) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 445-54 | The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Headquarters and Museum complex (1959?1969) played a fundamental role in the development of building science in Portugal, as it was a Modern Movement design constructed with a high quality level, demonstrating that there was more beyond the formalism of the Modern Movement. Opened in 1969, it was designed to create a pleasant environment, providing prospects from the interior through various vistas to the grove of trees and the surrounding landscape. As a megastructure linking building and garden, it achieved an efficient technical level that connected design methods and comfort requirements, under a huge interdisciplinary team working in an intense collaborative construction process. Located in central Lisbon, within a park of 7.5 hectares, occupying an area of 25,000 m2, it was designed by the architects Pessoa (1919-1985), Cid(1925-1983), and Athouguia, (1917- 2006) with the collaboration of the landscape designers Barreto (1924-2013) and Telles (1922?). The construction gathered an international interdisciplinary team of specialists. The most up-to-date techniques were adopted, including reinforced and pre-stressed concrete in its construction. Some figures illustrate the size of these buildings: 150,000 m2 excavated material, 45,000 m2 of concrete, 3,200 tonnes of steel, 100 km of power cables, 50,Km of air conditioning ducts and 3,500 kW of installed electrical capacity. The architectural design concept required the structure to be exposed and expressed. The aim of having a dominant horizontal line that would present the image of a low building hugging the land and the wish to emphasise the long slabs of concrete that constitute the visible image of the built complex, called for a very creative structural concept. | Construction history; architectural writings; prototype; lighting; acoustics; megastructure |
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Tragbar, K. | 2015 | Constructing A Cathedral. Notes On The Construction Management Of Siena Cathedral in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 455-64 | Alongside the cathedrals in Pisa and Florence, Siena Cathedral Holy Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, belongs to the major building projects in medieval Tuscany. Even though there are few sources and records of its early construction history, since 1226/27 the building itself and the organization of the construction process can clearly be inferred from the city’s oldest accounts. Documented are, amongst others, the number and tasks of the building’s craftsmen and their wages, the quantity and quality of building materials delivered and their provenance within the territory of Siena, the infrastructural measurements of the city to develop woods and quarries for the building and its effort towards efficient building management. Mainly the city’s many different attempts to control costs and building quality – not surprising in a merchant city like Siena – offer interesting examples of “trial and error“ techniques in medieval times, as well as the fast growing field of duties of the leading architects within the city seems to be of more than historical interest. | Organization of construction work, economics of construction, building codes, regulations |
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Trakulyingcharoen, K. | 2015 | Alfredo Cottrau And Iron Lattice Bridge Construction In Italy 1860-1887 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 465-72 | This paper investigates the process of iron bridge construction by the Italian engineer Alfredo Cottrau and his company I.I.I.C.M. from 1870 to 1887. The objective is to explain how iron came to replace wood in the building of lattice bridges in Italy and how Cottrau was able to build a company against a backdrop of technological disadvantages that was a direct consequence of Italy’s economic and political situation. Towards this end, the paper assesses the production and construction processes, as they provide a vital clue for tracing back and understanding the technological influences that were coming in from abroad. Moreover, this historical period demonstrates that in comparison to France, Germany, and England at that time, Italy was considered to be a step behind, both politically and economically. This paper intends to explain the specific circumstances that led the country towards technological progress and the particular path that it followed, as well as showing that simply trying to keep up with changes in the neighboring countries could serve as an end in itself. | Alfredo Cottrau, Iron lattice bridge in the late 19th century, Italian bridge contractor, Construction organization, Iron lattice bridge production and use, Iron bridge patent |
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Tutton, M. | 2015 | Staircases In Early Eastern Keeps In England C1067 To C1190 With Particular Reference To Rochester in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 473-80 | This paper discusses the development of early Medieval staircases in England, using those in the keeps of the Tower of London, Colchester Castle, Rochester Castle, Orford Castle, Newcastleupon- Tyne Castle and Dover Castle, as primary sources. All were built within the period c1067 to c1190. It will highlight the staircases in Rochester Castle keep as being of fundamentally different form from the other five. They survive, or were built, as a spiral vault, that is, without a newel. Generally the earliest form of this type of staircase dates to the second quarter of the 15th century with examples in Spain and Italy. The staircases in the keeps, of London, Colchester, Orford, Newcastle and Dover are discussed and described. These descriptions arrive at a basic form of construction for the early Medieval staircase in England. This is the spiral vaulted staircase where the vault, which carries the treads, relies for its springing on the central newel for one side and the wall of the shaft for the other. Thus resulting in a continous rising barrel vault with a central vertical newel. The paper goes on to examine the staircases at Rochester Castle in greater detail. The staircases at Rochester are different to this basic form in that they have no newel. Various commentators have assumed that the newels were robbed at some point in history. Others, the majority, make no comment at all. This paper postulates the possibility that the Rochester staircases were built without newels as a spiral vault. This would predate the earliest known example in Europe by approximately 300 years. The other theory is that the staircases were adapted as spiral vaults at some time unrecorded. The fact is that no attempt has been made to replace a ’lost’ or ’stolen’ newel and no imprint of any of the standard Medieval newels are obvious. These staircases at Rochester therefore are possibly unique in English and European construction of the period. | Staircases, history and construction of specific projects, development of structural forms |
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Tutton, M. | 2015 | A Brief Introduction To Tread And Hand Wheel Cranes And Hoists In Construction As Depicted In Western Art in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 481-90 | Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and later art is a rich source for the development of construction tools and techniques, yet comparatively thinly researched, although there are exceptions (Matthies, 1984 & 1996) This paper will discuss and investigate the development and use of cranes and hoists such as treadwheels, winches and windlasses. The principle source materials are carved Roman stone reliefs, Western illuminated manuscripts, Medieval, Renaissance and later paintings. These works are principally derived from European and North American collections. Specific images are examined along with commentary on operation and the possible loads capable of being lifted. Comparison will be made between pictorial representations and replica cranes built using those representations as a primary source, some of which have, and are being, used on actual building projects. The paper demonstrates that little progress was made in lifting equipment on building sites based on the earliest representations through to the second quarter of the nineteenth century. There is a huge gap of a millennium between Roman representations and the earliest Medieval depictions of the thirteenth century. This lack of both pictorial, and documentary sources has been used as evidence that particularly the treadwheel fell out of use after the Roman period. The paper argues that this was extremely unlikely using examples of actual buildings. As a further adjunct surviving treadwheels in European buildings will also be discussed. This paper contributes to construction history using hitherto little used, but widely available, resources. | Crane, Winch, Treadwheel, Western Art |
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Uihlein, M.S. | 2015 | American Institute Of Consulting Engineers And The Professionalization Of The American Engineer in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 491-8 | Begun in 1905 as the Association of Architectural Engineers, the American Institute of Consulting Engineers (AICE) was developing into a public voice for engineers by 1916. The organization still remains influential as today’s American Council of Engineering Companies. Unlike other professional organizations at the time, the group focused on business practices of engineering and what it meant to be a consulting engineer. This paper examines the history of this organization and the process that the organization took in professionalizing engineers. Existing governing documents, such as the Constitution and Bylaws, will be used to study the group’s mission and intentions. Membership requirements and lists will be used to reflect on which engineers were participating and which disciplines within engineering they represented. The organization’s attempts to shape practice included studying issues important to the community, developing ethical standards for the profession, and a creating a suggested fee structure. Reports included the 1912-1913 The Status and Professional Relations of the Engineer which questioned the concept of trade versus profession for consulting engineers and included presentations from several members of the American Institute of Architects. The discussions offer an opportunity to compare the perceived roles of the two professions at that moment. The Code of Ethics, a defining set of principles needed for any profession, was written by the group to protect the public by providing rules of behavior, and to guard engineering’s reputation. An analysis of the Code allows for particular insights into what it meant to be an engineer in this era. In addition to the ethical standards, the AICE also issued rulings on grey areas to assist engineers to find their way and to help solidify the professional standards. | History of Professional Organizations, Consulting Engineers, Engineering Profession |
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Urbanova, P. and Guibert, P. | 2015 | New Insights Into The Dating Of Roman And Medieval Mortars By Optically Stimulated Luminescence [OSL]: Comparison Of Case Studies in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 499-508 | Mortar is the material common to a majority of historical buildings which because of its mechanical properties cannot be replaced without being destroyed. Its making is undoubtedly contemporary to the building. That is the reason why the dating of mortar is a very convenient element for understanding the history of construction. In theory, lime mortars composed of a mixture of lime and sand may be dated by optically stimulated luminescence [OSL]. The basic premise in such an analysis is that quartz in the sand used for making mortar is optically zeroed during the process of quarrying and mixing. Several seconds of exposition to daylight are enough to set the “chronometer” to zero. Mortar is then embedded within the masonry to bind building elements, and thus it is hidden from light. The moment to be dated is this last exposition to photons. To get over the heterogeneity of the material studied, quartz grains from mortar are analysed individually using a “single grain technique”. This paper explains the basics of the OSL dating method and presents it in the context of this exploratory application. The OSL ages obtained for the series of reference mortar samples are compared with known independent ages based on archaeomagnetic dating and archaeological conclusions. The aim is to confirm the validity of the method. The mortar samples studied originate from diverse geological areas and thus vary in mineral composition from one to another. The characterization of their microstructure is one of the important stages indicating the OSL dating potential and alternatively allowing us to distinguish between different construction phases. We propose a deeper insight into this promising technique by demonstrating the results of our research on reference mortar samples originating from three Roman sites in France [the Palais-Gallien amphitheatre in Bordeaux, the Longeas thermal baths in Chassenon and the Roman foundations of the medieval Château Grimaldi in A | Mortar, Dating, Construction, Middle-Ages, Roman Antiquity, Optically Stimulated Luminescence |
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van Aaken, W. and Putz, A.W. | 2015 | “Not The Fault Of The Material, But Of Our Attitude” – Insulation Materials In Switzerland From 1950 To 1970 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 509-16 | Industrially produced building materials of the boom years have long been criticized as being surrogates, possibly contaminated and anonymous. Visible appearance and fancy product names, such as Pavatex, Cantex, Schichtex, Syntopor, Superisol, Sagos, and Sagex, neither reveal nor define specific material characteristics. Because conventional architectural categories focus on constructional aspects, material features largely remain under-researched. In contrast to raw materials, industrially produced materials are defined through their manufacturing processes. Borrowing from established product engineering classifications, therefore, enables one to trace the materials’ characteristics. For a systematic study, both manufacturing processes in the factory and at the construction site alike were included. A focus on insulation materials as a key component of modern constructions was chosen. Products listed in the Swiss catalogue for building materials between 1950 and 1970 served as a reference. The study showed that the shift of energy input and the introduction of synthetics in manufacturing prompted a different attitude to building materials: insulation materials changed from being mechanically worked products with a certain material cohesion, into products with transformed material properties or transformed material type – both recognizable by just insulation experts. They, thus, turned into abstract functional products with specific parameters, warranties, and standardized application manuals. In the gradual re-organization of the Swiss catalogue from categories of craftsmanship to functional aspects, an approach to materials becomes apparent that was solely based on functions. With the "click & plug" of today’s architectural practice, this approach has since seen significant intensification. | building materials, industrial modernism, history of manufacturing and application, product engineering, catalogues of building materials, insulation |
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Van de Voorde, S. | 2015 | Thermal Insulation In Belgium Before The First Oil Crisis (1945-1975). A Question Of Economy And Comfort? in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 517-24 | The collective memory often places the emergence of insulation in the 1970s, after the oil crisis in 1973 had sent up energy prices. Yet the issue and application of thermal insulation is much older. Insulation, against both heat and sound transfer, became a popular theme in the specialized architectural and technical literature in Belgium in the early 1950s. From the end of the 1950s and the early 1960s, consulting agencies arose to conduct full thermal studies, helping to enhance the use of thermal insulation in the daily building practice. Especially during the 1960s, more or less simultaneously with new architectural trends towards ever lighter (and less inert) structures (e.g. the curtain wall), there was a growing conscience of heat losses, both because the waste of fuel and high heating expenses. We will analyze the applications, theory and debate on insulation in the contemporary literature: Who was promoting the use of insulation? Which type of insulation was used in Belgium after World War II? Which actors were involved in the dissemination of (knowledge on) thermal insulation? What were the principal and typical post-war arguments in the debate and discourse on insulation? How does the situation in Belgium compare to other countries? And if the technical performance of post-war insulation is negligible in comparison with the current products, what can we learn from the post-war history of thermal insulation? This paper is based on a thorough study of post-war periodicals, normative documents, books and an international literature review. It fits within a wider research perspective, striving to map the evolution and impact of new construction techniques and materials in the post-war period (1945-1975). | Building materials, thermal insulation, Belgium, post-war, oil crisis |
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Vargas Caicedo, H. and Galindo Díaz, J. | 2015 | The Construction Of Thin Concrete Shell Roofs In Colombia During The First Half Of The 20th Century: The Works Of The Guillermo González Zuleta (1916-1995) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 525-34 | The introduction and development of thin concrete shell roofs in Colombia was particularly dynamic during the 1940s and 1950s. Strong formal interest in these systems has been accompanied by constructive searches based on local circumstances. In this communication, documented sources will be utilized to examine contributions light roofs built with thin concrete shells in three of the most important projects by the engineer Guillermo González Zuleta (1916- 1995), placing them within the context of a larger local trend of membrane construction in the period. In 1947, González Zuleta designed stands and roofing for the baseball stadium for the city of Cartagena, Colombia. These were 19-meter long cantilevers supporting vaulted shells with a thickness of 4 centimeters. Reports regarding this project were published internationally in magazines and books since 1948. Two years later, working jointly with Álvaro Ortega and Gabriel Solano, González Zuleta planned a set of concrete shell roofs with hollow ceramic bricks and 16-m span for a bus station at the Colombian capital city. The last of the examined projects is the roof for Bogota Super Rayo market, designed in 1954.This cover featured a square floor plan with a lightened double-curvature membrane supported by four columns, and 22.5-m span. | Concrete shells, Membrane vaults, Constructive analysis |
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Vigener, N., Floyd, N.T. and Jamieson, J. | 2015 | A Flood Of Light – The Case For Daylight In American Public Architecture in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 535-44 | America’s public buildings at the turn of the last century were awash in daylight – large skylights illuminated assembly spaces, stair cases, conservatories, and libraries. The motivations for this approach were both pragmatic – free lighting to public spaces during business hours – and decorative, as brilliant light “diffusers” became celebrated touchstones of architectural and artistic expression in many civic and academic buildings. Unfortunately, with the advent of inexpensive and safe artificial lighting, the preference of designers and users of public spaces shifted toward the convenience and predictability afforded by first gas, and then electric lighting, and away from maintenance-intensive and leaky skylights. Existing skylights were frequently covered or removed, often dramatically altering these grand public spaces by abandoning previously focal diffusers or finish work to relative darkness and obscurity. The past decades have seen a steady resurgence in the appreciation for daylight in public spaces. This resurgence has been motivated and helped by several convergent forces: historic preservation interests, energy efficiency considerations, an appreciation for the benefits of natural lighting on worker well-being and productivity, and finally improved building enclosure and mechanical engineering technology that makes for more reliable, efficient and user friendly skylights. This paper will survey daylighting design practices and approaches in American public architecture prior to the Great Depression, and the decline of both utilitarian and decorative skylights. Drawing on their own experience recreating several lost or diminished skylights, the authors present techniques and best practices for the rehabilitation and restoration of historic skylights and diffusers. | Daylight, Skylight, Lay Light, Diffuser, Leakage |
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Villate, C. and Tamayo, B. | 2015 | Technical Innovations In Bogota´s Modern Times – The Pan American Life Insurance Building (1966) Case Study in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 545-52 | The Pan-American Life Insurance Building (Bogota, 1967), designed and built by Esguerra, Saenz, Urdaneta and Samper, materializes significant technological developments in the Architecture, Engineering and construction (AEC) industry in Colombia and worldwide, given that in this small building Caissons using reinforced concrete rings as the foundation system are used for one of the very first times. Moreover it uses an innovative and not repeated construction processes based on the assembly of large prefabricated elements in a similar way as ships are constructed in a building yard, developing and using new and non-existing machinery, along with tensioning concrete systems based on local and own technology. These given particular developments set an important precedent for the local and international concrete industry. However a complete understanding of the situations that induce technical innovations are still an unexplored issue at the global level. That is why it becomes relevant to analyze the appropriate organizational climate that drives innovative outcomes in the AEC industry. In general terms it became evident that the strategies that most influenced the successful outcomes in the studied case are related among others to the client´s dedication of extensive knowledge and resources at the planning stage, the automatically selection of known and trusted professionals, the participation of the academy on the project, the contractor´s capacity of offering a great amount of services to the client, which promoted an integrated project delivery system. | Case study, technical innovation, Construction History, Professional Networks, Project Management, Concrete Technology |
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Vogel, N. | 2015 | The History And Conservation Of Lead Silhouettes In America in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 553-60 | This paper presents an overview of the origins, history and application of sheet lead silhouettes used in ornamental glass installations in America between circa 1905 and 1965. It includes residential, ecclesiastical and commercial installations in wood, steel and bronze windows and doors. Two unique assembly techniques are covered: 1) lead silhouette overlays soldered atop leaded glass (on the interior face, exterior face, or both), and 2) cut-lead silhouettes sandwiched between plate glass. The surface was sometimes floated with solder for texture, shaded with umber or even gilded. Though lead silhouettes are scant in some parts of the United States, commissions survive coast-to-coast and concentrated pockets of these installations are found in the Northeast and Midwest. The technique employed is contingent upon the designer or fabricator and their geographical region. Installations by G. Owen Bonawit (New York), D’Ascenzo Studios, Pike Stained Glass Studios (Rochester) and Willet Studios (Philadelphia), Edgar Miller (Chicago) and others will be set into context with national trends in the ornamental glass and decorative metal craft industries from the heyday of this technique in the late 1920s through the 1960s. In some instances, simple ornamental motifs were employed as window accents; in others, the silhouettes were very sophisticated and conveyed the activity or industry within the building or gilded to become the focal point of the windows at night. This paper also highlights the challenges of conserving and reproducing lead silhouettes in an effort to preserve this unique melding of ornamental glass and metal-craft in American construction. | Silhouettes, Lead Silhouettes, Cut-lead, Carved-lead, Wrought-lead, Lead Overlay, Lead Medallions, Lead Appliqués, Scherenschnitte (German) |
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Watanabe, K. and Abhichartvorapan, W. | 2015 | Mikishi Abe: Japanese Pioneer Engineer-Architect Of Reinforced Concrete In The Early 20th Century in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 561-8 | This paper aims to focus on the pioneering works on the reinforced concrete engineering in Japan by an Engineer-Architect, Mikishi Abe (1883-1965) who had obtained his doctorate (PhD) from the University of Illinois’ Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Department in 1914 under the supervision of Professor Arthur N. Talbot (1857-1942). This paper aims to analyze and evaluate Abe’s theoretical PhD research in the context of the global construction history and to highlight his academic pursuits; namely his introduction of concrete engineering to Japanese scholarship through publishing articles, organizing lectures and pursuing structural design and practices. It is common knowledge that the adoption of reinforced concrete by the engineering construction had practically begun in both Europe and the US since the early 20th century. However, academic research on reinforced concrete did not initiate scientifically until Talbot’s group analyzed the nature of reinforced concrete by collecting data through inventive experimentation. In the context of Japan, reinforced concrete was initially introduced through architectural media and later utilized in industrial buildings and bridges in the field of the civil engineering. Abe played an important role in the promotion of reinforced concrete; he theorized the subject in published articles, books, and seminars, and simultaneously utilized it in actual architectural practice as a structural design consultant. | Mikishi Abe, Reinforced Concrete, A.N.Talbot, University of Illinois |
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Weber, C. | 2015 | The Last Witnesses – Physical Models In Architecture And Structural Design, Taking The Technical University In Stuttgart As An Example in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 569-76 | Structural model analysis marked a phase in the history of structural engineering that has run its course. For a few decades (approx. the 1930s to the 1970s), the most cost-effective method of designing and testing complex load-bearing structures was by using physical models. The models made for this purpose are important witnesses of the history of structural engineering. Taking the institutes and facilities at Stuttgart Technical University as an example, this essay documents the tradition of these objects. The models are analyzed with regard to their genesis and materiality, and their use in tests. Their present condition, their preservation in a collection, as well as the danger to and loss of them represents a further aspect. | Physical models History of structural design Conservation of physical models |
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Weiss, S. | 2015 | Frozen Assets: Photography, Time, And Labor On The Construction Site in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 577-84 | After French civil engineers began to document the construction of Parisian public works with photography in 1857, workers soon began to populate these images. Photographs furnished engineers with expeditious and economic documents to remotely monitor site conditions and the construction process. Like the photographs themselves, the presence of workers in these images also operated according to the logic of managerial rationality. Although representations of workers would become a standard convention of French construction photographs in the second half of the nineteenth century, we can date their emergence to the early 1860s. As a result of a particular debate over the amount of workers it took to decenter the arches of the Pont Saint-Michel in 1857 by means of small cylinders filled with sand—known as sandboxes—workers subsequently appeared in construction photographs. As the medium offered the ability to visualize and verify the number of workers onsite, it also evidenced the efficiency of the new decentering process. This paper argues that photography did not merely represent the building process and construction site, but rather that it became an instrumental medium of the worksite as it developed in concert with other building processes and modes of managerial control in the age of industrial capitalism. | Photography, Bridge Construction, Paris, Second Empire |
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Wetzk, V. | 2015 | The Use Of Steel Castings In Mechanical And Civil Engineering – Germany. 1850-1950 in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 585-92 | In contrast to other historic building materials such as cast and wrought iron or rolled steel, historic steel castings have been widely neglected in the technical literature dealing with construction history. Indeed, steel castings represent only a minor part within historic structures. However, steel castings were often used for crucial structural elements with high demands in terms of structural safety, durability and other such factors in the field of mechanical and civil engineering. Propellers for engines and bearings for bridges may serve as examples to name but a few. This paper deals with historic steel castings produced in the years between 1850 and 1950 and used for structural purposes in mechanical and civil engineering. After a brief summary of the history of steel castings fabrication, the paper focuses its engineering use and refers to specific mechanical properties and chemical compositions. The appropriation of historic steel castings as a material for bridge bearings is especially emphasized and compared to that of contemporary state-of-the-art of steel castings’ use in mechanical engineering. This analysis yields insights into the stage of the metallurgical development in the case of steel castings and broadens the base for their structural assessment. The research is based on findings from a recent research project to provide options for the preservation of historic bridge bearings made of steel and still in use. The project, a co-operation between the Brandenburgische Technische Universität and the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, was being funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). | Steel Castings, Cast Steel, Bridge Bearings |
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Will, R.L. and Gerns, E.A | 2015 | Detailing In Transition: Hybrid Walls And The Evolution Of Terra Cotta Detailing in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 603-612 | This paper focuses on the evolution of terra cotta detailing in relation to the development of hybrid wall systems by conducting a comparison and analysis of the 1914 and 1927 Architectural Terra Cotta Standard Construction Manuals produced by the National Terra Cotta Society at the height of its popularity as an architectural cladding material and comparing these details with asbuilt construction of buildings constructed in this era. Between 1890 and 1940, hybrid wall systems were widely used throughout the United States but were evolving, as evidenced in the published standards and details. A significant evolution in architectural terra cotta detailing relates to the development of these hybrid wall systems, which combine characteristics of both load-bearing and true curtain walls (where the exterior cladding is completely independent from the structural system). The interaction of numerous factors on hybrid wall construction, including building height, cladding materials, backup wall materials, structural systems, and environmental forces necessitated the development and evolution of lateral anchorage systems for facades in general, and in masonry construction specifically. Masonry cladding materials were attached to the backup material in several ways, including direct adhesion, keying of masonry elements, and discrete anchors. One method of adhesion was to bond the face material to the back-up by completely filling the intervening collar joint with mortar. Keying utilized thicker masonry units to extend into and engage the backup wythe at specific intervals. As the hybrid wall systems evolved and cladding was treated as a separate component of the wall system, discrete metal anchors were most commonly used as shown in the later edition of the Architectural Terra Cotta Standard Construction Manual produced by the National Terra Cotta Society. | Terra cotta, anchorage, cladding |
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Wittich, E.K. | 2015 | “Architecture Is Construction” – Term And Definition In German Architectural Writing In The Early 19th Century in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 613-20 | In a historical scientific context, the period around 1800 is distinguished by a fundamental change in scientific discourses. This also applies to the controversies within architecture and especially to the older distinction between architecture as part of the Fine Arts and architecture as building practise. In German architectural writings this distinction is marked with the term „Baukunst“ – architecture – for the aesthetic aspects on the one hand. The term „Bauart“ – building practise – represented all technological aspects on the other hand. In fact, the term construction had not been used to define generally accepted theoretical positions in late 18th and early 19th century, and it had not been used as a superior category in the contemporary encyclopaedias. However there had been lots of publications about all aspects of building practise throughout the 18th century. Not earlier than in the 1830s and 1840s was the term construction used in German architectural writing to define a new theoretical approach to architecture. This approach included technological aspects of architecture as relevant for theoretical discourses. The article Konstruktion in the Wissenschaftlich literarische Encyklopädie der Aesthetik published in 1843 can serve as an example. Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s quotation „architecture is construction“ in his notes for an educational textbook in the 1830s can therefore not be regarded as a generally accepted position. In fact, his concept has to be discussed as quite contrary to the conventions and as quite innovative in architectural discourses in the early 19th century. At the same time a fundamental change in concepts and methods of architectural discourses can be noticed. Terms as Architektonik and Tektonik were now discussed as a possibility to combine mathematical-constructive and aesthetic issues. | Theory of architecture in early 19th century History of sciences in 18th and early 19th century Construction in architectural writing in early 19th century The role of construction in education in early 19th century Karl Friedrich Schinkel |
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Wouters, I. & Bertels, I. | 2015 | Building With Bookcases: An Archive Depot In Iron (Antwerp, 1851) in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 621-8 | In 1851 engineer Théodore Lebens, working at the Corps des Ponts et Chaussées in the Province of Antwerp in Belgium, designed an archive depot with iron stack to house the provincial archives. This impressive iron structure which integrates modular iron bookcases within an iron frame was highly innovative at the time. From a structural point of view, this archive depot can be seen as the predecessor of fireproof stacks such as the Congressional Library of the United States Capitol, conceived in 1852 by architect T.U. Walter or the iron stack of the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris built by Henri Labrouste in 1859-68. Yet, no reference has ever been made in historical literature to the Antwerp provincial archive depot; neither is it recognized in Belgium as a pioneer in the development of Belgian iron architecture. By means of the study of the correspondence of the ingénieurs en chef of the Corps des Ponts et Chaussées in Antwerp, the original drawings and onsite analysis of the still existing building, the design, building process and its construction are analyzed. | Iron book stack, building in cast and wrought iron, archive depot, engineer Théodore Lebens |
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Zamperini, E. | 2015 | Timber Trusses In Italy: The Progressive Prevailing Of Open-Joint Over Closed-Joint Trusses in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 629-36 | The time and the place in which trusses were invented is uncertain; however, it is certain that they were already in use during Roman Empire. The oldest extant material evidences date back to the 6th century AD and witness the simultaneous presence in Italy of two constructive types that coexisted for centuries. The two types of truss are distinguished from each other based on the different relationship between posts and tie-beams: in closed-joint trusses, posts are connected to tie-beams with carpentry joints (e.g. tenon-mortise); in open-joint trusses, the posts are physically detached from the tie-beam but possibly linked to it with a metallic strap. The paper will outline the idea that, under the effects of vertical static loads, there is no significant difference in structural behaviour between the closed- and the open-joint trusses. Indeed, under ordinary loads, in Italian-style trusses the deflection of the tie-beam is greater than the lowering of the bottom of the post, and carpenters were aware of this since the post/tie-beam joint is always traction resistant; therefore, the tie-beam is usually hanging from the post. Subsequently, the joined analysis of many clues (structural behaviour, evolution of carpentry joints, evolution and spread of iron reinforcements) will be used to support the thesis that the progressive prevalence of the second type over the first (which essentially disappeared since the mid-18th century) is due to the progressive understanding of the behaviour of damaged trusses and to the gradual diffusion of metallic elements for joints reinforcement. When in a closed joint truss a material decay affects the rafter/tie-beam joint, the tie beam starts to be charged by a concentrated load, which generates a flexional action even though no sensible displacement is visible; decay progression can eventually lead to tie-beam breakage, especially if it is weakened by a mortise. | Italian timber trusses, Carpentry joints, Iron reinforcements for trusses, Structural analysis and the development of structural forms |
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Zastavni, D. and Fivet, C. | 2015 | Purely Geometrical Considerations During The Design Of Bridges In The Early 20th Century – The Case Of R. Maillart in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 637-44 | By reviewing some of the reinforced-concrete structures built in the early 20th century, this paper questions the geometrical aspects surrounding their design. It is well established that in the case of Robert Maillart’s designs, he relied on the logic of thrust lines, as was the case for masonry bridges that were provided by funicular polygons and graphic statics. Maillart also relied on trial sketches to define the mechanical features of successive sections of the bridge and on geometrical considerations to define the line of his bridges. In the case of his stiffened arch bridges, geometrical considerations were confined to following with almost regular thickness the trajectory of the thrust line. However, for some of them and for the whole family of three-hinged arch bridges, formal and geometrical considerations applied, for which some rules are presented here, and their evolution can be seen over time. The challenge in the geometrical organization of concrete around the thrust line is to equilibrate the stresses and manage the group of possible thrust lines depending on various loading cases. A well-designed concrete geometry avoids tensile stresses, which guarantees relatively long-lasting structures. With Maillart’s approach, an almost completely geometrical approach to design is encountered, since forces are also managed by geometry within the scope of graphic statics. Regular geometries and isostatic and symmetrical structures guarantee the possibility of undertaking a complete analysis using graphical approaches. However, when hyperstaticity or lateral forces are taken into account, the analysis is not as straightforward. This paper examines the extent to which the geometrical approach provides answers to these issues, with various hypotheses such as elastic analysis or a plastic lower-bound approach. | development of structural forms(morphogenesis), geometry, design methods, structural morphology, concrete, graphic statics, Maillart (Robert) |
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Zils, J. | 2015 | Construction Of Willis (Sears) Tower in Bowen, B., Friedman, D., Leslie, T. & Ochsendorf, J., Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Construction History, June 2015, Chicago, Illinois, Vol.3, pp. 645-52 | In the spring of 1969, Sears, Roebuck and Company made the decision to relocate their corporate headquarters to downtown Chicago. Due to the enormous size and complexity of the project, it was imperative that the schedule be fast-tracked in order to reduce the length of time for design, construction and move-in. Preliminary design by SOM started in mid-1969 with the first caisson foundation installed in January 1971. Structural steel erection began in June 1971 and was topped out in May 1973. The first Sears employees occupied the lower 28 floors in September 1973 and the building was completed in March 1974. The shortened schedule and tight budget requirements demanded innovative design concepts and systems which not only resulted in an efficient structure but also resulted in new construction techniques and sequences. The bundled tube structural/architectural concept was organized on a strict modular system with a column spacing of 4.57 m (15 ft.) and a floor to floor height of 3.91 m (12 ft.-10 in.). Fully welded moment connections of the half spandrel beam to the 2-story column were shopfabricated, thereby nearly eliminating the need for site welding. Unshored composite metal deck and lightweight concrete were used to span the 4.57 m (15 ft.) between 22.9 m (75 ft.) long, built-up, composite structural steel floor trusses. These innovations produced a highly costeffective, iconic milestone in high-rise building design and construction. | Willis (Sears) Tower, Bundled Tube, Building Drift, Mega-Module, Skydeck |
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Catalano, A. | 2003 | The suspension bridge by iron chains on the Garigliano Real Ferdinando: An example of innovative construction technique in Naples and Italy in the Bourbon Age in 1832. Proc. First International Congress on Construction History, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 545-550. | At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Navier and Coulomb’s researches carried out the necessary tools for the realization of the suspension bridge by iron chains. This kind of construction appeared in England at the end of the eighteenth century as a result of the Industrial Revolution; its success was not only due to practical advantages connected to its achievement but even, and perhaps chiefly, to the fact that it was the best result of the technological progress of that historic period. The “Reign of the two Sicilies”, wide open to the industrial progress, considered the opportunity of solving in this way the problems related to the crossing of the river Garigliano, unresolved issue of the past. Consequently the reign gave, to the youngest and wittiest civil engineers of that period, the opportunity of travelling to study the same works already built in other European countries: among these engineers the figure of the Luigi Giura stood out so that he was commissioned by the king Ferdinando IV to plan the bridge. This construction represented the first example of its kind not only in the Reign of Naples but in whole Italy, being still nowadays one of the most important structures of an enlightened dynasty. | |
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Barbieri, A., et al | 2003 | Helical vaulted staircases in Palladio and Vignola’s architecture. Proc. First International Congress on Construction History, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 299-312. | The research would draw attention to the historical technology, especially to the masonry herring-bone pattern. The first examples could be found its first examples into the Bizantin Architecture. It was employed for covering wide rooms using small clay brick elements. The herring-bone pattern and other geometrical and constructive device had allowed to realised monumental construction without wood framework and transferring them to the new generation. The authors aim is to develop an analytical model able to investigate the structural behaviour of masonry barrel vaults built with herring-bone pattern. These structural element are analysed in the field of shell theory and linear elastic behaviour of material; the masonry barrel vault are modelled as bi-dimensional orthotropic element in membrane stress and strain configuration. The necessity to evaluate the effect of herring-bone pattern on the stresses configuration requires the introduction of flexural components in the equilibrium conditions. Formulated the static problem, the angle of masonry configuration in herring-bone pattern would be assumed as parametric element for the analysis. The upper and lower limit of will be the following: “head” and “flat” considering the brick along arch ring. The intermediate brick configurations are defined as herring-bone pattern and assumes value between 0 and /2. The stresses distribution are evaluated for each configuration of masonry brickwork. Possible stress peaks, identified by the analytical model, are the start point for the definition of collapse mechanism which could modify the static behaviour of these masonry vaults. | |
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Ageno, A., & Frilli, M. | 2003 | ARCHITECTURE AS TALISMAN:THE HIDDEN LINKS BETWEEN VITRUVIUS’ THEATRE AND PALLADIO’S VILLA "ROTONDA". Proc. First International Congress on Construction History, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 1561-160. | In the present paper an analysis of Palladio’s masterpiece villa "Rotonda" is proposed, starting from the basis of an original investigation on the meanings of the Vitruvian theatre. This analysis is founded on other classical authors, such as Tolomeo, with the aim of clarifying the most deep analogies that one can meet in the "De Architectura": astronomic and astrologic, mathematical, geometric and musical analogies. Surprisingly enough the investigation about the deep meanings of the geometry belonging to the Vitruvian theatre, give us a key to finally explain in a unitary way and solve the enigma of the whole system of dimensions and reciprocal ratios among the various rooms composing the villa, the circular central room included. Moreover this study has meanings besides the single building considered. Thus it is actually proved that the same musical basis of proportions set both the ratios between dimensions of small integer numbers (that are fundamental in musical consonances) and the geometries of the regular polygons inscribed in a circle, "modulated" by their number of sides. Finally an interpretation is proposed that surpasses the denial of importance of irrational ratios in the architectural proportions of the Renaissance. This opinion has been a principal thesis in the fundamental essay Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism of the great historian and critic Rudolf Wittkower. Moreover the two aspects pointed out by the same Wittkower as leading for the architectural theory of the Renaissance, are now unified. In fact the common musical analogy appears to be the same root of circular geometries and simple proportions. | |
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Adilardi, A., et al | 2003 | Reconstruction of the oldest cable wire suspension bridge in Italy “Leopoldus II” . Procs 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 131-140. | Close to Florence, in Tuscany, a very old suspension bridge: “Leopoldus II” from the name of the King; is probably the very first wire suspension bridge in Italy and one of the first in the world. In Italy earlier only some small pedestrian structures are historically recorded. The cable wire suspension bridge was constructed in 1833 in Poggio a Cajano, (Province of Prato, nearby Florence) next to the Royal Palace, to provide a new way out for the King to his lands, on the other side of the river Ombrone. The first suspension bridges were designed in England and in France. As the Granduca of Tuscany Leopoldo II knew that, willing to be ahead with the progress, he sent his best engineer in France. For this reason, the experiences about French suspension bridges were revealed through the direct knowledge of Alessandro Manetti, recorded in an ancient day diary (see references). The bridge had three wire cables for each part and a wooden deck, and is remembered as a work of art, as results also from photographic documentation of years around 1935. Unfortunately the German Army destroyed it under the II World War while they were retiring. Now it is possible to see on both sides of the river the monumental masonry piles. In lately years interest is growing for a restoration of the bridge. Different levels of renovation/restoration are presented in the paper: 1*conservative maintenance. This is possible where we still have the structure and higher loading condition is not required 2*reconstruction of some parts of the bridge with new materials The paper starts with a documentation of the design of the old bridge based on hystoric documents, presents a verification with computer models of the old structure and new one, and at last proposes different design strategies for the reconstruction of the bridge. | |
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Boato, A., et al. | 2003 | Masonry vaults in Genoa: From historical and archaeological analysis o scientific interpretation of the rules for their construction. Procs 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 391-404. | In Genoa, the mountainous morphology of the territory and the narrowness of the spaces delimited by the city medieval walls forced the inhabitants looking for different solutions to conquer new open spaces, even within the dense edification of medieval origin. For these reasons, since the XVI century, at least, the number of terraces built upon palaces and monasteries, inside the walled city, really increased. The Genoese territory is characterised by great raininess: how the ancient builders realised flat roofs preventing the water penetration inside the buildings? Which kind of channelling and of draining away they used? Which materials they used? The analysis of a specific study case, investigated with the methods of the building archaeology and a wide collection of archive documents related to different buildings in Genoa, clarify which were the technical solutions locally given to the problem. The results of these researches are finally put in comparison with the technical and architectural solutions offered to the same problem within different geographical situations. | |
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Addis, B. | 2003 | Inventing a history for structural engineering design. Procs 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 113-122. | The author will describe what is required of a history of structural engineering design. It must answer questions about how people approached the task of planning to construct a building – literally how they might have been able to conceive and think about their unbuilt project while it was being designed. It must also seek answers concerning how the designers might have been able to generate sufficient confidence that their plans could be executed and would deliver a structure that would perform as required. The fate of many would have depended on the reliability of this confidence! There is clear evidence that large structures were designed with great skill from ancient times; Vitruvius tells us how to design a variety of buildings. However, many would assert that he and early designers were ‘merely’ addressing architectural design – the form and appearance of a building. Yet the very idea of such ‘pure’ architectural design is a modern invention. The author will argue that the key to unravelling the story of engineering design over the last two millennia lies in tracing the process by which designing buildings and structures gradually became a series of discrete ways of thinking about building – the mental models which people have used to augment their ability think. Geometry has, and still does play a major role here. Over the last millennium other models have been developed to build upon geometric models and give us the models of loads, materials, and structural types that nowadays form the basis of the structural engineer’s skills in both design and analysis. The author will illustrate his ideas with the design of Gothic Cathedrals and the development of design methods for iron and steel-framed buildings during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The paper will also discuss the relationship between engineering design and the separate development of engineering science, remarking especially that the former is far older and has generally preceded and been a | |
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Addis, B. | 2003 | The nature of progress in construction engineering history. Procs 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 123-130. | The paper will discuss the various strands that contribute to an assessment of the state of construction engineering. These include: • materials technology – the materials being used, their quality, methods of manufacture, shaping and joining; • the accuracy and consistency with which structures and buildings were made; measurement and surveying skills; • plant and machinery used during construction; • the skills of the various those working on the design and construction of a project; • indicators of technical achievement – length of span, height of a structure, economy, slenderness or weight of a structure; structural ratios (span:rise of an arch; span:depth of a beam; specific strength or stiffness) • methods of design – their sophistication and precision, their generality, their reliability; • scientific knowledge – the nature of the knowledge and its role in the production of buildings and structures; Both individually and when taken together, such parameters can help us develop ideas of excellence in construction. This can enable us to make an assessment of the historical worth of an individual structure and to compare the relative merits of two different structures or buildings. This will help us assess their place in the progress of the art of construction. Likewise, such an approach can help us assess and compare the skills of individual engineers and builders, and the value of their contribution to developments in construction history. The author will illustrate his argument with examples from the development of factory buildings in early 19th century England and the development of tensile cable and membrane structures in the 20th century. | |
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Canas Calop, C. | 2003 | The constructive techniques of the Moorish roofing frameworks: the case of the Mirador of the Reales Alcazeras of the Catholic Monarchs in Seville. Procs 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp513-524. | The main goal of this report is to divulge the characteristics of construction of one of the most emblematic roofing frameworks of the entire group, that which covers the Enclosed Balcony of the Spanish Monarchs. Limiting ourselves to this one particular framework will permit us to go more profoundly in our sudy, to perform a detailed analysis of not only each element of the framework but also of the othere elements that do not intervene in the process of construction. The intention is to devise an analytical method in which and every element pertaining to the casing framework is included, in an attempt to not overlook any detail or possibility. The goal is to take into consideration all the aspects which come together in the process of construction of the casing framework of the roofing, taking into account that in this process other factors also intervene which are closely related, such as the historical, formal, typological, and constructive analyses. Therefore, the intention of this report is to demonstrate a method which is capable of examining in minute detail our casing framework and which could establish a constructive process that includes all the details and elements of its implementation. | |
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Atzeni, C. | 2003 | STONE MASONRY IN RURAL SARDINIAN BUILDING: Evolution of the traditional buiding techniques between XIX and XX century. Procs 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 279-290. | The isolation of Sardinia and the limitation of contacts with other realities strongly contributed to the continuity with which the know-how has been handed down from one generation to another among local artisans until XIX century and in some centres until the middle of XX century. Pre-modern stone-walls are characterised by a high naturality of the material which, available in situ, was used almost without being processed, but after a strict selection of the elements most adapted to construction. The most used form is the double wall with internal filling, which gives to the wall quite limited properties of coherence and stability, granted though by the considerable dimension of the wall and not by the intrinsic resistance capacity of the material itself. Starting on ’800 however, we assist to a turning point: the sardinian building tradition looses progressively its endemic character, and enriches itself thanks to the diffusion of new techniques brought in part by the diffusion of building handbooks, in part by unskilled workers coming from central Italy (an example for all is represented in Serrenti by a settlement of stone masons coming from Tuscany). In this period, which signs the passage between the pre-modern and the modern building culture, the practice of construction results from the mixture of local and foreign tradition, generating a significant architectural and constructive contamination. Concerning walls, this implies a general optimisation of the mechanical characteristics of the building stone, a more appropriate use and a better care for details and finishing which give an urban dignity to rural buildings. The technical documentation of this period is almost not existing or difficult to find, however, through reports of journeys made in Sardinia in the XIX century by geographers and historians (see Lamarmora and Angius) and thank to rare documents regarding public projects, it is possible to reconstruct this critical moment for the sardinian | |
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D’Amato Guerrieri, C. | 2003 | The formal unity of the Greek Temple: the realisation of the 9/A capital replica of Apollo Epicurius’ Temple at Bassai. Procs 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 683-692. | The Greek Temple could be easily considered as a paradigm in this sense: here stone, used as unique material for the definition of the aesthetic character, expresses directly the structural and decorative geometrical texture, and also defines the formal unity of the architectural system as a whole. Moreover it is characterised by an exact design and perfection in execution, aspects that make it exemplar. For this reason the damaged original 9/A Doric capital of Apollo Epicurius’ Temple at Bassai, has been chosen for the elaboration of cad/cam processing software, and associated 3D virtual simulations for its realisation with a CNC machining centre. The development of stone stereotomy techniques using modern advanced technologies will support the cultural heritage of each European region, will open new perspectives for the design of architectural elements, providing competitive solutions in terms of quality and speediness of realisation in comparison with manual fabrication. They will also help the traditional role of arts and crafts, but also that of stereotomy, to evolve. | |
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Aita, D. | 2003 | Between geometry and mechanics: a re-examination of the principles of stereotomy from a statical point of view. Procs 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 161-170. | The main objective of this paper is to give a mechanical interpretation of the geometrical principles guiding the art of Stereotomy for designing masonry arches. The treatises on the coupe des pierres – even those published after the birth of the modern structural mechanics – deal with the design of vaulted structures from an essentially geometrical point of view. For instance, the main question of cutting the voussoirs as concerns the inclination of the joints was solved in geometrical terms without taking into account any statical consequences. With reference to this problem, the coupe des pierres develops two geometrical criteria: the first requires that the joints converge to a single point (i.e. Villard de Honnecourt, Dechales); the second requires that the joints are perpendicular to the intrados of the arch (i.e. Frézier). In order to determine the stability degree corresponding to these geometrical criteria, the present paper analyses the problem of stone cutting in statical terms by considering the equilibrium of the voussoirs in the absence of friction and cohesion. This formulation, already applied by Coulomb, de Nieuport and Venturoli to simple vaulted structures, is extended to more complex stereotomical constructions. | |
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Aita, D. | 2003 | Some explicit solutions for flat and depressed masonry arches. Procs 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 171-185. | The mechanical behaviour of masonry arches has been studied since the Seventeenth century. As it is well known, it is possible to recognise two dominant lines of theoretical investigation: the first considers the arch as a system of rigid voussoirs subject to friction and unilateral constraints and attempts to evaluate the system’s distance from collapse conditions; the second, following a continuum mechanics approach and an “elastic” logic, aims at determining the evolving stress and strain fields in the arch. Within the context of this second path of research, the greatest difficulty has been how to model the behaviour of a very complex material, such as masonry. In fact, masonry is a heterogeneous, an-isotropic material made up of blocks and it is characterised by a high resistance to compression and a low resistance to traction. A comprehensive constitutive law that mathematically describes the behaviour of such a material in great detail can turn out to be extremely complex. With reference to a work of Signorini [1], who first studied elastic materials which are incapable of supporting significant tensile stresses, some authors have proposed a non-linear elastic constitutive relation. According to this choice, masonry arches can be studied as one-dimensional non-linear elastic curved beams. In this way, the description of their mechanical behaviour is traced back to the study of non-linear ordinary differential equations. In fact, if the structure is isostatic, simply by integrating, it is possible to determine the explicit expressions for the displacements and rotation of any point on the axis line. In this case, the line of thrust and the possible regions of the arch in which the behaviour is non-linear are known. If the structure is statically indeterminate, it is necessary to write the displacements and the rotations as functions of the unknown redundant reactions, then to impose the restraining conditions, which lead to a non-linear algebraic system [2]. | |
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Marfella, G. | 2016 | From heat absorption to speculation: the troubled evolution of international all- glass architecture in Melbourne (1955-1985). In ’Gold’ Proceedings of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand edited by Goad P, Brennan A. | ||
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Marfella, G. | 2018 | ICI House and the Birth of Discretionary Tall Building Control in Melbourne (1945–1965). Provenance no. 16, pp. 17-32 | ||
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Marfella, G. | 2020 | Glass innovation, tall buildings, and the origin of performance-based design. In First Skyscrapers, Skyscraper Firsts: Considerations of Critical Buildings and Technologies in Skyscraper History, edited by L. Gray, A. Wood and D. Safarik, pp 213-221 | ||
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Marfella, G. | 2019 | Behind the shield: glass as vehicle of technology transfer from the automotive Industry to the International Style. In Autopia: the Car and the Modern City, Proceedings of Automotive Historians Australia, edited by H Edquist and H Stitt | ||
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Marfella, G. | 2022 | Seeds of concrete progress: grain elevators and modern technology transfer in Australia and America. In Ultra: Positions and Polarities Beyond Crisis, Proceedings of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand edited by J. Curry and D. Kroll | ||
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马炳坚 Ma, B. | 2003 | 中国古建筑木作营造技术 Timber Construction Techniques of Chinese Ancient Architecture | 《中国古建筑木作营造技术》是作者在多年从事古建筑研究、设计、施工的技术积累和总结的基础上，用现代科学的表达方法总结中国古代传统木作营造技术的一部著作。主要内容包括：传统木构建筑的种类、构造、权衡尺度、设计方法、传统工艺技术和营造施工技术、明清木构建筑的区别、仿木构建筑的设计与施工等等。在内容的编排上，《中国古建筑木作营造技术》由浅入深，循序渐进，首先介绍古建筑的名称、部位、通则，进而介绍各种木构建筑的构造方式、构架功能。直至制作安装的具体技术问题，各部分内容都附有详细的插图和权衡尺寸表，用起来十分方便。《中国古建筑木作营造技术》对古建筑文物保护、修缮、仿古建筑设计有直接指导作用。对建筑史、建筑技术史的研究，古建筑教学、技术人才培训亦有直接指导和重要参考作用。 | China, timber, wood, carpentry, joinery, building techniques |
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Pan, Y. & Campbell, J.W.P. | 2022 | Mitchell’s Building Construction goes to China: the impact of British Polytechnics, construction teaching and construction textbooks in Shanghai (1870-1937). Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering | Taking the localization of Mitchell’s Building Construction in Shanghai as a case study and a starting point and discussing British polytechnics, construction teaching and construction textbooks, this paper examines the transmission of technical knowledge to Chinese builders in Modern Shanghai. The paper provides the first systematic examination of Mitchell’s professional biography and the first review of the editions of his Building Construction textbooks. The paper shows that Mitchell’s textbooks built on rapidly evolving scientific knowledge in building technology in Britain, and how their success was attributed to the time, his construction pedagogy, their constant updates and their remarkable contribution to the building industry. A comparative analysis between Mitchell’s books and Du’s technical Dictionary and Yingzao Xue from an educational perspective, reveals Du’s insights into Mitchell’s powerful pedagogical tools of construction textbook writing, bridging different construction cultures – terminology learning, visual learning, and adaptive knowledge learning. Drawing from one of the most successful models of construction textbooks, Du’s contribution was to create a wholly new work – a distinct mixture that filled in the gaps and created a new discourse of Chinese Building Construction for the new global-local building industry in Shanghai. | Building Construction, technical education, construction teaching, textbook writing, early 20th century, evening classes, Mitchell |
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von Behr, N. | 2022 | The patent war between Francois Hennebique and Armand Considere: competing reinforced concrete systems in ’fin de Belle Epoque’ France in Campbell, J. et al, Timber and Construction: Proceedings of the Ninth Conference of the Construction History Society, pp. 373-85 | This paper examines the conflict between François Hennebique and Armand Considère, centred on competing patents for reinforced concrete systems in early 20th-century French structures. In the 1890s Hennebique first patented in Belgium and then France, key aspects of monolithic structural framing using the new combined material of béton armé. He rapidly grew a commercial empire in France and abroad, centred on his main design studios in the heart of Paris, and using a global network of agents and contractors. Considère patented his own reinforced concrete system, béton fretté, in 1901 but could only benefit financially from commercial activity five years later when he retired as a senior French state civil engineer setting up in private consulting. The two men were to confront each other in the French courts over aspects of their respective systems for foundation piling. The paper also references the work of the French Commission on reinforced cement and concrete, on which both men sat between 1901 and 1905, in addition to two non-monumental buildings in and near Paris, which provide exemplary material for the key technical issues. The content is derived from aspects of the researcher’s current doctoral research on the influence of technical standards and associated regulations for steel and reinforced concrete on the development of modern architecture in Paris, Lille-Roubaix-Tourcoing and Brussels prior to WW1. | Reinforced concrete, Hennebique, Considere, patents, France, Belle Epoque |
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Barbieri A., Di Tommaso A., and Massarotto R. | 2003 | MASONRY VAULTED STAIRCASES IN PALLADIO AND VIGOLA’S ARCHITECTURES, Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, pp 299-312. | In the second half of the Cinquecento, Andrea Palladio, probably one of the most famous Italian architect turned his attention to the staircase subject. But, his approach to this architectural subject was particular. The staircase which links the main floor with the upper floor are hidden in solid masonry wall, out from the formal articulation of the villas architecture. However he designed and built the only masonry vaulted staircase in Veneto, during the sixteenth century. They were realised in few villas (Villa Cornaro, Piombino Dese; Villa Pisani, Montagnana; Villa Foscari, Mira). In the same time, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola was working in Emilia. He realised few masonry staircase appear architectural and technological masterpiece. Their complex shape was carried out by his clever employment of materials and geometrical rules. The two artists turned their attention to staircase subject in different way even if using similar materials and architectural shapes, both of them built winding stairs. The research start point is the investigation of construction aspects, which are correlated to the structural behaviour of these elements. They are analysed from the architectural, technological an structural points of view, referring to treatises of the sixteenth century and following and observing the historical constructions in situ. The analysis of these different construction aspects allows to formulate a static model, taking into account boundary and loading conditions. Some architectural elements could have a primary role for the construction static because they guarantee its suitable structural behaviour under service loading conditions. The safeguard design of these structures starts from careful knowledge of technology and behaviour. The aim of the designer should be devoted to preserve both the architectural aspects and the structural ones using traditional and/or innovative techniques. The last ones are designed to collaborate with the original construction | |
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Willis, A. | 2003 | Design-Build and Building Efficiency in the Early Twentieth-Century United States, Proc 1ICCH, Vol3, pp2119-2138 | This study describes the internal organization and output of several large early twentieth-century American design-build firms. Special consideration is given to Hoggson Brothers (New York City), William Steele & Sons Company (Philadelphia), The Austin Company (Cleveland), and Meyer & Holler (Los Angeles). Their contracting practices and products are compared to those of smaller design-build firms serving the same and other localities. | |
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Radivojevic, A. | 2003 | THE EXAMPLES OF SOME LATE ANTIQUE BUILDING TECHNIQUES, APPLIED ON THE HORREUM FROM MEDIANA, Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp1691-1698 | During many years of archaeological excavations of this site, ruins of a building that was recognized as a granary, or horreum, were discovered practically in its total. The remains presented an exceptional building, by its size (27x90m), as well as by its function and organization. Consisted mainly of the huge storage space, with the porch in front the main entrance, auxiliary rooms and separated administrative part, the horreum was dated in the beginning of the IVth century AD, like all the other buildings of this archaeological site. Two rows of eleven large stone posts for the pillars that were made of bricks, have divided the main part of the building into three naves. Between them, several 2m high containers, called pitos, partly buried into the ground, were found, some of them completely preserved. In one of the later phases of the building, in the western part of the storage, three pits, carefully plastered with mortar that contained crushed brick aggregates were dug into the ground. Their use was explained as containers of oil or other liquid materials that could have been stored in this way. | |
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Lopez Mozo, A. | 2003 | EXTRADOSED VAULTS IN THE MONASTERY OF EL ESCORIAL: THE DOME AND THE CHURCH TOWERS. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 2, pp 1321-1326 | Before the Monastery of San Lorenzo in El Escorial was built, the examples of extradosed vaults, i.e. the type of vault in which the internal shape, materials and quartering are recognizable in the exterior, were very scarce. This sincerity of form poses certain structural and constructive problems, which had been already solved centuries before in Agrippa’s Pantheon in Rome. In fact, the dome of the Royal Chapel in Seville Cathedral, built following drawings made by Hernán Ruiz circa 1566, has an external form with rings around a spherical cup, which resembles the dome of the Pantheon. The study of an extradosed vault is especially interesting as it gives the added possibility of analysing the external face as well. A precise survey in which there is a direct relationship between intrados and extrados permits the geometry of the whole section of the vault to be studied and an analysis of the quartering to be made, and hypotheses of the constructive configuration can be reached. A graphic analysis of structural stability, an estimation of the weight of the vault, etc. are also possible. The idea of this paper arose from the availability of an accurate survey of the church dome of the Monastery of El Escorial and from the realization of another one of the church towers, specifically carried out for this paper. We propose looking at this splendid example of Spanish architecture to find out more about its constructive process and to examine why certain decisions were made. On the other hand, this work is part of a doctoral thesis about the vaults of the Monastery. | |
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Lopez Mozo, A. | 2003 | PLANAR VAULTS IN THE MONASTERY OF SAN LORENZO IN EL ESCORIAL. Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 2, pp1327-1334 | The objective of this paper is the study of the two mentioned planar vaults, in order to find out something more about how they were built and why certain decisions were made. This works consists in analysing geometry and quartering to be able to pose hypotheses on its constructive configuration. Looking at the vault under the choir, a study of the voussoirs beds and the differences between original and current geometry could be interesting. Attending to Juan Bautista de Toledo’s planar vault, this work tries to find out something more about the central column; whether it was made at the beginning or not. The work described in this paper is possible thanks to the availability of an accurate survey of both vaults, which provides precise data about the global geometry and all joints. On the other hand, this work is part of a doctoral thesis about the vaults of the Monastery. | |
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Kahlow, A. | 2003 | Bridge-building and Industrial Revolution. Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 2, pp1177-1189 | Cast iron, wrought iron, wood, stone and brick were the materials of bridge-building in the middle of the 19. Century. While the suspension bridge was one of the most admired new principles of construction the expanding railroad networks encouraged a Renaissance of bridges in stone and brick. The availability of new and different technologies led to the application of new bridge "systems", and accelerated the developement of theory in this field. Standard-constructions came into use. The development in Germany and especially in Prussia is regarded in its international context. | |
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Candelas Gutierrez, A.L. | 2003 | ON THE ORIGIN OF SOME ‘WHITENESS’ CARPENTRY RULES. Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 1, pp 505-512 | Roof framework building with wood as a structural element was called ’Whiteness Carpentry’ in the Spanish Mudejar period. Whiteness joiners carried out a large number of roof frameworks, in which both a solid structural behavior and a peculiar combination of structure and decoration stand out. For their job, joiners utilized a series of rules which were kept secret within the guilder of carpenters. These rules came to light upon the publication of the treatise by López de Arenas in 1633. The interpretation of this text was difficult, and was approached by historians such as M. Gómez Moreno or engineers and mathematicians such as Prieto Vives. However, it was only fully understood after the investigation carried out by E. Nuere in the 1980s. This paper tries to go a step further, trying to understand how the joiners were able to establish some of the rules which appear in their treatises. While those rules were obviously not found by chance, it is also true that they do not come from a mathematician or scientific knowledge, which joiners in general were far from possessing. | |
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Sinopoli, A. | 2003 | THE ROLE OF GEOMETRY IN THE THEORIES ON VAULTED STRUCTURES BY LORENZO MASCHERONI (1785). Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, Vol 3, pp 1865-1874 | It was this strong emphasis on the “not activated, but possible” mobility of the system which led to the main reference of the scientific theories worked out over the centuries, the so-called “Principle” of Virtual Works, being assumed as a natural law, or a fundamental postulate. The discovery of the particular condition of “non activated” motion, that separates equilibrium from motion – or, in statics terms, from collapse – coincides with what we nowadays call “limit analysis”. It is in this context that some theories of vaulted structures from Leonardo to de la Hire have been discussed and re-examined in a previous paper, in the search for an interpretation that was as close as possible to the thought of the time, while not excluding the use of modern formal instruments to enable an easier and more correct reading. It is in the same line that the analysis and theories on vaulted structures proposed by Lorenzo Mascheroni in his “Nuove ricerche sull’equilibrio delle volte” (1785) will be discussed and re-examined in this paper; it is with Mascheroni, in fact, that the analysis of arch collapse proposed by de la Hire find their justification and a formally more mature definition. | |
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Sanna, A. | 2003 | THE WALL AND THE FRAME: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY: Between autarchy and reconstruction in Sardinia. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 1821-1830 | Reinforced concrete started to be known in Sardinia around the beginning of 1900. In a moment when important patents were given, the engineer G.A Porcheddu, born sardinian and main dealer in Italy of the Hennebique System, builds the great silos of the town of Cagliari, as well as public-, productive- and housing buildings. In the ’30s the new possibility to calculate the reinforced concrete frame, shows new advancements: the process of modernisation of Sardinia puts in contact local enterprises and designers with the more important national ones, starting a new culture of the modern design. Almost immediately, though, the autarchy imposes strong restrictions in the use of iron: when around 1937 the building of the fascist new towns starts, the designers are forced to find original solutions to the "modern" use of local materials integrating them a little with more advanced techniques and newer materials. Despite the problems faced in this period the enterprises take possess of the technology of reinforced concrete: in the beginning ’50s the frame appears to the surface of the walls of buildings, especially in the great works of the INA-casa. | |
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ESPION, B., HALLEUX, P., and SCHIFFMANN, J.I. | 2003 | Contributions of André Paduart to the Art of Thin Concrete Shell Vaulting. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 829-838. | In Belgium, the key personage in the construction and popularisation of concrete thin shells was certainly André Paduart (1914-1985). He graduated in civil engineering from the University of Brussels in 1936, but only became involved personally in structural design in 1945 when he joined as technical director an engineering firm (SETRA) which was at the forefront in the application of the new developments in concrete construction (prestressing, thin shells). In 1954, he became a professor of civil engineering at the University of Brussels and in 1957 he set up his own engineering office (SETESCO). André Paduart had a dual career, working at the edge between practice and academia, especially in the field of concrete thin shells.The proposed paper is an attempt to record all major thin concrete shells designed by André Paduart and describe their originality in the context of the history of thin concrete shells. | |
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Kirac, B., Kapti, M., and Okten, S. | 2003 | THE OLD POWER PLANT SILAHTARAĞA IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1239-1248. | The thermoelectric power plant Silahtarağa was the first power plant in Turkey. In the begining of 20th century, the electrification of Istanbul, Ottoman capital as it has been already realized in major european cities, has become a current issue, in the direction of westernization movements. The thermoelectric power plant has been constructed by the Hungarian company, Ganz, in 1913 to serve the European side of the city. In this paper it is aimed to present the constructional features of the power station which has an important place in Industrial Heritage of Turkey considering its function. Then the required data will be available for its reuse in future. | |
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Kaiser, C. | 2003 | The "Fleischbrücke" in Nuremberg - a stone arch bridge from the Renaissance as an object for researching the history of building technology. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1189-1200. | The "Fleischbrücke" has a reputation as the most significant bridge structure of the Renaissance in Germany, and as the best-documented bridge before Perronets Pont de Neuilly across the Seine. Nevertheless, the notion of "bridges as engineering structures are the poor relations of the preservation of historic monuments" also applies to this structure. The comprehensive design process is explained by means of the different draft designs and reports from different workmen and master builders. These design drawings are of special significance, because in many cases they appear to visualise "structural" considerations. The designers and master builders could not be expected to have theoretical knowledge about the structural behaviour. Views on the structural behaviour can therefore be found exclusively in the drawings or in verbal descriptions, such as the sentence "in this way the foundation for the abutments will be of sufficient strength to prevent movement of the arches." Built without calculations, with a good sense for structural behaviour and with the courage for large spans, the Fleischbrücke has been under the spotlight of engineers since the first half of the 18th century. They use different quantitative techniques to gain an understanding of the bridge as a representative of its time. | |
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Tedeschi, C., and Cardani, G. | 2003 | HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION ON THE USE OF MASONRY POINTING IN ITALY. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 1963-1978. | The study of the different pointing methods applied during the historic periods in Italy was strictly connected to an investigation on the bedding mortars. Changes occurred during the centuries of the technologies for the realisation of pointing can only be understood after a historic research and a very specific investigation on the different compositions of the mortar mixture used for pointing of the facing masonry walls. Therefore the study of the different historic mortars used for pointing in Italy is of great interest and useful in order to understand its evolution and changes along the centuries. The first information on pointing comes from the roman period and its use continued in different historical period till nowadays. This technique was alternative and/or contemporaneous to other finishing techniques which had the aim to protect masonry and to give it an elegant aspect. | |
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Yeomans, D. | 2003 | The work and influence of Felix Samuely in Britain. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 2127-2138. | While the influence of other engineers on the architecture of the inter-war period has been chronicled Samuely’s influence has received less attention. This study, based upon the archives of his firm considers the scope of his structural invention and the extent of its reporting in contemporary journals. It will provide a survey of his work to show the range of his structural designs and a commentary on the extent to which these were covered by the architectural end engineering journals to provide some measure of his potential influence on architects and other engineers of the time. | Simpsons, de la warr Bexhill |
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Arce Saldana, D., and Barco Herrera, A.B. | 2003 | TÉCNICAS CONSTRUCTIVAS Y MEDIOS AUXILIARES EN LA CONSTRUCCIÓN DE PRESAS DE MAMPOSTERÍA Y PRIMERAS ÉPOCAS DE HORMIGONES. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 1783-1794 | El objeto de la comunicación es presentar un análisis de la evolución de los métodos y medios auxiliares en la construcción de presas de fábrica, en el período que abarca desde mediados del s.XIX hasta las primeras décadas del s.XX. En esta época se alcanza el máximo desarrollo de las presas de mampostería, que comienzan a ser sustituidas paulatinamente por los hormigones ciclópeos. Estos primeros hormigones se pueden considerar una transición necesaria entre la mampostería y los hormigones modernos, que implica una modernización y desarrollo significativo en la utilización de medios auxiliares. En la comunicación se realiza una breve exposición de los métodos tradicionales empleados en la construcción de las presas históricas de mampostería, profundizando en el estudio de los métodos de construcción y de los medios auxiliares empleados en el período señalado, así como en su influencia en la evolución del diseño y construcción de estas obras. El análisis se realiza prestando especial atención a aspectos tales como: Mecanización, capacidad, movilidad y rendimientos alcanzados; de forma que permita establecer la relación existente entre la evolución de los medios auxiliares y de la Ingeniería de Presas. | |
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Liberatore, D., et al | 2003 | THE ITALIAN ARCHAEOLOGIC HERITAGE: A CLASSIFICATION OF TYPES FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF PROTECTION AGAINST EARTHQUAKES. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1295-1306. | A classification of types of the Italian archaeologic heritage is presented in this study. The classification is centred on the structural elements and is aimed at a subsequent study of seismic vulnerability and risk. Twenty-two types are considered. For each type, there are given: a short description, an extensive description of the structural elements and a list of sites – almost unavoidably non-exhaustive – where specimens of the type are present which are clearly recognizable, in the sense that they are not included in later buildings. The list does not include those sites where the presence of ancient constructions is documented by historical or literary sources only. Some types, as the Doric temple, are subdivided into sub-types depending on different seismic behaviours of the remains. The study only deals with the types located in earthquake prones regions of Italy, and therefore excludes: the stone huts and the terraced constructions in Lecce area, the vault structures in the Salento peninsula, the prehistoric nuraghi and the holy wells of Sardinia. | |
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De Nichilo, E. | 2003 | Learning from stone traditional vaulted systems for the contemporary project of architecture: The experimental construction site at the Ponton de la Oliva (Spain 1851-1858) etc.. Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, 2, pp 743-755. | the paper intends to explain the complex passage from the geometrical model to the real model of the “flat-vaulted” system, throughout the graphical one (which also involves a reflection on the updating of traditional stonecutting methods), with reference to: -abacus of elements (CAD 3D modelling), and comparison with the solutions of the historical stereothomy treatises; -stone cutting and finishing techniques (i.e. CAD/CAM processes); -rationalisation and prefabrication of serial and/or special elements (reduction of cost and time of production); -dry-assembly methods (tectonic knots and design of contact surfaces among elements); -comparison among the aesthetic qualities of the domestic space, using different materials (natural stone; reconstructed stone; perforated brick). | |
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Garda, E. | 2003 | “SMOOTH, HARD, CLEAN, PERFECT”: TERRANOVA, HISTORY OF A “MODERN” PLASTER. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 965-977. | Developed in Freihung, Bavaria in 1893 and still produced today, Terranova is far from being a new material, thought this was how it was regarded in the Italy of the Thirties, when it swept the country to become synonymous with modernity. The history of this material provides us with an opportunity to investigate the relationship between materials and architecture in a time when most decisions were colored by an unquestioning faith in technical progress. In dealing with the technical aspects of the Modern Movement, we might almost be tempted to speak of “technically-minded equivocation”. In Italy, in fact, innovation has often been a question of surfaces, of finishes, of solving formal problems, and of using certain materials viewed as exquisitely “modern”; by contrast, the structural frame of the building has continued to be what it always was, the product of techniques and processes which are essentially traditional and outdated. The investigation begins with a historical and critical introduction in which Terranova plaster’s characteristics are reconstructing starting from its aesthetic merits, in an attempt to shed light on the meaning which Rationalism assigned to the use of the so-called “new materials”. This is followed by a second, technical, section in which Terranova plaster is analyzed in terms of the period concerned, and hence in close connection with the problems involved in restoring the architecture of the Modern Movement. This second section discusses the relationships between typological and formal solutions, deterioration process and remedial action, all of which are abundantly illustrated. The survey concludes with a brief “chronicle of the company and its products”, from the company’s foundation in 1893 to its acquisition by Weber & Broutin in 1993. | |
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Kemp, E.L. | 2003 | The Wheeling Custom House of 1859: A study in skeletal iron framing. Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, 2, pp 1225-1238. | Wheeling was selected for the construction of a Custom House due to the great strategic importance of its location in the 19th century. The city was located at a juncture of the three dominant means of transportation and shipping: the river system, the railway system, and the road system. Wheeling served as an internal port at the head of the upper Ohio River, the terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the National Road, which crossed the river on the newly constructed Wheeling suspension bridge. The innovative iron framing, complete with shutters and doors, was intended to make the building fireproof. The skeletal frame consisted of rolled wrought iron 9 inch (23 cm) beams, first produced in 1854, carrying a brick jack-arch floor system, which in turn was supported by wrought iron box beams and cast iron columns. Of particular interest is the behavior of the jack-arch floors, which span 20 feet (6m) as a composite iron and brick structure with the wrought iron beams serving as the tension elements in the edge beams. | |
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Rabasa Diaz, E. | 2003 | THE SINGLE COURSED ASHLAR VAULT . Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, 3, pp 1679-1690. | This paper explains the problems posed by this method of constructing the hemispherical vault and gives examples of the “de capazo” type built in Spain. We might think that they were made following the pattern found in a treatise but, additionally, there is a 13th century precedent in Turkey. Of course, it is not the only case of a bond solved in a different and more complicated way than usual, but it is one of the earliest. In the 18th century Monge proposed a special solution for the ellipsoidal vault, which, as far as we know, has never been constructed, and Abeille came up with a particular proposal for the planar vault, built in Spain in two different places. These ideas from the 18th century and others from the 19th are personal inventions created with the idea of improving the normal solution, although they actually complicate it, while the “de capazo” vault is an unjustified fancy. | |
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Rabasa, E., et al | 2003 | THE EXTERNAL FAÇADES OF THE MONASTERY OF EL ESCORIAL: TRACES OF A PROCESS. Proc 1ICCH, Madrid, 3, pp 1669-1678. | The construction of the Monastery of San Lorenzo in El Escorial took twenty years, a relatively short time, and the final result was a building with a regular external appearance which contains different elements (palace, church, monastery, school, library). It is well known that Juan de Herrera rationalised the building process in order to speed it up and obtain almost perfectly plain exterior walls. Furthermore, as the Hatfield drawing shows, the outside walls (Le Corbusier called them a skyscraper lying on its side) were built before the interior was started. For all these reasons, we usually tend to see the façade as a homogeneous front. However, as the work was going on, there were changes in the initial project; decisions were made that brought about important alterations; the initial architect was Juan Bautista de Toledo and until he died the building work had followed ideas that differed from those of Herrera, and furthermore, there are other well known changes that were introduced in the 18th century by Juan de Villanueva which had an important effect on the composition of the northern façade. A patient observer armed with a pair of binoculars (or even without them) may notice to what extent all these changes have left their mark on the façades of El Escorial: from traces of pilasters, of towers that were removed, to the addition of false joints in order to unify the outward appearance of the ashlars fabric. Although the historical changes are reasonably well documented, drawings of the current quartering that would permit a fuller study of the changes are still to be unearthed. Our work, therefore, consists in surveying the façades, drawing all the joints, in order to explain the alterations and bring to light hidden irregularities. | |
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Monin, E. | 2003 | The construction of fantasy: Ephemeral structures and urban celebrations in France during the eighteenth century. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 1475-1488. | The temporary constructions erected to celebrate the most important events in the kingdom were to create new urban contexts and unexpected atmospheres. The process of creation of all these unusual buildings is worth being analyzed to point out the very specificity of such transformations. Firstly, this paper will focus on the properties of the materials these ephemeral projects were made of. Secondly, it will also consider practical issues related to safety, and solidity. | |
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Gonzalez Redondo, E., and Aroca Hernandez Ros, R. | 2003 | MADRID DOMESTIC ARCHITECTUR E OF 17TH- 19TH CENTURIES: CONTRACTS OF WORKS. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1063-1076. | The starting point of this paper is related to a documental historical approach based upon the Historical Archives of Mad rid, Archivo Histórico de Protocolos, AHP, and includes the original documentation of contemporary domestic a rchitecture b uilt in Madr id such as: a) wr itten information abou t different contracts of works: 1) new houses construction , 2) rebuilt houses, 3) repairing contracts, 4) houses division documents, 5) titles deeds, 6) expert valuation of the houses, 7) renting contracts, etc, and b) graphic information including elevations of the façades and floor plan s, sometimes displaying the functional distribution of room s. This study follows four main lines: a) investigation and selectio n of the most re levant contra cts of the 17th to the 19th centuries for an individual and altogether analysis of the evo lution of the co nstruction system s used in Madrid in that time; b) transcription of such documents; c) an individual study of the structu re, method s, contents of each document, such as: 1) people involved in works: architects, clerks of works, builders, owners, etc; 2) document structure and contents; 3) materials and qualities; 4) work conditions; 5) range of prices, etc; and d) an altogether analysis of them with the aim of setting the origin, evolution and transformation of the construction systems used in Madrid. To a better understanding of building construction systems, this study will be completed with the addition of graphic construc tion details. | |
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Karwacka Codini, E. | 2003 | The plans and the work-site of Sant’Antonino’s chapel in St. Mark’s in Florence - the work of Giambologna - in a manuscript in the Salviati Archives. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1215-1224. | The manuscript “Notebook of the building of Sant’ Antonino’s chapel in St. Mark’s in Florence, 1579-1589” kept in the Salviati Archives in Pisa, forms a particularly interesting testimony to the planning and realisation of an architectural work in the last two decades of the 16 th century in Florence. The subject of the “Notebook”, the chapel of Sant’ Antonio in the church of St. Mark’s in Florence, commissioned from Giambologna by the Salviati family, is one the fundamental prototypes of a series of magnificent, celebratory chapels built between the end of the 16 th century and the early decades of the 17 th, in the Roman area, like those dedicated to Popes Clement VIII, Sixtus V and Paul V in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. | |
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Cecchetti, F., and Sassu, M. | 2003 | CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT OF TUSCANY MIDDLEAGE MONASTERIES: THE EVOLUTION OF TIE BEAM SYSTEM IN S. AGOSTINO MONASTERY AT NICOSIA (PISA). Proc 1ICCH, 1, pp 551-558. | The static and functional restoration of the Nicosia religious plant, a monastery erected from 1258 near Pisa, is studied, pointing out the historical and structural problem of the masonry tie beams. It was not possible to execute traction tests on iron specimen, so a Vickers hardness test supply values of the tensile strength; chemical and spectrographic analysis with electronic microscope confirmed that was possible to join beams with the modern welding processes. It has been also proposed a low destructive technique to insert a spinning cot in the middle of the beam, to permit a regulation of the stress maintaining, for safety reasons, the restraint action in the adjacent masonry walls during the disconnection operations and protecting the original construction technique of the anchorages. | |
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Foce, F., and Aita, D. | 2003 | The masonry arch between ‘limit’ and ‘elastic’ analysis: A critical re-examination of Durand’s Claye’s method. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 895-908. | The historical development of the theory of the masonry arch is marked by two alternative structural philosophies corresponding to what we modernly call ‘limit’ and ‘elastic’ analysis. According to the first approach stability is the main question and the safety of the arch is guaranteed if any equilibrium condition preventing rigid body mechanisms can be determined. According to the second approach stress becomes the object of investigation and the safety of the arch is assured if actual stresses at each cross section are below the admissible strength of materials. The alternative between limit and elastic analysis - stability versus stress - can be rationally removed by following an intermediate approach proposed for the first time by the French scholar A. Durand-Claye in 1867. This approach aims at verifying, as the author wrote, “s’il existe des solutions d’équilibre compatibles avec un effort-limite donné”. An analysis of this type preserves the non-deterministic character of limit analysis and, at the same time, incorporates the main aspect of elastic analysis by imposing a restriction on the stress level. This paper presents a critical re-examination of Durand-Claye’s method in the context of 19th century research on arch theory and proposes an extension for the case of non linear elastic constitutive equation with different tensile and compressive strength. | |
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Bardati, F. | 2003 | ITALIAN’S ‘FORMS’ AND NATIONAL MASONRY IN EARLY FRENCH RENAISSANCE : THE STONE COFFERED CEILINGS CALLED “VOUTES-PLATES” , FROM THE CASTLE OF GAILLON TO THE BOUTON’S CHAPEL IN BEAUNE. Proc 1ICCH, 1, pp 313-324. | Between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, the first buildings inspired from the Italian Renaissance appear in France. The creation of new ‘forms’, which are affected by the Italian Quattrocento architecture, was realized by the French maîtres maçons , who were trained in the cathedral’s building yard; this implies that two different cultures were compared. The consequences of that confrontation are the invention of new formal typologies and an adjusting of the constructive techniques to the new demands. | |
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Da Porto, F., Valluzzi, M. R., and Modena, C. | 2003 | INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF MULTI-LEAF STONE MASONRY WALLS. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 713-722. | In this paper, some problems related to multi-leaf stone masonry are investigated. Such typology, in fact, is widely diffused in different areas of Italy and Europe. It is characterized by scarce or no connection through the thickness and by a possible substantial presence of voids, being consequently affected by brittle collapse mechanisms. In order to understand the mechanical behavior of such masonry, to properly analyze it, to design the most suitable conservation strategies and the most effective consolidation interventions, it ought to start from a clear description of its typological and morphological characteristics. Finally, a mention is made to the use of non-destructive techniques (in particular, sonic waves and tomography), for a non-invasive evaluation of the conditions of stone walls, in order to have useful information for a proper design of the intervention. | |
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Frulio, G. | 2003 | Catalan methods for construction in Sardinia: the use of ’abeurador’ in stone masonry. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 935-942. | The goal of this research is to prove as studying constructions’ methods is possible to identify the source of building workmen, in order to define groups of structures that are thought or built by the same rules. The constructive methods using the abeurador is done by a little canal carved in the stone block exactly on the plain of laying joint. It must be filled of mortar and assembled with a symmetric one. When the mortar is wiped the abeurador makes use of join nerve between the blocks. The carved canal has different proceeding, it depends not by the block’s shape but by the block’s function when it is assembled in to the wall. In moulded blocks for the arches the carved canal has shape of arrow or fish thorn. The structural meaning is that wings of the arrow must be carved in the opposite direction of the compression strain. Then the resistance of the arch’s system depends also to the joint of its pieces through this interior armour of mortar. So it’s possible building arches that seem joint without mortar, but have inside a solid and collaborating armour to contrast the vertical force. It is the same building with stereotomyc pieces and using the carved canal as a aid. Drawings, simulated models of building, pictures of case-history in Sardinia and Balears islands will be showed. | |
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Tampone, G., and Funis, F. | 2003 | Palladio’s timber bridges. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 1909-1920. | Surveying the studies accomplished so far on them, the Authors discuss the meaning of the term “invenzione” used by Palladio for his bridges in the Treatise; besides, they discuss the omission, in the drawings of the Treatise, of the transversal bracings and of the collar ties and give a new interpretation of the “arpesi”, the special bolts invented by the Architect to connect the main members of the bridge on the Cismon River. A special focus is put on the dimensioning criteria, on the assembling methods, which led to a kind of early system of prefabrication, and on the construction process. The authors pose the question whether Palladio used systematically models to establish the suitable design of the structure, the position of each member, the relative dimensions of the members, the stability of the configuration. Based on the systematic use of the triangular mesh, the only un-deformable, the Palladio’s timber bridges can be considered the first lattice girders in the modern meaning of the term. | |
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Tampone, G., and Ruggieri, N. | 2003 | STRUCTURAL INVENTION AND PRODUCTION PROCESS IN THE PIER LUIGI NERVI’S WORK. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 1921-1930. | The researches carried out by Pier Luigi Nervi on the reinforced concrete and the ferro-cemento (cemento ad armatura equiretinata), on the ribbed vaults, on the prefabrication and the pre-tension led to a conception of the load bearing structure which goes far beyond the traditional articulation, in a building, of the different constituting elements such as structural members and curtain walls, i.e. bearing elements and supported parts, to reach, by means of the process, a global organization where every element plays a role in supplying, even in different proportions, resistance, stiffness, obstacle to deformation in order to ensure the general efficiency and stability of the whole structure. Two more research addresses in his ideation and construction practice are the inventions of new structural shapes of the structural members and economy. | |
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De Tommasi, G., and Fatiguso, F. | 2003 | BUILDINGS OF BEGINNING OF 1900 BETWEEN TRADITION AND INNOVATION: FROM THE ART OF BUILDING IN THE TREATISES TO BUILDING PRACTICES OF HANDBOOKS. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 755-764. | In particular, the research highlights material-technical-technological evolution path generated by gradual introduction of new materials and substitution of single elements of building first – flat arches, arches and ceilings with iron and/or concrete/tile structures -, then of whole parts – stairs, vertical backbone and transversal frames with beams and pillars in reinforced concrete - and finally of whole bearing masonry box. In this way it is possible to define, as much to a level of building complex in its whole as to a level of single elements and/or subsystems, material, technical, technological features of the “new” building type which has long been neglected and today in the focus of interests and studies, for historical and architectural aspects, but still not much analysed under technological and structural profile. | |
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Uva, G. | 2003 | Learning from Traditional Vaulted Systems for the Contemporary Design: Updating of Flat-Vaults: Analysis of Structural Performance and Recent Safety Requirements. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 2015-2022. | The Boveda plana is a particular solution for covering a quadrangular area that can be seen as a spatial vault in which the curvature tends to zero. The static behavior is essentially based upon the connection among the different ashlars in the space, distributing the load in both the direction of the floor. The horizontal thrusts are very strong, and the solidity of the whole masonry is guaranteed only if horizontal displacements are prevented. Otherwise, the collapse shows all the features of brittle ruptures. The aim of this research work is to develop a system for the horizontal structures made from a set of dry-assembled blocks. If we want to propose a contemporary structural system that is borrowed from these historical examples, it is important to overcome the outlined drawbacks. | |
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Franco, G. | 2003 | Teaching construction history. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 915-922. | The paper intends, therefore, to deal with the following relevant nodes, not focused on the knowledge of building construction progress but, moreover, on the influence that the construction technology had in the past, and still have, on our contemporary culture: • the purposes of the construction history studies, • their validity inside historical disciplines, • their role in relation to general questions regarding the future of our tradition and the way to innovate it. | |
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Fatta, G., and Campisi, T. | 2003 | LATE-MEDIEVAL BRIDGES IN THE SICILIAN COUNTRY. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 861-872. | Archaeological and historical analyses in support of building restoration and repair. | |
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Manieri Elia, G. | 2003 | The Colosseum: Quality and efficiency of construction. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1345-1356. | The topic of my paper will be the historical methods used in the construction of the Coliseum. My bibliographic studies will be included in a collection of other reports about the Coliseum carried out by a group of historical researchers. This study was commissioned by the Soprintendenza archeologica di Roma and sponsored by the Banca di Roma. I have specifically concentrated on information relating to structural aspects of the monument, the gathering and fabrication of materials, scaffolds and the organisation of labour. | |
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Mochi, G. | 2003 | THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND THR BUILDING ACHIEVEMENTS. THE EVOLUTION OF STEREOTOMY IN THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 1453-1462. | The age of Encyclopedie, between 1751-1772, marked a very important moment in the european cultural history especially for the transformation of the relationship between science, knowledge and tecnichal progress. In this transformation we can locate also the evolution of the classic stereotomy towards a advance, and a modernization too, of the topic. The research of the rational foundations of architecture which charecterized a good deal of the French treatises on stereotomy and theoretical studies on architecture starting from Delorme and Perrault, seems to stop with Frezier’s Traité de stéréotomie where the geometrical rigour of building problem reached its highest peak. The author was convinced that a scientific knowledge was necessary for the development of architecture and that such a knowledge could give the opportunity to satisfy new demands without waiting for the consolidation of the pratical solutions. | |
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Awang, H., Ahmad, A.G., and Ismail, R. | 2003 | Do We Need to Teach Construction History? Experiences of the School of Housing, Building and Planning, University Sains Malaysia, Penang. Proc 1ICCH, 1, pp 291-298. | In tune with the growing importance of building conservation in the country, this paper will assess the need to establish courses in construction history at the School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Interviews with academia, architecture authorities and conservation bodies locally and abroad will throw some lights on this debate. The paper will also highlight the visions and inspirations of the Architectural programme in particular regarding the future of construction history education at the School. Students’ perceptions and expectations of the importance of construction history education are also solicited through a survey. Finding from this survey would serve as an important input to determine the demands for construction history courses as well as to ascertain the future of construction history in Malaysia. | |
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Beste, H.J. | 2003 | Foundations and wall structures in the basement of the Colosseum in Rome. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 373-380. | Following a generous offer made by Rome’s Archeological Superintendence, the German Archeological Institute in Rome commenced an investigation of the construction details of the arena and the basement of the Colosseum in 1996. Over and above the identification of four distinct major building phases and the determination of the function of the so-called Corridor B in Phase I, the building inventory and scientific examination of the Colosseum basement also produced some important new information regarding the structure of the foundations. | |
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Louw, H. | 2003 | Title: Aesthetics, Ethics & Workmanship: The Need for a Cultural Dimension to Construction History. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1335-1344. | Whatever else it might be or become, construction history is a branch of history and therefore belongs to a family of academic subjects, the humanities, which by definition are concerned with cultural matters and the role of these in human evolution. To deny it a cultural dimension would not only impoverish construction history, and its subject matter; it would undermine its fundamental epistemology. With reference to the development of the British building industry, more particularly the woodworking trades, from the mid-18th to the mid-20th century my paper will explore issues related to the questions raised above. | |
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Guillaud, H. and Alva, A. | 2003 | Historical earthen architecture and construction in the Mediterranean Region : what future for such an exceptional cultural legacy ?. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1107-1118. | Facing this challenge of the conservation and “mise en valeur” of the Mediterranean earthen architectural heritage, we can certainly propose drafting orientations and strategies for the future that would push on the development of integrated activities in the following correlated fields : education (for teaching a discipline), research (for elaborating a specific science), application and situated projects (for developing a professional practice), advocacy (for raising an institutional and public awareness), knowledge basis (for structuring a discipline), and a data base (for more information accessibility). This approach is proposed by the “ Project TERRA” 1 jointly developed by CRATerre-EAG, ICCROM and the Getty Conservation Institute. The proposed communication should present the importance of the historical earthen architectural heritage in the Mediterranean region, its general state of conservation and the paths for developing a cultural management. | |
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Arce, I. | 2003 | From the diaphragm arches to the ribbed vaults. An hypothesis for the birth and development of a building technique. Proc 1ICCH, 1, pp 225-242. | The aim of this paper is to discuss, on the evidence of the vaults and roofing systems present at Qasr Harane in Jordan, built during the Umayyad period, the birth of the first ribbed vaults that will be latter developed, in Al Andalus (Bab al Mardun mosque, Torres del Rio, Cordoba mosque), and in the Transoxus-Khorasan Region (Sultan Sanjar mausoleum at Merv). | |
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Della Torre, S., Giustina, I., and Arenghi, A. | 2003 | The art and the culture of domes construction in Milan and Lombardy in the late sixteenth and in the first half of the seventeenth century. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 1033-1042. | The paper examines several projects and works of Pellegrino Tibaldi, Tolomeo Rinaldi, Martino Bassi, Lorenzo Binago and Francesco Maria Ricchino – among the main architects working in Milan during the late sixteenth and the early seventeenth century – is carried out, paying particular attention to the heated milanese architectural debate about the choice between extradoxed domes, looking at the roman examples, and domes sheltered by the traditional lombard “tiburio”, and to the organization of the building yards that, because of the presence of domes, more represented a challenge to the technical skilfulness of the milanese sixteenth-seventeenth century workers and contractors. | |
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DeLaine, J. | 2003 | The builders of Roman Ostia: organisation, status and society. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp723-732. | This paper aims to overcome some of these limitations and produce a more detailed picture of the construction industry by focusing on Ostia during the late first to early third centuries AD, when most of the city was rebuilt in rubble concrete construction. Ostia provides an comprehensive range of building types which can be dated very closely, and which are sufficiently well–preserved for the work of different building teams to be identified. The epigraphic record is also very good, with all the three kinds of inscription – funerary, dedicatory and collegiate – being well represented. Builders appear to have worked in teams of varying sizes, with a degree of specialisation, and belonged to a range of different social contexts. Some of the individuals can also be associated with known members of the Ostian political elite, and with members of other important collegia such as those relating to the state grain supply, while some appear to have had links with the elite of Rome itself. Many builders are slaves or freed slaves, and the recurrence of family names points to individual members of the Ostian elite or their dependants training teams of builders in a form of apprenticeship. | |
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García-Gutiérrez Mosteiro, J. | 2003 | The adventure of the Guastavino vault. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp957-964. | The introduction of the tile vaults -bóvedas tabicadas- into the USA, by the end of XIX century, by the Spanish architect-builder Rafael Guastavino, gave rise to a renewed and splendid development of an old constructional practice well known in Spain. This paper pursues to consider different aspects -directly connected with the Construction History- about the so-called «Guastavino System»: a experience which comprehends the manifold variables of a complex constructional process, and -strictly delimited by the Guastavino’s sphere- is clearly profiled by spatial and time coordinates. This paper -following the conductor motif of this enterprise in parallel to Guastavino’s theoretical thought- deals with this well-defined and expressive chapter on Construction History. | |
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Fernandez, J.E. | 2003 | Shifting Grounds –the effects of altered modes of research and development in construction. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp873-882. | This paper presents findings that demonstrate a relationship between this shift and the problematic contraction of the diversity of methods and materials for construction. This relationship is rendered in terms of numerous types of driving forces for innovation and the retarding obstacles that have been spawned by the shift to specialized industrial and academic centers of materials research and construction technology. Through a comparative analysis of historical sources that attempted to formulate agendas for construction research during the 19th and early 20th centuries, these drivers and obstacles are used to distill the inconsistencies inherent in the mode of innovation of materials for use in architecture and the present lack of knowledge of entire systems of construction. These inconsistencies are derived of a comparison between the stated goals for innovation and the resulting situation. Several dozen historical sources are cited, including the proceedings of European and American scientific societies, academic conferences and symposia, governmental research mandate directives, numerous trade and science journal papers and the writings of architects, construction technologists, historians and others. Finally, several exceptions, including the work of Felix Candela and others and the growing international interest in earthen materials and other “lost” techniques, are described and offered as alternatives to the diminution of the diversity of techniques and materials for the making of architecture. | |
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Antuna, J., and Ochsendorf, J. | 2003 | Eduardo Torroja and ’Ceramica Armada’. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp1527-1536. | This paper traces the historical development of reinforced brick shells, and contrasts the contributions of two of the leading engineers of the 20th century: Eladio Dieste and Eduardo Torroja. In the 1950’s, increasing costs of formwork led designers to seek alternatives to thin shells of reinforced concrete. The young Eladio Dieste and the well-established Eduardo Torroja both addressed this problem and sought a solution in reinforced brick shells. | |
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Gomez de Cozar, J.C. et al. | 2003 | THE MANUSCRIPT of ANTONIO RAMOS: Analysis of a scientific text with an empiric base. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp1043-1050. | By the middle of the XVIII century, for responsibility of the Real Academy of fine arts of San Fernando, Antonio Ramos edits a titled manuscript: "Sobre la gravitación de los arcos contra sus estribos y sobre el cálculo para la resistencia de éstos". In the text divided in seven notebooks and one of figures, the author develops a method that allows to obtain the thrust of an arch or vault, of guideline anyone, and the evaluation of the correct size of the supports that sustain it. When their propositions are analyzed it is interesting to observe like it articulates their theory based on the observation of the behavior of the vaults (developing an own formulation), and however when he has to propose a certain dimension for the supports, to check if their sizes are correct, he uses an empiric rule. In the communication is exposed the evaluation of his method and the used of empiric rules, comparing them with other methods of precedent and current authors. | |
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Brandes, K. | 2003 | Development of Structural Connections of Steel Truss Bridges around 1900. Proc 1ICCH, 1, pp405-411. | The development of structures and its details is determined by structural requirements and by the main stream of contemporary architectural art. An interesting detail of such a development is the change of the constructional type of riveted connections of truss girder bridges in cities. Within some decades, the form and the dimensions of the connections using so called gusset plates have changed considerably. That can be recognised by some bridges in Berlin starting from a simple form, after that changing to a more ambitious type caused by discussions about architectural aspects of subway viaducts in Berlin during erection of the first Underground line and at the end coming to a simple technical type which is not satisfactory in terms of architectural quality, however, following the new ideas of Bauhaus and Functionalism and aspects of structural safety. The development is presented by giving some examples and mentioning the discussion at that time. | |
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Van Balen, K. | 2003 | Research on built heritage contributes to sustainable construction for the future. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp2035-2040 | Interest in sustainable development is a leading motivation in research today as it expresses one of the main challenges for surviving of mankind on earth. In the framework of a congress on construction history the focus is on the benefit research on sustainable construction can take from a thorough analysis of ancient building practices. Such a link would also give even more credibility to research on construction history. This paper intends to open the discussion to complete this picture. It starts from an understanding of the perception on which this new interest in sustainability is based, it tries to identify a paradigm which was governing an important part of the research on modern construction techniques and that led to overlooking durability aspects of some ancient construction techniques. | |
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Van Balen, K. | 2003 | Understanding the lime cycle and its influence on historical construction practice. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp2041-2054. | Burning, slaking and carbonation are the major steps in the lime-cycle leading to the air-hardening of lime mortar. Lime mortar has been used since antiquity and its preparation and its use has been understood by generations using different schemes of understanding. Looking today to historical perceptions of the lime cycle helps to identify the proper understanding of certain material properties and the use of lime mortar in the past. First the lime cycle is explained based on our actual chemistry and mineralogy. Looking at some well known writings of Vitruvius, Renaissance authors, C. Perrault , 18th Century authors the evolution of the understanding of the role of heat, water, air in the preparation and the use of lime becomes clear. | |
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Palaia Perez, L. | 2003 | DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TIMBER ROOF STRUCTURES BUILT OVER DIFFERENT STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS: ANALYSIS OF THREE CASE STUDIES IN THE VALENCIA COMMUNITY. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp1560-1570. | Unlike what happens in other regions of Spain where many roof structures are seen from the interior of the rooms as an ornamented ceiling, in Valencia there are a few buildings that count with timber roof structures able to be seen from the interior of the roms that those protect. Nearly, the only exception are the timber roof structures constructed on diaphragmatic arches, which count with policromate coffered ceilings, in the majority of the cases. The few timber structures that respond to another typology that the previous ones, also seen from below, are mostly rafter beam structures, like in the North dormitory of the Convent of the Trinidad in Valencia, the Chapter House of the Convent of Llutxent, and in the “Las Rocas” house, in Valencia city. Therefore, most of the studied cases they correspond to hidden timber roof structures, by means of vaults, built with bricks ore stones, although also by false plaster vaults. | |
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Tamboerero, L., and Sakarovitch, J. | 2003 | The vault of the town hall in Arles: a carpenter’s diagram for a stone vault?. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp1899-1908. | Completed in 1676, the vault of the lobby of the town hall in Arles is the most audacious extant example of voussoir construction. Over and above its aesthetic qualities, it represents a prime example of technical ingenuity. Although it creates the illusion of forming a single structure, the vault above the lobby is in fact the combination of two vaults leaning one after the other on the arch supporting the partition wall of the town hall. The aim of the research presented here was to reconstitute the methods formerly employed to create the technical drawings used for the construction of this vault. Thanks to the town hall’s extensive bookkeeping archives, we have the good fortune of being able to piece together the different stages in the construction work as, for example, the discussions and decisions taken after the arrival—when work had already commenced on the site—of the wooden scale model sent by J.H. Mansart. In order to test his different hypotheses, Luc Tamboréro also built a 1:5 scale model of the vault of the Arles town hall lobby. | |
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de Villanueva, L., and Salto-Weis, I. | 2003 | Critical study of the specifications by Nicolas de Vergara Jr. for the construction of the church from the monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the village of Chinchón, as a contribution to the knowledge of Spanish constructive system in the time of El Escorial. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp2083-2096. | Some years ago, F. Marías(3) published the literal transcription of the Specifications for the construction of the nuns monastery in Chinchón village commanded by his lordship the Court of Chinchón, following the plans and elevations from Nicolás de Vergara and signed by his lordship (4). It is not common to have access to a document of such characteristics, therefore, we considered of great interest to make a critical analysis of it, in order to have a version in modernised language, with a study of the described construction activities. Since the original text had only one drawing of a cornice moulding on one of the margins, we have enhanced the description with the drawings, to facilitate the understanding. The document is dated July 26th, 1597. The role of the Count of Chinchón in the court of Philip the second, regarding architecture, is well known. It can be said that the Spanish constructive system was established during the time El Escorial was being built; therefore, the analysed document belongs to an especially interesting moment in the history of the Spanish construction (5). The standardised value of the document at the time has also been studied through the observation of the built work. | |
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Gomez Heras, M., and Fort Gonzalez, R. | 2003 | SUPPLYING OF MASONRY MATERIALS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CRYPT OF SANTA MARÍA LA REAL DE LA ALMUDENA, MADRID, SPAIN, 1883-1911. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp1051-1062. | The importance of the petrological and petrophysical studies of stony materials used on architecture is progressively gaining importance, both for the construction of new buildings, and for the restoration and rehabilitation of historical buildings. This work presents an example of the petrophysical and geological studies that were carried out for the selection of the most suitable lithologies for the construction of the crypt of Santa María la Real de la Almudena Cathedral (Madrid), on the second half of the XIX century. It is also shown how, due to different causes, the type of materials used throughout the construction of the Cathedral was changed. These changes affected the construction, both delaying it and resulting on a building made up with several different materials. This confirms a tendency that is very often observed on historical buildings which construction was developed during a long period of time. It is in these cases where it is especially important to carry out a detailed documental analysis of the factors causing this variability. The importance of this analysis lies, mainly on two points: on the one hand, it can reveal us important historical details concerning the interpretation of the building, and on the other hand, it gives us information about the quarries from where the original materials were extracted, allowing us to obtain stones of exactly the same characteristics as those once employed, in order to make substitutions of architectonical elements. In that way, this work shows how the combination of both documental and geological data can be an important approach in order to understand many subjects dealing with the history of architecture. | |
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Cunha Matos, M. | 2003 | FUNCTIONAL DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTIONAL CONSTRAINTS: THE CASE OF SOME MAJOR BUILDINGS IN PORTUGAL IN THE XX CENTURY. Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp1405-1416. | The subject of this paper is the dependence on materials, as seen through the construction of two major higher education buildings in the Lisbon area: the Instituto Superior Técnico, in the city of Lisbon, designed by Porfírio Pardal Monteiro from 1926 to 1936 and the College of Education in Setubal, designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira between 1986 and 1993. While having similar educational uses, the spatial distribution is very much influenced by the availability, transportation’s possibility and skilled workers’ know-how in relationship to a set of chosen materials. These were stone and masonry in the construction of the IST, built in the eve of reinforced concrete’s period. This last material is used, but in a subdued way and hidden from view. In the case of the Setubal’s College, it is the dominating structural material, while iron beams play in this building a similar role to RC in the Lisbon complex. A comparative analysis looks for similarities and differences in the conception process as regards the constructional constraints which a selection of materials imposes from the outset. | |
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Achenza, M. | 2003 | THE USE OF ADOBE IN THE TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS OF SARDINIA: Typological and construction innovation between XIX and XX century. Proc 1ICCH, 1, pp101-112. | According to the latest and most advanced experiences on the rehabilitation and restoration of the historical traditional built patrimony, the research is focused on those building characters and technical know-hows which the new products made secondary. The aim is to gather information and details in order to achieve the compilation of a Handbook for the Rehabilitation of Traditional Buildings. A first result of this research has been the production of a series of CD-Roms collecting historical documents, designs, photographs related to portions of historical adobe centres (the first has been the quarter of Cepola, in Quartu Sant’Elena), in which we can find the Abacus of the most important building elements, some indications on the most frequent building pathologies and a synthetic guideline on how to preserve historical buildings. | |
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Fortea Lunas, M., and Lopez Bernal, V. | 2003 | The timbrel vault (Extramaduran vault). Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp909-914. | How the brick sheet vaults work. This report wants to explain the mechanics brick sheet vault in order to clarify the reasons of its good structural performance and its security with high loads. The briefing also wants to give technical reasosns to justify its viability in the present construction as the authors have been doing for the last twenty years when building a completely new building. The thrust line In a brick sheet vault there is a number of thrust lines that have their origin in the highest point and come to the floor. Their course is uncertain and even variable and frequently in these brick sheet vaults, they don’t run through the sheet but through the filling or the reinforcement ribs. This proves to be an attribute with ambivalent characteristics since, on the one hand it prevents us from the real knowledge of their situation, but on the other, their freedom lets them to find unexpected ways to achieve the stability in its entirety, what improves substantially the security conditions foreseeable considering only the brick sheet. Different elements for a constructive and structural assembly | |
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Freire Tellado, M. | 2003 | Typological study of late medieval Galician towers : Application to the restoration of the tower ’Torre de Vilanova dos Infantes’, Proc 1ICCH, 2, pp 923-934. | The Vilanova dos Infantes Tower is a tower of the last Middle Ages, classified as an Inter- Cultural state property (BIC). It is located near Celanova, Orense province, and belongs to the second line fortification of the so-called "raia seca" - former frontier with Portugal. Supplying the absence of typological studies available on Galician towers in the Middle Ages, a classification of those buildings has been made. Those studies were expressed in concrete terms in a chart gathering up characteristics and variants of this type of buildings. Initially, a series of visits were made to similar towers in different locations within the Community of Galicia, systematizing the study in a second phase. The different spatial and construction features of the towers existing in Galicia were identified and systematized. In a second phase, a detailed analysis was made on the towers closer related to those we manage. From this analysis, the singularities of the edification we refer as well as a number of solutions in common and those most usual within the immediate environment, were identified. | |
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Pizzi, M. | 2003 | The invention of the Balloon Frame and how it affected architecture in the New World: The case of Chile. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp 1639-1648. | Our paper deals with the invention of the “balloon frame” wooden structures which later gave way to prefabrication, due to the invention of mechanical systems for sawing wood, and the process of producing large quantities of nails. It was used mainly by the British Empire in its’ process of colonization. Structures, which were so light that it was believed they would be taken by the wind as balloon in the air, for which the name is taken. Invented in the United States, although not clearly when, this structural system was quickly adopted wherever the English needed to satisfy housing or other functions for a quickly increasing population. It is the case of the West Coast of the United States with the Gold Rush in the 19th century, the sheep raising stations in Australia, New Zealand and later in Argentina and Chile, as well as in India and Central America. We will trace the history of the balloon framing structures, which evolved to interesting typologies in its process of adaptation to warmer climates. The adoption of the verandah, the open roof, and the courtyard, are space typologies, which were incorporated to the anglo - american architecture from India creating something new. Different building techniques were also incorporated from the relation with countries as far as China in which corrugated iron was adopted as an element for siding in places were wood was scarce. It is through this construction system, which replaced the framed wooden structures of the previous centuries, which we relate to the image of this “New World”. Greek Revival as a symbol of democracy was used to express the independence from Europe, and was mainly transmitted through Pattern Books or by carpenters who traveled in the clippers in search of an opportunity of becoming rich in a short time. | |
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Nishiyama, M., Hasegawa, K., Tatang, P.M. | 2003 | STUDY OF THERMNAL ENVIRONMENT ON THE CONSTRUCTION HISTORY OF MODERN ASIAN ARCHITECTURE BETWEEN ASIAN TRADITIONAL HOUSE AND EUROPEAN STYLE. Proc 1ICCH, 3, pp1519-1526. | The main purpose of this study is based on the comparison with in the thermal condition between the traditional houses and transformed European styles by considering with each materials and method of construction. As we could image it that the deference of the thermal condition of both area, some devices should change its architectural style in the past colonies, as the verandah and eaves, the high of the floor, the wall structure, the position or the direction and so on. We expected that the comparison with concerning their data collection of both environment (traditional and modern European style) should make us some ideas come to see the method of their construction history. We collect some historical materials, mainly at Indonesia and also Japan, for extracting the typical traditional house and European style house by measuring its thermal condition. We used a small data logger (thermo recorder) to pick up their data for the computer. Their positions were based on the several points, under the top of the roof, under the eaves, near the ceiling or under the floor and so on. Then, we analyzed and made some simulation study to compare its performances against to each thermal condition. On the view point of the thermal environment, the construction history on the transformation of their style and construction method at the Asian colonies could be evaluate as a living tribute to the modern ideals that energize our present and guide our future. | |
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Cadinu, M. | 2003 | Wood structures in traditional random rubble wall constructions in Cagliari. Proc 1ICCH, 1, pp453-460. | Recent research on the residential buildings in Cagliari from late the middle ages to the first part of the 20th century, is providing more information about wall construction as well as more general construction techniques. This research allows to distinguish building methods, the materials used, and the architectural models though the different periods. In the present study we have focused our attention on the taller buildings. We have observed in the wall sections the interesting presence of horizontal juniper wood trunks. In this area of research, wood in the walls had previously been defined as tie-beams used to repair damaged walls. On the contrary, evidence has been found that this wood represents an essential component of the original walls. The trunks were attached one to another to form a continuous transversal and longitudinal structure around the walls, making the random rubble construction more resistant and flexible; this structure is also connected to the floor-joists. Moreover, sometimes we have found the presence of vertical wooden elements. It should be noted that wood structures had not previously been found in Sardinia even if, in these houses, it was common to use timber-frames with brick infill for partition walls. Similar wood structures with wall construction have been previously reported in medieval houses in Parma and Pisa, the latter being the founder of Cagliari in the 13th century. It can be hypothesized that the wood building tradition common in the middle ages, and later replaced by stone construction, influenced stone buildings in Sardinia in later centuries. Close contacts with Spain in 14th to the 17th centuries clearly favoured the development of these techniques. | |
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Heaton, M.J. | 2022 | ’The Abbey Barn, Abbotsbury’, Proc Dorset Natur Hist & Archaeol Soc, 143, pp257-9. | A short article describing and discussing observations made during the second stage of repairs to the monastic barn at Abbotsbury in Dorset. In addition to describing an interesting rainwater disposal system and identifying Classical forms in the entablature, suggesting Renaissance influence in the supposedly 15th building, the paper suggests that the two halves of the longest barn in Britain were not built at the same time. | Britain, Dorset, monastic, barn, rainwater, medieval, renaissance |
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Camino Olea, M.S. | 2003 | Evolution in the construction of facing brick facades in Valladolid, with the introduction of pressed brick, from the last quarter of the 19th C to the first quarter of the 210th C., Proc 1ICCH, Vol1 , pp473-478. | In the last third of the 19th century a change in the construction of resistant facade walls is introduced by means of the use of pressed bricks in the building of the outer face. Facades which had been built with a single kind of brick, the so-called common brick, start being effected with two types of bricks: the pressed brick, facing the exterior, and the common one, facing the interior. Pressed bricks were used on the outer surface of the wall due to their weatherability and better finish, as opposed to ordinary bricks, since they did not present either important displacements or warpage, and there was a slight difference in size among them. With this kind of brick, it was possible to carry out the header bond with great regularity as well as with butt joints, since the mortar was placed into the frogs the bricks presented on the bedding surface. In the case of exposed brick facades, complex ornamental features based on header bond and brick start being devised. At first, ornamental features are designed maintaining the interlocking on the brick wall. Nevertheless, other ornamental elements, which break the interlocking and reduce the pressed brick outer face bearing capacity, are gradually introduced, and as a result the ornamental aspect becomes more important. The outer face will then be considered and implemented as a wall cladding, whereas the common brick inner face is the resistant one. | Spain, brick, facade |
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Bursic, S., and Ferschin, P. | 2003 | Structural analysis of an outstanding historical building: new insight into its construction history. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp1855-1864. | The development of the constructional concept and details was a slow, step-by-step process - until the modern era of fast technical progress. In the past master-builders learned their skills from their predecessors. As the forms, spans and structural solutions changed slowly, they were able to apply their knowledge, acquired by observing pre-existing structures, to the structures they were actually building. But there are some outstanding buildings, which made a giant leap in the history of construction with their original constructional and structural concept. These buildings, if their innovative concept proved to be structurally (i.e. mechanically) sound, became the origin of a new tradition - or remained isolated examples. One of these isolated, unique structures is the cathedral of Šibenik, Croatia (began 1431 – completed 1536). The construction was carried out by unexceptional Venetian masters, when in 1441 a major structural problem appeared. Only in 1443 the construction resumed, guided by a new protomagister, George the Dalmatian. He resolved the structural problem and constructed the eastern part of the church in a new way. While the walls of the western part of the cathedral, built before, are constructed of stone blocks masonry, the apsidal part is built using specific technique of assembling large stone slabs into the stone “frames”. Nicholas the Florentine, protomagister of the Šibenik cathedral 1477-1505, adopted the specific constructional method of the apsidal part and applied it to the barrel and semi-barrel vaults of the church. Thus he created an original vault system: the webs are assembled of long, thin stone slabs, wedged into slender stone arches. These vaults are much lighter than usual massive barrel vaults, and, unlike massive vaults, transfer their load mostly to the arches. As the arches are tightened with iron tie-rods, their horizontal thrust does not affect their slender substructure. This structural system is unique. Precise and | |
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Corradi, M. | 2003 | From the “Architecture hydraulique” to the “Science des ingénieurs”: Hydrostatics and Hydrodynamics in the XIXth Century. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp635-644. | Hydraulics, notwithstanding its ancient origins, is very young as a discipline. It has founded and consolidated its scientific bases only during the last three centuries both in the fields of pure science, like mechanics, and in those applied to engineering. The ‘discovery’ of basic principles, which are the fundamentals of hydraulic science, required many efforts which were made during the 17th and 18th century. The first phase of development and splendour is the great season of experimental hydraulics during the Renaissance, above all in Italy, thanks to the contribution of Leonardo da Vinci, Girolamo Cardano, Giovan Battista Benedetti and others. It is only with the school of Galileo Galilei and his pupils, like Evangelista Torricelli and Benedetto Castelli, with his treatise (‘On measuring running water’) published in 1628, that the road to the great treatises on hydraulics of the 17th and 18th centuries was opened. In the 17th century the studies on hydraulics are no longer limited to Italy but they spread all over Europe thanks to the work of Edmé Mariotte - who is considered the father of the experimental method - Marin Mersenne, Blaise Pascal - who was the main figure in the field of hydraulic science for the whole century - and also Isaac Newton with his studies on fluid mechanics and, on a more experimental level, Pierre Varignon on motion and the measurement of running water. We have to remember though that for the whole of the 16th, and part of the 17th century as well, hydraulics was confined to the empirical sciences. It was only with the coming of differential and integral calculus, in the 17th century, that the principles of the motion of fluids were established and hydraulics was raised to the same level as the other mechanical sciences. The beginning of theoretic hydrodynamics dates back to 1738 when the treatise on hydrodynamics, by Daniel Bernoulli was published. The author explains in a rich and simple way the problems related to the static b | |
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Seraphin, M. | 2003 | On the origins of modern timber engineering. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp1845-1854. | Up to the 1850ies wood has been the standard material for light widespan constructions as in laminated arches by Emy, truss girders by Howe, Wiegmann/Polonceau etc.. At that time modern engineering developed as a result of three main causes: 1. the transfer of natural science into building practice initiated by the foundation of technical schools in France; 2. the evolution of metallurgy in England that supplied the industrialising countries with cast iron, later with steel at low costs unknown before; 3. the reception of new types of construction created by North American carpenters evoking the theories of framework set up simultaneously by Whipple, Culmann and Jourawski. When around 1865 modern engineering is completed in its basics, steel has replaced wood almost completely in widespan constructions as bridges and malls. By the turn of the century some German carpenters started experiments on new ways of timber construction, using engineering methods of calculation: Hetzer invented casein-glued laminated timber bows and trusses, Meltzer built light constructions by bundled lattice-work fixed by steel pins; Stephan used crossed struts to avoid buckling of slender arches. After 1912 Swiss and soon after German and Scandinavian railroad companies preferred wooden constructions for their corrosive resistance against engines’ fumes which caused serious dammage and expensive maintenance with steel constructions. For the same reasons wooden roofs were built in salt-mining and in chemical industries. Being an electric isolator wood was superior to steel in broadcasting constructions up to the 1930ies, when wooden antenna towers reached 200 meters in height. In World War I wooden constructions were widely used for temporary bridges and airship and aircraft hangars. The depression after the war forced German engineers into timber construction, for energy was too short to produce steel, concrete or even bricks. In reducing displacement of the joints to a minimum – doc | Timber |
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Dalpra, M. and Frattari, A. | 2003 | Two traditional wooden building systems in Trentino (Italy), Proc 1ICCH, Vol 2, pp677-682. | The traditional wooden architecture is widely diffused in Trentino. The barns are examples of this typical architecture. The most diffused building systems are the log system and the frame system. The rehabilitation and the preservation nowadays is a problem because there is not the knowledge of the traditional building system. The Laboratory of Building Design of the Department of Civil and Environment Engineering of the University of Trento is carrying out activities about the possibility to conserve the traditional constructive techniques trough the improvement of the knowledge and trough the reconstruction of meaningful example in which to put in practice the theoretic knowledge and verify the constructive feasibility. In this paper it will talk about the research carried out to improve the knowledge of the two building systems: the log system and the frame system. | |
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Arenillas, M., and Castillo, J.C. | 2003 | Dams from the Roman era in Spain: analysis of design forms. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp243-258. | A recent academic study undertaken by the authors, has identified more than 50 dams from the Roman era, constructed on the Spanish peninsular. Many of the design forms found in these structures are still used today, although the materials used and the design criteria differ notably. Until today, studies carried out of hydraulic works from the Roman era have almost always corresponded to specific work on concrete structures, without having attempted to generalise the points analysed in each case. There is now the aforementioned example, referring to a very specific territory, over a period of only a few centuries, which allows us to make, without doubt, this necessary generalisation. Furthermore, it refers to structures subject to specific conditions, not present in other types of construction. In conclusion, the analysis of these design forms, their evolution over time and comparison with other similar structures of the same era or before, is what allows us to come to a series of interesting conclusions for the history of construction. These are the points that this paper deals with. | |
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Marconi, N. | 2003 | THE ROMAN BAROQUE BUILDING YARD: TECHNOLOGY AND BUILDING MACHINES IN THE REVERENDA FABBRICA OF St.PETER’S (16th – 18th centuries). Proc 1ICCH, Vol 2, pp1357-1369. | Scope of this paper is to highlight the technical contribute of roman baroque building yards, and in particular of the “Fabbrica” of St.Peter’s, to the development of construction history. The secret of construction skill and of the speed with which buildings could be put up in Baroque Rome resides in the perfection of the execution techniques, as well as in the specialization of different tasks and the coordination of different skills. Most importantly, however, it depends on an advantageous and well-articulated system for the exchange of materials, tools and human resources, arranged from the Fabbrica of St. Peter to the other construction sites. Materials, technology, construction machines, administrative management, technical management, and organization of skilled artisans, are now improved and allow every potential to be exploited to the maximum, thus making it possible to speed up the construction significantly. In this articulated working system, invention and construction of building machines and temporary structures play a top-priority role, which is celebrate in a few of architectural drawings and treatises of 16th – 18th centuries. In this period, the cranes, winches, and scaffolds designed and used at Rome in the building yards to move materials and monumental monolithes, like obelisks and columns, are a very important source to define the baroque technology, as well as to understand the role of the Fabbrica of St. Peter as experimental workshop for the development of technology, which are provided to the other roman building yards by the Fabbrica itself up to the 19th. A few spectacular cases highlight this supremacy: the works in St. Peter’s and Pantheon’s portici under Alexander VII, the transfer of the Basilica of Massenzio’s column in Santa Maria Maggiore square (1614) and also the failure transport of Antonino Pio’s column in Monte Citorio, direct by Francesco Fontana, descendant of the famous Domenico, in 1704. | |
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Cappai, S.N. | 2003 | A Hypothesis on building technique to determine the shape the nuragic tholoi. | Nuraghi are prehistoric constructions (1500 b.C.) which characterize landscape and culture of Sardinia. Up to now about 7000 (seven thousand) of these constructions dislocated all over the Island have been counted. The peculiarity of these constructions is a truncated-cone shape entirely made in dry-stone walls. The inner part of the nuraghe presents a remarkable articulation of space. All the chambers, whit corbelled domes, are placed on different levels and are linked by a spiralled staircase whitin the thickness of the wall. The building principle at the basis of the realization of these structure follows a system of progressive projection of ashlars. The tholos is realized whit superpositioned concentric rings of dry-stone, horizontally layered. Every successive ring projects towards the inside more than the previous one so creating a curved profil in the intrados vertical section. As we proceed upwards the dimension of the stone get progressively smaller and on top of the last a slab is placed. Using this method a self standing structure was created whitout scaffalding or support of any kind. The internal volume of the structure is determined by rotating the afore mentioned profile around its axis of symmetry of the intrados profile. Such a geometrical well defined structure is not feasible whitout a construction method able to control its horizontal, vertical and radial development. On the basis of experimental data published by two english scholars, Cavanagh and Laxton , consisting in the survey of fifteen nuragic tholoi, we have formulated a hypothesis of our own, on the constructive techinique in order to control and determine the intrados profile of the tholos. The hypothesis we suggest is based on the use of simple tools such as pole and plumb line. By means of this system we can determine an intrados parabolic profile such as that measured in the tholoi of nuraghi. We can relate the geometrical properties of the above mentioned parabola i | |
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Reinares Fernandez, O. | 2003 | THE CHAPITEL IN THE TOWER AT THE SAN MILLAN MONASTERY IN YUSO IN SAN MILLAN DE LA COGOLLA (LA RIOJA). Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp1721-1728. | The study of the “chapitel” in the tower at the San Millán monastery in Yuso was undertaken as part of work carried out under the heading of “Preliminary studies and written project for structural reinforcement and/or restoration of the church of La Asunción de Nuestra Señora at San Millán´s monastery in Yuso, San Millán de la Cogolla, La Rioja” wich was awarded to us in an open competition in December 1998 by the Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Department of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja. San Millán´s monastery in Yuso was declared a National Historical Monument in 1931 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The architectural complex is centered on the main cloister which backs on to the south wall of the church. The present tower stands to the east of the presbytery and occupies the centre of the back wall. It´s built of regular stone masonry with three sections, the upper one being eight sided and covered by the chapitel. The lower one contains the chapel with the relics, covered with a dome resting on scallops. The decision to build the tower in such a singular place was taken in 1619 after many failed building attempts including the collapse of the north aisle in 1595 and the partial destruction of the east end in 1597. The tower building work was begun in 1629 ending with the chapitel in 1665. The crowning finish of the tower with the chapitel follows the idea developed in the Low Countries during the time of Felipe II. The one in Yuso has two sections and is crowned by a cross on a ball. It was built from a really elegant piece of pine and covered with lead, with great use of timber work, following indications of Friar Lorenzo de San Nicolás in his essay on “Art and use of Architecture” in which he warns of the danger to the chapitel “caused by strong winds which have even blown off completely, and I know where such has happened, so to remedy this danger use plenty of wood”. Thus following his words 8 small garrets were placed in the low | |
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Ataman, O. | 2003 | The Historical Analysis of the Housing Construction in Olivette Park, East St. Louis, USA. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 271-0279. | The construction of a building is a social act, requiring the services of many people with a broad range of technical skills, as well as generous funding. Buildings are meant to serve a diverse audience, enable certain behaviors, and accommodate various functions. Thus buildings are a measure of a culture’s economic, political, and technological resources at a particular moment in its development. The enterprise is profound because buildings reflect decisions based on concepts of ethics and morality: how people should live and work and how those buildings should symbolize their beliefs. This profundity takes the form of purposeful arrangement, the organization of tactile, haptic, and visual elements so that a building’s message is clear. This paper reports the initial survey, evaluation, and analysis of the building stock in the Olivette Park in East St. Louis, USA. From 1959 to 1990, East St. Louis, Illinois deteriorated from a heralded “All-American City” to a national symbol of urban blight, and faces severe economic, social and physical problems. Most of the industries left and the population decreased by 50% and the city lost most of its employed residents. The decreasing number of residential, commercial and industrial tax payers in the city contributed to the erosion of the tax base and, consequently, the neighborhood’s infrastructure, such as streets, sidewalks and parks, deteriorated. Today, nearly 30% of the city’s work force is unemployed, and more 40% of the families are living below poverty level. Olivette Park contains an impressive stock of residential and commercial structures. The fact that 60 percent of the homes in the neighborhood were constructed with solid brick or stone attests to the overall high quality of homes. These structures have largely withstood the test of time, as more than 75 percent of the structures in the neighborhood were rated in good or fair condition in the physical condition survey. This paper analyses the histor | |
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Sanjust, P. | 2003 | MATERIALS AND DETAILS IN THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE MODERN MOVEMENT IN SARDINIA. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp1801-1808. | The Modern Movement is introduced in Sardinia in the first ’30s of the XX century thank to the foundation of new towns: Mussolinia, Fertilia, Carbonia, Cortoghiana. Architects and engineers who where asked to draw plans for the new towns had a good practice with modern materials (reinforced concrete, iron sections for window casing, linoleum for floors and coverings, brick veneer, etc.); but in the economic and political conditions of .Italy during fascism they were forced to limit their use in favour of traditional techniques and local materials (or at least of national production), and above all to reduce drastically the use of iron in reinforced concrete, especially if coming from abroad. This particular condition of Italy contributed to the development of a modern architecture in which, compared to the rest of Europe, the prevalence of the technologies using masonry becomes formal character of architecture. The mixture between Modern design and the local context, still strongly anchored to traditional materials and techniques, forced the best planners to bend traditional materials (stones, wood, mortars, lime plasters, etc.) and manual working of long tradition (carrying masonry, covering wood structures, stone coverings) to their new needs. So, for example, we see Eugenio Montuori use, in the new residences in Carbonia, the trachite in thick ashlar-worked layers on pure volumes put together with plastered ones, or façades built beside works covered with plaster; Giovanni Battista Ceas builds, in the swimming pool of GIL in Mussolinia (today Arborea), a great portal frame with reinforced concrete, a wood board false-ceiling, paving the adjacent gym with linoleum, creating wood openings and iron skylights; again Ceas uses, for the torre littoria of Mussolinia, a concrete carrying structure and stairs covered with bricks; Cesare Valle, in the Cemetary of Saint Michele in Cagliari, uses a limestone masonry, covered with trachite stone cut very thick, to carry a | |
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Cordeiro, P. | 2003 | The Grand-Place of Brussels. The XIX century restoration: diversity of materials and structures. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 623-635. | The Historical heritage department has carried out an historical and architectural study of all the houses on the Grand-Place from 1997 to 1999. A systematic analysis of the façades and interiors has been carried out. The restoration programme of the 19th century has led to the replacement of several façades. The underlying philosophy was to restore the original appearance. The conservation of the original material was not a priority for the restorers of the 19th century. New materials were introduced: different kinds of stone and brick; metallic cement was used for the repairs; in the case of the complete reconstruction of one of the façades metallic beams were introduced into the walls. | |
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Copani, P., and Buonanno, P. | 2003 | The “Cuba” near Castiglione in Sicily:A self-supporting vault made of volcanic stone. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 611-623. | The little mediaeval church called “Cuba” is located at the base of Mount Etna, close to Taormina. It is one of the last expressions of Byzantine art in Sicily, even if it was built approximately in XI century, during the Norman period of the island. The church, dedicated to St. Domenica, is an almost perfect mixture of the longitudinal plan and the centric one; the axial shape created by the three bays is mitigated by the square plan of the central bay, covered with a domical vault. The side aisles are narrow, and the three low cross vaults for each aisle show that they play a subsidiary role if compared with the central one. The transept is connected with the aisles by three round-headed arches, and covered with two barrel vaults and a cross vault; the eastern space is occupied by the apse with its semi-dome. The rich system of vaults in this little building (the perimeter is a square of about 9 meters for each side) has the highest expression in the dome vault of the central nave. This is composed of five sets of squinches made of small, squared volcanic stones. The structure is conceived in such a way that no centering was required for the construction except maybe for the central part of the vault. During the first phase of construction, indeed, the builders made the first four squinches starting from the corners of the squared room; later the second set of four similar elements was laid over the first one, turned of 45°, and so on. Only at the end of the work, probably, a small centering was used in order to complete the vault. The small-size, squared volcanic stones used to build the dome, make the construction similar to a brickwork and the complex design recalls a lot of examples in the byzantine churchs of Greece (St. Panteleimon and St. Dimitriy in Thessaloniki) and Turkey (St. Aberkios in Kurşunlu; St. John in Trullo and the Chapel of Panthocrator in Istanbul). However the true origin of this kind of structure is to be found in the self-supportin | |
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Swanson, R. | 2003 | Late XVIITH Century Practice of Stereotomy Prior to the Establishment of Engineering Schools in France. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp1875-1886. | This paper will present a brief overview of the practice of French Stereotomy as observed and analyzed through the field study of the l’Observatoire de Paris, (1667-1672), by Claude Perrault. This facility was originally intended to house the Paris Academy of Sciences established by Jean Baptiste Colbert for Louis XIV. The project is little known in architectural histories despite its importance as Perrault’s only completed building design and as the first facility in the institutionalization of science. The work presents an understanding of physical geometry that rivals the application of geometry in astronomy during that era, indicating the level of development of the master mason involved in this project. On-site research in Paris involving both field and archival efforts took place during the summers of 1997 and 1999. These examinations involved an instrumented confirmation of the building dimensions, vaulting geometry and structure, masonry construction, unique services and ornamentation, for concordance with existing original drawings. A brief overview of the facility and the conceptual sources that influenced its design will be provided that will lead directly into the following areas of development revealed by the on-site examination. 1. A stereometric achievement - a cantilevered elliptical vaulted semi-helical stairwell form that suggests an advanced level of craft knowledge that is related to but challenges the theoretical efforts of Girard Desargues, (1591-1661) , or Abraham Bosse, in descriptive geometry until the era of Gaspard Monge (1746-1818). This paper will also provide evidence for a practical resolution of the complex stairwell form, a suggestion of the method of construction, and compare it to the work of Desargues/Bosse. The author has provided related views on this project in the following publications and presentations: | |
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Morbiducci, R. | 2003 | Search of a method to analyze a particular technological-constructive aspect in historical Genoa’s villa: the wooden structure of the roof. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp1489-1497. | Several suburban residences of remarkable architectonic and technological interest are built from the 15th to the 18th century in Liguria, a region of Italy, and in particular in zones closed to the city of Genoa. The construction of this kind of buildings is prerogative of the most important Genoa’s families and these buildings have the function of holiday place. This trend to build new villa is due to a particular booming economy that contributes to develop one of more important architectonic periods of the city. The studies on this kind of historical villa are numerous, both within the architectonic history and within the building technologies. In the present study a particular technological-constructive aspect is analyzed, the wooden structure of the roofs. Having always observed the presence of analogous structures of the roofs, with the variations of the single case, it is possible to synthesize a logical three-dimensional structural scheme due to the work of expert craftsmen and careful constructors. In fact, these constructors are able to build dimensionally remarkable structures, where every element plays a precise role, from the beam to the planking. In order to verify and to make out a precise constructive technique in the wooden roofs of the Genoa’s villa, they are analyzed: - Historical news, in order to find repetitive roles in these historical structures (materials used, dimension evaluation of single elements, use of particular constructive sagacities) - Relief of the wooden structure of several roofs, to understand their constructive and structural characteristics - Technological analysis, in order to analyze the structural nodes - Finite Element Analyses, in order to plan a useful model to study wooden roofs and to understand different structural elements. | |
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Gulli, R. | 2003 | Constructive experimentalism and innovation technique in the 18th C French treatises: The discovery of Felix Francois d’Espie. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 2, pp 1119-1131. | "Comme la pierre philosophale qui permet la trasmutation du Moyen Age caduc en Renaissance triomphant"; the stereotomy, as conceptual metaphor of a new knowledge approach in the field of construction. The words of Pérouse de Montclos, regard to Philibert Delorm’s work, Primier tome de l’architecture (1567), point out the importance given to stone’s construction studies about transferring and codifying a kind of knowledge which belongs to practise. The space occupied by stereotomy’s doctrine appears to a modern intellectual, the suitable place inside which promote a scientific model of knowledge through the application of mathematic and geometric’s instruments. But this complicated and progressive passage, from the empirism of maitres-maçons to scientfic rationalism of illuminism’s men, leads by a more and more separation of knowledge: dipped inside a new discipline specialization, one part of the XVIII and XIX century french treatises, from Jousse’s studies to Frezier’s ones, will be occupied to give knowledge models based on scientific approach whose however were appicated only in the theorical field of problems, leaving, on the contrary, the solution in terms of construction and practise. With the Encyclopedie project will be rediscussed and pointed out the boundaries of architectural and construction’s knowledge: the search of indisputable truths will be replaced by a new sensibility on the complexity of multifarious sectors of knowledge and therefore also to a new qualify of trades. The edition in 1754 of Félix François d’Espie‘s treatise, Maniere de rendre toutes sortes d’edificies incombustibles, rapprsents, in these terms, an important pubblication that shows in evidence this specific passage. An old traditional practise on construction of voussoir voults, coming from Spain, will be transalted and legittimated inside the cultured space of the text. The short circuit generated by the circulation of a knowledge the declares itself innovative in front of | |
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Burt, R. | 2003 | The experimental earthen cottages at Amesbury, England: A long term condition assessment. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp443-452. | Between 1919 and 1920 the British Government, under the direction of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, built a series of experimental cottages in Amesbury, England. The experiment was in response to the shortage of available construction materials after the end of World War I. The experiment consisted of the construction of five experimental cottages built on Government land. Three of the cottages were built in order "to test various old methods of construction which had fallen into disuse, and which it might prove desirable to revive" and two cottages were built "to test certain new methods of constructing floors, roofs, and the like" (Jaggard, 1921). The three cottages built to test "old methods" of construction used variations of traditional earth construction techniques. The cottages are No. 4, Ratfyn (built of chalk and straw, with a Roman tiled roof), No. 5, Ratfyn (built of chalk-pisé with a slated roof, Cottage No. 10 (built of chalk and cement with a pan-tiled roof). The renowned British Architect Clough Williams-Ellis had previously published several papers and books on various earth-building techniques. His 1919 book: "Cottage building in Cob, Pisé, Chalk and Clay: A renaissance" may well have inspired those government scientists involved in the Amesbury experiments. Williams-Ellis’ book was re-printed for a third time in 1947 as "Building in Cob, Pisé and Stabilized Earth" with additional material. The third edition contains a whole chapter dedicated to the Amesbury experiment: "A successful experiment". This chapter describes the experiments of the early Twenties and reports on the condition of the cottages when they were examined in 1945. The book also includes photographs of the cottages taken at that time (Williams-Ellis, 1999). Two of the experimental cottages were considered to be of such special architectural interest that they were listed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under the Planning ( | |
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Vecchiattini, R. | 2003 | The use of dolomitic lime in historical buildings: history, technology and science. Proc 1ICCH, V3, pp 2065-2074. | The use of dolomitic limestone in lime production is historically well known in the north and south of Italy but it is also documented in France, Germany and United Kingdom, especially between the XVI and the XVII century. This contribution intends to consider such material from three different points of view: the historical one, through the study of archive documents, treatises and manuals; the technological one, through the analysis of the still existing buildings as well as the production cycle; the scientific one, carrying out a research into the parameters that allow to expound the excellent result for ages of the mortar produced with the employment of such lime. These three aspects, one to each other strictly connected, aid to reach a more complete knowledge about one of the most used materials in ancient buildings. Archive documents and ancient manuals offer some information concerning typical usages in different areas, giving a general, even if incomplete, picture of production techniques that often were handed on orally and left to the craftsmen. The early technical-scientific publications dealing with this subject date back to the beginning of the nineteen century, when the scientific study of the building materials carried out methodically imposed itself. Such contributions are particularly interesting because the authors still keep in their minds the data provided from the experience. Stopping for a moment to consider the composition of the primary product, we can notice that an apparent discordance exists between practice in the pre-industrial era, result of centuries of empirics based improvement, handed on by word of mouth or at most by manuals and treatises of that time, and technical knowledge of the industrial era, based on behavioural observations and subject of specific analytic publications. In fact while in the past they considered useful, if not even necessary, the presence of suitable quantities of magnesium in the mixtures of mortars, ins | |
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Kapsch, R.J. | 2003 | The Construction of the Potomac Aqueduct (1838-1841): Pier Construction in Deep Water Conditions. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 2, pp 1201-1214. | In 1873, the United States Corps of Engineers republished a report of the construction of the piers of the Potomac Aqueduct of the Alexandria Canal, Washington, D.C., built 35 years earlier. Given the tremendous advance in building and building technology between 1838 and 1873, why would the Corps of Engineers want to reissue this 35 year old report? Chief of Engineers A.A. Humphreys writes: (The report is of interest to) persons engaged in similar undertakings; … (the report is) of special interest to the engineer on account of the unusual depth of foundations and the difficulties encountered in establishing them.” By 1838 it was apparent railroads would greatly surpass canals in the United States. But the construction of railroads depended upon deep water crossings of the broad and deep American rivers. Up until that point bridges and aqueducts had only crossed relatively shallow rivers, defined by Mahon in his first textbook on American Civil Engineering as 10 feet (3.05 m.) or less in depth. The Potomac Aqueduct would cross the Potomac River at Georgetown, a deep and wide crossing greatly in excess of the usual ten foot depth then used for cofferdam construction. The Army engineers involved, Major William Turnbull and Lieutenant M.C. Ewing, wrote a detailed report of construction difficulties involved accompanied by thirty fine line drawings and several field notebooks. This project became a prototype for pier construction undertaken between 1838 and 1873. Because these materials are copious and extensively illustrated they offer a rare insight into the history of construction technology of the early nineteenth century. This paper will detail the contribution of this project to American construction history in the nineteenth century. | |
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D’Agostino, S. | 2003 | The ancient approach to construction and the modern project. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 669-677. | The aim of this project is to analyse the differences in methodology and concept between building in ancient and modern times, emphasising how the ancients had a unitary concept of construction, responding to a range of requisites, among which statics was important but by no means the prime consideration. Historical buildings and sites were regarded in terms of a spatial perspective which was considerably more complex than the schematic structural approach that has prevailed in modern times. Natural materials and techniques were used which affirmed the intrinsic worth of the construct and ensured a life-span stretching over centuries, withstanding all the common natural hazards such as seismic activity. The art of building relied on unwritten “rules of the trade”: it was not until the 19th century that an attempt was made, in comprehensive treatises on this art, to summarise the main features of these rules. Thus this project sets out to demonstrate that our entire heritage of historical building should be regarded as “archeological” in the sense that it belongs to a unique construction culture which was based on the laws of nature and experimental physics. The 20th century’s preoccupation on giving it a mechanical reinterpretation is the root cause of a fundamentally flawed approach to conservation. Disregarding all principles of correct historical evaluation, interventions were carried out on historical buildings and sites using the approaches, materials and techniques evolved by the new structural engineering, conceived in terms of industrial materials and the dichotomy between construction and structure. | |
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Musso, S.F. | 2003 | ’Construction History’ and ’Construction Histories’, Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp1509-1518. | When we try to understand how and, above all, why the ancient people built with certain materials, forms, structures and techniques, we have to reflect, first of all, about some methodological aspects that we can synthesise as following: • Are we dealing with the history of building art development or with the history of single, even numerous, buildings? • Are we considering history as a simple tale, or are we working on a history like a problem? (J. Le Goff) • While we are studying this particular field of human activity, are we involved in a history of the long lasting or in that of the sequence of different events? (F. Braudel) • Is it possible to write a history of the past events and of the traces that these events left to us from the point of view of the past cultures, or are we compelled in constructing a history always from the present perspective? (B. Croce) • Could we really believe that it is possible to construct a history free from any constraint and able to deal with everything belonging to an unknown past, or are we obliged to select, every time, a particular range of events or singular fragments of what happened in the previous ages? In any case, as these questions clearly show, we have to compare our efforts, in the field of the Construction History, with all the achievements of the Historic Sciences in general. In other terms, we must recall and respect the deep development of these kind of studies, at least during the past century, because we work within the same conceptual co-ordinates. All the possible answers to these questions, further on, are strictly related to other important problems, such as those regarding the different sources, direct and indirect, ideal and material, we can use to investigate the past states of the buildings, or to “construct” the history of building art and techniques. We must also decide if we are trying to build a Construction History, as a contribution to the advancement of human knowledge, or if we aim | |
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Buonpane, S.G., and Brown, M.M. | 2003 | History and engineering analysis of the 1890 cable-stayed Bluff Dale bridge. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 433-443. | During the late 19th-century, E.E. Runyon and W. Flinn constructed a group of innovative cable-stayed bridges in north central Texas. Runyon and Flinn responded to the engineering challenges of bridge design and construction with inventive solutions different from more prominent cable-supported bridges. Although renovated and relocated, Bluff Dale is the most complete example of their collaboration. The historical study explores funding issues, advantages of cable construction and a series of patents that influenced these bridges. Engineering analysis focuses on the overall structural behavior and unusual construction features. | |
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Buonpane, S.G., et al. | 2003 | Engineering analysis as a historical documentation tool: recent work of the Historic American Engineering Record. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 421-433. | Engineering analysis is a critical component of the study of historic bridges and structures. The surviving structure is a historic document that can be “read” through the use of modern structural analysis, providing insights into the designers’ intentions and the efficiency of their designs. This both enriches historical understanding and has the potential to contribute to the innovative design of modern structures | |
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Tappin, S. | 2003 | The structural development of masonry domes in India. proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, 1941-1953. | This paper researches the origins, structural development and methods of construction of the masonry-domed structures that make such an important contribution to India’s built heritage. This paper investigates where the structural engineering knowledge came from and how successfully it was applied in India. It also addresses issues such as the choice of materials and temporary works. The period under review covers the beginning of Islamic rule over north India in the last decade of the 12th century to the decline of the Mughal dynasty by the mid 18th century. The new Islamic rulers brought new building types, in particular the tomb, and introduced new structural forms - the dome and the arch. How Hindu masons, who knew only trabeate construction, responded to these new structural forms is addressed. The result of this synthesis of structural forms and materials is a major contribution to the uniqueness of the cultural heritage of Indo-Islamic buildings. The buildings chosen in the paper mark an important structural development, or a ‘milestone’ in terms of form, scale and technical achievement of Indo-Islamic building. Influences such as the double dome and the square/octagonal plan form came from outside India. Their origins, as they affect the structure, are looked at. Within India, the buildings from Delhi, Agra and Bijapur are considered in detail, based on fieldwork in 1997, 2000 and 2001. No original drawings exist, so apart from the buildings themselves the main source of structural information is contemporary paintings, especially from the 16th century. The Akbarnama is a chronicle of the life of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar who ruled from 1556-1605, which also provides detailed pictures of building construction. The reliability of this as a reference is tested against observations on site and an engineering understanding of how masonry buildings are built. There is virtually no information on how the larger domes were actually built. What ha | |
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Tappin, S. | 2003 | The early use of reinforced concrete in India. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp 1931-1941. | The question of what were the early reinforced concrete buildings in India generally evokes mention of the city of Chandigarh and the involvement of Le Corbusier. But that was built from the mid-1950’s - what are the uses of reinforced concrete during the first half of the 20th century? This paper looks, for the first time, at the uses of reinforced concrete in India from its beginnings at the start of the 20th Century until the end of colonial rule in 1947. The paper presents the range of uses of reinforced concrete to show the versatility of the material and gain a picture of the construction industry in India. By looking at historical documents and specific buildings and structures a number of fundamental questions are addressed: • Where and how was reinforced concrete used? • Where did the materials that makes up reinforced concrete came from? • What concessions and adaptations were made to suit the Indian contexts such as the climate and skills of the workforce? • Who were the designers (British or Indian? Engineers or Contractors?) • What design standards were used? • What level of innovation existed? • What was the relationship between engineers and contractors? • What were the decisions that lead to reinforced concrete being used in place of traditional materials or steelwork? • How were the buildings constructed and to what standard? Apart from the buildings designed by Lutyens and Baker for New Delhi there has been little interest too date in India’s buildings from the first half of the 20th century. What references there are in books and articles to concrete buildings or the use of pre-cast concrete often do not fit into the chronology of the use of these materials. By looking at the buildings in India in the broader context of the development of reinforced concrete elsewhere in the world it is possible to see if these references are correct. Buildings from the first half of the 20th century form a large and important part of India’s | |
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Aoki, T., et al. | 2003 | Structural characteristics of the elliptical masonry dome of the sanctuary of Vicoforte. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 203-212. | The present study discusses the structural characteristics of the elliptical masonry dome of the Sanctuary of Vicoforte by means of Finite Element Method (FEM) three-dimensional analysis in case of dead load. A series of partial analyses limited to the dome alone were performed in the past years in connection with the rehabilitation works, and subsequently in the frame of a research program at the Politecnico di Torino. The present work addresses for the first time the stability of the entire structural system, considering the dome with the drum, the buttresses, the supporting structures and the foundations. As a first stage of analyses, structural characteristics of the dome are investigated based on linear-elastic analysis. The analytical model is composed of 10-node tetrahedral solid element. | |
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Patricio, T., and Stevens, T. | 2003 | The Roman theatre of Jebleh in Syria: analysis of the construction form. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 3, pp 1601- 1612. | ||
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Brengelmann, T., and Barthel, R. | 2003 | The framework truss: development and structural analysis of framework trusses in the USA at the beginning of the 19th C. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 411-420. | At the beginning of the 19 century the fundations of our today structures came into being. In this time the way of structural formfinding was marked by craftsmanship, hand down knowledge and the material resources. Scientific knowledge regarding static analysis as well as the behaviour of the materials had not been existing or were just in development. That way in the field of framework structures originated a series of highly interesting different frameworks with variable efficiency. The diffculty with the tensile strenght of the wooden connections led to an astonishing amount of solutions to avoid this weakest point. First with the introduction of iron it was possible to design the structure accordinly to the stresses of the singular members. Due to the publication of the theorie of frameworks in the middle of the 19 century the ability to calculate structural frameworks spread out to the practical ingeneers. Therefor the variaty of structural forms went back on accout of the scientific methods to calculate the structures. Even so the science of the strenght of materials has become an own scientific discipline. The static analysis of the structure should give more information about the load-bearing behaviour of historic structures at all. In the course of this it is important to establish the effect of the historic materials and also of the historic iron and wooden connections relating to the entire structural behaviour. Furthermore the question should be settled whether and as far the historic structure is sufficient to our modern concept of safty criterion in building con-struction. | |
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Campisi, T., and Vinci, C. | 2003 | The iron staircase: light and inventive solution of historical architecture. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 491-504. | From the second half of the XIX century the iron stairs employment had in many Countries large consent and diffusion. New inhabited requirements induce to the research of less invasive technological solutions, above all for those structures - like the iron vertical connections - that could easy be inserted in existing building, and that involved a content volumetric encumbrance, beyond that minimums expedients for the anchorage to the wall-structures. In the XVIII century the iron realization of vertical connections was rather limited, and much more frequent were often the mixed wood-iron structures, in which - however - the first one had greater role and uses; in the local ambit, small iron stairs were constructed by forgemens in order to facilitate the access and the inspection of technological towers (like the ‘water-little castles’ named ‘castelletti d’acqua’), or to descend from nobiliary building to the gardens situated in a lower altitude. Exiles and steep iron structures ‘hanged up theirselves’ also to the survivors remains of the town-walls fortifications, inglobed by the recent constructions, without formal aspirations. Characters of lightness and constructive simplicity denoted for all the XIX century the simpler exemplifications; facilities of members assembly characterized, instead, the technological aspects. Not having to submit to particular requirements of monumentality, they could answer exclusively to requirements of functionality, incombustibility and unputrescence; beyond to that, they could constitute ‘carried theirselves’ elements, whose introduction turned out therefore easy and of limited invasion. The interior iron stairs more refined represented concrete applications of the coeval creative inspiration and of a ‘new and modern’ way to make architecture. Considered sometimes like accessory elements of service and furniture, the iron stairs began to gradually assume role and importance also in Sicily, as penthouses, skylights, greenhouses | |
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Affelt, W. | 2003 | Wooden masterwork of saline in Ciechocinek, Poland. Proc 1ICCH, Vol 1, pp 141-150. | After the first partition of Poland in 1772 the country lost access to the old salt mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia. The Congress Kingdom proclaimed in 1815 approached the exploitation of the salty springs. That project found interest of Stanislaw Staszic, pioneer of mining, and received support of the noble Franciszek Ksawery Drucki-Lubecki, Secretary for Treasure. Staszic described a concept of graduation wall known after the book on Gradierwerk by Janderson published in 1720 in Magdeburg. Construction started in 1824 according to drawings by Eng. Jacob Graff of Freiburg. Graduation walls No.1 and No.2 were executed by buildermaster K. Knake and completed in 1827. Production started in 1832. Graduation wall no.3 was erected in 1859. | |
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Costa-Jover, A, et al | 2022 | The Construction of Tile Vaulted Structures in Spain During the Eighteenth Century: The Church of Sant Miquel De Batea (1764-1800). Construction History, Vol 37 No 1, pp 1-26 | The success of tile vaults is recognised in the late nineteenth century and the beginning of the twelfth century, and theoretical principles on the lack of thrusts were addressed by the Count of Espié (1708 -1792) and answered by Ventura Rodríguez (1717-1785). During the eighteenth century, a large number of Hallenkirchen churches were built in Spain, with remarkable structures and in short periods of time, where the use of tile vaults was very common. This article examines this construction system in a church of Hallenkirchen type, the church of Sant Miquel de Batea (1764-1800) in Tarragona, Spain. The motivation stems from the desire to understand a construction technique that adjusts to the needs of a unitary architectural space designed for communication. The methodology is based on study of the construction features shown in the Capitulations (1764), which are the conditions set out in the contract for the construction of the building, and a formal analysis of the structure taken from a point cloud obtained using a terrestrial laser scanner. The study detected formal anomalies between the construction elements which were not initially visible. | Historical Structures, tile vaults, Hallenkirchen, Terrestrial Laser Scanner, St. Miquel of Batea Church. |
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Giannetti, I. | 2022 | Tubular steel scaffolding for Italian fascist propaganda (1935-43) | This paper focuses on the evolution of the steel tubular scaffolding system in Italy, exploring its further use in temporary structures in the special context of fascist propaganda, with the aim of improving a dedicated history of scaffoldings and falseworks in the 20th century. In 1934, Italian entrepreneur Ferdinando Innocenti (1891-1966) filed a patent for a ‘joining device for tubes forming parts of metal constructions’. The clamp, consisting of two hinged ‘hats’ and a ‘core’, allowed the frictional clamping of two steel orthogonal tubes. Compared to similar models available on the English and American markets, it featured an opening and clamping device that was the only one of its kind. In 1936, after the Italian invasion of Abyssinia and subsequent trade embargoes, Mussolini’s domestic policy was subsumed by the push for autarky (strategic independence from foreign materials). In this economic framework, the use of steel in construction was limited and, in 1939, banned. However, tubular steel scaffoldings were too well suited to fascist propaganda structures to be on the blacklist of banned building materials. On the contrary, between 1936 and 1940, the Innocenti scaffolding perfectly suited the propaganda and war needs of urban scenography (temporary set-ups for public events) and military engineering. The Innocenti scaffolding was thus tested for significant structural performance, and it was completed by ad hoc design. Further elements were patented (i.e. special coupler and fastening devices), enriching the base components of the tube and coupler scaffolding system and securing its place in the history of prefabricated construction. | : Steel scaffoldings, 20th century, tube and coupler, temporary structures, fascist propaganda, film scenography, military engineering, Italy |
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Pöppinghaus, H. | 2022 | Antoni Baliarda’s and Gaudí’s unknown tent structures. Construction History, Vol 37 No 1, pp49-64 | Antoni Gaudí was the first architect in history to use hyperbolic-paraboloid vaults as in his experimental building of the Colonia Güell church just before the First World War. Since the reproduction of the famous hanging model, of the IF (Institute of Light Weight Structure, Stuttgart) achieved by the team led by Rainer Graefe, Jos Tomlow and Arnold Walz it is now known, that Gaudí preferred making models in order to understand the inner logic of a building structure. The application of ruled surfaces is the common denominator of all the elements including, inclined walls, vaults, pillars and even the decorative details. A number of questions arise from observing the unfinished building: was Gaudí aware that the same geometry is found in any tensioned membrane structure starting from a simple fourpoint-sail? Did he ever design textile membrane structures? This paper attempts to answer these questions and is based on research undertaken on a quantity of unpublished material relating to Gaudi’s models and textile structures, including the hanging baldachin model in the cathedral of Palma de Mallorca, and the temporary tent structures at the Sagrada Familia. | : Suspended marquee structure, Catalan tent structures, Gaudí Envelat, Antoni Baliarda, Sagrada Familia tent, 1916 Park Güell, Festa de la Unitat Catalana |
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Gallipoli, M. | 2022 | Between Masons and Poets. The Construction of a Distinctive Identity of Plasterers within the Building Trade in Nineteenth-Century France. Construction History, Vol 37 No 1, pp65-82. | Construction trades in France underwent a complex process of reorganization after the Revolution given the abolition of guilds and the consolidation of a subcontracting system. While historians have long examined masons and their social implications in the general building scheme, this article explores how plasterers executed a series of discursive strategies in order to differentiate themselves as a distinct group of workers. Taking as starting point a treatise published in 1837 by a plasterer from Romorantin named Servajean, it seeks to examine which types of features were attributed to the trade. As a main hypothesis, it will be argued that the construction of a plasterer’s social imaginary was determined by the concepts of the manual and the intellectual, not in terms of the quality of their labour or final product but with regard to a characterization of themselves as literate subjects. This was also connected with to the geographical location of an individual’s origins. Hence, a series of disputes came into play when defining the group of plasterers that sought to consolidate their position in comparison to masonry. | Nineteenth-century, France, labour, mason, plasterer, Servajean |
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Bill, N.A. | 2022 | Mastering Timber: Developments in Timber Engineering by British Military Engineers, 1815-1900. Construction History, Vol 37 No 1, pp 83-110. | Timber played a vital role in nineteenth-century construction practices, seeing widespread use across building structures and railway infrastructure in both temporary and permanent works. Moreover, it was essential to the development of the United Kingdom’s overseas colonies, often representing the only material readily available. Operating at the vanguard of British imperial expansion were the officers of the Royal Engineers, and in British India, the engineering corps of the Honourable East India Company. These military engineers played a pivotal role in developing our understanding of timber via extensive experimental programmes and experience gained through the rational design of military and public works. Crucially, these men sought to disseminate their knowledge beyond military circles through their contributions to technical journals and institutions. This paper provides an account of these endeavours by focusing on the three main aspects of military engineers’ work: studies that developed their understanding of material properties, their designs for timber roofs, and their developments in timber bridge design. | Timber, bridges, material testing, technology transfer, Royal Engineers, East India Company |
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Trout, E.A.R. | 2022 | Francis Harris and the CWS Architects’ Department Early enthusiasts for reinforced concrete. Construction History, Vol 37 No 1, pp 111-132. | The Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) was a major early patron for reinforced concrete construction, both for the frames of its commercial buildings and to a lesser extent as a walling material for industrial installations. In the scale of its uptake, the CWS was among the foremost clients in Britain, comparable only with the railways and dock companies. Harris, as the Society’s Chief Architect was credited by contemporaries as one of the most important early enthusiasts for what was, in the first decade of the twentieth century, a new structural medium. This paper sets out to quantify and characterize this contribution to early reinforced concrete construction, and suggest that for its many, largely dock-side buildings, free from the restriction of local by-laws, reinforced concrete offered the CWS an effective and economic option for clear, wide-span warehouse floors, and an incombustible material to contain any outbreak of fire at its flour and soap processing facilities. In turn, its rapidly accumulated experience transferred to the use of novel reinforced concrete frames to support the otherwise conventional exteriors of offices and shops, which, in the process, enhanced the Society’s progressive credentials | United Kingdom; Edwardian; Reinforced concrete; architecture; warehouses; mills; silos; offices |
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Yeomans, D. | 2022 | Who designed the king post truss? Construction History, Vol 37 No 2, pp 1-18. | This paper has been developed from the Keynote Lecture given at the 2022 Cambridge Conference. I was asked to give this when Elwin Robison, who had originally been asked could not come. Robison had published a paper in Architectural History but relevant work by Simona Valeriani also suggests the origins of this type of structure in Italy. I have previously described the introduction of this type of structure into England with its origins in Italy but then assumed that the earlier origins of the roof were lost to us. The work of these two scholars seems to suggest otherwise and I have drawn on their work for much of this paper. It was a surprise to me to discover a number of other ‘English’ king post roofs of the Tudor period that could not possibly have been derived from Italian sources and which must therefore have been inspired by French carpentry. These roofs are described in a paper written for the conference but it also seemed appropriate to consider the origin of French king post roofs. For a Keynote Lecture it was possible to be fairly speculative about that but here, as well as considering the findings of Robison and Valeriani I have attempted to gather what evidence there is from those who have examined French roofs to try to trace the development of this type of structure. In both cases the story presented draws on the principle first put forward by Gilfillan that technological changes come about through a succession of small improvements. | |
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Rinke, M., and Haddadi, R. | 2022 | An industry in transition — On the network of early glue-laminated timber production in Switzerland. Construction History, Vol 37 No 2, pp 19-42. | When glulam was introduced in Switzerland in 1908, the initiators promised to modernize and expand the possibilities of the old building material wood. Through precise industrial fabrication, the new shapable and large-scale components established timber in modern building and infrastructure construction. Not only did the material undergo a transformation, but vice versa, the new wood also caused a transformation of the building sector itself, including its actors. New design and construction procedures required both new technical knowledge and collaborations between different established and emerging specialists leading to a new network of timber production in Switzerland. The paper traces the roles of stakeholders in an industry in transition and demonstrates that the success of the technology benefited greatly from the already existing crisis in the timber construction sector and shifted power and competence towards technical engineering and fabrication. Ironically, the rapid and widespread establishment of glulam was possible primarily because of the high level of craftsmanship and construction expertise on the side of the contractors but reduced this precisely because of the disempowerment of the construction site. | Glulam, glue-laminated timber, Switzerland, network, craftsmanship, Terner & Chopard, 20th century |
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del Cueto, B. | 2022 | A unique symbiotic relationship between Architect & Builder in the Spanish Caribbean. Construction History, Vol 37 No 2, pp 43-66 | The relationship of two key professionals in the Spanish Caribbean, Architect Antonin Nechodoma and Contractor Frank B. Hatch are researched and presented as notable examples of the symbiotic and necessary relationship of architect to builder in the success of a construction project. Their use of innovative building materials and construction technologies imported to the Spanish Caribbean (Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) during the early twentieth century and their resulting outstanding edifices, are used as heuristic examples. Buildings by these two pioneers, erected between 1905-1925 with the use of portland cement and derivative materials, building techniques, as well as finishes, are presented. Their projects ranged from public to private and included palatial residences, orphanages, schools, penitentiaries, public markets, slaughterhouses, and religious temples, amongst other building types. They introduced not only a new architecture into the Spanish Caribbean, but also created innovative exposed aggregate textured finishes for their facades which was likely a joint invention and was extensively replicated throughout the region. Their joint projects were unique and the few that remain, have outlived buildings from the same period constructed with similar materials but lacking the collaborative creativity and building expertise which these two professionals shared. | : Antonín Nechodoma, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, building materials, construction technologies, Portland cement, exposed aggregate finishes, 1905-1925 |
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Galindo-Díaz, J., Escorcia Oyola, O., & Hernández Quiroga, J. | 2022 | Vacuum concrete in the construction of houses and industrial buildings in Colombia: the legacy of architect Álvaro Ortega (1950-1955). Construction History, Vol 37 No 2, pp 67-86 | The Swedish engineer Karl Billner founded Vacuum Concrete Inc. in Philadelphia (USA) in 1935 and obtained a patent for his invention a year later: vacuum concrete by means of which a vacuum pump is used to remove excess water from the mix of fresh concrete, improving resistance and reducing setting times. Its application was cheap and did not require a specialised labour force. Some years later, in 1950, the Colombian architect Álvaro Ortega obtained the franchise for the company Vacuum Concrete in Colombia in order to fabricate precast elements to meet the strong national demand for low-income housing, taking the first steps towards the industrialisation of construction in Colombia. This article describes some of the most important projects in which Álvaro Ortega applied vacuum concrete, especially for the construction of precast walls and thin concrete shells, using machinery for lifting and positioning. The operational characteristics of this process, as well as the technical and social difficulties that led to Ortega’s business bankruptcy after a few years, are explained through the use of photographs from the construction sites, sourced from the records of the Inter-American Housing and Planning Center Archive of the National University of Colombia. | : prefabrication, modular coordination, vacuum concrete, industrialisation of construction |
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Degraeve, M. | 2022 | From lead casters to sanitary installers. The evolution of the plumbing trade in nineteenth-century Brussels. Construction History, Vol 37 No 2, pp 87-106 | By analysing the development of the plumbing trade in nineteenth-century Brussels, this paper aims to address two research gaps. In Construction History, despite a growing attention for business actors, the focus mainly lies on largescale firms such as general contractors, whilst little is still known on the many small-scale craftsmen that made up the majority in the building industry. Similarly, although increasing attention is paid to domestic water use and building services, little is known about the enterprises which brought these modern hygienic comforts into the home. Based on quantitative sources that provide data on the smallest of artisan firms, this paper traces the nineteenth century evolution of the plumbing trade, illustrated through case studies of innovative firms. By taking several factors into account, such as market transformations, technological innovations and government interventions, the paper reveals that plumbers went through a transition process from the mid-1860s. Before that, plumbing was a trade in decline, due to the industrialisation of lead processing activities. By reorienting to the upcoming sanitary market however, plumbers became key actors in the provision of domestic sanitary comfort. The persistent small scale of their operations shows the enduring importance of a small-scale business organisation in the construction industry. | : Plumbers, building services, sanitary business, 19th century, Brussels |
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Clark, L. | 2023 | The installation and impact of artificial lighting at Hatfield House: Lord Salisbury’s adoption of gas and electric lighting in the later nineteenth century. Construction History, Vol 38 No.1, pp 3-26. | Until recently a focus on the architects and owners who built and lived in great country houses has generally overshadowed a more practical analysis of the introduction of technology into country houses. In this paper the author seeks to contribute to a now expanding field of research into country house technology through a technical and social study of the lighting technology introduced at Hatfield House during the later nineteenth century. The author makes use of previously unpublished records held at Hatfield House Archive to uncover the complex and involved process carried out by Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Third Marquess of Salisbury, in order to successfully install gas lighting in 1868-9 and electric lighting in 1881. Each technology is considered in terms of when and how it was installed, where in the building it was placed and the effect it had on the functioning of the house and the lives of the family. The author observes that, despite the large amount of work required for each installation, there was not an immediate transition from old technology to new. Additionally, whilst both gas and electric lighting provided greater comfort and convenience, they did not have a major impact on the lives of those who lived and worked at Hatfield. | : country house technology, Hatfield House, gas lighting, electric lighting, 3rd Marquess Salisbury, nineteenth century. |
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Wall, K., & Singels, A.T. | 2023 | A progressive and pragmatic solution for Cape Town: the context and realisation of the first Steenbras Dam 1917-1921. Construction History, Vol 38 No. 1, pp 27-48 | From the late 1890s it had become apparent that Table Mountain as a source of water for Cape Town was almost fully utilised and that new sources in the mountains 60 km and more away would have to be tapped. A precondition for this was the amalgamation of the small municipalities of the Cape Peninsula, achieved only in 1913. By the time a site on the Steenbras River had been chosen, the need to address the water shortage was extremely urgent. Because a smaller scheme could deliver water sooner than a larger, the decision was taken to initially build the smaller. Another factor contributing to this decision was material shortage due to World War I then raging in Europe. It was 1917 by the time a start could be made with the construction of a concrete block-faced dam wall, a tunnel and a pipeline to the existing service reservoirs in Cape Town. The wall was located in such a way that the immediately downstream optimum site was left for a further stage or stages. All this work was completed in 1921, immediately, albeit temporarily, relieving the severe water restrictions then in place in Cape Town. The construction a few years later of a concrete structure integrated with the first dam to form a monolithic mass achieved a tenfold increase in the capacity of the reservoir. Further augmentation of the reservoir and pipelines has occurred over the subsequent decades. | : water supply scheme, storage dam, Cape Town, Table Mountain, Steenbras, Wemmershoek, Thomas Stewart, David Ernest Lloyd-Davies, Walter Stanley Lunn. |
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Possolo de Saldanha, J.L. | 2023 | Edgar Cardoso’s bridge at Quiamafulo, Angola. Design and construction in the late 1950’s of the third road viaduct across the River Cuanza. Construction History, Vol 38 No. 1, pp 49-72 | Designed by the leading Portuguese civil engineer Edgar Cardoso, the Quiamafulo Bridge was the third road viaduct to span the Cuanza River in Angola, and the one closest to the country’s capital, Luanda, therefore shortening distances to its sparsely populated hinterland. Located upstream from where the Cambambe dam and hydroelectric facility was being constructed, the Quiamafulo Bridge remained in use until it became submerged in 2017, following the augmentation of that hydroelectric facility, and the resulting enlargement of its reservoir. This called for a fundamental study on this bridge, which eminently served the Angolan road network for more than half a century, focusing on its project and construction. Since bridges take part in larger systems – as river basins do – notes are given on other viaducts built across the Cuanza during the Portuguese colonial period in Angola. Research drew upon previously unpublished sources archived at Lisbon’s Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU), and from Cardoso’s engineering company; through delving into newspapers published when the dam and bridge were built; comparing this bridge with other structures from that period by Cardoso; and on-site visits. | Quiamafulo Bridge, Edgar Cardoso, River Cuanza, Angolan Road Network, Cambambe Dam, hydroelectricity in Angola. |
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Chen, Y. | 2023 | Advanced technologies and people’s creations: the politics of concrete bridge construction in China, 1964-1978. Construction History, Vol 38 No. 1, pp73-98. | : This paper recounts the competition and interaction between the balanced cantilever bridge and the double-curved bridge in 1964-1978, which was a typical case of interactions between imported technologies and indigenous ‘intermediate technologies’ in Maoist China. The double-curved bridge began as a design for small rural bridges in 1964, but quickly became the mainstream bridge type in China in the early years of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). This was not only due to its better conformity to Maoist ideology, but also because it was employed by the young engineers to challenge the older generation who favoured technologically advanced designs. However, the inability of the double-curved bridge to meet the requirement of national defence during the Cold War led to a series of attempts to combine the features of the two bridge types. At the same time, advanced technologies were more successfully applied to oversea aid projects. The failure of a large double-curved bridge and its replacement by a balanced cantilever bridge in 1973 contributed to the end of politicisation in bridge design. This story reveals the complex relationship between technologies and politics in Maoist China and the historical root of contemporary Chinese infrastructural developments. | : balanced cantilever bridge, double-curved bridge, intermediate technology, infrastructural development, Cultural Revolution, Maoist China, 1960s-1970s. |
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Graus, R. | 2023 | Bridging the gap: Engineer Eduardo Torroja in the post-war networks of Modern architecture. Construction History, Vol 38 No. 1, pp 99-116. | The work of Spanish engineer Eduardo Torroja was known and admired internationally by architects and engineers after the Second World War. However, the three works that would establish his place in the world of thin shell concrete structures – Algeciras Market Hall, Recoletos Pelota Court and La Zarzuela Racecourse – had been constructed twenty years earlier, during the Second Spanish Republic. This paper explores the mechanisms that would enable their delayed dissemination in the 1950s, in particular, the post-war platforms, mass media, and networks in which Torroja participated. Torroja was first involved in engineering networks and shortly afterwards in networks of Modern architecture, where the functionalist paradigm was being fully reviewed by what is known as organic architecture. His success was closely related to structural intuition, an inner experience that enabled him to bridge the gap between advanced engineering and Modern architecture. This intuition derived from his mastering of thin shell structures and transpired in the abstract and geometric forms of his trio of works. | twentieth century, Spain, Eduardo Torroja, Jaroslav J. Polívka, Sibylle von Kaskel, reinforced concrete, thin shell, structural intuition, photography. |
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del Pilar Salazar Lozano, M., Cidoncha Pérez, A.J., & Alonso Pedrero, F.M. | 2023 | Seabees in Rota. Platform frame in prefabricated housing in Spain in the 1960s. Construction History, Vol 38 No. 1, pp 117-138. | : The construction of military bases in Spain, used by Spanish and American soldiers, brought an urgent necessity for housing to accommodate American soldiers who arrived in Spain with their families. In 1965, the US completely built 300 prefabricated houses in the USA which were then shipped to Spain and erected in Rota by the Navy ‘Seabees’, in the neighbourhood of Las Flores. In only 23 weeks, the houses were fabricated, and in a few months, they were erected. This neighbourhood had been in use for 40 years until it was demolished a few years ago. It is an unknown and interesting example of platform-frame structure housing in Spain. The aim of this article is to analyse the design, distribution, construction and assembly process of prefabricated housing in Spain. | : prefabrication, USA, Rota, Spain, military housing, platform frame, 1960s. |
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Bernardi, P., et al. | 2018 | ’Building maintenance in ancient times (up to the early modern period)’, in Wouters et al (Eds), Proc. 6ICCH, Brussels, pp 3-4. | Preserving any building with a definite use requires a more or less regular upkeep. The formalisation of these practices however took a long time, from their first juridical theorisations—often influenced by custom—in post-medieval times, to the pregnant debate of the nineteenth century between the supporters of John Ruskin and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc setting regular maintenance against complete reconstruction. The slow development of the lexicon is a testimony to this evolution. The French word “entretenir” meaning “maintaining in good state” only appears in the fifteenth century, such as the English word “maintenance”. “Keep up” (1660’s) and “upkeep” (1849) appear with the same meaning even later. Nowadays, the Athens Charter for the conservation of Historical Monuments particularly recommends a regular and permanent maintenance and these practices are more strictly codified | |
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Ducrte, P., & Carrive, M. | 2018 | ’Maintenance of the parietal coverings in ancient Rome: Confrontation between legal norms and archaeological evidence’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Proc. 6ICCH Brussels, pp 5-11 | In this paper, we propose to study the building maintenance in ancient Rome, both in public and private context, through a comparison between legal norms and archaeological surveys. More specifically, we will focus on wall covering. Building maintenance is not a well-defined category in ancient Rome, and literary sources which help us understand it are very few. Legal texts, mainly from the Digest, offer more information, but in scattered pieces where building maintenance is just one subject among others. Thus, only confrontation between these texts and archaeological data really helps to understand how building maintenance was organised in the ancient Roman world. Remains of wall coverings are very interesting in this perspective, as they are the ultimate piece of a building and with no doubt the more easily altered by degradations due to day-to-day use of a building. We will try to propose a distinction between maintenance, repair and renovation. These different interventions are not defined in Latin by specific words but are the responsibility of different actors in terms of legal norms. We can be even more specific by studying different types of interventions on wall coverings and compare them with norms defined by Roman jurists. Finally we will turn back to the Roman way of defining maintenance by focusing on the definition of what can be called “well-maintained”. Roof is the first criteria to define it; the second one are the walls. In both cases, the state of the decorations is cited by literary sources to describe well-maintained building, even if the place of the decoration in defining the identity of a building is a subject of controversy between Roman jurists. We will then conclude on a reflection on the link between maintenance and identity of a building, based on archaeological and legal criteria. | Ancient Rome, Italy, Plaster, Building Maintenance, Roman Jurists |
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Mainet, G. | 2018 | ’Maintaining an atrium house during the principate in Ostia’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Proc. 6ICCH Brussels, pp13-20. | The Italian atrium houses are well-known from literary sources and Pompeii excavations. This form was typical of the late Republic and early Empire, but some of them were maintained over many centuries. Ostia is a good case study to investigate such maintenance during the mid-imperial period. Most of the atrium houses built at the mouth of the Tiber were broken down by that time, because the insulae became the common type of dwelling. However, a few householders preferred to preserve their old domus rather than construct new, more profitable dwellings. This paper discusses the case of two Augustan houses in the imperial urban fabric of Ostia, with a focus on the Domus a Peristilio (IV, V, 16). In fact, recent excavations highlighted many repairs and transformations that took place between the first century AD and the beginning of the third century AD | Ancient Rome, Italy, Plaster, Building Maintenance, Roman Jurists |
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Sabathier, C. & Moucheront, N. | 2018 | ’Municipal management of wooden bridges in the fifteenth century: Pont de la Daurade in Toulouse and Pont Notre-Dame in Paris’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Proc. 6ICCH Brussels, pp21-29 | During the fifteenth century, Pont de la Daurade in Toulouse and Pont Notre-Dame in Paris were subject to regular maintenance operations or more substantial repairs. The study of two work campaigns documented by the records of deliberations and by the municipal accounts reveals the administrative rationale of public works undertaken by urban governments. The paper focuses on the financing of the maintenance, on the human and technical resources involved in repair works, and on the organization of urban building sites. The possibility to maintain, to repair, or to rebuild a bridge depended on many factors. Consequently, the transition from wood to stone bridges cannot be simply interpreted as a technological progress but as a result of economical and political conditions. | 15th century, France, Bridge, Wood, Maintenance |
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L’Heritier, M., et al | 2018 | ’Regular building maintenance and long-term conservation in ancient times’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Proc. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp31-38 | Making a building last is a necessary preoccupation requiring a more or less regular upkeep. Maintenance practices were however not formalised before the early modern period. This paper aims at overviewing these practices by taking several examples from Antiquity to the post Middle Ages, to apprehend the technical, human and institutional processes used to organize, manage and plan this maintenance. Despite a lack of distinction in the vocabulary, different types of actions can be identified, which usually do not fall to the same person or institution. Roman law and postmediaeval custom indeed already isolate several degrees of financial responsibility. Several examples testify as well of an anticipation of the building deterioration by scheduled works or specific technical solutions, along with a reflection on precise risks and their management. Maintenance however did not specifically aim at preserving a monument’s form, as a wide range of actions were implemented in that purpose, sometimes dealing with a form of patrimonial consciousness. | Antiquity and Middle Ages, Western Europe, Upkeep, Restoration life |
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Carvais, R., & Negre, V. | 2018 | ’Experts and building assessments. An international comparison (thirteenth-twentieth century)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp41-42 | In this session, we gathered contributions on building experts and expertise in different European countries, as well as in countries from different continents, over a long or short period. This should enable us to draw broad comparisons between the statutes, tasks, and practices of different types of building experts, revealing their similarities and differences. This will bring to light the different kinds of sources that can be used to draft a history of expertise. | |
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Tragbar, K. | 2018 | ’Siena 1357. The failure of a great plan’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp43-49. | Along with the cathedrals in Pisa and Florence, Siena’s cathedral Santa Maria Assunta is among the major building projects of medieval Tuscany. Even though there are few records of its early construction history, from 1226/27 on the building itself and the construction process can unambiguously be deducted from written sources. Documented are, amongst others, the number and tasks of the building’s craftsmen and their wages, the quantity and quality of building materials delivered and their provenance within the territory of Siena, the city’s efforts towards an efficient building management and the involvement of experts in the construction process. Those experts are consulted in 1260 to examine cracks in the new vaulting. In 1322 a commission of experts discussed similar problems concerning the new choir, and when in 1357serious damage appeared on the Duomo Nuovo, the expert’s advice was the decisive factor for the complete abandonment of this ambitious project. | Medieval, Siena, Cathedral, Building Site, Expert 1348 |
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Cornilly, J. | 2018 | ’The public architect’s role as surveyor of the construction site in the nineteenth century: The example of Belgian provincial architects’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp51-58. | The provincial architects are an important group of public architects in nineteenth-century Belgium. Their job was often meticulously described in decrees, revealing their task in the whole design and building process, from concept to completion. This vast corpus of official texts holds multiple indications on aspects such as the organisation of public works, the importance of surveillance of the construction site and the specific tasks of the provincial architect on the construction site. The consecutive decrees reveal an evolution in the task of the public architect: from an architect taking part in every aspect of the design and construction process, to the public architect as an objective and competent supervisor of the entire process. The evolving position of the provincial (and public) architect on the construction site can be interpreted. | 19th century, Belgium, Public Buildings, Architects, Regulationcity |
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Friedman, D. | 2018 | ’The engineer as expert: Early structural forensic reports in the United States’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp59-66. | Forensic study as an engineering specialty began in the United States in the late nineteenth century in conjunction with the growth of large-scale and industrialized construction. This paper will review forensic engineering reports for a selection of nationally-publicized building disasters—including the 1895 collapse of the Ireland Building in New York, the 1895 fire in the Keep Building in New York, the 1896 tornado in St Louis, the 1897 Pittsburgh fire, the 1902 Baltimore fire, the 1904 collapse of the Darlington Apartments in New York, and the 1908 fire in the Parker Building in New York—to examine development of the process. These reports have been neglected by recent inquiries, largely because building technology has moved on, but show how engineers transitioned from design to investigation. | 1900, United States, Forensic Engineering, Steel, Cast Iron |
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Carvais, R. | 2018 | ’Surveyors and building appraisals. Conceptualizing a comparative project (thirteenth-twentieth centuries)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp 67-76. | The question of appraisals is at once universal, transnational and multidisciplinary but is not treated in the same way everywhere, depending essentially on the cultural and legal background of the procedure practised in each country. Furthermore, the place of the surveyor between a simple advisor, witness and judge renders the appraisals process complex. Though it has not yet been studied carefully and comprehensively, drawing upon the advances made on the French territory as the basis for this article, we wish to extend our reflections to include comparisons with other organisational systems of appraisals in effect in Europe, while at the same time establishing the structure of the project. We intend to develop a new line of research in construction history, at the intersection of three essentially complementary fields: people, knowledge and action. | 13th–20th centuries, France, Europe, Surveyor, Building Appraisal |
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Hurx, M. | 2018 | ’Architects and bureaucrats: Centralised governments and the administrative pre-conditions of building before 1750’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, p79 | This session brings together scholarship on the development of these organisations from the late Middle Ages up to the end of the Ancient Régime as a first attempt to compare them on a pan-European scale. | |
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Hurx, M. | 2018 | ’The impact of bureaucratic procedures on architectural planning in the Late Middle Ages in the Low Countries’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp81-87. | Although, the growing impact of bureaucratic procedures on architectural planning may strike us as typical modern, its origins go back to the Late Middle Ages. To control the ever-increasing cost of building, the French and English courts introduced a centralised governance in the late fourteenth century. Other princes, among whom the Dukes of Burgundy, soon followed suit; the dukes introduced a centralised administration to effectively organise and control the many construction sites in their domains in the Low Countries. I will argue in this paper that this was not only a financial reform, however; it also represented an important step towards a more rationalised architectural planning. The rediscovery of a vast part of the early sixteenth-century building administration of the Duchy of Brabant allows to understand how meticulously well planned and monitored construction for the court was in the Low Countries | Late Middle Ages, Court Administration, Architectural Planning, Construction Documents, Institutions |
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Chias, P., & Abad, T. | 2018 | ’Building for the Crown: Contracts and administration under the Spanish monarchy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Monastery of El Escorial’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp89-96 | Royal building works in Spain were subject to regulation from Emperor Charles I’s creation in 1545 of the Board of Works and Forests. As the board’s mission was to protect royal interests, its functions consisted in defining and controlling all building projects undergone in palaces and estates belonging to the crown. To that end, the relevant rules were drawn up governing the contracting, supervision, building, valuation and settlement of projects. Each project required a detailed description of the work to be done and was often accompanied by sketches and drawings and by references to the use of moulds and full-scale drawings. Abundant documentation survives in several Spanish archives and their joint study throws new light on royal building works. At the same time, sixteenth and seventeenth century-procedures turn out to be very modern, as can be seen from current Spanish legislation for public contracting. | Royal Sites, Spain, 16th century, Monastery of El Escorial, Construction Contracts |
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Gommel, A. | 2018 | ’Bureaucratization and dynamization of construction processes in the electorate of Bavaria’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp97-104. | In the development of the court building office in Munich it can be shown that the political ambitions of the Elector Max Emanuel of Bavaria are crucial for the organization of his building administration. The instructions to the officials, the creation of the Generalbaudirektorium and the appointment of the court architect Joseph Effner also show the special challenges and problems of building administration. These become particularly clear in the instructions from the year 1655. The history of the Generalbaudirektorium makes it clear that the interest of the Elector was not in the efficiency of administration, but in competition with other princely courts. The representative claim was to be demonstrated by an extensive palace landscape around Munich. The very rapid construction progress of the projects could only be accomplished thanks to the special skills of Joseph Effner. The administration, on the other hand, seems to have been more of a bureaucratic obstacle! | 18th Century, Electorate of Bavaria, Residence, Administration, Construction Process |
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Rousteau-Chambon, H. | 2018 | ’The director, the first architect of the academy and the professor: The roles of these figures in the academic teaching of eighteenth-century France’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp105-110. | In 1671, the Académie royale d’architecture was established and had two purposes: setting standards for the French Architecture and educating future royal Architects. After 1686 (death of F. Blondel) the director was the first Architect of the king; he was in charge of the debates taking place at the Academy, and one or two professors were in charge of the training of young men as future architects. So until the french Revolution, there were three actors which could give administrative rules: the Surintendance des bâtiments du roi, the director of the Académie who was the First Architect of the king, and the professor of the Academy. What were the relationships between these three actors? What was the role of the Director and of the First Architect in the architects’ training, especially during the eighteenth century? With this study, we will question whether the Academy contributed to a common administrative culture. | Modern art, France, Royal Architecture, History of Construction, Teaching, Pedagogy, Construction Professions, Academies, Technical Literature |
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Benincampi, I. | 2018 | ’Architects and institutions in the construction of the new city of Cervia’, in I. Wouters Et al, (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp111-118. | By the end of the seventeenth century, the Papacy systematically started losing its international relevance. This situation imposed a general “spending review” on one hand and prompted the Pope to exploit the main industrial poles of the country on the other. In particular, the city of Cervia represented an important economic center due to the collection and sale of the salt produced in its hinterland. Because of its unfortunate position in the midst of swamps, the community was in a serious state of neglect. Therefore, Pope Innocent XII Pignatelli (1697–1700) approved its reconstruction in a different location. Roman architects such as Girolamo Caccia (1650–1728ca), Abram Paris (1641ca–1716) and Francesco Fontana (1668–1708) played a key role in the definition of the new city grid, basing their projects on functional criteria to promote an image of modernity and on the constant dialogue with the institutions. | , Cervia, Bureaucratic procedures, State of the Church, Francesco Fontana, Reconstruction |
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Heinemann, H.A. | 2018 | ’Historic precast concrete’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, p121. | In this session, historic precast concrete is understood as concrete (plain or reinforced) which is not cast insitu, but in factories or on - site in temporary factories. Its use dates back to the middle of the nineteenth century as a substitute for brick and natural stone (synonyms: cast stone, artificial stone). During the last decade of the nineteenth century, precast (reinforced) concrete elements conquered the market, especially for floor and decorative elements, but also for niche markets such as precast structural elements (e.g. trusses). Yet also the military explored the possibilities of precast concrete elements, and being thereby again a driving force for the exploration and dissemination of concrete technology. The political situation of the nineteenth century with colonisation of countries in Africa and Asia has led that technology was transferred or precast elements shipped around the world | |
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Holzer, S. | 2018 | ’Building breakwaters with precast concrete blocks (1834–67)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp123-130. | Until the early nineteenth century, jetties and breakwaters protecting harbours and roadsteads were typically constructed submerging blocks of natural rock. However, the breakwaters constructed this way suffered from exceeding consumption of material, due to very gentle slopes required to resist the action of the surf, and from frequent damage and repair. The only way out of this dilemma was the application of blocks considerably larger than the natural rocks typically available in a quarry. Such blocks could be created artificially by precast concrete technology. When, in the early 1830s, the properties of hydraulic lime and cements had been studied in detail, and experiences with concrete technology had been collected in the construction of locks for inland waterways, France was ready for the large-scale application of this idea, the origins of which can be traced far into history. The most notable projects carried out with the new technology include the ports of Algiers and the breakwater at the new harbour of Marseille, whereas the jetty at Cherbourg demonstrated the limits of the new technology. The present contribution gives a brief account of these projects. | Early Modern, Europe, Jetty, Concrete, Precast |
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Bekers, W., & De Meyer, R. | 2018 | ’Concrete matter: Building the Bruges submarine pens (1917–18)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp131-139. | Starting in August 1917, a large submarine shelter was erected in the German-occupied port of Bruges. Its construction completed a transition from mixed steel-and-timber shelters to all-concrete bunkers in this area. The new Gruppenunterstände prefigured many of the typological, technological and logistic key features of the iconic submarine pens from World War II, when lessons learnt from the Bruges prototype were to be pushed to extremes. The case of the Bruges submarine pens exemplifies the scientifically managed construction site and hints at the underexposure of experimental military concrete technology in architectural construction history. It is argued that the conflict period, rather than forming a gap in an otherwise continuous evolution of building practice, created certain opportunities for a modern and experimental attitude towards building typology and construction. | World War I, Bruges, Submarine Shelter, Military Architecture, Precast Concrete |
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Heinemann, H.A., & Quist, W.J. | 2018 | ’Stone and concrete: A review of the coevolution of the surface finishes of two buildings materials’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp141-148. | In the nineteenth century, the demand for decorative building elements grew due to an increase of building activities caused by industrialisation and population growth. Artificial stone became an alternative for costly natural stone, using the possibilities offered by new binders and industrialisation. Initially it still mimicked the appearance of natural stone, both in texture and colour. Yet with the progress of concrete technology and increasing acceptance of concrete as an architectural material, an own material category emerged: precast concrete. In the 1930s, companies focused more on architectural precast elements, as pre casting allowed a better quality control than in-situ concrete, both in terms of concrete properties and surface finish, latter still influenced by techniques known from natural stone. During the post-war reconstruction period, the precast concrete industry had become mature, offering entire building systems and freely quoting textures and colours. In this paper, this evolution will be commented from a Dutch perspective. | 19th–20th century, The Netherlands, Natural Stone, Precast Concrete, Decorative Treatment |
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Spoormans, L.G.K, et al. | 2018 | ’The NEMAVO Airey system: A wealth of options’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp149-156. | After the Second World War there were serious shortages of building materials and trained personnel, the demand for housing was high and construction budgets were low. Together these factors created an environment for the large-scale development of non-traditional residential construction systems in the Netherlands. One of these was the NEMAVO Airey system imported from the United Kingdom and adapted for the Dutch market. This article focusses on the external walls used in this system, a combination of precast concrete columns and precast concrete cladding panels arranged on a grid, which give the Airey houses their typical appearance. The Airey houses in the Netherlands exhibit a great variety within a recognisable system. This article addresses what aspects of the construction system, historical context, system developments, parties involved, and later circumstances and interventions resulted in the wide range of remaining stock of NEMAVO Airey houses in the Netherlands | 1945–1960, The Netherlands, Public Housing, Inventory of Façade Typologies, Precast Concrete |
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Marciniak, P. | 2018 | ’Prefabricated elements and typification in communist Poland’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp157-162. | Throughout the communist period, large-panel systems (LPS), industrialised construction, prefabrication and home factories affected the imagery of Poland’s spatial landscape. After World War II, typification and prefabrication in the building industry became a leading postulate and a way of catching up on delays caused by poor work organisation, material shortages and the use of traditional technologies. The first prefabricated large-scale concrete elements were used in 1954 in Nowa Huta, and in the following years similar housing projects were erected in Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznań, Nowe Tychy and Łódź. In the 1960s and 1970s, new systems were introduced. These were used to build several hundred housing projects in Poland until 1989. The role of concrete technology in shaping the form of housing was perfectly aligned to the ideology of productivism propagated in communist countries, becoming one of the most recognisable features of the spatial landscape in Poland. | Prefabrication, Concrete, Typification, Construction Systems, Mass Production |
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Giannetti, I. | 2018 | ’‘Handmade’ pre-cast concrete: The Italian experience between structural engineering and industrial design (1950–80)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp163-170. | In the 1950s and 1960s Italian structural engineering received international attention due to a number of extremely original structural works in reinforced concrete. The material embodied the needs of a country that lagged far behind others in term of industrialization. In situ casting, with its prominent artisanal dimension, played a crucial role. However, techniques of pre-casting were wide used as well, presenting original hand-crafted aspects. Reversing the paradox of the ‘proto-industrial’ dimension of the country, Italian structural engineering seems to provide a side story of international pre-cast concrete. Starting in the 1930s with Pier Luigi Nervi’s invention of ‘structural prefabrication’, this evolved into a continuous experimentalism and the development of a prominent Italian structural language in the North of Italy, overcoming the prejudices against industrialised structures, in both technical and aesthetical terms. This survey is conducted in the framework of the research project ‘SIXXI - 20th Century Structural Engineering: the Italian contribution’, thanks to an ERC Advanced Grant funding (P.I. Sergio Poretti and Tullia Iori). | Post-World War II, Italy, Pre-Cast Concrete, Structural Design, Light-weight Concrete Vault |
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May, R. | 2018 | ’Early thin shells – players, impulses, and effects’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp173-174. | ||
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Rehm, J. | 2018 | ’The first concrete dome in Germany? A church building using modern techniques’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp175-181. | The double-skin, ribbed dome of the St. Ursula parish church in Munich was designed by August Thiersch and built in 1897 by the construction company Johann Odorico, Frankfurt/Main. It is an important landmark in the history of concrete and reinforced concrete construction. Above the octagonal tambour an inner, in two dimensions curved dome and an outer cloister dome with straight-lined directrix were realized. The use of concrete for the dome construction was modern but applied on the basis of brickwork design. Thiersch used hoops of reinforcement only in the tambour. In 1933 maintenance repairs were executed to strengthen both parts of the dome. | Early Reinforced Concrete (1884–1918), Munich—Germany, Church Building, Ribbed Domes, Maintenance History |
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Lampariello, B. | 2018 | ’Hangars built of concrete reinforced in various ways, 1908–21: Toward a majestic nave without ribbing’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp183-190. | At the beginning of the twentieth century and in the field of industrial construction a new scale of space emerged that stemmed from the advent of a new type of building: the hangar, intended to house airplanes, seaplanes and airships. With the need to cover ever larger spans without intermediate supports, engineers, entrepreneurs and even some architects set to work on the development of complex structural solutions. This paper outlines the evolution of hangars roofed with slender vaults built of concrete reinforced in various ways up until 1921. In an attempt to achieve the rapidity and economy of construction, the structural solutions focused on different ways of stiffening the vaults and would lead to the design of shells devoid of any reference to traditional forms that were destined to become the starting point for the generation of other exceptional types of roofing for public buildings and monuments | 1908–21, Hangars, Shells, Concrete |
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Czymay, C. | 2018 | ’Oldest surviving hangars with shallow domes (1918)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs. 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp191-198. | Six aircraft hangars from the time of the First World War have been preserved in Berlin-Karlshorst and have been listed as building monuments. The high degree of fire resistance and durability of the iron reinforced concrete used as building material was sufficient cause for the Berlin Militär-Neubauamt [Military Construction Authority] to commission Gebr. Rank, a Munich company experienced in reinforced concrete, to construct an aircraft workshop and an aircraft hangar. They designed shallow domes to be constructed from hollow bricks for the huge widths of these buildings, and the domes together with the lower and upper iron reinforcements and concrete layers had a thickness of only 18 cm. The six Berlin hangars have in each case three shallow domes and as a result of their being in one straight line have a certain urban flair. After decades of neglect and planning for new buildings their preservation is in danger. | 1916-18, World War I, Berlin, Domes, Reinforced Concrete, Hangars |
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Espion, B. | 2018 | ’Thin concrete shells by Eugène Freyssinet’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp199-206. | Between 1914 and 1928, Eugène Freyssinet, working with the Limousin Company, designed and built numerous reinforced concrete roofs, some of which may be considered as significant structures in the early history of thin concrete shells. Basically, Freyssinet pioneered two types of innovative thin concrete shells: the large span “short” barrel vault that he mainly used for covering “tunnel” aircraft hangars, but also the Reims Market Hall, and the northern light shed with “short” conoids. Nearly every new construction was for Freyssinet an occasion to invent, and often patent, a new construction technique. Surprisingly, many of these structures built more than 90 years ago are still standing today. Most of them are not well known, and have not received the proper recognition they deserve. Some reasons for this omission in the history of thin concrete shells are discussed in the paper. | 1915–1930, France, Thin Concrete Shell, Short Barrel Vault, Conoïdpioneering |
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Russo, M. & Curra, E. | 2018 | ’The diffusion of the Zeiss-Dywidag system in Italy: Two cases in Rome’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp207-213. | The contribution of the German building company Dyckerhoff & Widmann was central to the pioneering experimental research on thin concrete shells. The introduction of the Zeiss-Dywidag system in Italy was due to engineer Rodolfo Stoelcker, one of the first that obtained the licence out of Germany in 1928. His builders constructed two garages for public transport in Rome, applying the patent for cylindrical thin shell roofs. This paper aims to describe the use of the Z-D system in these two projects, explaining the relevant features found in their designs. In particular, firstly the investigation of the design method shows how and why this structure was considered convenient compared to others of the same period. Secondly, the architectural description and the identification of the extension phases allows us to demonstrate the significant functional performance of this system in terms of a garage’s practical requirements, alongside the rapid construction and limited budget. | First half of the 20th century, Rome, Cylindrical Thin Concrete Shell, Zeiss-Dywidag Patent, Rodolfo Stoelcker |
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Nevzgodin, I. | 2018 | ’A great achievement of the Soviet construction technology in Siberia: The reinforced concrete cupola of the Novosibirsk Theatre’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp215-220. | One of the most famous buildings in Siberia is the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Novosibirsk. For this Theatre Professor Peter Pasternak from Moscow designed and calculated a “perfect and grandiose” concrete dome. One of the problems for the Modern Movement in Siberia was the low level of the available technology. Thus Pasternak was very sceptical that it would be possible to have his construction realised by unskilled labourers from the backward province. Nevertheless, two young engineers realised this—for its time—outstanding construction. The intention to use the vault for planetarium-like cinema projections caused the application of a pure spherical form, which is disastrous for the acoustics of the covered space. Once the construction of the building was roughly finished, the Soviet authorities refused the idea of an avant-garde theatre and architecture. The building was redesigned for a traditional opera and ballet theatre with a neoclassical decoration | Interwar period, 1920–30 s, Siberia, Russia, Shell Structures, Concrete, Engineers |
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Arkhipkina, O. | 2018 | ’Wooden shells in pre-war Soviet Union (1925–39)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp221-228. | Soviet shell structures are rather unknown in comparison to their German and French counterparts. However, during the 1930s Soviet engineers would not only implement ‘imported’ concrete constructions for the industrialisation of the country, but would also push the boundaries of a material usually not regarding as ideal for shell structures—wood. Born out of sheer material shortage the construction proceeded to become important in certain fields of industry while remaining unknown to scholars around the world. Based on Soviet literature and a Master thesis conducted by the author at Stuttgart University, this paper aims to shed light on a forgotten development during the 1930s in USSR | Early 20th century, Soviet Union, Shell Structures, Wood, Full-Walled |
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Leslie, T. | 2018 | ’‘Laborious and difficult’: The evolution of Pier Luigi Nervi’s hangar roofs (1935–41)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp229-234. | Writing in 1938, Pier Luigi Nervi noted of his recently completed concrete aircraft hangars at Orvieto that “the reinforced concrete hangar can aspire to a true technical primacy, with minimal use of steel”. Completed in an era of shortages due to trade embargoes, Nervi’s hangars attracted global attention for their static efficiency and striking lamella patterns. But, while publicly sanguine about the hangar’s structural accomplishment, in private Nervi was frustrated with inefficiencies in their construction processes. “The actual construction was not easy,” he recalled in 1956. While the shells had minimized structural material, their complex shapes had required an enormous amount of timber formwork—also in short supply. Worse, the shells’ monolithic nature coupled with their extraordinary length led to nearly disastrous thermal expansion. In 1939, the Italian Air Force commissioned a second generation of hangars from Nervi, and for these he developed improvements that related to the structural form of the shells and to their fabrication. By prefabricating truss elements of the lamella grid, Nervi was able to save dead weight, which in turn allowed him to perch the new shells atop just six buttresses. The trusses’ light weight enabled them to be hoisted and placed with small cranes, and to be temporarily supported by a lighter, re-usable scaffold. The resulting hangars were able to absorb significant thermal stresses; they were light enough that they minimized reinforcing at their buttresses and were visually striking enough that Nervi commissioned Rome’s leading architectural photographer to document their web-like appearance before being covered. This paper examines the advances between the two generations of hangars, showing how construction inflected and refined Nervi’s static intuition. | Pre-World War II, Italy, Concrete Shells, Aircraft Hangars, Scaffolding |
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Garcia, J., et al | 2018 | ’Contemporary light vaults in Colombia. The origin of a modern tradition’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp235-244. | Le Corbusier used tile vaults in the structures of two buildings in the 1950s: the Maisons Sarabhai and Jaoul. These vaults were later very influential in Latin America, where they inspired numerous buildings in the middle of the twentieth century. However, little is known about the main inspiration for Le Corbusier’s vaults: a 1950 Colombian building, the home of local architect Francisco Pizano. The Casa Pizano was just one of the many modern Latin American houses built with vaults in those years. Some of these constructions were before Le Corbusier’s, so the influence of Maisons Sarabhai and Jaoul might have been more conceptual than technical. The hypothesis of this paper is that, although this influence existed, local networks were essential for connecting similar technical initiatives. To verify this, several examples from different Latin American countries will be studied, and some possible contacts between architects will be proposed. | 20th century, Colombia, Masonry, Tile Vault, Concrete Light Vault |
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Lagae, J., & Chang, J-H. | 2018 | ’Modern ‘comfort’ in colonial / postcolonial settings beyond the ‘centre / periphery’ framework’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp247-248. | For this session, we have selected three papers. Each of the selected papers explores the architectural questions surrounding comfort through different ways and in diverse geographies in Asia and Australia. | |
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Cruse, A. | 2018 | ’Viet-cool: Thermal comforts in Vietnam’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp249-255. | The relationship of climate to construction reveals the complexities and contradictions of thermal comfort. In this paper, I frame three different ideas of comfort, and discuss how they have developed in the tropical climate of Vietnam. The first is a colonial idea of comfort that emerged from nineteenth century tropical medicine and can be found in the planning and construction of the French colonial city of Dalat. The second is an air-conditioned comfort, introduced to Vietnam during the Cold War in both American and Soviet-designed buildings. The third is an adaptive comfort, found in the work of many young Vietnamese architects whose design-based approach to comfort is attuned to the country’s social and meteorological milieux. These examples highlight how comfort in Vietnam has been socially and materially constructed, as well as suggesting connections between climate adaptation and cultural adaptation. | Vietnam, Modern, Tropics, Thermal Comfort, Acclimatization |
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Roesler, S. | 2018 | ’Cross-cultural thermal knowledge: The case of large-scale tobacco barns in Sumatra (Indonesia)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp257-262. | Based on fieldwork conducted in 2013 and 2014 in the former Swiss colonial plantation “Helvetia” in the plantation belt around the city of Medan (Sumatra, Indonesia), this paper highlights the structure of large-scale tobacco barns and the mechanisms of controlling their microclimates. One particular barn has been measured and various forms of representation have been fabricated (plans and diagrams). In these structures, vernacular and modern, informal and industrial influences are overlaid on top of one another. The study of tobacco barns might inspire broader reflections on the (Eurocentric) notions of comfort and climate control that incorporate both the natural as well as the cultural environment. Moreover, one could speak in this case of the formation of a new cross-cultural body of thermal knowledge, that isn’t derived from residential buildings and office spaces alone. | 1867–2017, East-Sumatra, Tobacco Barns, Cross-Cultural Thermal Knowledge, Architectural Ethnography |
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Ryan, J. | 2018 | ’Detropicalizing comfort research: The climate and house design program in Australia (1945–47)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp263-268. | This paper adds to current discussions on thermal modernity by examining the detropicalization of research into domestic overheating during the immediate post-war era. Using archival sources and government publications, it explores the case of the Climate and House Design program at the Commonwealth Experimental Building Station in Australia from 1945 to 1947. It examines how comfort research in domestic buildings shifted from being viewed as a tropical problem to a necessary consideration for houses in temperate locations also. The paper proposes that comfort emerged as a vital political tool as it made the cost reduction of dwellings seem more acceptable to the general public. Though this Australia emerged as a leading centre for research on controlling the overheating of buildings. Yet by making heat a unifying problem of architecture throughout Australia, the program continued to overemphasise thermal stress and material appropriateness, a legacy of how Europeans constructed tropical nature. | Post-war, Australia, Housing, Detropicalization, Building Research |
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Srivastava, A. & Scriver, P. | 2018 | ’Transnational exchange in the construction worlds of nineteenth and twentieth century Asia: The diffusion of materials and processes in the Global South’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp271-272. | This session invited contributors to re-consider the history of construction in nineteenth and twentieth century Asia from a multi-lateral perspective focusing on transnational exchanges of materials and techniques across the political and geographic borders of modern Asia, and the former colonial empires that competed to define these. | |
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Fivez, R. | 2018 | ’“Elle pousse, la Capitale Champignon!” Questioning skill in the Belgian Congo’s building industry’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp273-280. | The post-war economic boom in the Belgian Congo turned the capital city Léopoldville (known as Kinshasa today) into a hotspot for investors looking for new business opportunities. In the real estate market, the skyrocketing land prices in Léopoldville presented huge investment opportunities. The buildings rose with the land prices, and in place of the low, colonial houses of the pre-war era, multi-story buildings redrew the city’s skyline. Although the construction challenges posed by the economic and social demands of the colonial project have been largely ignored today, a deeper understanding of these challenges is essential to grasp the built fabric of Congo. In this paper, I try to understand the technological requirements that the 1950s building boom imposed on Congolese contractors, leading to the quick professionalisation of an industry until then defined by unprofessionalism and bricolage. The troublesome introduction of prestressed concrete to the construction site of the CCC building in 1950–52 forms a particularly interesting case to address the challenges of such rapid professionalisation. | 1950–52, Democratic Republic of Congo, Multi-Storey Buildings, Prestressed Concrete, Building Site Accidents |
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Ye, J., & Fivet, C. | 2018 | ’Construction technology transfer in Shanghai in the nineteenth to twentieth centuries’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp281-289. | Shanghai, in the early twentieth century, was a big construction site and attractive experimental field for Western designers. Because of its significant location and international role, the construction activities contributed to some landmarks of the world architecture history. In addition to famous architects, local builders played a crucial role in the realization of these edifices. Introduction and application of new technologies, digestion and diffusion of new knowledge, transportation and production of new materials, the magnification of pre-existing local concerns while dealing with the geological problem, as well as the training of the workers was already solved by the natives at this time. Based on a fresh study of the documents in the Historical Archives of Shanghai Library and in the Shanghai Local Chronicles, this particular context is here used as a case-study that aims at providing new insights on the shifts from traditional construction practices to industrialized dynamics. This paper reveals that the construction technology transfer that happened between Europe and East Asia in Shanghai in the nineteenth to twentieth centuries in a sense was a process of local desire to extract knowledge and technologies from numerous overseas sources for the construction of “Modern Shanghai”. | 19th-20th centuries, Shanghai, Modern Architecture, Construction Technology Transfer, Adoption and Improvement |
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Lai, C.W.C. | 2018 | ’Cement and ‘Shanghai plaster’ in British Hong Kong and Penang (1920s–1950s)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp291-298. | Since the early 1920s, a type of cement plaster called ‘Shanghai plaster’ started to emerge in British Hong Kong and Malaya construction scenes. Using a constellation of lesser-known building projects as examples, this paper attempts to study the culture and pattern behind the diffusion of ‘Shanghai plaster’ as a modern material. The cultural meaning behind ‘Shanghai plaster’ reflected how overseas Chinese constructed their cultural identity through their architecture during the interwar years. It demonstrated that the transferal of modern architectural techniques often involved multiple centres and localities, and was far more complex than a unilateral transfer from the colonizer to the colonized world. | 1930s, British Colonial Hong Kong and Penang, Exposed Cement Finishes, Transfer of Techniques, Specification Standardsof |
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Guedes, P. | 2018 | ’Learning from the ‘other’: Early modern emulation and trans-imperial exchange of ‘native’ building technologies’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp299-306. | Most European traders, conquerors and colonists sought to build familiar settlements in unfamiliar surroundings. These ambitions were often challenged by scarcity of known building materials, skilled labour and the demands of alien climatic conditions. To find suitable translations of European building techniques, observation of local construction methods and their selective appropriation solved many such difficulties. This paper is largely based on articles in military and learned journals published in Britain and India in which non-European building practices and materials were described and illustrated not as exotic curiosities but as ideas worthy of emulation, until they were set aside in favour of the supposedly superior products of European mechanical industry and scientific knowledge. The paper will focus on three Indian modes of building that gained wide admiration and comment beyond the subcontinent. These are: Superior Chunam mortars capable of fine finishes and waterproofing, ingenious vaulting techniques with reduced lateral thrust erected with minimal falsework and well foundations, a reliable alternative to piling. | 19th century Technological Transfer, Emulation of autochthonous Indian techniques, Well Foundations, Technological Hegemony, Cross-Cultural Exchanges |
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Albrecht, L., & Doering-Williams, M. | 2018 | ’Schematic reconstruction of a type of Roman scaffolding used for the Basilica of Maxentius’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp309-316. | Although scaffolds are a basic element of the construction process, our knowledge about ancient scaffolding systems is limited, mainly due to the fact that they are of a temporary nature. However, thanks to the case study of the putlog holes in the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome, we have gained a new understanding of this specific structure. A methodological innovation is that the findings fully take into consideration the three-dimensionality of the wooden structure. The results enable the authors to suggest a schematic reconstruction of the scaffolding used in a specific inner corner of the Basilica, including its main elements (putlogs, ledgers, and standards). | Roman Antiquity, Rome, Italy, Scaffolding, Basilica of Maxentius, Opus Testaceum |
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Aranda Alonso, M. | 2018 | ’Alonso de Vandelvira’s approach to the geometrical design of templates for caissons in crossing trellis vaults’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp317-324. | Alonso de Vandelvira’s treatise “Libro de traças y cortes de piedras”, composed between ca. 1575–91, is the oldest known written compendium dedicated entirely to the science of Stereotomy. Among all the elements included in the treatise, the focus of this study is the design of the templates for the caissons in the crossing trellis vaults. A virtual reconstruction and a very thorough comparative observation highlight the geometrical approaches appearing in these kinds of templates. | Renaissance, Andalusia, Ribbed Vault, Stereotomy, Stonework |
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Baker, N.C. | 2018 | ’Glasgow city chambers: The construction and building services history of a major municipal building from the Victorian period’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp325-332. | Glasgow City Chambers was built in the 1880s and is considered to be one of the finest examples of municipal building in the UK. The structure and building services of the building and the construction processes which brought them about are described. Superficially the building embodies tradition: ornate stone inside and out with many Italianate stylistic features. However, hidden from view are vast amounts of plumbing, heating, ventilating and utilities. At a time of transition for many of these building services, Glasgow was keen to show off its technical prowess and the chambers building was one of the earliest significant public buildings to have electric lighting from the start. This paper will look at the remaining traces of these original services, the problems the building has encountered and changes that have taken place over the decades. The paper adds to the history of the technology of municipal buildings. | 19th century, Scotland, Municipal Building, Utilities, Services |
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Balboni, L. | 2018 | ’Changes in the battlements and machicolations of the Late Medieval castles between the duchy of Milan and Este dominions. Just a question of style or also function?’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp333-340. | The research focused on the constructive characteristics of the summit defence systems on castles built in the fourteenth and fifteenth century in the Po valley, carried out mostly through the direct survey of some significant cases. The study is aimed at investigating the constructive aspects of battlements and machicolations to point out the relationship and possible influences between shapes and construction. The comparative analysis of the cases examined, allow to focus on construction details that belong to the different time periods that were analysed, from the first defensive systems with merlons flush with the lower curtain walls, to cases that see the introduction of the machicolation defensive system, to later examples in which specific characteristics of military architecture assume a purely formal meaning. This data can be a useful and further tool for historians and architects to prove previous assumptions and put forward new hypothesis on these aspects of castles and fortresses. | Late Middle Ages, Po valley, Italy, Fortresses, Machicolation, BattlementsIts |
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Baselice, V. | 2018 | ’Concrete capital: John McShain’s construction of Washington, DC (1930–70)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp341-348 | John McShain, a Philadelphia-based general contractor built some of the most recognizable structures in Washington, D.C., including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the National Airport, the Pentagon, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of State and the Housing and Urban Development headquarters, among numerous others. However, McShain’s business has not been historically contextualized and his contributions to the construction of Washington have received minimal scholarly attention. This paper presents a complex narrative that intertwines the history of a private general contractor business with the growth of the broader construction industry to address issues of labor, design, and nation-building in mid-twentieth century America. | 1930–70, Western Capitalism, Monumental Architecture, Concrete |
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Beard, J.I. | 2018 | ’Contracting blunders and innovative regulations of US military construction 1861 to 1918’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp349-355. | This research attempts to track patterns of centralization and decentralization of construction contracting, use of idiosyncratic or standardized contract clauses, insistence on dogmatic or allowance of innovative contracting regulations, and deployment of individualized or uniform facility designs by the US military during the period from 1861 to 1918. Questions to be answered by the study are the degree to which legislative, executive and judicial branches of government reacted to incompetency and wrongdoing during the period, and how those responsible for discharging duties related to the contracts tried to muddle through until practicality and reasonableness eventually emerged | Late 19th century, North America Barracks, Depots, Shipyards, Dry Docks, Army and Navy Construction, Innovative Regulationsto |
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Bell, P.W.R. | 2018 | ’The work and professional status of John (1787–1852) and Benjamin Green (1813–58), architects and engineers’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp357-364. | John and Benjamin Green were versatile and prolific architects and engineers at a crucial time in the development of North-East England. This paper reviews the extraordinary variety of their achievements, the milieu in which they worked and how they fitted into the two diverging professions. John Green began work for his father who was an agricultural engineer and builder in the Tyne valley. He moved to Newcastle in 1820 and designed the Literary and Philosophical Society Library in 1822. He was a competent architect and an outstanding engineer. He designed bridges in masonry, wrought iron and laminated timber. He was also the designer of many farms and churches. John’s son Benjamin studied under Augustus Charles Pugin in London. Benjamin was the architect for the Theatre Royal and the Grey Monument in Newcastle and the Penshaw Monument in County Durham. He designed buildings, churches and railway stations working in Classical, Gothic and Tudor styles. | 19th century, North-East England, Farms, Buildings, Bridges, Professional Boundaries, Status/Social Class |
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Bertels, I. | 2018 | ’Gustave Andreas Royers (1848–1923), from Antwerp city engineer to Belgian politician’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp365-371. | In 1875 Gustave Royers, became appointed as Antwerp city engineer (1875–1907) and as such he was in charge of all major infrastructure works for the Antwerp harbour as well as urban public works. Besides his career at the public works department (1875–1907), he developed a political career as well and used his technical expertise to participate in political discussions related to economy and public works (including discussions on public tenders, building specifications,…) as well as legislation and public health. As liberal he was successively elected as provincial councillor (1889–1903), as a member of the Belgian Chamber of representatives (1910–21), as Antwerp city councillor (1912–21) and as Belgian senator (1921–23). Henceforth, this paper aims to broaden the traditional biographical perspective on engineers and integrates architectural, as well as cultural and political elements in order to colour the biography of Gustave Royers. | 19th–20th centuries, Belgium, Engineer, Culture and Politics, Biography |
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Boone, V., & Gandini, B. | 2018 | ’Exploring the visual material within the building process of the Villa Savoye’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp373-381. | The recent digitization of the amateur films that Ernest Weissmann, collaborator in the Atelier Le Corbusier, shot in 1929 and 1930, reveals several site visits to the Villa Savoye during different stages of the construction in 1929 and 1930, from the first floor until completion. This visual material broadens the concise photographic documentation made by Sigfried Giedion and by the collaborators of the Atelier Le Corbusier. While Giedion focuses merely on architectural decisions, the filmed material of Weissmann shows a unique focus on the execution of construction details, revealing how the structure of the villa was conceived, as only few accurate original specifications or plans are at our disposal. This paper will relate the importance of this visual documentation to the extant knowledge of the structure of the Villa Savoye. | 1930, France-Europe, Villa, Le Corbusier, Concrete |
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Bowen, B. | 2018 | ’General contractors and architects in nineteenth-century America.’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp383-389. | The introduction of general contracting into the American construction industry began in the last half of the nineteenth century, following the same pattern that had developed in England earlier in that century. Meanwhile in 1857, the American Institute of Architects was formed, and its members took control of awarding construction contracts trade by trade and superintending the work on site. This paper follows the historical evolution of both parties up to and during this period and how they interacted with one another. In particular, the reaction of the architectural profession is examined as the new contractors assumed more and more of the architects’ responsibilities and attracted the confidence of the owners. The story concludes with the formation of the Associated General Contractors of America in 1918. | 19th century, United States, General Contracting, Architectural Practice, Building Contracts |
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Buchanan, A.C., & Webb, N.J. | 2018 | ’Two- and three-dimensional geometry in Tierceron vaults: A case study of Exeter cathedral’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp391-397. | This paper presents recent findings from the ‘Tracing the Past’ project, which uses digital methods to investigate English thirteenth and fourteenth-century vaults. Our paper presents initial analysis of the vaults of Exeter Cathedral, based on a laser scan survey undertaken in April 2016. We suggest that all the high vaults were laid out in two dimensions using a geometrical figure called the ‘starcut’, allowing the same proportions to be maintained throughout, despite different bay dimensions. The three-dimensional geometry of the vaults, however, presents significant variation between bays. These appear to correspond with the construction sequences proposed by previous scholarship. Nevertheless, the nature of the variations does not correspond fully with previous interpretations. We propose that two-centred arcs were found at Exeter earlier than generally recognised and in a different pattern of distribution than previously suggested. | Vaults (medieval), Structural forms (Britain), From Design to Building (Cathedrals), Modelling and Simulation, Digital Analysis |
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Buonopane, S.G. & Gasparini, D.A. | 2018 | ’John A. Roebling’s Allegheny Aqueduct and Smithfield Street Bridge: Nineteenth-century innovation in multi-span suspension bridges’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp400-407. | John A. Roebling’s first two suspension bridges—the 1845 Allegheny Aqueduct (7 spans of 160 ft) and the 1846 Smithfield Street Bridge (8 spans of 188 ft)—in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were multi-span bridges constructed on the stone piers of earlier wooden covered bridges. A critical design condition for multi-span bridges was the ability to accommodate unequal gravity loads on adjacent spans. The effects of unequal loads depend on the type of cable saddles, the design of the deck or trunk, transfer of load between cables and trunk during construction and pretensioning of diagonal stays. Comprehensive historical assessment of these bridges is achieved through examination of archival writings and calculations; original bridge specifications; contemporary published accounts of construction and performance; and modern structural analyses. Roebling was deeply familiar with existing design knowledge, yet developed two different innovative solutions that created the foundation for the daring and success of his later bridges. | 19th century, United States, Bridge Suspension, Structural Analysis, Structural Design |
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Burchardt, J. | 2018 | ’From invention to production: The introduction of prestressed concrete’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp409-416. | How do new production methods resulting from inventions develop into practical applications? This case describes the innovation process for prestressed concrete in Denmark from 1939–52. This was achieved through new materials, new production machinery, changed calculation methods, new approval systems of the authorities, and new organizational frameworks around planning. Knowledge was dispersed mainly from Germany and France, and secondarily from Belgium and Sweden. Danish research played no major role. However, there was a lively exchange of experience among engineers. Dr. Techn. Christen Ostenfeld played a special role; he became acquainted with the French developer of prestressed concrete, Eugène Freyssinet. In 1941, Ostenfeld got Freyssinet to design a major bridge. It was not realized, but it resulted in licenses on Freyssinet’s patents coming to Denmark. Ostenfeld’s consulting and engineering firm (today known as COWI) grew in parallel with the use of prestressed concrete, including the construction of silos around Europe. | Pre-stressed concrete 1928–80, Innovation process, Denmark, Bridges, Large Scale Structures, Standards |
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Calvo-Salve, M.A. | 2018 | ’Influences of the engineer Pier Luigi Nervi on the work of the architect Marcel Breuer’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp417-424. | This paper reviews the influences of the engineer Pier Luigi Nervi among others on the work of Marcel Breuer, to discover how Nervi’s influence marked a watershed in his work. The paper also discovers how the prolific use of pre-cast faceted molded facades in his later work had its origin in the experimentations and structural concepts of Nervi. This search for the use of creative structural solutions caused him to continuously seek collaboration with audacious engineers. His friendship with and knowledge of the work of Felix Candela and Amancio Williams, thanks to his short collaboration with the architect Eduardo Catalano in his office, also influenced in Breuer’s later use of concrete shells. | Modernist Architecture, United States and Europe, Cast-in-place and Pre-cast Reinforced Concrete, Architect & Engineer Collaboration, Marcel Breuer & Pier Luigi Nervi |
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Capponi, M. | 2018 | ’A dispute on Venetian techniques of foundation: Vincenzo Scamozzi in San Nicolò da Tolentino (1591–95)’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH, Vol 1, pp425-432. | Venetian builders had learned to cohabit with lagoon grounds adopting site-specific constructive procedures, showing a practice detached from vitruvian discipline. The architect Vincenzo Scamozzi is banned from the new San Nicolò da Tolentino site in 1595 after the subsidence of a backdrop rock, charged with having refused a locally traditional mortar and having accepted reduced pilings. Supported by an unpublished survey, we would now move the attention on the foundation technique with depressed arches between pillars, proposed to the client by ensuring big saving. The workforce, operating according to tradition, make changes to the early solution and progressively weaken the structure. The uncertain direction of the building works begs the question as to whether there was an actual practice of such a foundation system in the city: maybe not specifically fitted for the Venetian site, but a logical and universal solution for every kind of low-resistant ground for Scamozzi. | 16th–17th centuries, Venice, Church, Foundations, Vincenzo Scamozzi |
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Caston, P.S.C. | 2018 | ’Wooden survey towers in Germany’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp433-440. | Possibly well over 100 wooden survey towers were built in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in Germany. None have survived in physical form, but new photographic and archival finds have recently revealed some truly breathtaking structures. After 1934/35 all German wooden survey towers were required to be constructed according to a specification or regulations manual. The manual, which is little known, even in professional circles, is the only known source of practical information. It describes details of the design, construction and assembly of various types of towers right down to the last detail, except for the height, that was always individually determined on site. This paper will discuss the design, construction and assembly of these little known towers and summarize the current state of the historical research and present the some aspects of the construction. | 19th–20th centuries, Central Europe, Survey Tower, Timber Construction, Carpenter |
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Chalvatzi, A.M., Holzer, S,M. | 2018 | ’Iron roof structures by Bosshard & Cie: Case studies in Switzerland’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp441-448. | In Switzerland, bridges and iron structures are imported until the second half of the nineteenth century, a time when local companies emerge to regain local markets. Progressively, projects are given to local contractors instead of being appointed to foreign companies. Arnold Bosshard & Cie, based in Näfels, Schwyz is an example of an iron company, which progressed from bridge structures to iron roofs. This research focuses on the company’s evolution and its contribution to iron implementation in Switzerland. The assessment is based on particular examples that provide an insight in the company’s production, among which the dome of the Neue Kirche in Enge, Zurich and illustrate how Bosshard & Cie evolved from a local iron-producing workshop to a larger scale company with national presence. | 1890–1900, Switzerland, Iron Dome Structures, Iron Implementation, Construction Company |
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Chamorro, M.A., et al | 2018 | ’Building contracts in the city of Girona from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp449-456. | In the archives of Girona city there is valuable information about the agents that participated in the construction of the most important buildings in Girona between the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries. Our objective is analyzing one kind of document that contributes relevant information for the construction in this period: the building contracts. In this kind of document one will find a series of guidelines for the construction of buildings that master builders should follow. In these documents appear not only the most important religious buildings built in Girona but also other contracts of the minor construction as reparation of constructive elements, construction of small houses, etc. Not all documents are in relation with private buildings; we find documents of public works like construction of bridges, walls of city, remodeling of streets, etc. The study of these documents contributes important information about the construction history in the city of Girona | 14th–18th centuries, Girona (Spain), Building Contracts, Master Builders, Building Materials and Techniques |
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Chrimes, M. | 2018 | ’Innovative or derivative? The design of the bridge structures on the world’s first intercity railway between Liverpool and Manchester’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp457-464. | The Liverpool and Manchester Railway is well-known as the world’s first intercity railway, introducing a global transport revolution. Most research has focused on the triumph of the steam locomotive in the Rainhill trials. In comparison the design and construction of the civil engineering infrastructure have been neglected. The line featured over 60 bridges and viaducts. This paper considers the relative role of George Stephenson, the railway’s Engineer, his assistants and external consultants in developing the designs, identifying where there was innovation. The Railway was a prototype and its methodology for bridge design was unsustainable for the main phase of railway construction | 19th century, British Isles, Bridges, Project Management, Consulting Engineers |
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Ciblac, T. | 2018 | ’The graphic statics of the systems of space by Benjamin Mayor’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp465-473. | From 1896, Benjamin Mayor, professor in Lausanne, developed a three-dimensional approach to static problems called « graphic statics of the systems of space ». The first objective of his research was the extension to space of graphic statics methods. The approach is based on the ruled geometry, characterized by the central place given to lines and by their duality properties. In this formalism the role of the line of action is generalized to space by the complex of action. The theoretical results have been communicated to the French Academy of Sciences, and the practical applications disseminated in two publications. This article presents the theoretical foundations and applications of this approach to the calculation of articulated spatial structures. It also questions the pedagogical approach associated with this method based on geometry not taught in the University of Mayor. Finally, it addresses the international dissemination and the posterity of this approach. | 19th–20th centuries, Graphic statics, Spatial Framework, Ruled Geometry, Linear Complex |
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Clarke, J. | 2018 | ’The rise and fall of the cast iron breast panel in Britain (c.1906–60)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp475-483. | This paper examines an important cladding component of the first half of the twentieth century, one that received only passing mention by contemporaries, and which has only been considered by historians in more wide-ranging discussions of elevational expression. The first part traces the British history of cast iron breast panels (known transatlantically as spandrel panels), which reached a zenith of popularity around 1930 before sliding into decline, rapidly so in the post-war years. This discussion, which advances reasons for this rise and fall in production and usage, is followed by consideration of how the panels were cast, and affixed to buildings, and whether, beyond architectural effect, there were practical and economic advantages that accrued from their use. The paper concludes that there were pragmatic benefits in using breast panels of cast iron compared to other materials, but it was largely for reasons of elevational effect that they proved so popular | c.1906–60, Britain (England & Scotland), Commercial and Industrial, Decorative Use of Cast Iron, Facade Treatment |
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Como, A., et al | 2018 | ’TPI – the Italian popular theatre: An architectural, technological and building experiment of a space in motion’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp485-491 | This paper focuses on the “Teatro Popolare Italiano” (TPI), a mobile theatre for 3,000 spectators, realised in Italy in the 1960s, a design project by the architect Ezio De Felice and the engineers Elio Giangreco and Giuseppe Giordano. The TPI, commissioned by the famous Italian actor and director Vittorio Gassman, represents an architectural, technological and building experiment as well as a cultural project conceived by Gassman, with the support of the entrepreneur Giovanni Erba. The travelling structure would have allowed a new theatrical art form, a theatre which would have been itinerant, democratic and accessible to everyone. A series of problems caused by alterations during the realisation opened up a debate on a national level and eventually the mobile theatre stayed paradoxically stationary for years before being dismantled and sold to the Egyptian State. This paper will follow the design concept and the whole process of structural and technological definitions through the unpublished material (drawings, writings and photographs) kept at the Foundation De Felice. | 1960s, Italy, Demountable Structure, Steel, Theatre |
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Como, M.T. | 2018 | ’Inquiring into the structural identity of the Sala dei Baroni vault’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp493-500. | The Renaissance Castel Nuovo, in Naples, built through the interaction of Majorcan masters and local building technicians, produced a fruitful contamination among architectural and building traditions. The construction of the imposing octagonal ribbed stellar vault, covering the Great Hall, the Sala dei Baroni, designed by Guillelm Sagrera, triggered the spreading of a stone masonry culture in the areas of South Italy within the Crown of Aragón. And, at the same time, the formal and constructional solution, traditionally used within the east Iberian area—of which it is by far the largest one-, was altered by the material, technical, and cultural local context, giving rise to a hybrid architectural and constructional result. The analysis of the vault’s form and construction inquires on its structural identity, showing that the formal and material peculiarities of the vault move it from that of a ribbed vault to that of a masonry dome. | 15th century, Italy, Masonry Dome, Building Process, Structural Form |
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Condoleo, P. | 2018 | ’What hides behind the plaster? Hollow-brick and iron vaults in Europe between the eighteenth and the twentieth century’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp501-508. | After the industrial revolution, a growing production of iron allowed a large scale spread of iron and brick construction. Between the late eighteenth and the early of the twentieth century, Europe experienced a transition from the use of traditional stone and brick masonry construction, to the progressive spread of iron and steel in composite construction with brick and, later, concrete. This phase is characterized by the use of iron and both hollow and solid brick jack arches. The result was often a pure experimentation with new techniques and materials that partly go back to tradition, and partly exploit the newly developed building materials. This paper aims to highlight, through the analysis of different examples, the role of this type of vaulted construction. | Late 18th-beginning 20th century, Europe, Vault, Hollow Bricks, Iron |
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Cutta, D., & Russo, M. | 2018 | ’Reinforced concrete in Italy through the works of two generations of engineers: Mario and Giorgio Baroni’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp509-517. | The study of Mario and Giorgio Baroni permits us, through their respective biographies, to read into important aspects of the passage from the early theory of reinforced concrete through to the most advanced experiences of the 1950s. On one side there is Mario Baroni, a great teacher and innovative designer who transferred a fine interpretation of the distribution of tension in reinforced concrete components to the development of patents. On the other, his son Giorgio Baroni experimented with systems for the development of thin concrete shell roofs, patenting a system for vaults formed by four sections of hyperbolic paraboloid from 1936 onwards. Therefore he can be considered to be primarily responsible for the introduction of this system of construction in Italy. Both father and son are, in their own rights, representatives of two quite different eras of design and construction, and this paper will retrace their life and works with the aim of exploring a unique case of knowledge transfer in the development of the evolution of engineering | Mid-20th Century, North of Italy, Thin Shells, Reinforced Concrete Patents, Early Reinforced Concrete Research |
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De Fosse, M., et al | 2018 | ’The construction of Ghent’s textile industry warehouses’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp519-526. | This paper examines the wide variety of warehouses belonging to the textile industry in Ghent, an important historical harbour city in Belgium, once called the “Manchester of the mainland”. Different types of warehouses were built depending on the characteristics of the materials stored, the location of the warehouse and whether the goods stored would be used in manufacturing or were finished products. The specific architecture, construction and organisation of these warehouses are analysed, with special attention to the reasons for the prevalence of one construction material or another. | 19th–20th centuries, Ghent Warehouses, Selection Criteria For Construction Materials, Industrial Heritage |
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Degraeve, M., et al | 2018 | ’Spatial management of contractors. An analysis of the industrial sites of the Louis De Waele enterprise in Brussels (1867–1988)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp527-535 | Due to the recent attention paid to general contractors, business historical insights have revived within construction history. To obtain a better understanding of the role these contractors played in shaping the built environment, the historical analysis also has to focus on their spatial conduct. Confronting different business historical sources enables an evaluation of the spatial management of a Brussels contracting firm, the Louis De Waele enterprise, active since 1867 until today. It started as a small family enterprise and evolved into one of the most important Belgian contracting firms by 1900. The firm combined general contracting with a spatially more demanding woodworking activity until 1945. Its spatial management was highly influenced by external factors, especially the general construction activity. The insights make clear that analysing a contractor’s spatial management forms a valuable perspective for business historical research into construction enterprises. | 19th–20th centuries, Brussels, General Contractor, Business History, Spatial Strategies |
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Deneweth, H. | 2018 | ’Renovating early modern Leiden: New perspectives on the building trades’, in I. Wouters e al (Eds),Procs 6 ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp537-545. | What is still missing in construction history is an understanding of the submarket for renovation, maintenance and repair work—a submarket that probably had a larger turnover than new construction, but barely left any paper trails in the past. However, insight into the working of this submarket is required before we can even start analysing how building contractors and building craftsmen divided their activities between new construction and renovation. This paper uses 100 well-documented histories of houses along the Rapenburg in Leiden (The Netherlands), detects renovation cycles and analyses their main characteristics and determinants. Renovation offered the actors in the building process many opportunities but involved certain risks as well. Attempts to manage risk can be seen in their entrepreneurial strategies. | Early Modern Period (1500–1800), Leiden (The Netherlands), Private Housing, Renovation Works, Entrepreneurs |
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Devos, R., & Espion, B. | 2018 | ’Building in (times of) war. Blaton’s construction activities in occupied Belgium’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH, Vol 1, pp547-554. | Although the amount of building projects reduced strongly in Belgium during the Second World War, the Brussels-based contractor Blaton was able to continue some of its activities and this with more projects than was previously assumed. As such, the Blaton archive offers a rare opportunity to investigate the legal, economic and practical conditions of building in occupied Belgium. This contribution examines a selection of wartime projects undertaken by Blaton: the Karlec factory in St.-Niklaas, the Ghent St. Nicolas Church and the Ghent harbor quays. All three cases were examples of the early application of pre-stressed concrete, a technology for which Blaton, in collaboration with G. Magnel, was an international pioneer. More than focusing on the technological challenges, the paper evaluates the ordinances of the German occupying forces and their effects on building activities, influencing the management of laborers, the availability of construction materials and imposing even a prohibition on construction activities. | World War II, Occupied Belgium, Blaton, Contractor, Prestressed Concrete |
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Di Donato, D., et al | 2018 | ’Steel heritage: Olivetti’s factories in Ivrea in the fifties and sixties’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds) Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp555-562. | The recent nomination of Ivrea—a factory town in the Piedmont region—as a Unesco site provides the opportunity to rediscover significant aspects of buildings belonging to its precious building heritage: namely its factories built in steel. In the incomplete history of Italian industrial architectures related to the culture of steel construction, these specific factories play an important role representing a privileged place for the testing of building technological innovation. From this point of view our paper particularly investigates technical solutions for these steel architectures, a theme not yet deeply researched. Steel becomes crucial in the realisation of the ideas of Adriano Olivetti, who, over the 1950s and 1960s, promoted the construction of such factories in order to increase company production and also to experiment with a new factory design, transforming Ivrea into a “revived Bauhaus”. | 1950–1960, Ivrea-Piedmont Region, Italy, Steel Structure, Factories, Technological Experimentations |
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Di Pietro, C. | 2018 | ’History of the Italian contractors of large reinforced concrete structures in the twentieth century’, in I.Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, p563-571. | During the twentieth century, the construction companies of large reinforced concrete structures developed in Italy, along with the rise of the Italian School of Engineering. Involving many scientists, engineers and contractors, the School built an original heritage of great structures in reinforced concrete, among the most prestigious in the world during the 1960s. History is unfolded through the perspective of a selection of less investigated enterprises: small and medium firms, often run as family businesses, which despite the Italian technological backwardness, were able to build impressive structures. Starting from 1970s, the contractors suffered an inexorable decline, that ended in 1992 with a big corruption scandal. Only few companies survived, becoming General Contractors and acquiring all small and medium ones, causing the close of the contractors of large reinforced concrete structures era. The historic reconstruction is based on the documents from the Chambers of Commerce and from archives of the companies. | 20th century, Italy, Large Structures, Contractors, Reinforced Concrete |
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Dobbels, J., et al | 2018 | ’A business-historical analysis of Entreprises générales Henri Ruttiens (1878–2000)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp573-580 | In the past years, the emergence and development of the profession of Belgian general contractors has been researched increasingly. Although international research already indicated the relevance of additional case studies, this could hardly be realized for Belgian general contracting companies due to the limited availability of archival material. This was recently countered by the discovery of several (partly preserved) contractors’ archives in Flanders and the Brussels-Capital-Region. This paper therefore analyzes the Brussels-based general contracting company Entreprises Générales Henri Ruttiens et fils (1878–2000) from a broad business-historical perspective. By embedding this case in existing literature on the longitudinal professionalization of Belgian general contractors, the paper not only gives insight into the history of this specific company but also in general trends in the Belgian general contractors’ profession. | 19th–20th centuries, Belgium, General Contractors, Business History, Contractors’ Archives |
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Doering-Williams, M. & Albrecht, L. | 2018 | ’Sasanian construction technology in the Maiden Tower Complex as evidence of Late Antiquity building activities in Baku (Azerbaijan)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp581-589 | Azerbaijan’s today’s capital Baku is located on the Absheron Peninsula at the Caspian Sea, an area that was part of the Sasanian Empire in Late Antiquity. Despite its favourable geographical position no structural remains of this era had been discovered in Baku. A recently uncovered wall fragment in the Maiden Tower complex is to be considered completely unique in Baku’s architecture due to its constructive peculiarities, masonry techniques and stonecutting. However, comparison of these exceptional masonry characteristics with constructive details of the architecture in the region of Caucasian Albania will now allow us to make a construction-historical assessment of this ‘isolated’ masonry structure which shows that this wall could be part of the ambitious and complex Sasanian construction activities on the Caspian Sea coast in the sixth century | Sasanian Empire, Baku, Azerbaijan, Caucasus, Persia, Fortification, Defence Structure, Dry Stone Masonry, Maiden Tower (Qiz Qalasi) |
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Draper, K., & Campbell, J.W.P. | 2018 | ’Doors in English published books on architecture and building construction 1550–1800’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp 591-599. | Doors have not been widely discussed in isolation in architectural histories. They feature in late nineteenth century and early twentieth century histories of furniture and histories of building style which typically illustrate early surviving examples in churches and colleges. This paper provides a description of the instances and nature of the discussion of doors and door furniture in early English architectural books. The paper aims to guide the reader through all the books in the period, providing the first complete list of references to doors. In the process it seeks to identify useful insights into the thinking about doors in each period. The period chosen begins with the earliest English books on architecture and goes up to the introduction of the new type of building construction manuals which first appeared around 1800. | 16th–19th centuries, England, Doors, Books |
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Fernandes Povoas, R., & Pimenta do Vale, C. | 2018 | ’Porto tower buildings in the 1960s: Challenges to architects and engineers’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp 601-608. | This paper analyses the design and construction of high-rise buildings, assessing the implications of this ‘new’ building type on design processes, either from an architectural point of view, as new organisational requirements were needed and new regulations had to be applied, or from an engineering point of view, as the increased height and their concentrated load required new structural approaches and calculation methods. The central analysis focuses on four early projects by four different architects and four engineering teams: the 14-storey Miradouro Building of Cooperativa dos Pedreiros, built in the eastern part of Porto; the 18-storey Hotel D. Henrique, in the city centre, just a few hundred meters from the City Hall; the 12-storey Montepio Geral Building and the 13-storey Social Security Building, both located near the Boavista Axis, in the western part of the city. | 20th century, Portugal, Tall Buildings, Concrete Structures, Porto |
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Ferreira, T.C. | 2018 | ’Constructive culture in the transition from the nineteenth to the twentieth century. Contributions of Alfredo de Andrade (1839–1915) to construction history across Italy and Portugal’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp 609-618. | This article seeks to analyse in greater depth the contributions that Alfredo de Andrade (Lisbon, 1839 – Genoa, 1915) made to the discipline of Construction History across Italy and Portugal, particularly in the case of his studies and built works, as well as with regard to what he describes as “archaeological memories”, possibly deriving from his attempt to compile a “dictionary”. These contributions are documented in a large amount of material (including drawings, models, notes, correspondence and photographs) which, even at the distance of over a century, enables us to re-establish the history of projects and building sites from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Moreover, through the analysis of sources and building construction processes, the paper proposes a wider reflection on Constructive Culture in the transition from the nineteenth to the twentieth century | 19th–20th centuries, Europe—Italy and Portugal, Dictionary, Sources for Construction History |
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Feyaerts, J. | 2018 | ’The institutional organisation of Belgium’s cellular prison building campaign (1830-WWI)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp 619-624. | In the nineteenth century, Belgium attained a solid penitentiary reputation due to the rigorous implementation of the cellular regime and the deployment of a corresponding new infrastructure. Prison historiography generally focusses on the efforts of Edouard Ducpétiaux, General Inspector of Prisons from 1830 to 1861, who introduced in Belgium the new concept of the solitary regime. In order to facilitate the solitary system, Ducpétiaux advocated the construction of a specific cellular prison typology. His ideas on prison architecture, which were strongly inspired by Anglo-Saxon models, proved to be determinative for Belgian prison design; between 1850 and 1919 nearly thirty star-shaped ‘Ducpétiaux-prisons’ were built. However, the unilateral focus on Ducpétiaux has disregarded other actors in the realization of this internationally renowned cellular prison network. This paper reconstructs the institutional context of prison construction between 1830 and WWI, which I consider crucial in the realization of Ducpétiaux’ ambitions. | Long 19th century, Belgium, Cellular Prison, Government, Ducpétiaux |
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Fivet, C., Ye, J., & Xu, P. | 2018 | ’The caisson – review of a unique wooden construction typology in China’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp 625-635 | The caisson is a wooden construction system that covers opera stages for rain protection and sound control. Caissons in China display a diverse range of geometric expressions, delicate manufacturing, structural behaviours, and acoustic qualities. Despite their uniqueness and patrimonial interest, very little literature is known to exist, and it lacks comprehensiveness. First, this paper attempts to compile for the first time a comprehensive list of publications on caissons. Fifteen sources are identified, among which six papers address the origin and interpretation of douba and spiral caissons. In addition, other types are here recorded, based on an original field research in Zhejiang and Shanxi provinces. Following this survey, the paper also suggests a classification for caisson types according to their geometries, construction process, and structural behaviour. This classification is further supported by the interviews with a local carpenter master who specialized in the renovation and component replacement of caissons. Considerations on carving artistries, painting, and pest control are also given eventually. As a result, this study brings forward the caisson’s diversity, fineness, and significance for the history of wood joinery construction. | 12th–19th centuries, China, Wood-only-construction, Typology, Construction Technology |
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Fordham, C. | 2018 | ’Richard Neutra and the history of the vertical louvered solar control system’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 1, pp 637-642. | Solar control strategies involving exterior shading devices were commonly utilized by architects practicing in America immediately after World War II. By the mid-fifties as central air-conditioning became the default for larger buildings, architects largely abandoned form based solar-control strategies in lieu of window treatments for light control. This paper traces the development, in which Richard Neutra is a central figure, of an innovative movable vertical louver shading system that controlled heat gain and regulated glare. The system which was both ornamental and functional is largely unknown to current building design professionals. Early versions of the system were manually adjusted, and the mature system automated and linked to sensors. The last of the buildings to contain the system in the United States before its disappearance in before 1970 were rare examples of high-tech kinetic architecture. A limited revival of the system has resulted from a renewed interest in solar control outside of the building envelope | 1940s to 1950s, United States, Shading, Louverssystem |
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Galavan, S. | 2018 | ’From pickaxes to steam saws: The construction of the row house in Dublin (1730–1888)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 643-650. | This paper will examine the construction of the row house in Ireland, from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century. Focusing on the Dublin house, it will provide a broad overview of the changing nature of domestic construction practices, from the digging of foundations to the building of walls and the acquisition of building materials. The nineteenth century was a key turning point in housing design, as new forms of technology transformed the building site. Why did some traditional methods continue, while others were transformed by new means of industrial production? Moreover, how did innovation impact the architectural form and detailing of these terraces? Although the Dublin house was based on its British counterpart, this paper will show how the city gave birth to a unique architectural landscape in the Irish capital. By tracing the evolution of these building techniques in Dublin, this paper will show the impact of industrialization on these ubiquitous streetscapes. | 18th–19th centuries, Dublin, Terraced/Row House, Materiality, Building Process |
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Garcia Fritz, J. | 2018 | ’From master builder to subcontractor: The Guastavino Company and the role of specifications’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 651-657. | Over the course of eighty years, the Guastavino Company positioned itself as a master builder of timbrel vaults in the United States. The company gained notoriety among architects and engineers as being the most qualified for constructing thin masonry tile vaults for various types of projects. The specifications written for these projects offer insight into the transfer of knowledge and the direction of work between the Guastavino Company and the architects, engineers, and general contractors responsible for completing them. In the early twentieth century, however, these relationships shifted as new standards emerged from the establishment of institutions like the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) in 1948 and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA aka AGC) in 1918. This paper correlates the history of the Guastavino Company with the formation of standards that impacted the transfer of knowledge and the direction of work in the United States. | 20th century, United States, Guastavino Company, Vaulting, Knowledge Transfer, Specification Standards |
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Garda, E., & Mangosa, M. | 2018 | ’Sturdy as stone, vibrant as ceramics: Italklinker and Modern Movement architecture in Italy’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 659-666. | In the 1930s Giovanni Muzio imported for the first time in Italy a new building material, the klinker. This event marks the beginning of a close collaboration between designers and the Italian ceramic manufacturing industry, aimed at the development of a local production and of an evolutionary product process, in response to the new technical and aesthetic demands of the modern architecture. Italklinker or lithoceramics, combining characteristics of stone and ceramics, is promoted in the autarchic period as a hygienic, eternal and incorruptible material. The versatility of its shape, color and finishing gives rise to vibrant, colorful and iridescent surfaces. The productive process, the technological connotation and the composition qualities are investigated through some works of the Italian Modern Movement masters. The paper intends to highlight the peculiarities of this “modern skin” and to raise awareness about the correct conservation of this widespread building technique, often compromised by unaware recovery interventions. | Modern Movement, Italy, Building Envelope, Italklinker, Lithoceramicsproduct |
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Gasparini, D., & Buonopane, S.G. | 2018 | ’Navier’s 1823 Mémoire: Analyses and observations on displacements and stiffness of suspension bridges’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 667-673. | Some of the analytical models, quantitative results, and inferences on design in Navier’s 1823 Memoire on suspension bridges are examined and assessed. Navier derived a linearized formula for the vertical midspan displacement of an unstiffened cable caused by a small change in cable length or span length. He also predicted the vertical displacement and stiffness of a cable subject to a concentrated vertical load at midspan. Navier’s linearized results and inferences are assessed on the basis of results from geometrically non-linear analyses. Navier derived a formula for the effective horizontal stiffness of a vertically loaded cable subject to horizontal wind forces. He also examined the effects of bearing types on displacements of multi-span bridges subject to unequal vertical loads, concluding that pulley-like bearings were not feasible. The influence of Navier’s results and inferences on the designs of Charles Ellet and John Roebling is discussed | Navier 1823 Mémoire, Charles Ellet, Suspension Bridges, John Roebling, Bridge Displacements, Stiffness and Bearings |
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Giron, J. | 2018 | ’Geometry on paper and on the ground in the last third of the seventeenth century. Leclerc’s and Manesson-Mallet’s contribution and influence’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 675-681. | Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries under the name of “practical geometry” were gathering a growing body of knowledge and practices developed by artisans, architects, surveyors, or engineers in order to solve problems of surveying, measurement and construction. In this context one of the problems to be tackled was straightaway linked to the first step to be taken when building: how to set up on the ground a design drawn at scale on paper. We will see here the answer given to this problem in France, between the last third of the seventeenth century and the beginning of the eighteenth century by authors coming from several disciplines: artists like S. Leclerc, engineers like A. Manesson-Mallet, and theorists of gardening such as A.-J. Dezallier d’Argenville or S. Switzer. | 17th century France, Drawing on the Ground, Practical Geometry, Treatises |
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Gonzales-Redondo, E. | 2018 | ’Historic timber framed courtyard houses: Origin and development of the corralas in Madrid (1494–1908)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 683-689. | Buildings in the historic city of Madrid, the area within the fourth wall, were most timber-framed (1494–1868). The corrala is a unique construction type, as some timbered structures are not hidden. They consist of a plot where a patio, with shared facilities and timber-framed opened corridors leading to small dwellings placed around it, stands as the essential constructive element. These buildings are believed to have been built since the 1600s and spread mainly in the north and south historic boroughs linked to the first factories, in the 1800s. Despite its great architectural value their origin and development are still unknown, and the date of construction is known just for a few. A research carried out in the Historical Archive of the town of Madrid reveals some key case studies from first timber-framed construction types to the latest ones (1737–1908), including also some built with the new iron structures | 1600–1900, Madrid (Spain), Timber Framed Structures, Courtyard Houses, Historical Archives |
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Graf, F. | 2018 | ’Innovation of construction systems versus reproducibility of the architectural image. Multiple constructional processes in the ‘Unité d’Habitation’ (1945–67)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 691-696. | This paper analyses, on the basis of the corpus of the Unités d’habitation, the great diversity of the construction systems adopted in the 1950s and 60 s to meet the need to build ‘for the greatest number’ in the form of a typological invention covered with an envelope that is iconic and apparently stable, indeed rigid. | 1945–70, France, Germany, Prefabrication, Industrialisation, Advanced Construction Processes, Comfort, Collective Housing, Image of the Building, Adaptabilityand |
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Greco, L. | 2018 | ’Pier Luigi Nervi and Fiat. The expansion of Officine Mirafiori in Turin’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 699-706. | The Fiat architectural heritage, whose construction in the twentieth century was the contribution of Italian engineers and architects, is very extensive and not yet completely examined. This essay investigates, through largely unpublished archive documents, this theme that is representative of an important part of the Italian industrial architecture heritage. Nervi and Bartoli designed and built the structure of the complex known as the first expansion of the Officine Principali Mirafiori (1954). The roof, organized on a series of on site prefabricated reinforced concrete trusses, was the most interesting part of the new factory, while the organization of the construction yard was the main design and construction theme of the building process. The engineer organized a prefabrication construction yard inside the traditional building site, correlating times and tools of the construction on site with both the rhythms and techniques of prefabricated production. | 20th century, Italy, Factory, Prefabrication, Construction Yard |
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Grimoldi, A. | 2018 | ’The vaulted roof of San Vittore in Milan: An unusual sixteenth-century construction’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 707-714. | San Vittore al Corpo, one of the most singular and intact sixteenth-centuryreligious buildings in Milan, is known for the long discussions about the role of the architects—Galeazzo Alessi, Martino Bassi, Vincenzo Seregni, Pellegrino Pellegrini—whose names recur in the documents of a building site which lasted almost half a century. The constructional aspects have been scarcely considered, although the estimates drawn up at that time are very detailed and correspond essentially to the existing building. The transept and presbytery are covered by a thin masonry vault, upon which the bent tiles (coppi) rest directly. It repeats the vault underneath, pierced by deep lunettes, between reinforcement arches which emerge both in the intrados and the extrados. The case of Sant’Andrea in Mantua, in which the roofing rests directly upon the vault of the nave, gives way here to a variant which has some rare parallels in terrace roofs | 16th–17th century, Northern Italy, Lombardy Brick Vaults, San Vittore Church in Milan, Vaults Acting as Roof |
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Hamzeian, B. | 2018 | ’The evolution of the cast node of the Pompidou Centre: From the ‘friction collar’ to the ‘gerberette’’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 715-723. | The paper is devoted to a decisive chapter of the construction history of the twentieth century: one of the most important masterpieces of the contemporary steelworks, the Centre Beaubourg, now the Centre National d’art et de culture Georges-Pompidou. Thanks to the availability of previously unpublished documentary records and to interviews with some of the protagonists of the design and construction of this building, it is finally possible to retrace the origins and evolution of the most significant detail of the structure of the Centre Beaubourg: the cast steel piece that later came to be known as the “gerberette”. | 1971–1977, Paris, Cast Steel, Pompidou Centre, Structure |
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Hancock, L. | 2018 | ’German stonemasons and the fort architecture of the Texas frontier’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 725-732. | In the 1840s, German immigrants settled in the Texas Hill Country. Among their numbers were skilled stonemasons who quarried readily available stone to construct residences and mercantile establishments. Within a decade these tradesmen were called upon to adapt their craft to construct military encampments on the Texas frontier. This paper seeks to present how these German tradesmen advanced their design and building methods to adapt to the construction of large scale military installations on the high plains of Texas. It presents the construction techniques and specific detailing of Fort Chadbourne, Fort McKavett, and Fort Concho in comparison with the traditional Germanic architecture of Fredericksburg, Texas. | 19th century, Texas, Fort Architecture, Stonemasonry, Tradesmen, America, ZZTop |
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Harrer, A. | 2018 | ’The Chinese teahouse at the 1873 Vienna world exposition’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 733-739. | The ‘Chinese teahouse’, erected for the 1873 World Exposition in Vienna, showcased the rising self-confidence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as its desire for a globe-spanning presence in a place as distant as Qing China. Through analysis of the process of decision-making, design, and construction of the Chinese teahouse, as well as its public reception until its final disposal, the paper discusses why and how Chinese architecture once again had become the plaything of the powerful (old pattern of Chinoiserie), even if the world in the late nineteenth century was growing closer and more interconnected, and broader knowledge of genuine Chinese building traditions was now theoretically available outside their country of origin. Commissioned, financed, and furnished by Austrian individuals and firms and designed by the Italian-born Turkish architect Pietro Montani (1829–87), the language of construction provides important clues to understanding the distinctive (inter-)national character of the teahouse. | 19th century, Vienna, Austria, Chinese Teahouse, Chinoiserie, Austro-Hungarian Empire |
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Hays, B.J. | 2018 | ’Documenting depression-era construction: The University of Virginia’s PWA buildings’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 741-747. | This research investigates the architectural drawings and construction photographs associated with the Public Works Administration’s (PWA) built projects at the University of Virginia (UVa). Like other ventures the PWA funded nationally, these documents played pivotal roles in the administrative and financial functioning of the projects: working drawings provided employment to architects at the beginning of projects while photographs evidenced progress throughout a project’s later stages. Both drawings and photographs were partly necessary for releasing payment by the PWA. This paper focuses primarily on the University’s PWA projects: Bayly Art, Thornton Hall, Alderman Library, the Private Patients’ Pavilion, and renovations to the University’s Rotunda. However, the consistency of architects employed by the University from 1900 through the PWA period of the 1930s allows the research to suggest ways in which the PWA may have changed the nature of architectural drawing standards and construction documentation. | 1930s, USA, Public Works Administration, Great Depression, Rotunda |
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Heyman, J. | 2018 | ’King’s College Chapel: The geometry of the fan vault’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 749-754. | A conventional survey was made in 1978 of the level of the top surface of the fan vault of King’s College Chapel, and the findings were confirmed by laser scans in 2012. Instead of being horizontal, the centre-line surface of the vault slopes down, in a substantially uniform way, by over 120 mm from east to west in the length of some 88 m of the chapel. A difference of level of about 20 rather than 120 mm would have been achievable by the medieval builders, and this fact, coupled with the almost uniform slope of the ridge, indicates that the settlement was due to some systematic cause associated with the construction programme. Each of the twelve bays of the vault was built successively in three months over a total period of three years. Examination of the way in which construction may have proceeded indicates a possible explanation of the small but definite and remarkably uniform slope of the whole chapel. | Medieval building, England, Masonry, Surveying, Contractors |
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Hof, C. | 2018 | ’Late Antique vaults in the cisterns of Resafa with ‘bricks set in squares’’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 755-763. | Gertrude Bell described in 1910 the vaults ‘with the bricks set in squares’ in early Syriac Christian church buildings in the in modern day south-eastern Turkey. The basic technique of horizontal radial-brick combined with vertical-brick or pitched-brick vaulting is known especially from hydraulic structures in Constantinople and Asia Minor in Late Antiquity. However, surviving examples of the special sub-type with a mitre-pattern, i.e. Bell’s ‘square of bricks’, are rare. Not so in the Late Roman city of Resafa in northern Syria, where a number of mitre-pattern brick vaults still exist. Those within the so-called Great Cistern have been documented by laser scanning and that data is now analysed. This paper explains the brick vaults of Resafa’s cisterns and comparable examples and models the process of their erection. It discusses aspects of the origin and spread of the mitre-technique and asks for the purpose of the ornate construction. | Late Antique Engineering, Resafa (Syria), Brick Vaulting, Cisterns, 3D-Modelling |
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How, C. | 2018 | ’Evolutionary traces in European nail-making tools’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 765-771 | Such is the visual and mental impact of the superb images by Jean Moreau, Diderot’s illustrator, that some unfortunate associations have influenced our historic views of nail-making. The assemblage of tools tends to become locked in a time capsule pertaining to that period of around 1770, masking the evolutionary development and subsequent progress of nail-making techniques. The assemblage, and hence the technology, is assumed by many to be pre-eminently, or even uniquely, French. Recent research has uncovered older documentation showing that similar tools and anvil combinations were in use in Franken in an earlier stage of evolvement some eighty years earlier. Other German documents show traces of evolving trends and allied developments during the prior three centuries. The paper further hypothesizes that Roman influences played a part in nail-makers’ anvil and obore design, which survived in the trade until the demise of wrought nails. | Roman to modern times, Northern Europe, Timber and Masonry Construction, Nail-Making, Anvils |
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Huerta, S. | 2018 | ’Arch bridge design in eighteenth-century France: The rule of Perronet’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 773-780. | Traditional design of masonry structures up to the twentieth century used empirical proportional design rules, independent of the scale. For buildings they were essentially correct: stability depends on the geometry, but not on the size, of the structure. Bridges support the pass of heavy traffic loads and the problem is non-proportional: for a given load smaller bridges are “weaker”, more sensitive to action of the passing load. However until the eighteenth century the known rules were proportional. H. Gautier (1717) proposed first a non-proportional rule, but it was too conservative. J.R. Perronet (1748) produced a non-proportional rule for arch bridge-design both simple and reliable and justified it by the comparison with more than 200 existing bridges. Perronet’s rule was in use for more than 100 years. In the present paper the use of Perronet rule and the development of arch bridge design during the eighteenth century will be studied, with a final discussion on the validity of the rules. | 18th century, Europe, Arch Bridge, Rules of Structural Design, Masonry |
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Isaacs, N.P. | 2018 | ’‘Recommended minimum requirements for small dwelling construction’. A forgotten ancestor of the modern USA building code’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp781-786. | American mining engineer Herbert Hoover became US Secretary of Commerce in March 1921. One of his early actions was to establish a “Building Code Committee” (BCC) with a goal of improving the productivity of house construction using a code “developed upon scientific data”. In July 1922, the BCC reported its “Recommended Minimum Requirements for Small Dwelling Construction”. As well as being the first U.S.A. national code, it was the first code to include details on “doing better”. The code is complete in 18 pages with 43 clauses, supported by a 71 page explanatory appendix. This paper explores the development of the BCC and its publications, including the small dwelling code 1922 and 1932 editions. Other code organizations made extensive use of the BCC publications, but even this could not stop the “modern code muddle” as described by a 1964 author. Ultimately it led to the modern, nation-wide International Building Code. | 20th century, United States of America, Small Dwellings, Building Code, Construction |
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Jimenez Rios, A., & O’Dwyer, D.W. | 2018 | ’Earthen buildings in Ireland’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp787-794. | Even though Irish meteorological conditions are adverse for the development of earthen constructions, earth has been used as a construction material in Ireland for more than 4000 years. The objective of this paper is to present a summarized and concise picture of the present situation of the remaining earthen buildings in the country, identify their main characteristics, the values that make such buildings important, evaluate their vulnerability as vernacular architectural style and therefore, understand and better approach any future intervention on such kinds of structures. In particular, the paper highlights the lack of a detailed description of traditional construction techniques and of recommended procedures for the conservation of existing earthen structures. The paper identifies the pertinent Irish texts and suggests how recent research on the mechanical properties of cob and state-of-the-art numerical analysis techniques and constitutive models can be used to assess the strength and stability of existing historic structures. | 2000 BC—Present, Ireland, Vernacular Architecture, Cob, Conservation |
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Kayser, C. | 2018 | ’Iron on top. The use of wrought iron armatures in the construction of late Gothic openwork spires’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 795-802. | The first openwork spire was realized in the early fourteenth century at the western tower of Freiburg Minster. The impressive structure served as model for its successors. The construction of the Freiburg spire is dependent on a series of wrought iron elements: anchorage systems at the top of the octagonal hall, in the pyramid of the spire as well as “reinforcements” of the crowning pinnacle. The integration of the iron elements into the stone skeleton was carried out skilfully and technically apt. During the following two centuries, a series of about 40 openwork spires was erected in several European regions. In most cases, the Freiburg system of iron armatures was adopted. A key role in the dissemination of the typology played the master builder Ulrich von Ensingen and his descendants who presided over many important building lodges in the fifteenth century. | Middle Ages-Gothic Buildings, Central Europe, Tower/Church, Combination of Building Materials, Openwork Spirecathedral |
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Knobling, C. | 2018 | ’The Munich state opera house. Constructing between tradition and progress at the beginning of the nineteenth century’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 803-808 | The Munich opera house, rebuilt after a blaze in 1825, reflects the state of the art in construction technology in the first decades of the nineteenth century. Modern elements of timber engineering as well as recourse to older construction techniques from the sixteenth century were combined to create one of the largest contemporary opera houses in Europe. The building was later destroyed during the second world war. This paper uses archival research to construct the first model of the pre-war state of this historical building, which in turn sheds light on whether the archival materials were correctly interpreted. The functionality and rigidity of the designs can be represented and understood with the model. In addition, for the first time the previous constructions of Carl von Fischer can be discussed, since detailed constructional drawings of the predecessor building (which burnt down in 1823) could be found. | 19th century, Munich, Opera House, Reconstruction Model, Wide-Span Roof and Ceilingpolitical |
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Kosykh, A., et al | 2018 | ’The roof of the Marble Palace in Saint-Petersburg: A structural iron ensemble from the 1770s’, in I. Wouters et al (eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 809-817. | It is one of the classic narratives in construction history that the first load-bearing iron frames were erected in France in the late eighteenth century. However, early iron roof structures were already built in Russia several decades before. As part of a larger study of these virtually unknown iron structures, the paper focuses on the wrought-iron roof truss of the Marble Palace in Saint-Petersburg. Covering an area of approximately 4000 m2, it was assembled in the 1770s. Designed on the basis of patterns used for traditional timber roofs, and assembled during this “Golden Age” of Russian metallurgy, the structure is a unique example testifying to the high level of the builders’ craftsmanship. Based on comprehensive investigations, supplemented with material testing and structural calculations, this paper describes and assesses the iron roof of the Marble Palace as one of the first steps in developing the “language of construction” of building with iron and steel. | 18th century, Saint-Petersburg, Early Iron Roofs, Russian Iron Production, “Construction Language” of Building with Metalsof |
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Kumagai, R., et al | 2018 | ’Modernity and locality in the use of brick in Spanish architecture (1870s–1930s)’, in I. Wouters et al, Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 819-828. | This paper consists of three different but interconnected themes related to the brick use during the transition period into the modern construction. First, we overview the technological change and continuity, particularly focusing on the development of the Catalan vault and the introduction of the reinforced concrete construction in Catalonia and Madrid. Secondly, we analyze the transformation of the brick load-bearing walls in Modernist architecture, featuring especially several works of Domènechi Montaner. In the last section, we clarify the local difference of brick facades examining the brick bonds, dimension and the ornamental expression classifying 63 buildings built between 1870s and 1930s in Madrid and Catalonia. In conclusion, there were technical developments within brick construction itself in the transition period from tradition to modernity, but we could also say that there is continuity of expression within the transition from brick construction to modern construction | Late 19th-early 20th centuries, Catalonia and Madrid, Brick Architecture, Catalan Vault, Transition of Technology |
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La Spina, V. | 2018 | ’Study of traditional gypsum in Spain: Methodology and initial results’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 829-836. | This article aims to explain in detail the methodology and initial results from “Study of gypsum and traditional plaster in Spain. Deposits, quarries, kilns and traditional architecture, state of conservation and proposals of itineraries for promotion and diffusion” commissioned in 2016 by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport through the Cultural Heritage Institute of Spain. A detailed description is provided here of the objectives, phases and sources consulted for this study. Special importance is attached to those which have made it possible to locate deposits, quarries and kilns or gypsum transformation centres throughout Spain in order to understand the importance of gypsum in the Spanish constructive tradition. Finally, the main general results of the study are detailed, as well as details specifically addressing types of extraction, kilns, gypsum materials and their multiple uses in the past. | 18th–20th centuries, Spain, Vernacular, Architecture, Gypsum |
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Labrunye, R., et al | 2018 | ’Interdisciplinary research on the heritage of housing complexes in France (1945–75)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 837-842. | This paper presents the methodology of the research program “SMART FRENCH, collective housing of the second part of the twentieth century, through the prism of energy”. Many energy renovation operations of this heritage are mostly carried out in the perspective of very heavy transformations, in particular by external thermal insulation. The aim of the research program is to appraise and rank the architectural, technical, historical or constructive value of these post-war housing complexes. The purpose is to build a database as exhaustive as possible on nearly 700 operations, published at the time of their construction and then to evaluate the initial environmental qualities of the projects in terms of integration into the landscape, solar orientation, spatial articulations, thermal inputs. This set of information will then be the subject of an analytical treatment to emphasize the most current situations and those that are considered obsolete in view of the contemporary demands. | 20th century, France, Mass Housing, Renovation, Heritage |
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Landi, A.G. | 2018 | ’Earthen mortar walls in Cremona: The complexity and logic behind a construction technique’, in I. Wouters et al (eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 843-850. | Carefully constructed brick masonry walls, built using earthen mortar are common in vast areas of Italy (where they coexist with the most widespread lime mortar masonry) at least until the middle of the nineteenth century. Studies on earthen mortar masonry, though in an embryonic state, already show significant differences compared to the more studied raw earth buildings. This kind of masonry was spread in Italy (particularly in the Marche region, Sardinia and along the alluvial valley of the Po river: however the use of local materials and the technological refinement achieved by craftsmen produced heterogeneous applications, also depending on the period. In particular, in Cremona, the mixture of earth, sand and quicklime is well documented and a first catalogue has implemented a basic knowledge of the different types of construction and damages, which currently is largely missing. | Modern Age, Italy, Aristocratic Palaces, Earthen Mortar, Brick Masonry |
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Lapins, A. | 2018 | ’Geometry and proportions of the medieval castles of Latvia’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 851-856. | Interest into how the architects and builders of the medieval times have managed to design and realise the complicated structures without the modern knowledge has always been in the focus of art history studies. It is assumed, that the applied geometry has substituted the modern calculations. Several authors have advocated different approaches. This paper explores, how these methods and the approaches might have been applied to the building type, where geometric relations have been tested to a lesser extent—the Livonian castles, built during the medieval period on the territory of Latvia. This paper addresses the possible methods used to convey the original layout of these medieval structures from the general plan to the architectural details. Recent discoveries as well as analysis of different aspects of the castle geometry have been explored. The research is an ongoing project, as a part of the PhD studies on castle ruin conservation and display | Medieval Construction, Latvia, Castle, Livonia, Geometric Proportions |
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Lavigne, O. | 2018 | ’New typology for Old & Middle Kingdom stone tools: Studies in the Hatnub quarries in Egypt’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 857-862. | The present study aims to clarify the use of lithic tools for stone working in pharaonic Egypt, particularly during the Old and Middle Kingdoms. It is based on ongoing research in the calcite (also known as “Egyptian alabaster”) quarries at the site of Hatnub in Middle Egypt. The tools which are the subject of this study were those which were used at the beginning of the ancient production process. | Old and middle kingdom, Middle Egypt, Alabaster Quarry, Stone Tools, New Typology |
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Lucente, R., & Greco, L. | 2018 | ’Luigi Moretti and the program of the case albergo in Milan (1947–50)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH brussels, Vol 2, pp 863-870 | The subject of the essay is part of the architectural research that took shape in Milan in the post-WWII period. Luigi Moretti founded his own construction company (Cofimprese) in Milan after WWII. Among the initiatives of Moretti and Cofimprese the program of the case albergo, collective homes intended for singles or young couples based on the typological combination of the private housing units with collective services, stands out. According to Moretti, this type of building represented “the most technically and socially advanced buildings” in the post-war scenario marked by an exceptional housing demand. Initial studies referred to a program of 22 case albergo, but only three of them were actually built. The basic scheme involved the combination of a group of buildings (from two to four buildings) and their collective services. Typological characters supported rationalized construction processes thanks to modular and repeatable solutions. | 20th century, Italy, Housing, Luigi Moretti, Industrialisation |
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Mair, R., & Weber, C. | 2018 | ’Hydrotechnical models of the ‘Modellkammer’ (chamber of models) in Augsburg, Germany’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 871-877. | The economic success of pre-industrial Augsburg in Bavaria, Germany was, amongst other achievements, enabled by its impressive water management. As witness to this ancient technology, the Maximilian Museum in Augsburg is able to exhibit not only plans and sketches, but also a unique collection of models. This paper presents a survey of some hydrotechnical models preserved in the collection. Through a comparison with contemporary documents it is possible to substantiate most of their provenances. The writings of Caspar Walter (1701–1769), Augsburg’s most famous “Brunnenmeister” (master of the waterworks), played a decisive role in these reconciliations. In Hydraulica Augustana, published in 1754, he describes the three central water towers with all their technical installations and expands on the models displayed in two of them. Furthermore, the questions concerning the constructor, purpose and, if existing, counterpart could be answered for many exhibits. In some cases it is even possible to determine separate construction phases. | 18th century, Augsburg, Germany, Models, Hydrotechnical Equipment, Caspar Walter |
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Maira Vidal, R. | 2018 | ’Abandonment of sexpartite vaults: Construction difficulties and evolution’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 879-886. | The sexpartite vault experienced a brief existence during the Early Gothic and many researchers have referred to its abandonment as premature. Viollet-le-Duc and Choisy suggested that alternating supports of different sizes and the difficulties and extra costs involved in raising the roof and the side walls above the enormous semi-circular diagonal ribs, were the possible causes of the sexpartite vault’s disappearance. Thunnissen added their lack of flexibility as another reason. Other authors have highlighted the strange appearance of their side compartments and the resulting constructional difficulties. These theories can be considered valid, however a thorough comparative analysis of the main examples we studied in Europe, together with practical experience building a 1/3 scale model of the vaults, has enabled us to add new hypotheses based on the analysis of their construction, defining how they evolved before they were abandoned and identifying the implicit construction features that contributed to their disappearance. | Early Gothic, Western and Central Europe, Cross Ribbed Vaults, Stereotomy, Geometric Designsurvey |
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Maissen, M., et al | 2018 | ’Late Gothic constructions in Müstair and Meran’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 887-893. | Located in the in the extreme southeastern part of Switzerland, the Abbey of Saint John at Müstair was founded around 775. The monastery, although preserving a large part of its original fabric, underwent a series of later additions and modifications, amongst which the late Gothic vaulting of the Carolingian church is one of the more important (1488–92). Notwithstanding the importance of the site, these vaults have never been studied in detail. Based on first-hand observations at Müstair and neighbouring contemporary church buildings, the late Gothic building phase will be investigated through building archaeology in the present contribution. In particular, similarities and differences between the abbey church at Müstair and the architecturally closely related Spitalkirche at Meran will be scrutinized. | Late-gothic, Switzerland, Hall Church, Saint John Abbey Müstair, Historical Archives |
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Marino, G. | 2018 | ’Built-in, exposed or concealed comfort services. Attempts to industrialise collective housing after 1945’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 895-901. | This paper proposes to reconstruct the crucial theme of integration of building services in the industrialised construction processes, which was deeply involved in the upheaval in the building sector which was dreamed of after 1945. | 20th century, Physiological comfort, Building services |
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Mascarenhas-Mateus, J., & Rodrigues de Castro, C. | 2018 | ’The Portland cement industry and reinforced concrete in Portugal (1860–1945)’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 903-911. | This text aims to analyse the transformation of the image and identity of Portland cement and reinforced concrete in Portugal from the 1860s up to the end of the Second World War, as portrayed in the press. The dissemination of the material and the building system sometimes followed parallel and sometimes overlapping paths. In both cases, the purposes, limitations, advantages and disadvantages of the material and the process alike were discussed in the different media and by the range of stakeholders. Rhetoric, marketing and propaganda were carefully fashioned by combining scientific study, statistical data, graphics with slogans and photographs—along with other aspects such as the social benefits and guarantees for cement factory employees—to depict Portland cement in its different applications to a range of audiences. Sources included not only all the main specialized journals, patent records and daily newspapers but also monographs sponsored by cement factories, contractors and the State itself to promote their own corporate identity, vision, mission and culture. | 1860–1945, Portugal, Portland Cement, Reinforced Concrete, Identity |
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May, R. | 2018 | ’Origins of the modern cable-stayed bridge: The Dischinger story’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 913-920. | Cable-stayed bridges are among the most fascinating endeavours in the history of bridge design. An important part in their historiography is played by the eminent German civil engineer Franz Dischinger (1887–1953) who is usually credited with having been the key initiator of the modern cable-stayed bridge. Based on current research by the author, this paper focuses on the different steps followed by Dischinger during his involvement with the topic of stay cables in bridge design. In addition, direct and indirect influences of his efforts in this field will be discussed. By critically analysing this captivating story of twentieth-century engineering history, some deep-rooted errors will be corrected and important new insights added. | 20th century, Germany, Cable-stayed Bridges, Franz Dischinger, History of Engineering |
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McLean, W. | 2018 | ’Frederick Lanchester and the invention of the air-supported roof’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 921-926. | In 1917 Frederick W. Lanchester (1868–1946) applied for the first UK patent for an air-supported structure, and in 1920 Lanchester registered another patent for an air-supported ‘domed’ exhibition hall with a proposed diameter of 329 m. Whilst neither of these structures were realised, both designs featured in key architectural publications and can be credited as the antecedents of an emerging technology. Lanchester, an engineer and polymath is best known for his work in automotive engineering, aeronautics and powered flight, and thanks to the recent publication of his archive, an analysis of his calculations and notebooks is now possible. The paper concludes by describing the subsequent development and realisation of air-supported and air-formed structures by engineer Walter Bird (1912–2006) and architect Dante Bini (1932-), and features previously unpublished archive diagrams and notes, documenting the invention of a remarkable new type of structural enclosure entirely supported by differential air pressure. | Frederick W. Lanchester (1868–1946), Temporary Structures (UK, US, Japan), Air-Supported Structure (Inflatable), Mamoru Kawaguchi (1932-), Graham Stevens (1944-) |
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Mennucci, M.M., & Palazzo, P.P. | 2018 | ’Catetinho: The first presidential house in Brasília, Brazil’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 927-934. | Among the monuments of Brazilian modernist architecture, Catetinho, built in 1956 near the construction site of Brasília, is one of a kind. The only work by Oscar Niemeyer built out of wood, it was intended to be a temporary office for the President of the Republic during the construction of the new capital city. This work discusses the current state of conservation of the Catetinho, how its design and construction techniques impact conventional wisdom on the preservation of both modernist and wooden buildings, and recommended strategies to protect material integrity and the intelligibility of its original design. The research points out that, while the hastily detailed structural system is itself a risk factor to the Catetinho’s durability, conservation efforts can be helped by a clear vision as to which, among the existing materials and techniques, are essential to the building’s identity | 1950s, Catetinho (Brasília), Wood, Maintenance, Restorations |
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Mislin, M. | 2018 | ’Some aspects of steel building construction of the industrial architecture in the United States (1890–1930)’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 935-941. | At the turn of the twentieth century, American industrial architecture assumed a leading role worldwide with new construction methods and new materials. The standardisation of building processes and new methods of pre-fabrication accelerated the reduction of construction times and promoted efficiency in the design of factories. | 20th century, America, Prefabrication, Factories |
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Morganti, R. et al | 2018 | ’Iron bridges for Rome, the capital of the Kingdom of Italy’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 943-950. | In 1871, ten years after the foundation of the Kingdom of Italy, Rome was officially declared the nation’s capital. Historical masonry bridges of the city were no longer sufficient to guarantee a suitable crossing network. The need to quickly build new connections involved the construction of several bridges using wrought-iron and steel, employing for the first time a national construction process in order to affirm the autonomy of the young Kingdom, and in some cases taking care for their architectural design, in order to reach as much as possible the assonance with a precious historical context characterized by bricks and travertine panorama. Unfortunately, in the twentieth century most of these bridges were gradually replaced, losing a valuable heritage which was strongly linked to the construction scenario of the time and that marked a crucial period for the growth of a new European capital. | 1870–90, Rome, Iron Bridges, History of Techniques, Historical Setting |
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Mornati, S. | 2018 | ’The hyperbolic paraboloids of the Tor di Valle racetrack in Rome’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 951-958. | When the Tor di Valle Racetrack (arch. J. Lafuente, eng. G. Rebecchini, arch. A. Birago, eng. C. Benedetti) was designed, the use of the hyperbolic paraboloid (hypar) in reinforced concrete structures was no novelty. Furthermore, the interesting properties that make it suitable for the construction of vaults were already well-known, together with its versatility in the most varied combinations with other analogous surfaces, able to create particularly suggestive building structures. While the Tor di Valle Racetrack, constructed between 1955–59, belongs to an advanced phase of experimentation with thin shell-shaped structures, it also represents a unique case in the architectural production matured prior to this period by its designers. Moreover, it was highly original in the Italian panorama of those years. | 20th century, Italy, Sports Facility, Hypar, Heritage |
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Motamedmanesh, M. | 2018 | ’The secret of zoomorphic imposts: A new reading of the Achaemenids’ roofing system’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 959-966. | This study investigates the trabeated structure of Achaemenid palatial complexes; it re-examines the origins of the main hypothesized concepts about the roofing system, and the strength or weakness of these theories. Given the Achaemenids’ success in spanning very tall, spacious halls with limited intermediate supports, this paper searches for the practical methods used to improve the structural behaviour of columns and beams. It underlines the role of zoomorphic imposts, as well as a particular architectural setup that augmented the total load-carrying capacity and earthquake resistance of the Achaemenid structures. This study relies principally on the fundamental laws of mechanics, the observation of architectural remnants, as well as historical and modern literary sources about the methods of wood construction in antiquity. | Ancient Timber Architecture, Achaemenid Empire, Post-and-Beam Construction, Quasi—Continuous Beams, Semi-Rigid Joints |
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Moubax, L., & De Jonge, K. | 2018 | ’The dome of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis in Paris, a historical and structural analysis’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 967-976. | Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis (1627–40) was the first church in Paris with a large-sized crossing dome (a span of approximately 12 m). The structural behaviour of this “vault”, when checked with a calculation program, reveals certain similarities to a masonry dome, although it was realized in timber like the outer structure. This tour-lanterne may be compared with the smaller one on the Église des Carmes in Paris. Both are probably based on illustrations from the treatise Le théâtre de l’art de Charpentier by Mathurin Jousse, who was connected with the architects of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis. Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis turned out to be highly influential. Although its dome is structurally speaking neither logical nor efficient, it constituted one of the first steps in a process which eventually led to great domes such as the Dôme des Invalides. Similar experiments at the Leuven Jesuit church (1650–57), inspired by the Parisian example and its aftermath, were unfortunately never realized. | 17th century, France, Dome, Structural Analysis, Historical Analysis |
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Muscio, E., & Anaya Diaz, J. | 2018 | ’Braided rope with vegetable fibers for the construction of the Inca bridge of Q’eswachaka (Peru)’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 977-981. | Weaving is probably the most ancient union technique among materials. The advanced techniques of structures with natural fiber woven ropes for the formation of original bridges from the Inca Empire which is a civil engineering example used up to now. Each year the construction of a bridge which is called Q’eswachaka coming from the origins of Inca in Peru is realized with ichu fibers (Stipa ichu). The ropes woven manually by means of torsion and braiding techniques and save a distance of approximately 29 meters on the River Apurimac. Large ropes which are those that will be placed at the base of the bridge, formed by 22 soguillas, twisted between each other and then braided up to 15–20 cm in diameter which can reach a resistance of 1800 kg. This article contributes to the investigation of techniques and structure building process which could be considered like the beginnings of bioengineering. | Inca Empire Engineering, Peru, Suspension Bridge, Ropes, Weaving, Natural Fibers |
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Nau, A., & Collette, Q. | 2018 | ’Church of Mission San José, San Antonio: Using construction history to inform preservation approaches’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 983-990. | The appraisal of weathering, deterioration and/or distress in historic buildings is often difficult given the lack of available construction history information. Yet it is an essential step as preservation programs have to rely on relevant preliminary investigations. Professionals in historic preservation need detailed information on the construction history of buildings/structures. Therefore, we investigate the construction history of an existing masonry building to inform preservation approaches. This paper uses construction history records of a case study, the Mission San José church (San Antonio), to support preservation approaches. Construction history investigations revealed that the 1930s church roof reconstruction introduced modern materials that may interfere with current interior finish deteriorations. In the same idea, mortar joints and limestone erosion ask for special attention near the 1928 construction joint of the bell tower. Conversely, preservation works performed at the sacristy revealed new information on the construction history of the church. | 18th–20th centuries, San Antonio, Texas, USA, Masonry Church, Spanish Colonial, Construction Process |
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Navarro-Camallonga, P., et al | 2018 | ’Knowledge transfer in vaulting. The Assier church and Valencian stonecutting’,In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 991-998. | Knowledge transfer in construction may be analysed starting from actual constructions, rather than archival sources. Recent surveying technologies can furnish precise three-dimensional models of complex construction members. This paper deals with a remarkable study case. An idiosyncratic stonecutting school arose in Valencia in the fifteenth century, specialising in Gothic ribless vaults. The layout of these pieces features typical Late Mediaeval vaulting elements, such as diagonals, tiercerons, and liernes, but its construction does not differentiate between ribs and severies. Pérouse de Montclos remarked the connections of a vault in Assier, in Southwestern France, dated in the 1540s, with Valencian examples. We have prepared a precise survey of the vaults in Assier, using automated photogrammetry. Next, using these surveys, we have analysed the geometrical features of the vaults, comparing them with models of Valencian vaults, confirming that both share similar conceptions and methods, although details in Assier show a freer approach. | Late Gothic-Renaissance, Spain-France, Ribless Ashlar Vault, Stonecutting, Stereotomy |
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Nijland, T.G., & Quist, W.J. | 2018 | ’Nineteenth-century stone protection: The invention and early research on fluosilicates and their dispersion into Europe’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 999-1004. | The nineteenth century, with its industrialization and confidence in science, sees the introduction of a wide range of synthetic products for the protection (waterproofing, consolidation) of porous building materials such as stone, brick, mortar and plaster, including fluosilicates (fluates) ethylsilicates, waterglass, Ba-hydroxides and many more, rapidly replacing the traditional limewater and linseed oil. Especially fluates, invented by Jacques Louis Kessler who changed German-occupied Lorraine for Clermont-Ferrand deeper in France, rapidly spread over Europe. Several early material scientists, like Ludwig von Tetmajer and Hans Hauenschild, performed experiments studying the effect. Especially Hauenschild was instrumental in the spread of the use of fluates. That is why, in later years, in addition to the original Kessler fluates they were called Hauenschildfluates. This paper provides a brief background on the chemical engineer Kessler, discusses early research on the effect of fluates and their introduction in The Netherlands. | Late 19th-first half 20th century, Northwest and Central Europe, Facades, Fluosilicate, Kessler |
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O’Dwyer, D., & Cox, R. | 2018 | ’The Boyne Viaduct: Early indeterminate lattice girder analysis and design’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1005-1012. | The high-level Boyne Viaduct on the Dublin—Belfast railway line at Drogheda was the largest continuous lattice girder when its construction was completed in 1855. The bridge comprised three spans: two side spans of 44 m (144 ft) and a main central span of 81 m (267 ft). The Viaduct is of particular interest as one of the earliest continuous bridges to have been designed in accordance with structural theory. The accuracy of the calculations was verified by experiment during construction and the position of the points of contraflexure were controlled. This paper details the input of James Barton, Sir John Macneill, Bindon Blood Stoney and William Bindon Blood to the design of the Boyne Viaduct. The key primary sources referred to in this paper are James Barton’s, and Doyne and Blood’s papers to the Institution of Civil Engineers of London, Stoney’s notebooks and Downing’s paper to the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland | 19th century, Ireland and the UK, Continuous Lattice Girder, Sir John Macneill, Trinity College Dublin |
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Orsel, E. | 2018 | ’Sixteenth-century development from common rafter roofs to ridge purlins in Leiden (NL)’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1013-1019. | Dutch roof construction belongs to a Flemish-Dutch group with common rafters supported by trusses. This has originated from the common rafter roof. For Leiden (West Netherlands), systematic documentation, including dendrochronological research, has made clear that medieval roof constructions consist of transverse (stacked) trusses, which support common rafters. From 1543 (d.) the constructions are provided with a ridge purlin, for stiffening of the ridge. By combining these data with roofing subsidies, it can be demonstrated that ridge purlin is the result of the transition from the flat ceramic tile to the new corrugated pantile. The structure of trusses does not change, but is supplemented with a ridge purlin on a ridge-truss. This application of a ridge purlin can (mistakenly) lead to the idea that this has originated from the purlin roof. The development makes it clear that the Flemish-Dutch construction is a development of the common rafter roof and is a separate variant. | 1300–1800, Leiden, West Holland, Roof Construction, Common Rafter Roof, Roof with Purlin |
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Ortiz-Colom, J. | 2018 | ’European iron bridges in Puerto Rico: The example of the Guamaní bridge’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1021-1027. | Between 1850 and 1898, Spanish authorities in Puerto Rico began a modern system of highways designed for wheeled traffic. The island’s creased geography necessitated many culverts and bridges; the need to expedite building, the scarcity of skilled labour and the short lifespan of timber made wrought iron an attractive option for bridges of at least ten-metre spans. Twenty-two such bridges were imported, all from France and (mostly) Belgium. Several structural types were used; lattice main beams were frequent because of their ease of transport and erection, and their “ornamental” qualities. The nineteen still existing may be the most important collection of French and Belgian iron bridges in the Western Hemisphere. The 1891 43-metre-long, double-span side-lattice beam bridge known as the Guamaní Bridge, near Guayama, is studied in greater detail as a case example of this type of structure as built, still performing over 125 years after its erection. | 1850–98, Puerto Rico, Bridge, Metal Structure, Roads |
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Palazzo, P.P. | 2018 | ’Accouplement: Vicissitudes of an architectural motif in classical France’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1029-1036. | Coupled columns in French architecture and the reaction to their use from the Renaissance up to the classical rationalism of the early twentieth century hinged on the debates regarding the relationship between structural stability and visual delight, over the backdrop of the search for a national classical tradition. This architectural motif was variously put forward under the argument of the load-bearing performance of materials, as a logical derivation of column spacing rules in the classical canon, or even as a reinterpretation of gothic bundled piers. The practical usefulness and moral suitability of iron reinforcement in the wide spans entailed by coupled columns accompanied these debates from the seventeenth-century Louvre Colonnade up to Perret’s case for the monumental use of reinforced concrete | 17th–20th centuries, France, Colonnade, Iron Reinforcement, Classical Architecture |
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Pelke, E., & Kurrer, K-E. | 2018 | ’Fabrication and erection of large steel bridges in the twentieth century: From structural analysis to optimisation of fabrication’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1037-1044. | At the beginning of the twentieth century, thanks to the development of a production chain based on the division of labour and comprising material delivery—design—production—shipping—erection, German “Brückenbauanstalten” become the main driver of innovation in German large-bridge construction. Power-assisted lifting equipment and the challenge of replacing ageing railway bridges make it necessary for erection to become a clearly organised discipline. With the construction of the Rhine bridge and the first motorway bridges, erection continues its evolution into a separate and distinctive process. After the Second World War, the “Economic miracle” fine-tunes fabrication shop and erection. The bridge-construction establishments, now called steel-construction companies, simplify shapes, increase unit weights, reduce subassemblies and minimise their costly connecting interfaces. The Rhine bridge at Wiesbaden-Schierstein (1962) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Brücke (1967) in Bonn represent the pinnacle of optimised construction in terms of materials, manufacturing and erection. Around 1975, construction of large steel bridges in Germany begins to regress. The art of erection is taken up by others. | 1900–75, Europe, Bridge, Organization of Fabrication and Erection, Ratio of Material to Labour Costs |
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Petrella, G.M., & D’Almeida, C.H. | 2018 | ’Production of major public works in Brazil: From the scenes in documentaries from 1950–70 to an interrogation about the contemporary specificities of state-company relations’, In I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1045-1052. | A set of documentaries presents construction scenes of heavy infrastructure of six Major Public Works in Brazil between 1954–79. The unpublished collection was surveyed in the files of the Contractor Camargo Corrêa and produced by Jean Manzon, at the request of the national government that was in office when they were produced. They enunciate the institutional, financial and technical arrangements in the succeeding scenes of description of production processes at construction sites. The essay explores a different reading of the contemporary, based on an observation of scenes of these historical documents, under the prism of two categories of analysis: the Set-up and Re-setup of the standards of capital accumulation and the production of the space. The objective is, therefore, to give legibility to an analysis of the continuities and discontinuities in the historical movement from the “industrial urban complex” to the “financial real-estate complex”. | 1950–1970, Brazil, Large Scale Public Works, Building Actors, Construction of Infrastructures |
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Pierattini, A. | 2018 | ’Early Greek stone construction and the invention of the crane’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1053-1059. | The invention of the crane is among the most remarkable Greek contributions to the history of construction. While it is believed that crane technology spread in Greece in the late sixth century BC, grooves observed on the first stone blocks of Greek architecture, which are those of the early temples at Corinth and Isthmia, suggest that the crane might have been experimented with as early as the mid-seventh century BC. This view has been criticized on practical grounds. Based on re-examination of the finds and experimental tests, this paper demonstrates that a lifting machine was most plausibly used with the blocks of the two temples. This view does not clash with the idea that fully developed cranes only became common much later: indeed, forerunners of the crane without winches or hoists seem to have been used in Greece since 900 BC and in Egypt as early as the Bronze Age. | Early Archaic Period (7th century B.C.), Ancient Greece, Lifting Technology, Crane, Stone ConstructionWeinberg |
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Poellinger, A.L. | 2018 | ’Experimental school constructions by Jean Prouvé. The benefit of closed prefabrication’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1061-1066. | The French “constructeur” Jean Prouvé (1901–84) has left a legacy of over 90 school buildings in France that were produced and assembled between 1932 and 1972. The article presents an excerpt of a research project providing the first overall analysis of these buildings. This perspective on Jean Prouvés work allows to trace relations of the structural development with overall discussion on industrialisation and architecture. The article focuses on important examples that examine the interrelationship between architectural projects and the development of educational and technical standards. Prouvés strategy of developing prefabricated school buildings will be challenged by the development of the so called “open prefabrication” in the 1960s. | 1945–67, France, School Constructions, Prefabrication, Jean Prouvé |
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Putz, A.W. | 2018 | ’Sheltered. Parked. Respirated. Three underground spaces by Gottfried Schindler’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1067-1074. | The traditional idea of architecture was transformed strongly by pervasive appliances and technical systems in the twentieth century. Beyond serving modern notions of comfort or hygiene, building equipment became an imperative of construction and a central structuring element. Addressing the knowledge-driven implications of man-made underground environments, the paper is aimed at broadening the understanding of the role of building services in the transformation of architectural production. Located around the historic centre of Zurich, the infrastructural facilities Central (1942–43), Hohe Promenade (1964–68), and Urania (1970–74) concurrently serve as parking garages and public shelters. Yet the actual challenge of these designs by architect Gottfried Schindler was the provision and conditioning of air. | Mid-20th century, Switzerland, Ventilation, Underground Parking, Civil Protection Shelter |
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Quist, W.J. | 2018 | ’Dutch natural stone: Interpretation of a vernacular building material in modern architecture’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp1075-1081. | The subsoil of The Netherlands is largely made up of marine and fluviatile soft sediments, resulting in an abundance of brick and an absence of natural stone in buildings. The country has only few local supplies of natural stone suitable to be used for building, most of them concentrated in the far south of the Province of Limburg. After World War I, the scarcity of building materials combined with the increase of entrepreneurship and the reinterpretation of ’local identity’ in architecture resulted in more intense use of locally quarried stone, both by the more ‘traditionalist’ architects and the ‘modernist’ architects. Carboniferous sandstone from the Cottessen region together with Kunrade limestone was nationally boosted shortly after World War II, leading to different uses. This paper identifies the change from ‘vernacular’ applications to ‘modern’ applications of native Dutch natural stone and defines the stylistic differences, essential to be taken into account in conservation and adaptive re-use. | 20th century, The Netherlands, Natural Stone, Vernacular Building, Modern Architecture |
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Rabasa-Diaz, E. | 2018 | ’Late Gothic system in the church of Saint-Séverin (Paris)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1083-1087. | The Church of Saint-Séverin, in the centre of Paris, features parts that were built at different times, although the ambulatory was built relatively homogeneously. In it we find a network of triangular vaults each with three converging ribs. Some of the elements of these vaults, which should appear symmetrically on each side of the temple axis, have nevertheless been arranged somewhat differently. These irregularities correspond perfectly with the arrangement of mouldings in the fasciculate shaft and with the forms in the bases. This paper presents constructive aspects of the Late Gothic forms of Saint-Séverin, especially the particularities of the coordination of the elements of the vaults and their supports, as an expression of the mastery of a technique | Late Gothic, Paris (France), Gothic Church, Stereotomy, Stonecutting |
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Rabeneck, A. | 2018 | ’Recent geopolitics of construction – origins and consequences’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1089-1096. | The liberalization of global finance in the 1980s has affected construction around the world leading to a general globalization that is transforming the culture of building in both rich and poor countries. The free movement of capital, labour, and technology has led to dramatic change in the organization of all aspects of building. The paper traces the origins of this development through a review of the literature of construction geopolitics and a brief history of international contracting, making the case for further study of geopolitical forces by construction historians. | 1980–2017, Globalization, Large Urban Structures, Oligopoly, Nation-State |
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Radelet-de-Grave, P. | 2018 | ’Pier Luigi Nervi’s idea of “vertità delle strutture”’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1097-1103. | Pier Luigi Nervi (1891–1979) explained that most important idea in different publications but, as he complains in his last book, Costruire correttamente, he was not always correctly understood. In that book he says: “It is beyond doubt that any effective realization, that is to say, of a total truth, is always aesthetically satisfactory.” We could summarize that idea saying: if in a construction, the elements that insure stability are apparent, the result will certainly be esthetical. In a first part I shall try to explain that idea with help of his published texts. Then I’ll show how that idea is reflected in his constructions | 20th century, Europe, Vaults, Concrete, Aviorimesse |
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Rauhut, C., & Meyer, T. | 2018 | ’‘Theory’ and systematic testings – Emil Mörsch, Carl Bach and the culture of experimentation into reinforced concrete construction at the turn of the twentieth century’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1105-1112 | Around 1900, the emergence of scientific knowledge on the new construction method of reinforced concrete was a driving force for its rise as the construction material of the modern era. Emil Mörsch’s book Der Betoneisenbau, seine Anwendung und Theorie played an essential role. His ‘Theory of Reinforced Concrete Structures’ presented a single theoretical method, which was however not a self-contained theory but rather a large number of theoretical considerations. This approach allowed Mörsch to take other considerations into account—e.g. Carl Culmann’s graphical statics in the second edition of 1906. Mörsch’s ‘Theory’ also offered the possibility to incorporate systematic series of experiments, which he had arranged in cooperation with Carl Bach. Hitherto, this close cooperation has not been discussed in its epistemic significance for the structure of scientific research in the building sector. The aim of the paper is to highlight the importance of systematic experiments for the formulation of a modern theory for the behaviour of reinforced concrete | 20th century, Germany/Switzerland, Reinforced Concrete, Culture of Experiments, Theory of Construction |
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Ren, C. | 2018 | ’A timber bridge constructed in seventeenth-century Japan: Study of innovation in the construction of Kintai Bridge and its maintenance techniques’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1113-1120. | The Kintai Bridge, in Japan, was constructed in 1673. It consists of two spans of girder bridges on both ends and three spans of bridge arches in the middle. Chinese immigrants brought the techniques for building arches to Japan in the seventeenth century. The local carpenters adopted the idea of the arch, but whereas the Chinese built them in stone, the Japanese chose to construct their bridge in timber. This material transformation was achieved through innovations in technology, such as accurate drawing and the processing of woods, the use of metal parts and the surveying, among others. The Kintai Bridge has been maintained by a society of local carpenters through a tradition of regular rebuilding and ongoing repairs. The engineering know-how to maintain the bridge was passed down among the local carpenters, who use detailed elevation drawings, special tools and oral tradition. | 17th century, Japan, Timber Arch Bridge, Innovation, Maintenance |
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Richaud, G. | 2018 | ’François Coignet (1814–88) and the industrial development of the first modern concretes in France’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1121-1128. | François Coignet, a French engineer, developed his work using the pisé de mâchefer technique [using clinker in formwork as per pisé]. He initially carried out unpretentious works in Saint-Denis (1853–55), Vincennes (1857), Suresne and Paris (1860), before forming a company devoted to construction (1862), in order to erect the church at Vésinet (1863–65), several collective dwellings located in Saint-Denis, rue Miromesnil (1867) and rue de la Terrasse (1870- ) in Paris. His work also includes the construction of 200 km of sewers in Paris, the Vanne aqueduct (1868–74), and finally the Port-Saïd lighthouse in Egypt (1869–70). At the time of these construction sites the methods used on them constitute the very first attempt to produce in France a new artificial material which was cheap, abundant and universal, entirely dedicated to large scale construction. | 1850–1900, France, Public Works, Apartment Buildings, First Concrete, Adaptability |
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Rondeaux, J-F., et al | 2018 | ’Assessing geometrically the structural safety of masonry arches’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1129-1136. | Equilibrium, as investigated by many historical theories, is the major concern when studying the behaviour of masonry structures. These existing studies aim at assessing stability and safety through the use of construction rules, which link an arch’s radius to its minimum thickness. The first part of the present paper puts forward the main views and methods in this field throughout history. In the second part, a geometrical method is developed in order to assess the structural safety based on graphic statics and admissible geometrical domains. These domains provide graphical information on the minimum and maximum thrusts a given masonry arch can sustain, as well as on its robustness. The different historic rules for masonry design are then reinterpreted and compared taking into account this geometrical approach. | Arch Theory, Masonry, Thrust Line, Limit Analysis, Safety Factor, Geometrical Domains |
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Sampaoli, G. | 2018 | ’A masterpiece in the use of light, Johnson Wax headquarters. Racine, Wisconsin, USA’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1137-1145. | A fervent imagination, the use of technical and constructional innovations, and the trust placed in him by the customer enabled Frank Lloyd Wright to produce a sophisticated project for the S. C. Johnson Wax Company, which has remained intact until the present. In this majestic but at the same time introverted building, the mechanical systems for environmental control, heating and cooling and forced air circulation are as central as its structural conception. Tubular glass is a fundamental design material, and Wright used it to create non-diaphanous membranes. Here the combined use of natural and artificial light lends strength to the project, transforming the glass-prism from an illuminated body to a light source. This paper, largely based on an examination of the documentation from the Johnson Wax archives and coeval articles, seeks to explore the theme of climatic comfort and interior lighting in buildings built in the earlier part of the twentieth century. | 1930–1950, America, Office Building, Lighting, Heating, Ventilation, Health and Comfort |
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Schaaf, U. | 2018 | ’The Church of Peace in Jawor: A few remarks on the organization of its construction in the years 1654–56 in the light of written and iconographic sources’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1147-1154. | The Thirty Years War ended in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. As a result of the peace negotiations, Protestants in the Silesian hereditary duchies under the king of Bohemia were deprived of all their possessed churches and allowed to build only three new churches of wood and clay outside the town walls of Głogów, Jawor, and Świdnica. In the example of the Jawor Church, an attempt has been made to examine the question of the organisation of the construction. Studies have shown that the building operations are based on traditional forms, known from medieval times. The uniqueness of the Jawor Church consists in the fact that in the middle of the 17th century the newly formed parish, initially without financial means, had to face the challenge of building one of Europe`s largest framework churches in the early modern period. | Early modern age, Silesia, Half-Timbered Church, Process of Building, Protestant Architecture |
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Schaefer, B. | 2018 | ’Nubia vernacular: The villages of Bigge’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1155-1162. | Nubia extends from Aswan in Egypt to south of Khartoum in Sudan. As a result of the construction of the Aswan Dam, most civil architecture of Nubia was destroyed by inundation. On the island of Bigge two abandoned Nubian villages have been preserved in a highly authentic state until our times. Their earliest fabric originates from 1912‒30 and since 2015 has been the subject of investigations by the German Archaeological Institute and Berlin Institute of Technology in a unique combination of the disciplines of building history and ethnoarchaeology. The objective is the documentation and the analysis of the principles of spatial organisation and the constructive characteristics of Nubian vernacular architecture. Marked by changes in the natural habitat, the living conditions and social structures, and along with them the architecture of Bigge underwent a transformation away from traditional patterns, proving thus insights into the processes inherent in evolution of vernacular architecture. | 20th century, North Africa, Vernacular Architecture, Nubian Resettlement, Aswan High Dam |
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Schaefer, J., & Holzer, S.M. | 2018 | ’Beyond Grubenmann: Swiss carpentry (1750–1850)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1163-1170. | The reformed churches erected in Switzerland in the late eighteenth century posed a new challenge to the master builders of that time. The construction of openly designed halls allowed the participants to have an unobstructed sight of the sermon, but also required innovative roof constructions. The Appenzell-based Grubenmann family of carpenters is known beyond Switzerland for their timber bridge and roof constructions. However, this focus on the Grubenmanns has tended to eclipse other highlights of Swiss carpentry, notably some less accessible, but remarkable wide-span church roofs, and the achievements of other families with equal skill. At the same time, Johann Jakob Haltiner and his son Hans Jakob constructed a large number of church buildings in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. This contribution presents two of their objects, which were examined particularly with the focus on new techniques used to solve the difficulty of the large span. | 1750–1850, Switzerland, Timber Roof, Carpentry, Haltiner |
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Schlimme, H. | 2018 | ’Transfer of knowledge through books and prints: Jesuit design for the Western buildings and fountains in the Yuanmingyuan in Beijing’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1171-1178. | Theme of the paper are the Western style buildings, spring fountains and plays of water in the Old Summer Palace Yuanmingyuan in Beijing, which were built in 1747–83. The question about the European models for the design was often asked, but answered mostly on a hypothetical basis. The present paper aims to contribute to this question by systematically analysing the effective knowledge base. The present author had the opportunity to study some of the Western treatises on architecture and hydraulics, which were available in the former Jesuit libraries in Beijing and which are today conserved in the National Library in Beijing. Handwritten comments in the text, hand drawings and entire manuscripts in the book covers show, how Jesuits worked with the books, how the models were taken up and put into work in the Yuanmingyuan | 18th century, Beijing, Hydraulic Construction, Spring Fountains, Michel Benoist |
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Scibilia, F. | 2018 | ’Earthquake-resistant foundations systems in Italy in the first decade of the twentieth century’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1179-1184. | In the first decade of the twentieth century, Italy was affected by a series of catastrophic earthquakes, including, in particular, the earthquakes on 8 September 1905 on the Tyrrhenian side of Calabria and 28 December 1908 in Messina and Reggio Calabria. These events caused substantial damage to the architectural heritage of urban centers and stimulated a lively debate on earthquake-resistant construction. The aim of this paper, based on a historical-critical research of many different sources, is to highlight the experimentation that took place in Italy around the theme of earthquake-resistant construction techniques, with particular reference to foundations, whose insufficient dimensions and erroneous construction were ones of the main causes of building vulnerability. The investigation will be based on the examination of regulations issued after the seismic disasters, reports and periodical publications, with reference also to competitions and congresses focusing on this issue. | 20th century, Italy, Foundations, Earthquake-resistant Construction, Patents |
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Shotton, E. | 2018 | ’Specifications and the standardisation of Ireland’s local harbours’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1185-1192. | Historically the construction of small harbours in Ireland was intimately tied to the materials, skills, and constructive practices of their locale. Even when engineers were employed, starting in earnest in the mid-eighteenth century with parliamentary grants and later systematised by the Irish Fisheries Commissioners, later subsumed into the Office of Public Works (OPW), local peculiarities persisted. Though the government-employed engineers occasionally drafted specifications, these were typically handwritten, bespoke, and tied to local constructive practices. However, the introduction of concrete as a building material in the late-nineteenth century revolutionised harbour construction in Ireland. Though the OPW experimented with this technology as early as the 1870s, it was not until the 1880s that a standardized specification was developed. This new specification not only made these structures more affordable but also regulated their form and construction to such a degree that local harbours became homogeneous across the country. | 19th century, Ireland, Harbours, Specifications, ConcreteCommission |
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Shu, C-X., & Fang, Y-B. | 2018 | ’Fire brick in China: From mining to architecture’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1193-1202. | Focusing on fire brick, an industry-based approach is adopted to address the development of refractory material in China. Fire brick was introduced into China in the mid-nineteenth century and stimulated wide application in modern structures afterwards, but it has received very little attention from historians. The study largely depends on different archival materials, rare books, and fieldwork. It reveals, for the first time, that fire brick was locally produced in China starting from the turn of the twentieth century, and that the development pioneered the path to modern ceramics in China thanks to coal mines and industrial constructions. The research opens a broad historical picture of knowledge circulation between Asia, Europe, and the USA, and exposes the scientific value in the historical materials today. It draws further conclusions regarding China’s modern shift from traditional to western brickmaking system, as discussed in 5ICCH. | Fire brick, China, Mining, Architecture, Industry |
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Silva-Contreras, M. | 2018 | ’New experiences with reinforced tile for Eladio Dieste when building the Cristo Obrero Church’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1203-1210. | This paper has the aim to deep into the construction process of the three pieces that constitute the Cristo Obrero church in Estación Atlántida, Uruguay: the temple, its baptistery, and the bell tower. The paper will explore the relationship between the initial forms, conceived according to Eladio Dieste’s previous industrial buildings, and the construction experiences derived from the selection of new forms under different function needs. In one hand, are the small pieces prefabricated on site with reinforced tile, like those for the roofs on the access to the baptistery and its communication with the temple, as well as the steps for the bell tower. In the other hand are the large pieces, as the curved walls and the roof of the temple. The precarious procedures and formworks to its fabrication contrast with the sophisticated structural balance of the ensemble and the tension cables inside the ceramic tile, anchored to the upper undulated beam. | 20th century, Estación Atlántida, Reinforced Tile, Eladio Dieste, Cristo Obrero |
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Simmons, D.A. | 2018 | ’Competing visions of community, commerce and construction in the first Ohio River railroad bridge’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1211-1218. | While various technological historians have recognized the significance of the Steubenville Bridge as the first railroad structure across the Ohio River, no effort has previously been made to fully assess the historical and political contexts of its construction. This paper will explore the federal government’s full assumption of its proper place as the mediator of conflicts between navigation and railroad interests, as well as the corporate influences, municipal rivalries, sectional conflicts, and technological elements of the drama that circulated around the bridge’s construction. An effort will be made to identify the design sources for the designer and superintendent of its construction, Jacob H. Linville. Although the first Steubenville Bridge is today only a memory, it is important to recognize its proper place in the realms of American federal public policy, structural precedents, construction history, and corporate models for bridge construction | Innovation 1860s, American, Bridge, Policy, Sectionalism |
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Simunic Bursic, M. | 2018 | ’Knowledge transfer in the early medieval art of vaulting in Dalmatia’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1219-1227. | The knowledge transfer from ancient architects to early medieval builders in Dalmatia is studied by comparing the structures of several preserved pre-Romanesque churches to those of important ancient buildings. The pre-Romanesque churches in Dalmatia were built in rubble stone masonry with rough details and they have geometrical irregularities in their plans. This implies that the early medieval constructors in Dalmatia were not skillful masons. Nevertheless, all the preserved pre-Romanesque churches in this region are vaulted, often with a complex combination of different types of vault. The idea of vaulting—which is not a simple construction task—must have been inspired by the rich ancient built heritage in Dalmatia. The early medieval builders took ancient constructions as models for their churches, but having neither the knowledge of the ancient ars aedificatoria nor Roman technology, they had to invent new constructional solutions. Their learning from the past was a creative process. | Roman Antiquity, Early Middle Ages, Dalmatia, Mediterranean Croatia, Stone, Masonry, Transformation of Construction Practice Tradition and Innovation |
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Sirikiatikul, P. | 2018 | ’Onsite precast concrete: A critical approach to concrete at the Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkha University, Thailand’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1229-1235. | Given the constraints under which architects in post-war Thailand worked—the availability of cheap, unskilled labour, and the deficiency in industrial productive capacity—none adjusted themselves better than Amorn Srivongse, as made evident in his system of precast concrete at the Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, completed in 1971. The demands for a space large enough to contain all engineering teaching facilities and for rapid completion led the architect to develop a particular form of precast concrete. This paper explores both the daring aspect of the structure: the system of modular concrete domes covering the entire lot and the labour-intensive, practical method of pre-casting concrete onsite. Drawing upon records related to the building and on first-hand analysis of the architecture, this paper articulates Srivongse’s critical approach to concrete as a distinctive building stance in the 1960s Thailand architecture. | 1960s–1970s, Southern Thailand (Songkla), Onsite Precast Concrete, Earthen Formwork, Bamboo Mattress |
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Smars, P. | 2018 | ’Adobe constructions in Yún-lín county, Taiwan’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1237-1244. | Earth constructions are common sight in rural Taiwan. In Yún-lín county, a region where agriculture is the first resource, examples can be found in most villages. They are usually parts of the so-called sān-hé-yuàn, the traditional U-shaped open courtyard houses still peppering the country. When in good physical condition, these are usually built with fired bricks. But for the fewer number built with adobe blocks, the situation is bleaker. They are predominantly in a critical state of disrepair. Lack of use, maintenance and sympathy is quickly bringing them to disappearance. This paper presents our first attempts to document elements of this cultural heritage in danger. Various perspective are followed. Materials, construction parts, techniques, elements of typology are presented. But before and triggered by discussions and interviews of farmers about their live and activities in the houses, elements are given to help understanding their rise and now their fall. | 20th century, Rural Taiwan, Adobe, Vernacular Architecture, Heritage in Danger |
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Stanga, C., & Spinelli, C. | 2018 | ’The vaulted system of the Basilica of S. Ambrogio in Milan: A cross-feature in the Basilica’s life. Restoration and interpretation’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1245-123. | The study of the construction of an historical building always includes several grades of complexity depending on the available sources and their accuracy, and on the interpretation of accessible information. This essay offers a novel integrated approach to the study of the construction history of the roof system of one of the greatest monuments in Milan: the Basilica of S. Ambrogio. Different types of vault are analyzed, using historical drawings and photos, archival documentation, geometrical and laser scanning surveys, aiming at narrating the construction history of the vaulted system of the church, which can be integrated with future studies and analysis. 3D models help the realization of hypotheses that are based on the existing literature, historical drawings and interpretations. | 12th–20th centuries, Milan, Vaulted System, 3D Modeling, Restoration |
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Stoyanova, I. | 2018 | ’At the intersection of foreign building know-how: Plovdiv in the early twentieth century’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1255-1262. | This paper suggests a new perspective on twentieth-century Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as a crossroads of foreign construction know-how. The paper discusses three notable yet insufficiently studied buildings: the railway station (1905–08), Excelsior cinema (1911–12) and tobacco warehouses (1912–28). First, using archival and historical literature, it seeks to understand the protagonists behind the design and construction of the station building. This research was augmented with onsite investigations of building materials and techniques. Next, the paper discusses the construction technology of the cinema. Then, it adds to an understanding of the local warehouse building type through a comparative analysis of several case studies. This paper unveils traces of foreign influence in all three by comparing their features with buildings described in foreign nineteenth-century technical manuals. The paper extends the little existing knowledge on the three examples and suggests the ways through which building know-how flowed into Plovdiv. | Early 20th century, Plovdiv, Railway Station, Tobacco Warehouses, Excelsior Cinema |
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Tardini, C. | 2018 | ’The influence of Howe’s structural typology on Galician wooden bridges’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1263-1269 | In the second half of the nineteenth century, a very interesting cultural exchange in railroad engineering occurred between the United States and European Countries. The cultural exchange between the United States and the Russian Empire is of some importance as well: due to the transfer of knowledge between the two Countries and to the new shear theory developed by Dmitrij Ivanovič Žuravskij, Howe’s structural typology for bridges was improved and spread widely. In Central Europe, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was probably the nation most influenced by the United States’ bridge engineering. In the mid-1880s, in Galicia, at least three new bridge layouts were designed based on the Howe typology: the Ibjanski, Pintowski and Rychter systems. Based on the texts of the authors, this paper focuses on these structural systems and their behaviour and on the analysis of the technological detail of the wedge. | 19th century, Galicia, Wooden Bridge, Waclaw Ibjański, Joséf Rychter |
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Thuy, A., & Rinke, M. | 2018 | ’The mushroom column: Origins, concepts and differences’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1271-1278. | At the beginning of the twentieth century, when the first concrete codes were introduced, reinforced concrete construction systems were based on the hierarchical arrangement of linear structural elements. An important break of this concept was the introduction of flat slabs. C.A.P. Turner of Minneapolis developed his “mushroom” system with a strong focus on the construction process (published 1905) implementing the idea of building components. In 1908 Swiss engineer Robert Maillart claimed that these arrangements did not fully reflect the nature of concrete and proposed to let the slab span freely between the columns (patented in 1909). This study asks how the structural components of the new flat slab system can be related to their predecessors, like traditional concepts of a column-beam connection in timber (e.g. bolster) and iron (e.g. haunch) and early reinforced concrete systems. If the Hennebique system in its arrangement does refer to traditional materials, such as iron or timber constructions, what elements and techniques is the mushroom column referring to? The work of the pioneers Turner and Maillart is compared and their differences is discussed in relation to traditional solutions at the crucial point of the connection between the vertical column and the horizontal slab. | late 19th–early 20th centuries, Europe, Reinforced Concrete, Mushroom Column, Typology |
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Tosone, A., et al | 2018 | ’The thirties summer holiday camps in the Abruzzo region: From design to building’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1279-1286. | The architecture of the Seaside and Mountain summer holiday camps built in Abruzzo which began to appear in the thirties represents a significant form of cultural heritage for its testimonial value of the administrative reorganization processes that affected this area and its documentary value of the events affecting modern Italian architecture and its implications with the regime. In the specific shape of the holiday camps, these implications found their full and articulated expression in the definition of formal and construction codes expressed not just under a modernist light. From project design to construction, the three holiday camps in Abruzzo show the significant and diversified results of technical experimentation on reinforced concrete linked to a mainly masonry tradition, according to different technical methods and construction solutions. Through an analysis of direct sources combined with indirect ones, this document wishes to reconstruct the relationships that linked the project to the implementation process in the particular context of reference and in relation to a wider national scenario | 1930s Architecture, Abruzzo (Italy), Summer Colonies, Design, Construction |
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Tostoes, A., & Quinta, M. | 2018 | ’The first Luanda’s skyscraper: Comfort through natural and artificial control methods’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1287-1293. | The Portuguese architect Januário Godinho completed the design of the Banco Comercial de Angola’s tower in 1960. The construction of the 22-storey building took 7 years and it would become the tallest skyscraper built in Luanda at that time. The headquarters of the first private bank established in Angola was located at the capital’s seafront and aspired to representing the growing modernization and economic progress of the Portuguese colony. “Portugal’s tallest building”, paradoxically built in Luanda, presented some novel technical solutions, amongst which was the first ducted air-conditioning system in the country. Although the tower was built before the first oil crisis (1973), in a period of great enthusiasm towards artificially controlled environments, it offered a hybrid solution and promoted a rather sensible use of energy. The origin of this sustainable formula can be traced, however, to economic and technical constraints rather than to ecological awareness. | 1960s, Angola, Concrete, Air-Conditioning, Energy, Comfort Design |
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Van de Vijver, D. | 2018 | ’Victor Horta and building site photography’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1295-1302. | Building site photographs are among the most spectacular archival documents available for Victor Horta’s public commissions of the Brussels’ Brugmann Hospital (1906–23) and the Palais des Beaux-Arts (1922–28). This paper investigates how these often-published but rarely studied photographic documents functioned in the architectural practice. Archival documents on the construction of the Brugmann Hospital sheds light on the architect’s use of building site photographs as an instrument to control the building process from keeping record of the successive building stages up to their utility in addressing contractor’s responsibilities in court. Horta’s deployment of images of the Palais des Beaux-Arts under construction in a monograph article illustrates their use as a tool of auto-representation. Both cases demonstrate a clear engagement in the medium of photography, quite in line with his involvement in the taking of pictures at the time of the early reception of his work or during his travels abroad. | 1906–29, Brussels, Belgium, Hospital Building, Cultural Infrastructure Complex (Theatre, Cinema, Museum, etc.), Building Site Photography, Architect’s and Contractor’s Auto-Publicity |
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Van de Voorde, S., & Devos, R. | 2018 | ’Business-card buildings: Corporate architecture and promotional strategies in buildings and projects for Eternit in Belgium (1955–75)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1303-1311. | Eternit, an important manufacturer of building products in asbestos cement and other materials, was one of the major players in Belgium’s post-war building industry. As a way of product placement, seeking to associate itself with “good” and “modern” architecture, Eternit Belgium commissioned renowned architects to design the Eternit office buildings, exhibition stands and pavilions, and 1:1 model buildings. The paper reveals the strategies and project details behind this particular collaboration between the building industry and the architects: who took the initiative, what were the motivations of the partners involved, how do the built projects relate to printed promotional material, and how did the result contribute to the corporate identity of Eternit Belgium. Although the archive of Eternit Belgium is not accessible, the archives of the architects and the administrative building files, as well as contemporary publications allow the authors to asses these questions and to evaluate these buildings as full-scale business cards. | 20th century, Belgium, Eternit, Heritage in Danger |
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van Tussenbroek, G. | 2018 | The foundations of the Nieuwe Kerk Tower in Amsterdam (1645–52), in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1313-1320. | In 1645, the Amsterdam mayors planned to build a tower onto the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), which was to become the tallest in the Dutch Republic. Although this structure was never completed, construction started in 1646. The urban location forced the builders to dam the water of the canal, into which the new tower was to be partly built. Thanks to the discovery of detailed data, such as written sources, drawings and wooden models, it is possible to analyze how the tower was planned. Combined with information about foundation technology, materials used, the number of people involved in construction, etc., a detailed insight into the construction process has been obtained and the foundation technique—a combination between old fashioned and modern practices—can be analyzed. | 17th century, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tower, Foundations, Building Strategies |
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Vandenabeele, L., et al | 2018 | ’Joining techniques in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Belgian timber roofs’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1321-1328. | An intimate knowledge of joining techniques is crucial for the documentation and restauration of old timber structures, yet these assemblies are often overlooked in historical studies or during on-site assessment. To help bridge this gap, this paper provides an overview of the joining techniques used in Belgian timber roof structures during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Based on the author’s on-site observations of over 50 roofs, four types of joint are described and analysed: (1) timber-to-timber joints, (2) nailed and bolted layers of timbers, (3) iron straps, stirrups and plates, and (4) connections between timber and iron members. Thus, this study intends to help researchers and heritage specialists to better interpret connection details during investigations of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century timber roofs. | 1820–1920, Belgium, Timber Structures, Joint, RoofEach |
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Vilela, A. | 2018 | ’Education on the production chain: Lelé’s transitory schools in Brazil’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1329-1337. | The development of ferrocement in Brazil cannot be dissociated from the works of the architect João Filgueiras Lima, popularly known as Lelé (1932–2014). Renamed as argamassa armada by a group of engineers from São Carlos in the 1960s—to make a clear distinction from Nervi’s ferrocemento – the construction material was used in an innovative way in the 1980s in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Brasília and Salvador. This paper analyses Lelé’s use of argamassa armada and the way in which he assigned a social role to slender and lightweight components. In this context, transient prefabricated schools and some of their key components allow us to discern the motivations behind the architect’s innovations, which matter much more than the material’s mechanical properties | Brazil, Precast Structures, Reinforced Mortar, Lelé |
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Villate Matiz, C. | 2018 | ’Innovations in the structural systems in tall buildings in Bogotá in the 1960s. Case study: Bavaria building’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1339-1345. | The Bavaria building in Bogotá (1965) is, together with other contemporary buildings, exemplary of 1960s architecture and construction. Many authors and historians consider the 1960s as a magnificent period because of its innovations in building technology, especially in the use of reinforced concrete. During the 1950s and 1960s, the use of reinforced concrete as main structural material in tall buildings was not so common in the world, steel being the most common used material. However, in Colombia the technical mastery of reinforced concrete as a structural material is evidenced through collaborative work in research and experimentation with teams of engineers and architects. The paper discusses the technological innovations in the Bavaria building, 27 floors high, as part of this glorious period represented by the emergence of important buildings. | 1950s–1960s, Skyscrapers in Colombia, Structural Systems in Concrete, Concrete Technology, Skyscrapers, Foundation Systems |
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Wall, C. | 2018 | ’William Arrol and Peter Lind: Demolition, construction and workmanship on London’s Waterloo Bridges (1934–46)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1347-1354. | In 1924 when serious settlement to the piers of John Rennie’s Waterloo Bridge rendered it unsafe for traffic William Arrol and Company erected a temporary steel bridge. The company was later tasked with demolition of the old bridge in 1934, the process revealing high levels of workmanship in its construction. The New Waterloo Bridge, 1937–45, engineered by Rendel, Palmer and Tritton, designed in collaboration with Giles Gilbert Scott and in association with London County Council engineers was built by contractor Peter Lind. The result was a modern, functional, concrete bridge but which required precise and skilled work to the steel reinforcement. This paper, using documentary and photographic evidence from a number of archives, together with personal testimonies, considers the changing labour force, from demolition of the old bridge and as the new bridge progressed. Questions of skill and labour, conditions of work, and workmanship are examined in the context of both war and peacetime | 1930–50, UK, Bridge, Labour, Workmanship |
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Wendland, D., & Ventas Sierra, M.J. | 2018 | ’Reverse engineering marvelous machines: The design of Late Gothic vaults from concept to stone planning and the prehistory of stereotomy’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1355-1363. | In Late Gothic rib vaults, we admire the complex stone structures with intricate meshes of ribs interlacing in different levels, in some cases even composed of looping ribs soaring along spatial curves. On the base of case studies where detailed surveys, geometric analyses, investigations through reverse engineering, and experiments in full scale in collaboration with the workshop of Strasbourg Cathedral were carried out, we propose a complete picture of the design process from the overall concept to its implementation in the design of the single stone elements. The profound understanding of the design process in Late Gothic vaults gives a new insight to Late Medieval and Early Modern design practice for stone structures. In particular, we are able to propose a new interpretation of the early treatises of Stereotomy and the “prehistory” of the classical procedures in stone-cutting. | Late Medieval and Early Modern, Europe, Vaults (Late Gothic Rib Vaults), Stereotomy, Design Process |
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Wermiel, S.P. | 2018 | ’Emergence of heavy contracting in the United States in the nineteenth century’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1365-1373. | The emergence of “heavy” contracting—meaning the construction of public works and civil engineering projects—in the United States in the nineteenth century is explored through contracting by canal and railroad companies. Using data on contracts and the careers of contractors for these works, including from a sample of Pennsylvania Railroad contracts, this study addresses two questions. First, was heavy contracting a segment of the construction industry, distinct from contracting for buildings? Second, did railroad contracting firms become large, and did the large firms dominate the industry? The study concludes that from an early date, the construction industry in the USA was segmented between heavy work and building construction, and within the heavy field, between horizontal and superstructure work, and these categories persisted through the nineteenth century. Moreover, while some heavy construction firms became large, there is no evidence that they dominated the industry | 19th century, Eastern Region of Pennsylvania, Railroads and Canals, Civil Engineering Contracting, Railroad and Canal Contractors |
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Wibaut, R. | 2018 | ’Hidden modernity: Reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935–40)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1375-1381. | In the 1920s, modernist and Art Deco architects experimented enthusiastically with new materials, designs and ornaments. In the Brussels Capital Region several modernist churches were built entirely in reinforced concrete and decorated with abstract forms. In the following decade, however, because of the economic crisis and the stagnation of the construction sector, traditional design and styles took over again. New technologies and reinforced concrete were still used, but they were hidden. This paper focuses on the less studied churches from the late 1930s, which turned their back to modernism and combined Romanesque forms and regional characters. Based on fieldwork, archive and literature study, this paper contributes to understanding the technical use and esthetical context of reinforced concrete in church construction in the late inter-war period | 20th century, Brussels (Belgium), Roof Construction, Church, Reinforced Concrete |
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Wouters, I., et al | 2018 | ’Built to stock. Versatility of Hennebique’s urban warehouses in Belgium (1892–1914)’, in I. Wouters et al (Eds), Procs 6ICCH Brussels, Vol 2, pp 1383-1391. | This paper contributes to an understanding of the early application and technology of the Hennebique system of reinforced concrete construction in Belgium. By focusing on one specific building typology (urban warehouses) built in a short timeframe (1892–1914) in Belgium, we show the similarities among these early reinforced concrete structures, but also the variety of technical details applied within the Hennebique system. Indeed, urban warehouses, as functional buildings, were structures in which new technologies and materials were quickly adopted. The search for increased spans, higher load-bearing capacity and greater fire safety intertwined with the advantages of reinforced concrete in the Hennebique system. The files on urban warehouses in the archive Fonds Bétonsarmés Hennebique (BAH) are used as primary sources, complemented by an analysis of planning applications and onsite visits, to gain insight into the construction process and the actors involved | Early 20th century, Belgium, Urban Warehouses, Early Reinforced Concrete, Hennebique |
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Mascarenhas-Mateus, J. (Ed) | 2023 | Changing Cultures: European Perspectives on the History of Portland Cement and Reinforced Concrete, 19th and 20th centuries. | The construction practices we employ in our daily life in European societies today were shaped by major changes in the past, such as the introduction and dissemination of Portland cement and reinforced concrete, a development that constitutes a fundamental chapter in the history of construction in the 19th and 20th centuries. Such changes were boosted by several innovations in the fields of applied mathematics, chemistry and physics. They involved patents licensing, optimization of materials production and machinery. There were new legislative frameworks, a specific knowledge transfer within a network of actors and the transformation of hierarchical frameworks. Written by international specialists, this two-part book is centred on case studies from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Italy. The first part explores the mutual international influence between these countries and their intrinsic characteristics in this field, resulting from each nation’s particular economic, social, political, cultural and technological conditions. The second part focuses on the history of public works companies. Capable of carrying out both private works and major infrastructures, these players exemplify the technological and business advances that the construction sector has experienced over the last two centuries. This book is a must-read for researchers on contemporary construction history in Europe. The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Create Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 (CC-BY-NC-ND) license. | |
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Manzo, A. | 2021 | On the construction of Byzantine vaulted systems through the eyes of the 19th century French rationalists. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 3-10. | The investigation on the Eastern features of Western medieval architecture has been complex and intricate since the early 1800s, when an increasing number of scholars became interested in the origins and development of Romanesque and Byzantine buildings. This is still an open issue: several hypotheses attempt to find a relationship between medieval architectures of the East and the West, as well as an explanation to their construction processes, deepening the scarce and sometimes hardly comprehensible historical and archaeological documentation, today available. More in-depth, through the specific treatment of the 19th-century French studies on the Byzantine domes, squinches and pendentives, the present contribution aims to understand how these constructive elements were analyzed by French rationalists. In this way, it will be possible to evaluate the plausibility of the statements they adopted, first to study them and then to expose them to a more erudite audience. | |
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John, K. | 2021 | Style and stone – Stonemasonry in Switzerland between the Gothic and Renaissance. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 11-18. | In Switzerland, the Italian influence is evident since the 16th century, mostly through characteristic style features like rusticated facades and arcade courtyards,while churches kept a Late Gothic character. Are there stone working techniques and tools that are specifically related to an architectural style or is the processing dependent on the material? Building in a certain style or implementing stylistic elements is certainly decided by the architect or client. The material used for the buildings, on the other hand, is usually tied to the local stone deposits. It therefore seems plausible that stonemasons used techniques which depend on the type of stone rather than on the style of the building. This survey investigates this correlation between style and stone using specific examples of sandstone and limestone. | |
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Orozco Barrera, F. B. | 2021 | Stability and construction of the 16th century Mexican rubble masonry vaults in Jiutepec Morelos. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 19-25. | 16th century vault construction in convents in Mexico has rarely been studied from a technical standpoint. In fact, the preservation of such cultural heritage has been endangered due to poorly implemented interventions, lack of maintenance and a mostly inadequate understanding of the building’s construction history and structural behavior. Furthermore, the field of the history of art studies has focused almost exclusively on describing the orders and styles of these buildings. The present paper goes beyond a mere description of these structures, aiming at their architectural survey and the application of limit analysis to understand their behaviors and construction processes. | |
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Mazzanti, C. | 2021 | The construction of the vaults in the cathedrals of the Viceroyalty of Peru. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 26-32. | In the Viceroyalty of Peru, political power was strongly linked to religion. In the first hundred years following the Spanish Conquest, the magnificent cathedrals, symbolically representing the Spanish dominion, became the reference construction model with the introduction of vaulted masonry structures. Juan Miguel de Veramendi, Francisco Becerra, Francisco Domínguez Chávez y Orellana and other architects from the Old World designed the most important colonial churches. The masons who gave life to the European forms were native, thanks to their ancestral mastery of the building material. Since these areas were frequently affected by earthquakes, many churches have been completely transformed over the years. The evolution of these structures is examined through the analysis of the remaining vaults, the evaluation of scientific literature and a thorough archival review. More specifically, the Cathedrals of Lima and Cusco explain the different experiments undertaken to make vaulted structures resistant to earthquakes. | |
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Aranda Alonso, M. | 2021 | Conception, materiality and development of coffered vaults in the churches of Goa. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 33-40. | A visitor to Old Goa could be surprised by the marked use of coffered vaults with specific characteristics which exist in many of the churches. However, they are a common feature throughout the region of Goa, a fact which has received very little attention in existing research. This article aims to contextualize the establishment of this architectural typology and its characteristics, to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of its construction and understand how it survived the following centuries. | |
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Como, M.T. | 2021 | The domes in piperno stone of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli in Naples. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 41-8. | The church of San Giacomo degli Spagnoliwas built in monumental formin 1540 on a significant site in the city of Naples as a welfare institution. It was commissioned at the behest of Viceroy Pedro de Toledo with Spanish and Neapolitan nobles and Order of Santiago members, and constructed by State engineers. The 1820 renewal of the urban block which contains the church as well as successive revisions strongly altered the 16th century church and hid important parts of its structure, in particular the piperno stone elements. This paper carries out a recognition analysis of the original parts of the church, of which the piperno “scalopped” emispherical domes stand out. They cover the side aisles and the main chapels, and appear to be a unique construction solution within historical Neapolitan building practice. | |
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Lombardi, A. and Benincampi, I. | 2021 | Local interpretations of classical models: The architecture of San Antonio mission churches, Texas. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 49-56. | During the 18th century, in the current metropolitan area of San Antonio, Texas, five Franciscan missions were established along the local river. The comparative analysis of three of these San Antonio missions churches with European models demonstrate some recurring elements, certifying a specific design attitude that may be linked to architectural innovations undertaken in Italy during the Counter Reformation period. Adoption and adaptation of the European technologies of quarrying and dressing stones were also carried out. The building surveys and archival research reveal that stone for wall construction was quarried nearby, cut into broken ashlar stone blocks to create a regular decorative pattern. San Antonio Missions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are definitively authentic syncretic works, built by the Indians for their own use under Franciscan guidance, incorporating imported cultural models and construction know-how. | |
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Hays, B. | 2021 | The transfer of thin wood vaulting from France to America. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 57-62. | In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the American republic searched for architectural expressions to convey its new-nation status and hoped-for permeance. At the same time, public funding for grand structures was limited, evidenced by the 14-year duration for the initial construction of the US Capitol (1793– 1807). To help solve this problem, gentleman-architect and President Thomas Jefferson promoted a building technology that was at once cost-effective and suggestive of stateliness, namely Philibert Delorme’s 16th century French framing technique. Jefferson was so effective in encouraging the method that architectural historian Doug Harnsberger has called Jefferson: “Delorme’s fervent ambassador to America.” This paper explores the transfer of Delorme’s thin wood vaulting method from France to American in the 19th century | |
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Ortiz Colom, J. | 2021 | Tradition and invention in domestic construction in the Caribbean region: The case of Southern Puerto Rico. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 63-70. | In most Caribbean countries the historic habitat expressed the culture of dominant and subordinate groups. In house form this has evolved into two referents, the grand houses and the small huts of the dispossessed. In southern Puerto Rico, the casa criolla and the casita fit this scheme. Both dwelling types, keeping social traditions of the past, have however been reinvented and improved for over a century, showing evolving responses to climatic and social imperatives. The casa criolla became a sophisticated socio-climatic artifactwhile its poor cousin, the casita, flexibly responded to proletarians’need for simple, basic and functional – frequently movable – shelter. The tension between both house types spread over the agricultural and mercantile landscape following the evolution of a maturing society and economy. Though both types are threatened and no longer constructed, their physical and cultural presence is still a constant. | |
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Li, H. | 2021 | Translating the “Chinese roof”: Construction culture hybridization in West China Union University. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 71-6. | Discussions of technology initiatives in architectural design and adaptive thinking in Christian universities in modern China are as yet insufficient. This study focuses on “translation” during the Sinicization process in the architecture of Christian universities in China in the early 20th century. With evidence from West China Union University, it conducts a retrospective analysis of the process, methods and results of the campus planning and architectural design in whichWestern architects were involved. Taking a closer look into aspects such as material selection, structure, construction, decoration and craftsmanship, it is borne out from the perspective of engineering that it is possible to translate “Chinese roof” mainly based on theWestern masonry structure, but it also involves many challenges – it is the thinking and experiments ofWestern architects to solve such challenges that may contribute to the interesting change of construction cultures from hybridization to integration. | |
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Pan, Y. & Chen, X. | 2021 | Creating an American Methodist college in China: A building history of Soochow University, 1900–1937. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 77-84. | The paper examines the American influence and the “new” local tradition in the development of the old campus of Soochow University (Suzhou) in 1900–1937. It traces how the campus and the earliest buildings of Soochow University were built and evolved, going from the early golden era (1900–1927) to the Nationalistic period (1927–1937). The paper examines the various factors in play and their impact on the design and construction process: the physical environment of the site; the involvement ofWestern and Chinese architects as well as local builders; the sources of building materials and construction funds; and the contemporary building construction manuals. This analysis reveals that the story of Soochow University offers a vivid illustration of the major challenges faced in building Sino-Western university campuses in early 20th-century China. | |
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Coomans, T., Xu, Y. & Zhang, J. | 2021 | “Imposing and provocative”: The design, style, construction and significance of Saint Anthony’s Cathedral, Xinjiang (Shanxi, China), 1936–40. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 85-92. | This paper debates the design, style, construction and significance of Saint Anthony’s Cathedral in the county of Xinjiang, Shanxi province, China, which was built by Dutch Franciscan missionaries from 1936 to 1940. The methodology combines archival research in the Netherlands and building archaeological fieldwork in China (June 2019). A rare set of photos of the construction site provides the only information on the building works. | |
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Lucente, R. & Greco, L. | 2021 | 1950s housing in Milan: Façade design and building culture. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 93-99. | During the 1950s, the private residential sector breathed life into Milanese everyday building practice thanks to architects who were the exponents of a cultured professionalism that has rarely been examined in the most well-established historiography traditions. We consider this production to be the avant-garde of an everyday Milanese modern construction laboratory.Taking into account the evolved Milanese cultural context in which there was effective collaboration between designers, builders and producers, this paper gives a summary analysis of 15 buildings (almost all for mixed use) built between the end of the 1940s and the 1950s which are representative of recurring approaches to façade design. The analysis is conducted on the basis of some key construction elements of the façade project (claddings, windows, prefabricated panels), considered for their technological and figurative value, with reference to the historical technical literature (reviews such as L’Architettura,Vitrum, Alluminio, Cantieri, Domus, Casabella and manuals) and more recent studies on Milanese residential architecture of the 1950s. | |
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Gondo, T. | 2021 | Technological development in the construction of Kasumigaseki Building: Japan’s first super high-rise. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 100-107. | This paper focuses on the technological developments and characteristics of the construction of the Kasumigaseki Building (1968), Japan’s first high-rise building with a height of over 100 meters. From an examination of survey documents, this paper explores the new technologies applied to the construction of the Kasumigaseki Building and their impact, particularly those that shortened construction time by process management and prefabrication. First, the general contractors managed the construction process by using the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) method as well as with the use of a mainframe computer, building every floor in six days. Second, to decrease the amount of lifting or connecting by bolts, the steel posts and beams were divided into special units. The general contractor also developed tower cranes and a new deck plate floor system, among other innovations. Although most of the technologies used in the construction of the Kasumigaseki Building have since been improved, the fundamental concepts such as process management are still in use today. | |
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Talenti, S. & Teodosio, A. | 2021 | The skyscrapers of Milan: From experiments to recent constructive challenges. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 108-15. | After the pioneering experiments of Marcello Piacentini in Brescia and Genoa in the 1930s, the construction of the Rasini and SNIAViscosaTowers shifted the Italian debate on tall buildings to Milan. This city subsequently became the focal point for the further development of this typology.The numerous tall buildings that were erected afterWorldWarTwo brought about a profound urban, architectural and technological transformation of the city. Due to their great vertical and horizontal loads, increasingly complex supporting structures had to be developed for these skyscrapers, and intense collaboration between architects and engineers became necessary. Although the reinforced concrete frame was preferred, there were attempts to exploit the possibilities of the steel frame. This study, drawing upon information in historical and contemporary architectural and engineering periodicals, analyzes the proliferation of the skyscraper in Milan to increase our understanding of the intrinsic link between technological and stylistic renewal. | |
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Vitti, P. | 2021 | Brick vaulting without centering in the Mediterranean from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 119-25. | Fired-brick vaulting without centering is documented in several examples and over quite a large territory. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, we find three different solutions in the Mediterranean Region: drybrick vaults, lime-mortared brick vaults and gypsum-mortared brick vaults. The article offers a concise overview of the evidence and offers a possible understanding of the historical context which fostered innovation in brick vaulting. | |
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Rabasa-Díaz, E., González-Uriel, A. et al | 2021 | Geographic and chronological extent of brick vaults by slices. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 126-33. | Vaults are built with vertical or slightly pitched bricks, in which each ring, arch or course forms a slice leaning against the one before, in such a way that no formwork is needed. Mud or lime mortars have commonly been used. Quick-drying gypsum mortar, used mainly in the Muslim world and in Al-Andalus, implies less difficulty in holding each piece together and gives rise to slightly different solutions. This technique originated in classical times and spread in the area that would later become the Eastern Roman Empire and Byzantium. Similar vaulting techniques can be found in Medieval Europe and North Africa. Many examples are known in the Iberian Peninsula dating from the 9th century onward. A particular type of this vaulting thrived in the bordering regions of Extremadura (Spain) and Alentejo (Portugal) during the early Modern Age. Following this expansion to the west, similar techniques have also been employed inMexico up to the present day, probably introduced by Spanish builders. | |
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Almagro, A. | 2021 | On the origin of certain vaults without formwork: Iranian timbrel vaults. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 134-40. | The timbrel vault is a construction system that was widely used in the Iberian Peninsula from the late Middle Ages and from there spread to other European areas, as well as to the United States. However, the origins of this vault remain a matter of debate. Undoubtedly, its historical and geographical route is related to other construction systems that avoided the use of formwork such as leafed vaults, which were more abundant in different geographic areas and historical periods. In this regard, the study of some Iranian vaults that combine both procedures (timbrel and ribs of vertical bricks) is particularly interesting. They are, to our knowledge, the oldest examples of this construction technique.We analyse its early use as auxiliary means for the construction of the rest of the vault in which other materials such as adobe were used. | |
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Costa Rosado, A. | 2021 | Types and uses of vaults and timbrel vaults in Interior Alentejo: Data for a typological study. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 141-48. | Vaults and timbrel vaults are one of the most particular construction techniques used in traditional Alentejo housing. To identify the vaulting solution types, this research deployed surveys of houses in four of the region’s cities. The most frequent vault types are groin, trough, barrel and segmental, with lunette and sail found in smaller numbers. In the case of timbrel vaults, the most frequent shapes are trough and segmental. A correlation was found between the types of vaults and house divisions, their position inside the house and the geometry of rooms. The chronology of the spread of vaulting in the Alentejo’s housing is still imprecise but may coincide with the early Modern Age evolution of housing typologies. The incidence of vaults also coincided with late 16th/17th century (and onwards) expansion of cities. The increase in recourse to vaulting solutions may also have been influenced by late 17th century military constructions. | |
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Murphy, E., Michiels, T. & Trelstad, D. | 2021 | Forging the link among shape, formwork, and mortar assemblies in Guastavino vaulting. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 149-54. | While the history of the Rafael Guastavino Company has been documented and studied to great length, the limited published research that is focused on the construction materials and assembly methods indicates that vaults were erected with minimal or no formwork, using tiles in combination with only gypsum mortar and Portland cement mortar. Physical evidence collected from a series of Guastavino vaults documented in this paper tells a much more nuanced story. It illustrates that the Guastavino Company significantly altered assembly methods, corresponding formwork, and adjusted binder materials as needed, based on the requirements of the individual project or even individual vault. This research presents a series of case studies and documents the mortars and types of formwork that were used in their construction. | |
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Pinto, S.M.G. | 2021 | A building expert without building training: The city of Lisbon vedor of works (14th–19th centuries). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 157-65. | The role of the building expert has historically been filled by a person with building training, such as a builder (master-mason or carpenter), an architect or an engineer. However, in the historical Portuguese building world, there were some agents acting as building experts who had no formal construction skills or building practice as was the case of the vedor of works in the city of Lisbon. His expertise was the administration of building contracts for the city’s public works. The aim of this study is, therefore, to bring to light the now extinct office of the city of Lisbon vedor of works, focusing both on the duties and on the men. | |
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Barbot, M., Carvais, R. et al | 2021 | Maintaining/repairing Paris through expertise (1690–1790). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 166-75. | After defining the concepts of building repair and maintenance, our work on the exceptional collection of building appraisals in early, modern Paris enables us to understand how experts used them to conserve, enhance, and maintain the capital and its real estate heritage. From a technical point of view, what circumstances called for repair: the detection of a defect, the appearance of deterioration, the risk of harm? From an economic point of view, how did experts evaluate the cost of repairs, either those to be undertaken or those already carried out, and what impact did these two types of repairs have on the value of a property? From a legal point of view, did surveyors make use of customary precepts to divide the financial burden of the maintenance work?We will show that, while the profitability of a property was often the main justification for repairs, comfort and the safeguarding of heritage were also significant factors. | |
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Cook, L. | 2021 | To repair, renovate, or replace: A maintenance history of Virginia’s state buildings. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 176-82. | The life cycles of buildings are subject to the priorities of the individuals who use them, who have authority over them, and who do the practical work of maintaining them. The relationships between these three often become complex and highly negotiated as each attempts to meet its own agenda. This paper uses three case studies from the early 19th century to examine how those entangled relationships impacted the life cycles of theVirginia State Capitol, the Governor’s residence, and the Armory. Though built contemporaneously, each underwent different maintenance practices and came to different ends. | |
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Dobbels, J. | 2021 | Conflicts in the Brussels construction sector (1957–59): Judicial expertise of architects, engineers and contractors. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 183-89. | The interaction between building professions in 19th- and 20th-century Belgium has mainly been sketched by focusing on the collaborations between the different professionals in day-to-day construction practice or on their professional associations. As a result, a specific form of interaction has not yet received attention: their moments of conflict. Studying legal conflicts and their resolutions offers insights into the ways different professions fought over what should be considered as their competences. Since the 20th century was key to the development of judicial construction expertise by multiple Belgian building actors, this paper analyzes the nature and scope of construction conflicts and their resolution by judicial experts to gain insights into the mutual demarcation of professional competences among architects, engineers and contractors. In order to do so, 48 expert reports on construction conflicts (1957–59) were analyzed, which are preserved in the archive of the Brussels Court of Commerce (State Archives Brussels (SAB)). | |
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Zamperini, E. | 2021 | Timber floors made with elements shorter than the span covered in treatises and technical literature. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 193-200. | The idea that the maximum dimensions attributable to a space to be covered with a wooden floor are given by the maximum length of the beams available is intuitive, but at the same time limiting. Some of the first examples of attempts to overcome this limit are in Villard de Honnecourt’s notebook and on a page of the Codex Madrid I by Leonardo da Vinci, testifying that these ideas had been circulating in various parts of Europe amongst wandering builders for a long time. Only with the end of the 18th century did manuals begin to report more precise information on the construction of floors. Despite the large space dedicated to them in handbooks, almost all the authors advised against these techniques, considered unsafe because they entrusted all the resistance to carpentry joints; consequently, the space allowed in the handbooks did not correspond to a similar diffusion in construction practice. | |
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Engelmann, I. | 2021 | Historic bell frames – regional traditions and transregional influence. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 201-8. | An investigation of bell frames in the German Federal States of Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt has revealed specific basic types. Modification of these types took place for different reasons. It became clear that certain areas were limited to a single design typical of their respective region, the use of which became an established tradition. These traditionswere informed not only by the locally available building materials, and thus the climate, but also by the repeated reuse of designs that had been proven in the past.This approach is evidenced in construction documentation and in other sources. Prior to the appearance of treatises on carpentry, there is archival evidence of transregional influences on bell frame designs through knowledge transfer between craftsmen, influences that are also evident when viewing traditional designs. A distinctive aspect of the wood structures examined in this paper is the close collaboration between bell casters, who generally worked transregionally, and specialised carpenters. | |
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Guardigli, L. & Mochi, G. | 2021 | Large span timber roofs in Italy between the 16th and 19th centuries. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 209-16. | This paper depicts some characteristics of long span roofs in Italy between the 16th and early 19th centuries, with the aim of highlighting the transregional and transnational transmission of knowledge during this period. The article is based on documentary analysis and building surveys and analysis of manuals and publications of the time. Different practices in Italian regions are considered and compared, especially the roof structures of churches in Bologna, an area of particular importance because of its location. Until the start of the 19th century the design and construction of this roof type was primarily based on direct experience and practice. From then, the design and verification of trusses derived from theories of the new-born Building Science. This paper aims to bring together some of the previous literature, mainly focused on specific buildings and specific regions, to highlight cultural ties, influences, technical references, and derivations, between regions. | |
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Caston. P.S.C. | 2021 | Design-Fabricate-Assemble-Marvel – 18th and early 19th century bridge models in the construction process. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 217-24. | One of the earliest reports on the use of a model in the technical design process surfaces in a town council document concerning a bridge project over the river Elbe in Meissen Germany in the year of 1657. The council noted in being possession of an old and a new wooden model of the main span of its covered bridge, one being “built by a good master and appearing to be artistic”. What exactly was its function and how did it serve the construction process? The Meissen models and others like them are more than just a superficial presentation, they prove that the structure can be assembled, they show the designer flaws and weak spots in the design and allow him to iron them out before real construction and real consequences start. They also carry his reputation and allow us to recreate the erection of some of the most spectacular gravity defying and now lost structures. This paper will summarize the information known and briefly describe in those 17th to early 19th century models to document the current state of historical research | |
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Schäfer, J. | 2021 | Late 18th-century innovation: The first Mediterranean purlin roof truss in German-speaking Switzerland at Embrach ZH. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 225-31. | Swiss architect David Vogel (1744–1808) enjoyed a thorough theoretical training compared to his compatriots. His most important commission after his education was the transversely oriented “oval” reformed church at Embrach ZH (1779–80). Vogel’s designs show distinct Italian influences from three years of studies withWinckelmann in Rome in the 1760s. He integrated these ideas into the designs for the church at Embrach, where both the architectural layout and the construction were innovative for the German-speaking part of Switzerland, including the comparatively flat roof pitch with a Mediterranean roof truss. This paper focuses on the preserved construction, which adapts the Italian standard to local conditions. The roof structure at Embrach is pioneering since the type of roof truss employed was later generally adopted in the 19th century throughout the German-speaking world for constructions with a lower roof pitch. | |
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Orsel, E.D. | 2021 | Philibert De l’Orme roof constructions in Leiden and The Netherlands, innovation versus tradition between 1800 and 1900. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 232-37. | In Leiden, up to 1800, roof constructions consisting of transverse portal-shaped trusses that support purlins and rafters hardly developed. Only after changes in the building organization, during the French period (1798–1813), in which the guilds were abolished, did modernization occur, with the Philibert truss composed of short overlapping planks as a new type. Reduced wood consumption, higher living spaces, reduced risk of fire, and ease of manufacture were seen as advantages. Philibert De l’Orme’s invention was rediscovered in France in the late-18th century. The introduction is likely attributable to French architects who worked in the Netherlands, or to Dutch architects under French influence. Gilly’s publications from 1797 and 1798 on the Philibert construction will also have contributed. The introduction of the French Philibert truss in the Dutch roof constructions around 1800 is an example of knowledge transfer resulting from political-economic changes. | |
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Russnaik, K.M. | 2021 | Timber roof structures of 19th-century military riding halls in Switzerland. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 238-45. | Riding halls were essential to military training schools during the second half of the 19th century in Switzerland.The required wide span and the fact that their roof structureswere left visible resulted in fascinating timber constructions and state-of-the-art technology. Nine well-preserved halls, built in the 1860s and 1870s, were analysed, and three were chosen to exemplify the building practices of this period. The buildings were documented by on-site surveys, using a laser scanner and hand measurements. Although the halls were planned by different architects, their roof constructions are strikingly similar and were mostly executed as purlin roofs with queen-post trusses. Furthermore, the timber roofs were studied in their historical and geographical context setting them in relation to 19th-century publications. This study reveals the development of these constructions and gives an insight into their international and regional influences. | |
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Prieto-Vicioso, E. & Flores-Sasso, V. | 2021 | Comparative analysis of bricks manufactured in the NewWorld (1494–1544). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 249-55. | This paper makes a comparative analysis of the first bricks manufactured in the New World during the first 50 years of conquest and colonization (1494–1544). Samples of bricks and tiles were taken from the sites of the ruins of La Isabella (1494), Concepcion de la Vega (1502), Fort Santiago in Fortaleza of Santo Domingo (1540), and Royal Shipyards (1544). Petrographic analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Xray diffraction (XRD), sclerometer and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry were performed on these samples. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the bricks are of very good quality, made with a good low-porosity clay. The selection of the raw material and the manufacture of the brick demonstrate the deep empirical knowledge of the craftsmen who made the first bricks in the New World. | |
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Garcia Fritz, J. | 2021 | The specification as an instrument for colonizing Oceti Sakowin lands. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 256-61. | In the 19th century, the United States of America positioned itself for industrial expansion by identifying potential territories for raw materials. Political agreements, such as treaties, formed the initial instruments for converting large swaths of indigenous lands into material territories.As treaty negotiations ended with the 1871 Indian Appropriations Act, new forms of agreements replaced them. Specifications emerged in architecture and construction as authoring tools for remote building sites as well as instruments for further delineating unresolved territories.As settlements filled presumably unoccupied lands, a growing need for lumber appeared. White pine timber offered a solution with sources identified in the northern plains, a region occupied by Oceti Sakowin peoples.Aclose examination of the treaties and specifications written forwhite pine extraction and production reveals the specification as a political instrument for colonizing Oceti Sakowin lands. | |
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Coetzer, N.R. | 2021 | Earthly beings and the Arts and Crafts discourse in the Cape: Conflicted and contradictory (non)appropriations of vernacular traditions. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 262-67. | The arrival of Arts and Crafts-oriented architects in Cape Town from England and Scotland towards the end of the 19th century brought specific attitudes to building materials to the Cape. Whilst they abhorred corrugated iron, these architects were also primed to value vernacular architecture – on its own terms but also as a resource for modern interpretation. This paper subjects the emergent contradictory discourse and its ambivalences about settler and native mud and thatch vernacular architectures to scrutiny. The general prejudice against ‘native’ mud architecture was born out of ‘Englishness’ white supremacy such that the contradictions and ambivalences in the attitudes towards these two vernaculars were papered over through racist discourse. On top of this, it finds that the contradictions were resolved by separation of ‘native’ and settler vernacular through simplified spatial configurations – round and square – rather than trying to parse what was a strong homology in building materials. | |
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Franco de Mendonça, L. | 2021 | Architecture, urbanism, construction work and local labor at the turn of the 20th century in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 268-74. | In the last 15 years, substantial research has been conducted on architecture and urbanism in African Portuguese speaking countries, scrutinizing the introduction and influences of design and planning throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries.The social sciences literature on the five postcolonial states, especially since the 1990s, helped with investigating the legacy of these mechanisms in maintaining colonial power and knowledge post-independence. Construction history has paid scant attention to the architectural production in that context. However, much can be gained to understand when and how racialized categorizations of materials and construction technologies were introduced; and how labor involving local workers was organized. To illustrate this claim, use will be made of documentation produced by the PublicWorks Office from the late 19th and first decades of the 20th centuries concerning Lourenço Marques, available at the Portuguese Overseas Historical Archives and at the Historical Archive of Mozambique. | |
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Brunner, S. | 2021 | Transparent acrylic constructions before and after 1950 – from the 1935 Opel Olympia to the 1972 Olympic roof. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 275-82. | This paper looks at the historic developments that led to the use of transparent acrylic construction elements from the 1950s onwards. The analysis is based on archive material from the record group Röhm of Evonik Industries AG, the Deutsches Museum (DM), and two key objects: the Opel Olympia (1930s) of the DM and the roof of the Olympic sports facilities (1970s) in Munich. In terms of their construction, usage, and meaning, these objects show the main differences between transparent acrylics before and after 1950. For the Opel, the polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) was thermoformed, showcasing German technological innovations for propaganda purposes. In contrast, the Plexiglas© for the Olympic roof contains several additives, including flame retardant and UV-absorber. It was biaxially stretched and cold formed into aluminium frames. Expressing the democratic ideals of an open society, acrylics presented a progressive, forward looking architecture of seemingly light structures. | |
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Skansi, L. & Jovanovic, J. | 2021 | Mostogradnja andYugoslavia in Iraq: A bridge on the Euphrates near Fallujah (1964–1967). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 285-90. | Among the large construction companies that characterizedYugoslav modernization afterWWII, the Belgrade-based “Mostogradnja” occupies a central role in the country’s international success in the nonaligned sphere. Unlike the better known “Energoprojekt”, it was primarily an engineering company, highly qualified and economically competitive, specialized in large-span structures. Its organization, international success and specialization are discussed in the paper through the case study of a prestressed concrete bridge over the Euphrates (Fallujah, 1964–1967). | |
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El-Ashmouni, M.M. | 2021 | Non-alignment and patterns of freedom and dominance. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 291-96. | This paper deals with two main themes in the transnationalism of the history of construction in Egypt: (a) Freedom patterns through eagerness to modernize; (b) Aspirations to dominate the newly independent Third World. These two themes evolved around 1964, a tipping point in construction history in Egypt, that is marked by hosting both the second NAM(Non-Alignment Movement) summit and the first Arab League. Before 1964, projects such as the Cairo International Stadium (1956–60), Aswan High Dam (1960–70), and the Hilton Hotels in Egypt (1957–65), manifest eagerness to modernize, and liberation from ThirdWorldism’s judgements. This eagerness led to Nasser’s pacts with the superpowers despite being a NAM advocate. The dominance aspirations, on the other hand, are manifested in the expansion of Egyptian involvement through construction projects in the newly independent Arab and African countries. Both themes highlight the discursive ties that were established through the transnational history of construction. | |
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Panicker, S. K. | 2021 | Indian immigration and building construction in the UAE: Beginnings of a pilot study. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 297-302. | Often relegated to the background, the global pandemic has directed attention to some of the potential pitfalls of geographically and culturally distant professional relationships in the design and realization of ambitious architectural work.Within the specific context of the UAE, this global interdependence also extends to the manual and technical labor. The current paper, which is part of a pilot study, begins to explore through oral histories, the transnational networks of both manual and professional labor across the AEC disciplines between the UAE and the Indian subcontinent which began with the oil boom. As we will see, regardless of the origins and/or intentions of design, the ground reality of execution—vis-à-vis materials supply and construction— was predominantly dictated by expatriate Indians (mostly Malayalees, as in the current paper)—in the form of shop keepers, store managers or engineers; thus, playing a conspicuously important, yet unrecorded, role in the realization of the architecture of this place. | |
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Mehta, V. & Mehndiratta, R.R. | 2021 | An Indian engineer in the Middle East: South-South cooperation and professional collaboration in the 1970s. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 303-10. | This paper tells the story of a brief but dynamic period of professional collaboration between India, Iran and a few other Middle Eastern countries in the 1970s, through the personal experiences of one of the most celebrated Indian structural engineers – Mahendra Raj. The 1970s marked a shift in the global economic and political climate due to the oil crisis, initiating a sharp rise of wealth in many Middle Eastern countries. This resulted in an increased drive for modernization of infrastructure and intense building activity. Despite the heavy presence of large Western companies and their technical know-how, an emerging class of Indian technocrats fostered a unique exchange of professional expertise between India and the Middle East. Through access to Raj’s archival construction documents and oral history, the paper reveals hitherto under-documented transnational political-economic, technical and social networks of exchange within the Global South. | |
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Jovanovic, J. | 2021 | Prefabricating non-alignment: The IMS Žeželj system across the decolonized world. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 311-18. | The IMS Žeželj systemwas arguably one of the most successful prefabricated housing systems of the post-war period. However, it remains mostly unknown within construction history, because of its “peripheral” origins and distribution,which circumvented the imperial centers of the ColdWar. Invented in socialistYugoslavia in 1957, it was widely exported across Cold War divisions, especially to member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. A technology with deep colonial roots, prefabrication was recast as a tool of anticolonial solidarity, linking Europe’s semi-periphery, with its own history of imperial subjugation, and the recently decolonized countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Created by theYugoslav constructor Branko Žeželj, the IMS Žeželj system was reminiscent of Le Corbusier’s Maison Domino: a skeleton consisting of prestressed pillars and slabs. Prestressing technology, widely applied in the construction of large-span structures, was the system’s key feature, one that had been rarely used in mass housing. | |
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Souviron, J. | 2021 | The construction of efficiency: Glazing insulation in France and Belgium since 1945. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 321-28 | The growth ofWestern urban landscapes in the aftermath ofWorldWar II brought new standards of com-fort and convenience; one of the emblematic products of this modernization was glazing. Openings became larger, enhancing transparency and bringing abundant light; however, they also led to considerable heat loss. It became imperative that glazing play a part in insulating buildings. This article traces the history of glaz-ing insulation across the second half of the 20th century. Focusing on case studies of residences in France and Belgium and industry archival material, this article analyses the wide variety of glazing products that were developed between 1950 and 1990. Although all of them significantly improved thermal comfort, each conditioned the relationship between indoor and outdoor climates in a different way. In response to increas-ing demands for energy efficiency, sealed insulated glazing ultimately became ubiquitous, bringing about a profound transformation of our relationship with our environment. | |
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Inglisa, A. | 2021 | Stopray window panes: Use and restoration in various Brussels buildings. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 329-36. | In 1961, two giant Belgian glass manufacturers operating globally merged to create “Glaverbel”. The post-war period was marked by new technological challenges. Therefore, in addition to the production of its “basic products”, Glaverbel concentrated its efforts on insulating glass units, thin-film glass, heated glass, enamelled glass, diffusing glass, solar-reflective glass, etc. It is in this context that Glaverbel launched the production of a new reflective glass. By applying a very thin layer of metal or metal oxide to one side of the glass wall, the glass reflects infrared rays. It is this technique which Glaverbel used for its “Stopray” brand. Many buildings with Stopray lightweight façades were constructed in Brussels in the years 1950–2000. This article will present the origins of Stopray glass, its inclusion in the post-war Brussels architectural context, and will focus on its use in various buildings, as well as current restoration issues. | |
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Albani, F. | 2021 | Prefabrication and participation by users: A challenge in Italy (1960–1976). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 337-44. | In post-war Italy, research on prefabrication went beyond the functional use of the elements. The theme of modularity, seriality and prefabricationwas explored with many nuances: from the desire to combine the theme of prefabrication with the limits and compositional and architectural potential of the systems, to the theme of modular coordination of architecture, which allowed for a greater or lesser number of components, whose assembly could lead to almost endless variations. Unlike other European countries, Italy never opted decisively and in a widespread way for this type of approach. The paper investigates the use of prefabricated systems in real plans for the construction of residential buildings and schools in the north of Italy. The need for middle-class housing in the boom years and requests by the Ministry of Education transformed the theoretical studies and singular experiences into real programmes for construction of prefabricated buildings with the participation of users. | |
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Mändel, M. | 2021 | Welcome to the free world! Building materials in post-Soviet Estonia in the 1990s. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 345-49. | Collapse of the the Soviet Union in 1991 led to radical changes in societies of former Union Republics as a whole, invariably affecting their construction and architectural sphere. The aim of the current paper is to showhowthe socio-economical transformations totally changed the usage of building materials in less than ten years, having a strong impact on architectural culture. During the Soviet period, the construction sector was highly standardised and strictly controlled, building materials were limited in variety and often scarce. In the 1990s, the former Union Republics were opened to free-market economy and many common building materials already used around the world for decades finally became available in Eastern Europe. The transformations in usage of building materials are examined in the case of Estonia, one of the mostWestern-oriented countries of the former USSR, where the changes in the 1990s were especially rapid. | |
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Creba, A. & Hutton, J. | 2021 | Demolishing the city, constructing the shoreline. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 350-57. | During Toronto’s large-scale urban renewal (1950–70s) and economic-led redevelopment (1980s–90s), significant swathes of the city were demolished, making way for modernist superblock housing, new institutions, and civic landmarks, producing tons of demolition material. As these demolition materials were deposited along the shore of Lake Ontario, they solved a material disposal problem, but they also constructed new real estate and landscapes of recreation and leisure. This paper explores relationships between demolition and construction activities in post-war Toronto in three registers: 1) as cyclical urban processes of development and destruction; 2) as the demolition industry shifts from salvage to wreckage model; and 3) as shifting perceptions and composition of shoreline-bound demolition material shaped the Lake Ontario Shoreline. Demolition is an easily overlooked, yet intrinsic, dimension of construction history; its study offers windows into the entanglements between processes of urbanization, construction culture, and cycles of materiality. | |
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Alarcón, E., del Cueto Ruiz-Funes, J.I. et al | 2021 | Juan Antonio Tonda, hyperbolic paraboloid builder. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 361-67. | Two works by the Spanish-born Mexican architect Juan Antonio Tonda Magallón are presented. They date from the period 1962 to 1975. He collaborated in the first of these works as structural consultant with the architect Alberto González Pozo, while he was the architect of the second work. Tonda was educated with Félix Candela, working in Cubiertas Ala. He started by analysing shell structures and participating in works direction. Although he was always in contact with Candela, he soon started to execute his own projects. Both of the works presented here employ original solutions using hyperbolic paraboloids. In the first he proposes a new arrangement of several sections of the paraboloid to form a portal in an opening which he covers with spans measuring from 11.0m to 16.40 m. In the second solution, he proposes an alternative constructive system to using scaffolding and wooden shuttering, which he replaces by a spatial structure in rolled steel. | |
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Petzold Rodríguez, A., González Meza, E. et al | 2021 | Félix Candela and the auditorium shell of the Maracaibo Country Club, Venezuela: A dual structural story. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 368-73. | This paper aims to highlight three aspects: i) the historical process involved in the design of the shell (never built) for the Auditorium of the Maracaibo Country Club in Venezuela (AMCC); ii) the analysis of the geometrical and structural evolution of the project; and iii) the significance of the AMCC in Candela’s timeline of work concerning hyperbolic paraboloids shells. | |
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Calvo-Salve, M. A. | 2021 | The design and construction of Marcel Breuer’s Hunter College Library hypars: Their origin and influences. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 374-81. | During the summer of 1955, Eduardo Catalano went to work for a short period of time at Marcel Breuer’s office in NewYork City. During that summer, Breuer’s office was working on several projects, including a new railroad station in New London, Connecticut (unbuilt) and the Hunter College Library, Classroom, and Administration Buildings in the Bronx, New York (built between 1957–60). In these two projects, there is a clear evidence of Catalano’s influence and knowledge of thin reinforced concrete shells and the use of hypars, in structures. This paper explores how the friendship and collaboration of these two architects, Breuer and Catalano, allowed Breuer to introduce the use of hyperbolic paraboloid concrete shells and ruled surfaces in several important projects like the Library at Hunter College and, later, in the Chapel of the Annunciation Priory of the Sisters of St. Benedict in Bismarck, North Dakota, USA and in the Church of Saint Francis de Sales, among others. | |
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Luzuriaga, M. | 2021 | Replicating Candela’s Los Manantiales. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 382-91. | The idiosyncratic 1958 thin shell roof of Los Manantiales restaurant in Xochimilco, south of Mexico City, designed by master Félix Candela, became a model often replicated during the following 50 years. The appearance of this futuristic shell was Candela’s dream design, a seed planted in Mexico that then flourished across four continents. This replicating phenomenon is hereby studied chronologically through seven case studies. For each case study, the investigation briefly discusses the background behind its construction, gives a profile of its designers, explores similarities and differences in construction methods vis-a-vis those used in Xochimilco, and considers whether the structure subsequently acquired local or national prominence. During his lifetime, Candela was pleased that his ideas were adopted and developed by other practitioners, and lessons can be learned from Candela’s work and from the sequels it inspired. | |
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Russo, M. | 2021 | The collapse of the Tucker’s gym: Research impulses in the USA at the end of hypar shells era. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 392-99. | Retracing the history of concrete hypar shells is to consider the events contributing to their progressive decline, notably during the 1970s. Despite it appearing to be a minor event, the sudden collapse of the Tucker High School gym (September 1970) influenced the research of the following years. It aroused a fervent de-bate among the most eminent engineers and academics of the USA, affiliated with theACI Committee 334, regarding the accuracy of the calculation methods used. This paper aims to contribute to the description and discussion of the so-called last season of the thin concrete shell structures in the USA. Retracing the history of the gym project, the collapse, and consequent scientific impulse, the research highlights how the 70s was characterized by seminal scientific contributions, supported by the use of early software using the finite element numerical calculation. | |
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O’Dwyer, D.W. | 2021 | The potential roles of construction history in engineering education. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 403-9. | This paper identifies the potential roles for construction history in engineering education and engineering culture. The paper acknowledges that engineering culture varies with region and with time. The paper equates engineering culture, in the context of construction, with the pragmatic application of reason, mathematics, applied science, economics and experience to building and infrastructure projects. Engineering culture is influenced by the academic training of engineers and technicians, and the work practices that have evolved within the engineering profession. The paper makes the case that including construction history in the engineering curriculum would improve the learning outcomes achieved by engineering programmes and hence would have a positive effect on engineering culture. | |
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Santa Ana, L. & Santa Ana, P. | 2021 | RBL through analysis of the development of high-rise buildings in Mexico City (1900–1952). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 410-15. | Construction History may serve as a tool in order to enable architecture and civil engineering students to learn from past experiences. Considering this premise, through the Research Based Learning method and analysis of six iconic high rise buildings designed and constructed in Mexico City along the first half of the 20th century, architecture and civil engineering students will understand how the interrelationships among new materials, structural systems, seismic and soil mechanics (applied in Mexico City’s Building Code) allowed Mexican architects and engineers to construct taller buildings in the city. | |
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Mornati, S. & Giannetti, I. | 2021 | The role of construction history in safety assessments: A case study of reinforced concrete “Gerber” bridges in Italy. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 416-23. | In Italy, in 2016, the collapse of the Annone Brianza overpass revealed an inherent vulnerability of half-joint reinforced concrete bridges. On 6 May 2020 the National Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport approved the new “Guidelines for risk management, safety assessment and monitoring of existing bridges”: the document list Gerber bridges as critical structures and highlight the importance of “an accurate investigation of the technical and administrative documentation of the existing bridges”. In this paper, Italian case studies on Gerber reinforced concrete bridges are traced from the very first use of this bridge typology to the analysis of current deterioration phenomena occurring in the existing structures. The reported case studies highlight the crucial role of construction history investigation in the preservation of infrastructural heritage. | |
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Iori, T. | 2021 | Problems of sources and bridges. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 424-29. | Where does the history of structural engineering fit into the great fresco of historiography? Who is the good historian of structures? What are that historian’s sources? Are those sources “honest”? The collapse of the bridge over the Polcevera River in Genoa triggered a profound rethinking of historical research in the field of structural construction in Italy, briefly summarised in this contribution. The paper is an outcome of the Research Project SIXXI–XX Century Structural Engineering: the Italian Contribution, ERC Advanced Grant 2012, headed by Sergio Poretti and Tullia Iori from Rome Tor Vergata University. | |
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Huerta, S. | 2021 | Viollet-le-Duc and the élasticité of Gothic structures. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 433-39. | Gothic architecture, while it looks frail and unstable, has survived for centuries. Some 17th- and 18th-century architects and engineers praised its robustness, but gave no explanation for it. Only Viollet-le-Duc tried to resolve this contradiction. For decades he inspected, surveyed and studied countless Gothic buildings and observed that the stone skeleton, this charpente de pierre, was capable of suffering deformations and maintaining equilibrium without collapsing. Viollet-le-Duc called this property élasticité: Gothic construction in stone was “elastic”, flexible. Viollet-le-Duc’s theory was accepted by the next two generations. By the 1920s, several authors strongly criticized its vagueness and contradictions. But it turns out that Viollet-le-Duc’s intuition was right. The limit analysis of masonry, developed by Professor Heyman in the 1960s, explains the robustness of the Gothic structure, which can crack and deform safely, finding always a state of stable, safe equilibrium. | |
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Gantner, M. | 2021 | Finding value in the ordinary to better understand the extraordinary. Systematic surveys in baroque roofs and medieval log-buildings. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 440-46. | Using two examples, this paper argues for the benefits in properly examining the supposed ‘normal’ or ‘standard’ constructions in order to better understand certain aspects of innovation or even make extraordinary discoveries. The systematic examination of numerous roof trusses over single-nave churches in German-speaking Switzerland in the first example give us a vivid picture of the construction methods in various regions over a span of 250 years. Based on these constructions, one can see which systems or approaches in constructing roofs were carried forward and which were not. In the case of the late-medieval log buildings in central Switzerland it is shown that within a rather run-down residential building lies the potential of great discoveries. Through systematic surveys and with the help of dendrochronology, over 30 log buildings have been discovered and documented dating back as far as 1300. | |
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Angillis, J., Schrijver, L. & Bertels, I. | 2021 | The post-war construction site in photographs: The photographic collection of the Belgian contractor firm Van Laere (1938). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 447-54. | Since the 19th century, construction site photographs have been a means of documenting the building process. However, the way in which the photographs are created, how they are viewed and how they are used, creates a context that influences what can be seen in the image. The question of how this evolved after 1945 still remains largely open until today. By means of a case study into the photo archive of the Antwerp firmVan Laere (1938), this article attempts to convey how the context and evolution of the company influenced the creation of their visual archive but also the stories within individual images. The history of the company is interrogated through a series of interviews and analysis of their photographic collection. The paper aims to demonstrate that this context should certainly be taken into account in any further use of photographs as source material. | |
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Burgassi, V. & Volpiano, M. | 2021 | Building the ephemeral in Turin, capital of the Savoyard states. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 457-62. | The extensive literature on ephemeral architecture in the modern age is rarely encountered in building historiography. Yet even the architecture of festivities or other recurrent occasions, especially in the capital cities of the ancien régime, demanded complex technical and decision-making processes just as much as the construction of palaces of more lasting importance. Such was the case we would like to present here: the celebrations of the wedding of the Savoy prince Vittorio Amedeo III with Maria Antonia Ferdinanda, infanta of Spain, which was celebrated in Turin in 1750. This paper looks at the creation of these decorative structures as strictly regulated processes, interwoven with the politics of the Savoyard kingdom just as much as the construction of palaces and strategic fortresses scattered throughout their territory. Erecting these temporary structures, therefore, required meticulous consideration, evidence of which can be found by delving into the archival sources. | |
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Chrimes, M.M. | 2021 | The business of the early consulting engineer: The case of Thomas Telford (1815–1834). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 463-70. | Historical research on early consulting engineers in Britain has concentrated on their projects as the profession developed from the late 18th century, but little has been done to study their financial affairs. Thomas Telford (1757–1834) dominated British civil engineering 1821–34. His career is well-known, yet the management of his business affairs remains largely unknown. Using recent research into the history of consulting engineering as a background, this paper considers what Telford’s surviving papers tell us about his income and business focusing on the last 20 years of his life. | |
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Pereira, R., Menegaldo, A.B. & Fernandes, J. | 2021 | Modernization of civil construction in Brazil in the second half of the 19th century: Strategies of a local entrepreneur. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 471-78. | This article contributes to understanding the modernization processes of the civil construction industry in Brazil in the second half of the 19th century. It analyzes the role played by Antônio Carlos Sampaio Peixoto, an entrepreneur in the city of Campinas-SP who owned a factory inaugurated in 1867 that manufactured bricks, tubular pieces, and tiles. The factory was composed of a foundry (iron and bronze) and a blacksmith shop, which produced materials (railings and fittings) essential to civil construction modernization. The entrepreneur’s actions were broad, not limited to the modernization of his industry, but expanding to include political and social action.As a strategy to amplify its sales and diffuse its products, Sampaio Peixoto advertised in local and regional newspapers. This research is based on the analysis of articles published in these newspapers and photographs that register the installations and production processes of Imperial “Olaria Ferraria” and “Oficina Mecânica”. | |
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Vandyck, F., Degraeve, M. & Van de Voorde, S. | 2021 | Brussels iron and steel builders in the 19th and 20th centuries: A macroeconomic and spatial exploration. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 479-86. | In construction history research, the focus is often on large and prominent enterprises, whilst small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain largely overlooked. Yet, in Brussels, like in other major cities like London, 67% of construction workers were employed in SMEs in 1896 – a number that remained relatively constant until today. Accordingly, these historically long-neglected members of the urban construction industry were largely responsible for meeting the growing demand for building and ongoing maintenance during the city’s expansion during the 19th and 20th centuries. SMEs can, therefore, be considered as equally crucial and persistent players in urban construction economies. This paper seeks to sketch a broader framework of the Brussels’ construction industry during the past two centuries, including both SMEs and larger enterprises. We particularly focus on iron and steel builders, including merchants, foundries, forges and steel joiners, yet also draw comparisons with another subsector, namely joiners and carpenters. | |
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Wouters, I. & Dobbels, J. | 2021 | Salvaging construction materials in Brussels, 1900–1925. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 487-93. | This paper studies the demolition and salvage process of construction materials in Brussels in the early 20th century (1900–25), a period that is generally considered a turning point in the reuse practice of construction materials but has not been researched in-depth.The paper is based on an analysis of the photographic collection of the Comité d’Etudes du Vieux Bruxelles, the building specifications of public sales of buildings to be demolished and municipal council reports. This gives insights into the process of demolishing buildings and the profile of the contractors involved, and offers a first glimpse of the selling and reusing of these building materials.With this case of the City of Brussels and through the study of these specific sources we aim to enlarge the knowledge of historic salvage of construction materials. | |
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Armstrong, C.D. | 2021 | Building the Beaux-Arts in the Steel City: Pittsburgh’s Rodef Shalom Synagogue, 1906–1907. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 494-501. | This paper examines the construction in 1906–07 of Rodef Shalom Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The relationships between the Paris-trained, New York-based architect, Henry Hornbostel; the Philadelphia-based general contractor, Thomas Reilly; the Rodef Shalom building committee, and a host of subcontractors, material suppliers and agents on the building site is unusually well-documented and includes the involvement of the NewYork-based Guastavino Company for the construction of the building’s signature dome. Emerging from the Rodef Shalom correspondence is a clear picture of the sequencing of design documentation as building work progressed, the central role of the general contractor in managing the project, and the hierarchy in communications between architect, client and general contractor. The challenges of coordinating a complex project at a distance relied on correspondence, photography, telephones, telegrams and railways, which together contributed as much as on-site agents to shaping the construction process. Special thanks to Martha Berg and the Rodef Shalom Congregation for permitting me to consult material in their archives in early 2020. | |
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Rinke, M. & Haddadi, R. | 2021 | Industrialising timber craftsmanship: Early glulam within the traditional timber construction in Switzerland. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 502-8. | Early glue laminated timber in Switzerland was used for many functions: industrial but also regular buildings such as sport halls, cultural buildings and housing. Integration of the new practice was only achieved by involving existing traditional players. Contractors had to bring together a long-standing knowledge of local timber craftsmanship and the patented glulam technology. The paper traces the early onsite construction practice of glulam by looking at the handling of the contractor for both fields, the use of glulam for industrial oneroom structures and for the use of large glulam elements in roofs of ordinary buildings. The licensed contractors developed methods for fast and flexible erection of the glulam parts.Keywas the development of a constructional unit, the two girder halves with post and tie beams, that was fully joined flat on the ground and then, as an entity, lifted into place, using tripods or other movable lifting devices. | |
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Bologna, A. & Gavello, C. | 2021 | Luigi Santarella: Reinforced concrete design culture through the technical literature. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 509-16. | Luigi Santarella is considered to have been one of the most important Italian theorists in the field of reinforced concrete yet his professional activity is still completely ignored by the critical literature. The structures designed by Santarella – concrete frames, bridges, canopies for stadiums and roofing systems with innovative trusses – and built by contractors specializing in reinforced concrete construction represent the pragmatic experimental field of application of the building principles set out in his widespread theoretical books. The relationship between the building principles and the structural solutions analysed in his texts with his designed and realized structures, in the wider context of the design and construction culture of the time, will shed light on the interaction between the design process and construction instances as well as on the mechanics related to their dissemination through the technical literature. | |
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Haddadi, R. & Rinke, M. | 2021 | Entanglements within an emerging technology: Swiss Federal Railways and early glulam. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 517-23. | Many factors contributed to the early success of glue-laminated timber (glulam) in Switzerland following its introduction in 1908.A strongly interconnected network of established players was decisive for the early acceptance and development of such a recent building material. Within this network, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) played a decisive role through their early and broad involvement. In the formation of a new practice, they simultaneously represented a wide range of institutions. This paper discusses the role of the SBB in the development of early glulam in Switzerland between 1910–1945.The agency of the SBB will be analyzed here across two levels: the material practice of glulam, i.e., the construction of the material on the one hand, and the social construct of it, i.e., the construction of the material culture on the other. Based on archival material documenting the design process and construction phases of SBB buildings, this demonstrates how a productive network was formed through the agency of SBB and which relationships were crucial to its existence. | |
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Rodríguez García, A. & de la Cuerda, R.H. | 2021 | Technique and architecture in the work of Manuel Sanchez Arcas,1920–1936. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 524-29. | Manuel Sánchez Arcas had a successful career as an architect. Based in Madrid until the Spanish CivilWar broke out, hewas part of the team of architects in charge of developing the Ciudad Universitaria campus. In collaboration with Eduardo Torroja, he designed and built Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Central Térmica, and Pabellón de Gobierno. A leading figure of Instituto Técnico de la Construcción y la Edificación and Centro de Exposición e Información Permanente de la Construcción CEIPC, he also carried out relevant theoretical work promoting and disseminating modern construction and architecture through workshops and writings. This paper focuses on the buildings and writings of Sánchez Arcas. It discusses his efforts to integrate modern building services and techniques in the architecture of his time, a little-discussed aspect from the standpoint of the history of construction. | |
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Espion, B. & Provost, M. | 2021 | TRABEKA – General contractor in Africa and Belgium (1924–39). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 530-37. | The TRABEKA company is a colonial general contractor that began its activities in Katanga in 1924. Its business in concrete construction rapidly grew till 1929. In order to cope with the shortage of works resulting from the economic crisis, the company expanded its activities in the 1930s in Africa, Iran and Belgium. In Belgium, it succeeded in building several apartment buildings with well-known architects in Brussels and in developing a strong regional branch in Liège for engineering works. This paper, based on original research work in archives, is limited to the company’s pre-war period of construction activities in Congo until 1955 and in Belgium till 1959. | |
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Bulckaen, L. & Devos, R. | 2021 | The Ghent Booktower (1933–1947): A product of collaborating professionals within institutional know-how. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 538-45. | The Booktower complex, the central library of Ghent University (1933–1947), is a celebrated masterpiece of modernist architect Henry van de Velde. In addition, the tower also counts as one of the first European towers in reinforced concrete, next to several other noteworthy structural and technical achievements. This paper revisits the process of designing and building the Booktower, evaluating the architect’s collaborations with engineers including Gustave Magnel and Jean-Norbert Cloquet but also the contributions of skilled contractors like Gillion and Van Pottelbergh, specialists in the use of reinforced concrete. This paper scrutinizes the collaborations in the design team by assessing contracts, plans, correspondence and other archival materials. The research develops a rich perspective on the respective roles of architects, engineers and contractors, demonstrating how their collaboration was largely conditioned by the university and how each came up with state-of-the art methods to meet the challenges of the project. | |
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Mascarenhas-Mateus, J., Veiga, I. & Marques Caiado, M. | 2021 | Building the Estado Novo: Construction companies and public works in Portugal (1933–1974). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 547-53. | The findings here result from the research done within the PTBUILDS19_20 project, which aims to set up a digital knowledge platform to map Portuguese construction history during the 19th and 20th centuries.An overview is presented on the public works produced by the 13 most important construction companies in Portugal during the Estado Novo period. Around 364 infrastructures are studied, with discussion of their typological distribution, location and chronological relation to individual actors (firm founders, engineers and architects), other collective actors (other companies, public institutions, materials producers and vendors), political events and economic cycles. The comparative study of building techniques and structural solutions used in each infrastructure typology is approached by identifying different technological periods for each infrastructure typology. The paper concludes that the study of construction companies is an important task since there is an important historiographical gap to be bridged in the study of the 20th century construction industry in Portugal. | |
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Pimenta do Vale, C., Sampaio, M.L. & Póvoas, R.F. | 2021 | The introduction of prestressed concrete in Portugal: Teixeira Rêgo. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 554-61. | This paper addresses the professional career of António Teixeira Rêgo, Portuguese engineer, born in 1906, died in 1967. Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, he combined teaching and research activities with intense professional practice, working with the most important northern architects and being connected to some of the most notable works of the city of Porto, such as the Passos Manuel garage, the Coliseu do Porto, or the Casa de Serralves. He was responsible for the introduction of prestressed and light prefabrication technology in Portugal, discussing his experiences in international forums. | |
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Iori, T. & Argenio, F. | 2021 | Claudio Marcello and his dam. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 562-69. | The paper explains the role of Claudio Marcello (1901–69) in the history of Italian structural engineering, and in particular his contribution to the language of “Italian Style” dams. Marcello designed about 40 dams, in the Alps, Sicily, Sardinia and abroad, in less than 30 years as technical director of Edison (1937–63), working in the extraordinary period of post-World War II and Italy’s economic boom. The unique character of its design is internationally recognised right from the start. In Marcello’s works, the very characteristics of 20th-century Italian engineering are readable, as investigated during the Research Project SIXXI–XX Century Structural Engineering: the Italian Contribution, ERCAdvanced Grant 2012, headed by Sergio Poretti andTullia Iori at Rome Tor Vergata University. | |
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Capurso, G. & Martire, F. | 2021 | Visionary engineering between utopia and futurism: Italian structures beyond borders after WorldWar Two. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 570-77. | In the framework of the SIXXI project, on the history of structural engineering in Italy in the 20th century (ERC Advanced Grant, PI Sergio Poretti, Tullia Iori – www.sixxi.eu), the authors of this contribution dedicated specific research to the dissemination of Italian structural engineering beyond Italy’s borders after the Second World War. During that period, the opportunities abroad seemed to grow for construction companies. Instead, as a result of this research, it has emerged that apart from Pier Luigi Nervi, the most famous designers of the “Italian School of Engineering” were not at ease in the international market, rarely seizing opportunities for construction. In this context, a trend attracted attention and represents the specific object of this paper, namely, the design of visionary and futuristic structural solutions that were sometimes even utopian and megalomaniac. | |
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Grieco, L. & d’Amelio, M.G. | 2021 | Between academy and practice: Adriano Galli and the prestressed water bridge over the Casilina in Mignano Montelungo (1954). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 578-85. | Among the most prolific engineers of post-war Italy, Adriano Galli (1904–1956) stands out as an eclectic figure: researcher, teacher, and designer, he devoted his attention to different static solutions and techniques. He designed stiffened vault bridges and pioneering prestressed concrete structures, such as the pillars for the Castellammare-Monte Faito cableway (1952).An interesting application of prestressing to bridges design is the tubular aqueduct Galli designed to bridge the crossing of the hydroelectric plantVolturno-Garigliano over the Casilina road in Mignano Monte Lungo, Campania. Completed in 1954, the structure consisted in a conduit supported by piers. The duct was prestressed both longitudinally and radially to avoid tensional stresses, which could cause cracking in the concrete surfaces, hence leakage. The bridge in Mignano represented a noteworthy solution, soon disseminated abroad. Analysing the structure offers an opportunity to contextualize Galli’s ability in theory, experimentation, and practice. | |
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Spada, F. | 2021 | Italian tall buildings by Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI) in the 1950s–1960s: Some Milanese case studies. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 586-93. | The paper presents the activity of Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI) in the 1950s and 1960s, focusing on tall building construction. This study enables the selected case studies to be related to the evolution of the national construction processes. This paper analyses the methods and process innovations of SGI, with reference to Milanese tall buildings, comparing them with other similar buildings in Genoa and Palermo. In Milan, SGI built the Velasca, Galfa, Porta Romana, Fara and Filzi towers (1956–63) and other tall buildings in residential complexes. This study explores how the company’s Milanese projects impacted the construction of the Cantore and Park Riviera towers in Genoa (1963–69), and the SperlingaTower (1968) in Palermo. This paper aims to provide an overall vision of SGI’s activity, taking into account studies done to date on selected major works. It is based on original archival sources, magazines and publications published by the company. | |
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Ferreira, T. C. & Barbosa, F. & Fernandes, E. | 2021 | Construction culture between tradition and modernity: Three works by Álvaro Siza. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 594-601. | Between 1958 and 1966, Álvaro Siza designed three remarkable works in Leça da Palmeira: Boa NovaTea House (1958–63), the swimming pool at Quinta da Conceição (1958–66) and the ocean swimming pool (1959–66; building completed in 1973). Even though these buildings were designed within a short space of time andwere built in the same area, they reflect the evolution of the construction culture in Portugal. During the 1950s and 1960s, construction in Portugal evolved from predominant recourse to traditional technologies using preindustrial materials (often taking the form of a hybrid combination with modern solutions) towards the gradual affirmation of modern construction features made possible by the advances in the construction industry (mainly reinforced concrete). This paper explores the evolution. | |
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Nuzzolese, C. | 2021 | The ‘exact fantasy’ of steel: The impossible mission of Costruzioni Metalliche Finsider (CMF). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 610-17. | In the history of Italian structural engineering, monopolized by reinforced concrete, steel also experienced a moment of glory. It happened during the boom years: in the affluence that had now been achieved, when even the most expensive material for Italy, which had always lacked in iron mines, seemed to become competitive. In such a peculiar context, in the 1960s, surprisingly enough, a ‘state’ company was founded within IRI with the ambition of monopolizing this market, which was expected to be profitable and expanding: Costruzioni Metalliche Finsider, known by its acronym CMF. This venture stemmed from complex reasons concerning the political, economic, and productive history of Italy: this contribution aims to reconstruct the genesis and failure of this “state attempt” to impose steel on Italian structures. The survey makes use of unpublished archival documentation (the private archives of the CMF designers, IRI files at the Central State Archives, client archives) and unexplored photographic files. This work forms part of the SIXXI project (ERC Advanced Grant, P.I.T. Iori, S. Poretti; host institution: Rome Tor Vergata University). | |
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Tosone, A. & di Donato, D. | 2021 | Industrialization by CasMez and steel built factories in Southern Italy. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 602-9. | The “questione meridionale” refers to the extremely slow industrial development of Southern Italy which has remained a crucial and yet unsolved problem for the entire nation since the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Henceforth, various governments attempted to find workable solutions through the support for specific institutions in order to advance industrialization. The “Cassa del Mezzogiorno” (Funds for the South) was one such organization that emerged among the initiatives to resolve this problem. This paper aims to connect these events in order to place them in the general scenario of industrialization promoted by Casmez. The goal is to identify the outcomes of the link between architecture for productive spaces and steel structures, highlighting the role played by public institutions and private finance that have frequently intervened in this decades-long process. | |
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Stracchi, P. | 2021 | A concrete story: The 15-year collaboration between Harry Seidler and Pier Luigi Nervi, 1963–1978. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 618-24. | Harry Seidler (1923–2006) and Pier Luigi Nervi (1891–1978) first met in Paris in 1955 on the construction site of the UNESCO Headquarters, which was designed by their mutual friend, Marcel Breuer. Seven years later, the two met again, although this time in Rome to study the design planned for the iconic Australia SquareTower. Later, from 1963 to 1978, Seidler engaged Nervi as a consultant for the design of several commissions. Through discussion of the events that have surrounded and revealed the design and constructional aspects of the Nervi-Seidler projects, this paper examines the role of their professional collaboration in the work of the Australian architect and, simultaneously illuminates the last period of Nervi’s career, the so-called “third life”. | |
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Schmid, B. & Weber, C. | 2021 | The experiments on measurement models for the Munich Olympic site. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 625-31. | The Olympic site in Munich is distinguished by the lightweight cable nets of its symbolic roof construction, shaping the image and success of the “cheerful games” in 1972. The designing process of this emblematic structures was a challenge for civil engineering before the invention of high-performance computer technology. The realisation of this innovative cable nets required the cooperation of many different disciplines in civil engineering and was possible only through experiments with physical models. Of the many models used by the engineers in the 1970s, only a few have survived. The paper will describe the networks of actors in civil engineering participating in this innovative planning process and the essential role physical models played in the constructing of the lightweight cable nets for the Munich Olympic site. | |
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Hamzeian, B. | 2021 | The “3-dimensional wall” of the Centre Pompidou in Paris: Invention and evolution of a polyvalent device. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 632-39. | In the summer of 1971, Ove Arup & Partners and Piano+Rogers Architects presented to the French government what they called a “3-dimensional wall” as part of their project bid for the Centre National d’Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou in Paris. This would resolve structural and expressive questions and unite three elements in a spatial sequence. The architects imagined the 3-dimensional wall as a 3D sequence of screens that would create original and interactive effects. The engineers saw it as a structure that, described as “brut,” aspired to become a manifesto for a new metal structure in cast steel. Through recourse to a systematic analysis of published and unpublished sources and of interviews with the architects, engineers and administrators involved in the project, this paper reconstructs the evolution of the Centre Pompidou’s 3-dimensional wall from its initial conception to the gradual loss of its original layered structure. | |
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Schaaf, U. & Prarat, M. | 2021 | Wood as a building material in Torun: A contribution to research on medieval carpentry art of Northern Poland. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 644-48. | Most of Poland’s medieval roof constructions have been preserved in Torun, prompting the authors to attempt to characterise medieval construction timber in Toru´n. The following questions were asked: Where did the building material come from? What types of wood were used? How was the building material transported? What sections and tools were used? The research shows that the material came from the nearby forests and from remote areas from which it was transported by rafts to Torun. It was pine and oak wood. A whole tree, half-tree, cross-tree, and sixth of a tree were used as building materials.A whole tree was pre-treated with an axe and then smoothed out with a carpenter’s hatchet. A half-tree, cross-tree, and sixths of a tree were obtained by sawing thewhole tree. The research made it possible to characterise the medieval construction timber in Torun. | |
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Langouche, L. | 2021 | The glaziers’ invoices from the Plantin-Moretus archives, 1600–1800. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 650-56. | Clear window glass is amongst the most neglected and underestimated historical building materials. Nevertheless, several studies have already shed light on the complex history of window-glass production. They have shown how its evolution led to different glass types, with different characteristics and significance, and that glazing was not just installed indiscriminately. Although much insight was gained by studying glaziers’ invoices, these have never been examined systematically over a large period. The glaziers’ invoices in the archives of the Antwerp publishers’ family of Plantin-Moretus give the opportunity to do both. Decoding these invoices from the 16–18th centuries not only holds the promise of more detailed insights into the glass types that existed in the past, albeit in a limited cultural, temporal and regional context; by revealing the differential uses of glass, they allow us to infer the potential cultural and social significances of window glass in urban dwellings. | |
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Pinho, J. B. | 2021 | The House of Mercy of Lourinhã: Contributions to the history of construction in the early 17th century. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 657-33. | Between 1618 and 1623, the House of Mercy of Lourinhã underwent a construction campaign that gave rise to the current building. The work was prompted not only by the ruin of the building, but also by the need to adapt it to new use, as the Confraternity of Mercy had their own dynamics. The exact work is not specified but, based on data from historical documentation, it seems to have involved enlargement of the old building. The intervention had an architectural nature in which local professionals and materials were used, but the project was not thus restricted. The central source for research was the income and expense books, an important source on the history of the construction. These documents are virtually unexplored, as they were integrated into a private archive. They allow us to characterise and analyse this campaign of works and its diverse components from the perspective of the construction history. | |
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Sementsov, S.V. | 2021 | Spatial and structural features of St Petersburg architecture in the 18th century: Transition from wood to brick. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 664-68. | Historical St. Petersburg (Russia) was the capital of the Russian Empire up to 1918, and now it is a city of dense historical brick architecture. However, St. Petersburg only became a brick city in the late 18th – mid 19th centuries. Before that, the majority of buildings and structures in the city and suburbs were wooden. By the end of the 18th century, 15% of buildings in total were brick, while the rest remained wooden. Starting in the 1710s, early on during Peter the Great’s reign, considered prestigious (to be like European capitals) and for the fire-safety (to avoid urban fires) requirements that were directly controlled by emperors, empresses and the city administration, extreme efforts were made to forbid wooden buildings and introduce only brick structures. This received continuity by Anne and Elizabeth following the reign of Peter the Great. Furthermore, in as late as the 1760s, following decrees issued by Catherine the Great, this prohibition was implemented more actively in the areas south of the Neva river (where the imperial Winter Palace stood). It was achieved through the forced demolition of all wooden buildings and the transition to solely brick structures (including brick load-bearing walls but retaining an effective system of wooden structures already developed by that time: wooden pile fields, floorings with wooden beams, roofing structures with wooden trusses and rafters). As an intermediary result of this campaign, the transition to brick housing was completed only on the Admiralty side, namely in the area between the Neva and Fontanka rivers, by the early 19th century. | |
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Chalvatzi, A.M. | 2021 | Transition from wood to iron in French theatre structures: A new construction system. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 669-76. | In the second half of the 18th century, France was a significant centre for the use of wrought iron in civil architecture. Due to the promise of fireproof constructions, theatres were among the first to incorporate the newmaterial, since ironwas believed to be more resistant than timber. Many ideas and architectural proposals emerged, aiming to improve theatre design and construct robust, fire-proof structures. In particular, an innovative construction system combining wrought iron trusses and fillings of hollow pots was proposed in the 1780s. This article focuses on the transition to iron in Parisian theatre roofs and on the application of this new construction system. The contribution of theatre structures in the application of iron and the development of “fire-proof” trusses is highlighted through archival plans and preserved examples. | |
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Porrino, M. | 2021 | Designing a ground-breaking structure: Notes on the cast-iron/wrought-iron dome of the former Halle au Blé, 1809–1813. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 677-84. | Designed by F.-J. Bélanger and F. Brunet, the cast-iron and wrought-iron framework covering the former Pariswheat marketwas built in 1809–13 in order to replace thewooden structure designed by Legrand and Molinos in 1782–83 and destroyed by fire in 1802.Validated by the central administration, it was the first, largediameter dome entirely built with iron elements. How was this structure able to persist as a model when its design was partly founded on empirical considerations or uncertain knowledge acquired through the construction of the first cast-iron bridges? Indeed, the sizing of the elements was based on embryonic theoretical considerations, the development of which was only completed subsequently, permitting the proper resolution of the problem of elastic curved beams. In this paper, we shall attempt to reconstitute the theoretical aspects underpinning the design of this unique structure, built well before iron framework reached an autonomous technical form. | |
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Hartshorn, H. | 2021 | The development and use of non-staining cements in American masonry. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 685-92. | The history of masonry mortar binders in the United States is unique and complex. Among the less extensively studied materials are the non-staining cements used in conjunction with light-colored masonry materials. Within the American timeline, perhaps the most interesting period for these binders is the late 19th and early 20th century. During this period, there are clear regional trends in material usage based on availability. Slag cement mixes were employed in areas where steel manufacture was a prominent industry. Grappier cements were imported from France and limited mainly to regions near ports of entry on the East Coast. White Portland cements were not produced until the turn of the 20th century but became the dominant non-staining cement relatively quickly. In addition to patterns of use, it is important to understand the general properties of these mortars as these impact on the ongoing performance of the masonry. | |
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Korensky, V. | 2021 | Impact of European knowledge on the development of reinforced concrete in the Russian Empire. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 693-97. | As a part of the wide research field regarding the introduction of European knowledge to the Russian Empire and its adoption and implementation, this paper shines a light on aspects of early reinforced concrete knowledge transfer. The development of reinforced concrete in Russia has been studied and described in Russian publications of the Soviet and later periods to a limited extent. However, the evident and substantial influence of European knowledge and the contributions of European specialists from France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria has remained unexamined. Drawing on historical, technical, and periodical literature as well as on archival documents, this paper describes three different examples of knowledge transfer and their influence on the local development of reinforced concrete. | |
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Lampariello, B. | 2021 | Metal structural work embedded in concrete for slender vaults,1880–1910. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 698-705. | During the two decades around the turn of the 20th century, a particular kind of vaulted roof became widespread: it had a metal structural work embedded in concrete and consisted of ribs and meshes of reinforcements strung between those ribs. This structural work was based on the criteria for metal vaulted roofs during the second half of the 19th century; it ensured the static equilibrium of large roofs and reduced construction time and costs by functioning simultaneously as a supporting framework for centering. Embedding it in concrete made this metal structural work a crucial point of reference during the 1920s in the production of the Dyckerhoff &Widmann company’s vaults. | |
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Korwan, D. | 2021 | On horizontality in architecture: Robert Maillart, the Queen Alexandra Sanatorium and the evolution of the slab. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 706-11. | Robert Maillart’s reputation is mostly based on his reinforced-concrete bridges that can be seen as statements of a reflected, rationalized and material-efficient use of the new composite material. At the same time, in his early career Maillart found himself in an environment that was strongly dominated by the Hennebiquesystem. Searching for a new spatial expression inherently linked to the material’s properties he challenged the prevailing application of these systems that was based on inherited forms rooted in the principle of post and beam. During the construction of the almost forgotten masterpiece of the Queen Alexandra Sanatorium in Davos, Maillart collaborated with Zurich-based architects Pfleghard & Haefeli and used the Queen Alexandra Sanatorium in his quest for a new formal language in which Armierterbeton would be used as a horizontal material, thereby following its structural logic and creating a new aesthetic that would eventually attract Sigfried Giedion’s attention. | |
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Hancock, L. | 2021 | Hidden in the mix: How a regionally specific aggregate affected St. Louis Missouri’s built environment. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 712-19. | When investigating finely crafted concrete, one might ask tradesmen about finishing techniques, vibration, water ratios, reinforcement placement, or formwork design. But aggregate? Most mix design assumes river sand for fines and prevalent limestone for aggregate. Two family businesses, Winter Brothers Materials, and Simpson Materials historically have supplied the St. Louis area with Meramec river gravel through extraction from pit quarries and dredging operations. The city’s curbs, sidewalks, bridge abutments, foundations, and viaducts dating back to Works Progress Administration utilize this gravel as aggregate in concrete. In the 1970s, brutalist buildings used the gravel for exposed aggregate, and most concrete architecture uses Meramec river rock as part of mix design. Recent employment includes two contemporary projects: as aggregate in the Pulitzer Arts Foundation by Tadao Ando (2001), and as exposed aggregate in precast panels for David Chipperfield’s St. Louis Art Museum addition (2013). Aside from two publications (one in 1918, another in 1969) no scholarly research has discussed the importance of this material to the built environment of this Midwestern region. | |
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Nijland, T.G. & Heinemann, H.A. | 2021 | The Northern Lock, The Netherlands: At the frontier of 1920s concrete technology. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 720-25. | The Northern Lock (‘Noordersluis’, 1924–1928) was one of the world’s largest pre-WorldWar II infrastructural works. It was part of a series of enhancements of the North Sea Canal, connecting Amsterdam to the sea. It was designed by a team of engineers led by Johannes Ringers, including J.P. Josephus Jitta, C. Tellegen, F.E. Mulder and B. Peiser. The challenges faced were at the frontier of 1920s concrete technology: development of concrete resistant towater penetration and cements with lowheat development and good seawater resistance as Portland cement was not durable in marine environments. The latter were found in blast furnace slag cements and trass additions. Usage of blast furnace slag cement was novel for the Netherlands and a violation of contemporary regulations. Its bold introduction by Ringers and colleagues is a lasting legacy of the Northern Lock, resulting in the widespread use of ground granulated blast furnace slag cements with high slag contents (CEM III/A with 50%, CEM III/B with ca. 70–72% slag) for major infrastructural works in the Netherlands, with evident durability and sustainability gains. | |
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Prati, D., Predari, G. et al | 2021 | A reinforced concrete stage tower within a 18th-century masonry theater: The Municipal Theater of Bologna. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 726-33. | The Municipal Theater is one of the main artistic symbols of Bologna. Although it is recognized worldwide for its musical history, its construction peculiarities are less known.The original buildingwas designed by the architect Antonio Galli Bibiena in 1763 in a masonry and wood structure. The stage tower, burnt down in 1931, was rebuilt with a reinforced concrete structure, which is currently a significant landmark in the heart of the University district with about 35 m height. The reconstruction project, designed by engineer ArmandoVilla, faced complex issues for the emerging, but still inexperienced, Italian reinforced concrete technique, such as the installation of a large span roof at considerable heights. Archival research and digital documentation made it possible to analyze the structural concept of this construction, a significant example of the building culture of the 1930s, tracing the evolution of this specific construction system and contextualizing it on the international scene. | |
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Bell, P.W.R. | 2021 | Wooden Structures by G. G. Karlsen and the Derevyagin beam. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 734-40. | There are various ways of joining pieces of timber together – pegs, dowels, keys, nails, screws, bolts, connectors and glue. The connection problem is more difficult when large forces are involved, as for example transmitting horizontal shear force in built-up beams. The development of glued-laminated timber beams after strong, durable glues were invented during the Second World War would seem to have solved the problem. In 1967, a book entitledWooden Structures edited by Professor G. G. Karlsenwas translated into English from the Russian and published in the West. It revealed that timber technology in the USSR was remarkably advanced in some respects. The Derevyagin beam, invented byV. S. Derevyagin in 1932 and described inWooden Structures, uses oak keys, proportioned for maximum efficiency to connect the separate pieces of a built-up beam with no glue.The use of glue is nowbeing questioned on health and sustainability grounds.The Derevyagin beam, an elegant piece of engineering, shows that it is possible to make built-up timber beams without the use of glue. | |
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Atienza Fuente, J. | 2021 | The tools of the Roman stone craftsman: The marks left on marble decorative elements in Valeria. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 743-49. | The last archaeological excavations in the Hispano-Roman city of Valeria (Cuenca), have made it possible to exhume the remains of a monumental thermal complex. The building was ornamented with paving and wall mosaics and an elaborate marble decorative program. After its abandonment, the building was not subjected to an intense plundering. This has enabled recovering much of the marble elements composing the internal decoration of cold rooms. The total number of fragments exceeds 6000 pieces. The specific study of these pieces has consisted of the visual analysis of each one, registering their detailed description in a file where all the notable characteristics are also collected. This information has revealed the presence in many of them of various marks, traces and strokes that offer us information about the type of tools used by the Roman craftsman during the process of making the marble elements and the technical function that these tools had. | |
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Dessales, H. & Monier, F. | 2021 | An innovative flooring technique in Roman times (Villa of Diomedes,Pompeii). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 750-56. | In Pompeii, the study of theVilla of Diomedes (2012–2020) revealed a concrete horizontal floor with a corresponding highly original coffered ceiling. A few rare examples of this type are preserved in other Roman sites, although no other examples have been identified in the cities of Vesuvius at the current stage of research. This concrete floor and its terraced roofing were built during one of the final stages of construction of the Villa of Diomedes, just after the large earthquake that hit Pompeii in 62/63 AD. The ingenuity of the system lies in both its masonry structure and coffering decoration, which would have permitted its rapid completion while other work quickly ensued to restore the numerous damaged elements of the villa. This innovation has the particular feature of being executed in the urgency of post-seismic reconstruction. | |
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Holzer, S.M. | 2021 | How to build a (brick) barrel vault. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 757-64. | The present paper discusses several difficulties associated with the erection of barrel vaults. Although it may seem rather straightforward to build a barrel vault, the task gets increasingly difficult as thickness of the vault and height above ground increase. This is particularly true for barrel vaults constructed in brick, the standard material of most early modern vaults.With the difficulties and possible remedies in mind, the paper attempts a reassessment of the sources concerning the most important monumental early modern brick barrel vaults; namely, those of St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. | |
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Pernin, J. | 2021 | Quicker, cheaper, higher: A “new” French scaffolding system in the first half of the 20th century. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 765-71. | In 1894, a French patent for a wood frame scaffolding system using prefabricated ladders was registered in the name of the engineer Jules Funcke. Unlike the many quickly forgotten scaffolding patents registered at the time, this particular system begun to be used by a wood merchant called Hector Lièvre at the beginning of the 20th century. It was then widely used until the 1970s. This wood scaffolding system called “Échafaudages rapides” enabled the building of really huge structures reaching impressive heights for the time. This historical enquiry is based on analysis of a corpus of postcards, patents, catalogue and newspaper articles documenting this system. Using this wide range of sources complemented by a further reading in the light of historiography, this paper proposes some reflections on the technical device itself and on its innovative characteristics. It also demonstrates that the notion of innovation is a complex issue with its threads interwoven across interconnected layers. | |
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Sire, S., Espion, B. & Ragueneau, M. | 2021 | The emergence of electric arc welding in the construction and reinforcement of railway bridges in France, 1930s–1940s. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 772-78. | Construction of electric arc welded railway bridges developed in France with the work of Chief Engineer Louis Eugène Cambournac (1886–1973) within the Compagnie des Chemins de fer du Nord from 1935 onwards, then within the SNCF (French Railways) from 1938. Under the impetus of this Chief Engineer, about ten railway bridges were built, including only one truss bridge, the Joncherolles Bridge, put into service on 15 May 1939. During this period, the electric arc welding process was used to reinforce riveted bridges not strong enough to support the increase in loads and frequency of railway traffic. It was also used for repairing corroded riveted railway bridges, and occasionally following destructions that occurred during the SecondWorld War. This study shows, in this transition period, how the electric arc welding process quickly – but quite lately – became established for the construction of French railway bridges, replacing the hot riveting process. | |
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Hayashi, S., Gondo, T. & Chiba, H. | 2021 | Development and rationalization of formwork for curved concrete shells in the Japanese construction industry in the 1950s. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 779-85. | The popularity of shell structures in post-World War II Japan led to the construction of many reinforced concrete spatial structures. Against a backdrop of Japan’s sophisticated traditional wooden construction techniques, many of these novel shell-structure formworks were also made of wood. This paper explores the development of the general formwork method in the postwar period and its relationship to the impact of US military-related construction projects and the industrialization of the construction formwork method. Case studies of shell-structured roof formwork and shoring from the 1950s are presented and discussed, and the methods of their construction are analyzed. During the early days of formwork, curved structures were fabricated using log-framed shoring and wooden panels. However, over time, steel reusable falseworks (pipe supports and turnbuckles) came into use. The development and industrialization of the construction method are analyzed through the evolution of the method of formwork construction. | |
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Cardellicchio, L., Stracchi, P. & Tombesi, P. | 2021 | Danish spheres and Australian falsework: Casting the Sydney Opera House. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol1, pp. 786-93. | By shedding light on the contribution of local ingenuity and craftsmanship in the making of one of the most celebrated buildings in the world, this paper reveals the largely unacknowledged, detailed complexity behind the fabrication of the iconic roof of the Sydney Opera House. | |
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Pierattini, A. | 2021 | Early Greek temple design and roof construction. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 3-8. | Beginning in the 8th century BC, large temples appeared across the Greek world. In continental regions, this large size was achieved through length, resulting in narrow, elongated ground plans. In most of the Aegean islands, the temples had a more compact aspect ratio, with broader interiors. Several scholars have associated this difference to limitations in the span of thatched roofs, which were common in continental Greece. However, the nature of these limitations has not been investigated. Using modern structural theory and wind engineering studies, this paper examines how the aspect ratio of temple ground plans related to roof construction. It concludes that excessive width made steep thatched roofs susceptible to buckling and damage due to wind force, while width did not affect the stability of the flat roofs prevalent in the Aegean islands. | |
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Motamedmanesh, M. | 2021 | Precursors of aseismic design: The case of Achaemenid monumental architecture. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 9-16. | This interdisciplinary study investigates technical strategies that enabled the Achaemenids to create monumental architecture. Their success in building tall, spacious halls on the seismogenic Iranian Plateau relied on special techniques employed by master builders to improve the behaviour of colossal monuments against earthquake forces. This paper focuses on the arrangement of major load-bearing elements and on foundation systems, notably an embryonic form of the seismic isolation system. The objective evolution of architectural forms inAchaemenid court culture illustrates the attention paid by royal architects to the geological characteristics of building sites and the physical properties of materials. This analysis examines the principles of mechanics employed inAchaemenid monumental architecture, drawing upon detailed observation of archaeological remains aswell as written sources documenting the craft of construction inAntiquity.The theoretical framework presented here traces the origins of the Achaemenids’ aseismic building knowledge. | |
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Bücherl, H. | 2021 | Incomplete: The discontinued building project of a Greek temple of the Classical period. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 17-23. | Temple O and its neighbour, Temple A, seem to have been intended to form an ensemble of two ostensibly identical temples, which were to embellish the long-established city-sanctuary on the acropolis of the Greek colony of Selinous (Selinunte, Sicily, Italy) around the middle of the 5th century BC. The exposed remains of the so-calledTempleO, in particular, offer a snapshot of the building site of a Classical temple, because the foundations had not even been finished when the construction project was abandoned. This exceptionally advantageous situation is ideal for studying the initial construction process of a large-scale Greek building project and is further enhanced by the fortunate fact that the neighbouring Temple A, very similar in size and floor plan, had been completed just before Temple O was abandoned and is therefore – alongside other temples of Magna Graecia – an excellent reference point for architectural analysis. | |
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Albrecht, L. & Döring-Williams, M. | 2021 | On-site design decisions at the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 24-31. | The design provides a decisive component and basis for all subsequent building processes, the substance of communication between planning and realisation. This applies not least to the imperial projects of Roman antiquity. But we still have limited knowledge of the Roman design processes, which since Wilson Jones’ “Principles of Roman Architecture” (2000) must at least be considered fluid. Using the late antique Basilica of Maxentius in Rome as a case study, the moments when design decisions were made can be determined very precisely at several points. The assumption that the design work was already completed when construction began can be clearly refuted here. Numerous proven deviations from the regular design scheme at various levels show that the final detailed design must first have been developed 1:1 on the construction site. | |
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Hillson, J., Buchanan, A. & Webb, N. | 2021 | Investigating forms and formwork in the nave aisles at Tewkesbury Abbey. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 32-38. | Recent study of medieval vaults using digital scanning methods has tended to focus on the design and construction of the ribs, with less scholarly attention being directed towards the webs in between. The study of webbing has been impeded by the limitations of both the raw data and the range of research methods which are available to architectural historians. This paper focuses on a series of vaults which were added to the 11th-century nave aisles of Tewkesbury as part of an extensive 14th-century remodelling scheme. It considers whether or not formwork was used in erecting the webbing at Tewkesbury, using a variety of digital methods including contour analysis, course tracing and normal vector mapping to investigate the structure and three-dimensional curvature of the masonry. | |
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Gullbrandsson, R. & Hallgren, M. | 2021 | Three hybrid church roofs from 1150–1200 inWestern Sweden. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 39-46. | This paper is the result of three case studies connected to a survey of preserved Romanesque church roofs in the western Swedish province of Västergötland. The roofs in question are rare examples of medieval hybrid roofs, trussed constructions with an integrated ridge purlin. From the perspectives of the archaeologist and the craft researcher, the authors interpret the original constructions and their systems, which differ from other Romanesque church roofs in the province. Based on the results, the connection between these roof types and traditional rural post and plank barns is discussed. | |
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Diaz, M., Vandenabeele, L. & Holzer, S.M. | 2021 | The construction of the medieval domes of the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 47-54. | The Basilica of St Anthony in Padua, Italy, is one of the major pilgrimage landmarks of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its silhouette is dominated by no less than eight imposing domes composed of inner masonry shells surmounted by timber structures. In the scope of an ongoing research project, it has been established that the domes formed an integral part of the building plan from the very beginning. This paper aims at understanding the successive configurations of the timber structures and at providing a set of hypotheses about the original construction process. As archival material on the early building periods has been lost, the study is mainly based on onsite analyses, including dendrochronological dating. | |
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Lengenfeld, J. | 2021 | Simply complex: Case studies on complex stone constructions of High Medieval courtly chimneys. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 55-62. | When it comes to medieval chimneys, we usually think of their frame or coping as a topic for art or architectural history. The construction of the lintel, mantel or shaft itself has been mostly ignored. Based on detailed studies regarding the chimney systems of keeps in Regensburg (1211–31) and Schönburg (1201), along with further examples, this paper shows the great complexity and variations in the construction of High Medieval chimneys of the late 12th and early 13th centuries in central Europe. Furthermore, it focuses on their building progress and the advanced processes applied, reaching from complex falseworks to pre-produced Ashlars. | |
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Vandenabeele, L. | 2021 | Medieval transformations of the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua based on an analysis of the original brickwork. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 63-70. | The imposing appearance of the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua (Italy) results from several major transformations carried out after an initial construction phase between the 1230s and 1260s. Due to the lack of medieval building archives, the successive forms of the pilgrimage landmark remain uncertain. Based on a recent survey of the church and a detailed analysis of its original brickwork, this contribution provides a fresh set of evidence casting light on the early appearance of the Basilica as intended by its 13th-century builders. The results pave the way for an unequivocal dating of the building, together with a finer understanding of medieval building techniques in Northern Italy. | |
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Webb, N., Hillson, J. & Buchanan, A. | 2021 | Two- and three-dimensional geometry in tierceron vaults: A case study of the cloister at Norwich Cathedral. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 71-77. | The cloister at Norwich Cathedral has one of the most contested construction histories in English medieval architecture. Built in 1297–1430 under a succession of patrons and master masons, the cloister’s complex building sequence has invited a wide range of interpretations by architectural historians. However, these discussions have rarely taken account of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometry of the tierceron vaults above.A key exception to this is the work of RobertWillis (1800–75). This paper uses a variety of digital surveying and analytical methods to re-examine the concept of the middle plan and its potential as a tool for comparing forms and geometries in medieval vaulting. By considering the potential implications of the observations made for the building’s construction sequence, the paper represents a comprehensive re-evaluation of the middle plan as a method for architectural study, suggesting new directions for research both for the cloister and construction history more generally. | |
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Voigts, C. | 2021 | Vaults, centring, and formwork of the Late Gothic period in Southern Germany. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 78-83. | The construction of Gothic rib vaults not only required centring for the ribs, but usually also substantial formwork for the masonry of the vault compartments. In the Late Gothic architecture of southern Germany, characterised by vaults with elaborate networks of ribs and advanced building technology, formwork could be largely reduced. At the same time, the centring for the ribs became more complex. This article presents evidence of such auxiliary constructions from various buildings, including the remains of a 15th-century centring thatwas discovered reused in the roof of a church.Advantages and implications of the constructions are discussed in order to better understand the reasons for the technological changes. | |
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Stanga, C. | 2021 | The frame vault of the anti-refectory in the Olivetan Abbey of St. Nicholas in Rodengo Saiano. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 84-91. | The paper describes the frame vault construction technique of the anti-refectory of St. Nicholas Abbey in Rodengo Saiano, the oldest still-functioning Olivetan monastery founded by the Cluniac Order in the 11th century in the province of Brescia. The vault covering the anti-refectory is one of the first examples of 16th-century frame vaults, widely disseminated in Northern Italy, that mirrors the Renaissance wooden-coffered ceilings with painted panels surrounded by brackets. Flat vaults cover the space between the brackets and the central panel. This type of vaulting was usually built-in masonry and easily constructed, using light centering. However, the anti-refectory is covered by a mortared rubble vault,which raises some questions about constructing this vaulting type.The understanding of the vault construction technique is carried out through historical research, geometric, thermographic, photogrammetric surveys, and 3D modelling. | |
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Vomscheid, D. | 2021 | Building a Castle in Japan: Analysis of the masonry construction process through the folding screen Chikujo-zu byobu. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 92-99. | In this paper, we intend to lift the veil on masonry construction process in Japan, through the analysis of the early 17th century folding screen called Chikujo-zu byobu.The great pictorial richness of the screen allows us to reveal many aspects and stages of the masonry construction process of a castle in early modern Japan (1573–1867): stone transportation methods, folk traditions related to stone hauling, implementation of stone materials (especially large ones), and social hierarchy on the construction site. Their analysis and comparison with other paintings and actual remains of early modern Japanese castles will reveal one of the building culture in Japan. Indeed, this paper shows the influence of the social context on the building process and over all on the building result itself. Thus, the great Japanese castles known today as major heritage sites must be understood as the materialization of the early modern social context. | |
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Schöll, M. & Weber, C. | 2021 | The Gothic town hall model of Augsburg. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 100-6. | The wooden model of Augsburg’s Gothic town hall is the first of seven architectural models referring to the planning process of the new early 17th century Augsburg town hall. It is part of the Augsburg Model Chamber (Modellkammer), today in the Maximilian Museum Augsburg, which is considered one of the most important collections of historical models. Despite its extraordinary importance, neither art historical nor architectural historical methods have been able to clarify the function nor date of the model. The methodological approach of thiswork is therefore to analyze the model in terms of construction history, to verify previous research results by comparing them with the surviving sources, and to clarify whether this model is a contemporary memorial after the new construction of the town hall or a design model from an earlier period. | |
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Seyed Mousavi, A. | 2021 | Haft-rang tile workshop in Qajar Iran: Production and craftsmen. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 107-13. | Tilework holds a particular position among the numerous styles of decoration in post-Islamic Persian architecture. While several techniques of producing tiles were used in the Islamic period of Iran, the haftrang method gained great popularity in the Qajar period (1783–1924). In this technique, the different shapes are applied with differently colored glazes on a single tile. Several tile workshops were active in the late 19th century in the historical city of Shiraz. This study means to introduce the structure of the Shiraz Qajar tile workshop and the traditional production process of haft-rang tile. It investigates the traditional system of apprenticeship in a Qajar tile workshop and the tasks of the main craftsman and his professional skills, exploring a wide range of natural materials in creating tiles and colored glazes in the Qajar tile workshops. | |
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Pacheco, M.B. | 2021 | Erudite vaults by anonymous builders: The vaulted houses of Fuzeta (Portugal). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 114-21. | The fishing village of Fuzeta, in southern Portugal, provides a remarkable and yet unique example of Mediterranean vernacular architecture. Although most of the buildings in the historical centre were built between the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, the underlying urbanism dates to the 17th century with the first fishermen settlements located on the seafront. The homogeneous architecture is particularly relevant because of the pervasive use of a typology of houses with terraces on brick vaults with different shapes and geometries – lowered barrel, sail and cloister – still preserved today. This paper characterizes, analyzes and compares the types of brick vaulted houses in Fuzeta. The conducted research indicates that these anonymous constructions were nourished by an erudite source, the church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, built at the same time and sharing builders and knowledge, blurring boundaries between vernacular and erudite. | |
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Abita, M. & Morganti, R. | 2021 | Pneumatic foundations in the bridges of the first Italian railways. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 122-29. | In the first half of the 19th century the French geologist Jacques Triger developed a construction process useful for excavating waterlogged soils that applied a caisson to pump compressed air into the working site. His inventionwas widely deployed in construction engineering, especially for sinking bridge pier foundations in riverbeds. This technology was first used in Italy in the 1850s under the supervision of British and French building companies. It served for the construction of many bridges in the newItalian railway network and resulted from a fruitful collaboration between Italian and foreign technicians. This essay will describe the evolution of cast iron and wrought iron caissons in Italy, a countrywhich provided a favorable environment for the experimentation of this new technology. | |
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Chen, Y. | 2021 | Reclamation work and stone masonry at the Nagasaki Harbour wharves (1889–97). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 130-38. | This paper analyses (1) the layout of Nagasaki Harbour and the plans of individual stone masonry wharves in 1889; (2) the relationship between water, tides, and the structure of stone masonry wharves in Oura; (3) the supply of stone and the stonework of thewharves in Oura; and (4) the reclamation process of the Mitsubishi Shipyard and its stonework in the Tategami area in 1897, to illustrate the technology of masonry stonework and wharves used in modern Nagasaki Harbour. | |
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Campiotto, R.C. & Kühl, B.M. | 2021 | Ipiranga Museum: 3D laser scanning as a contribution to Construction History. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 139-45. | This study on the Ipiranga Museum of the University of São Paulo (USP) aims to assess the potential of 3D laser scanning to examine aspects related to construction history. Based on bibliographic studies and on the examination of the building itself, this study explores the building’s characteristics, and presents data on its construction and the main changes it has undergone over time.The study then analyzes the characteristics of the scanning carried out by the Development of Integrated Automatic Procedures for Restoration of Monuments (DIAPReM-Unife) for restoration purposes, which offers highly consistent morphometric data and information about the characteristics of the surfaces. The results of the scanning, when properly analyzed and articulated with bibliographic, iconographic and documentary sources, can provide important historiographical clarifications. This is explored at the end of the text with the goal of highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary works as a means of mutual enrichment. | |
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Pivo, V. | 2021 | Black concrete power: The Tuskegee block and Low Cash-Cost Housing. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 147-53. | Concrete is a material that has received increased scrutiny in recent years – it has been used as a vehicle to study the politics of climate change and the culture of architecture. This paper presents an opportunity to examine concrete in the context of vernacular building cultures in southern United States. Focusing on the Tuskegee Institute’s Low Cash-Cost Housing program, which taught low-income Black farmers how to mix and pour concrete to build low-cost yet modern homes, the paper shows how the material performed as a tool for economic and social liberation. In addition to the specific case study, the paper links local building cultures to a broader history of global tabby construction. Most significantly, the paper contributes to scholarship on construction history by privileging experiences of Black working-class people instead of private enterprises or governments. | |
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Plasencia-Lozano, P. | 2021 | Bridge replacement due to structural obsolescence. The case of the Ciudad Real-Badajoz railway bridges (Spain). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 154-60. | The great railway bridges built in the 19th century are magnificent examples of the rise of civil engineering, and especially of the development of iron structures. Over time, however, the increase in railway rolling stock complexity and weight made some structures obsolete, and their replacement became indispensable during the 20th century. Such is the case of some bridges built in a section of the Spanish Ciudad Real-Badajoz railway line inaugurated in 1865, which crossed watercourses as important as the Guadiana River, the Aljucén River or the Gévora River. At two different times, during the 1920s and 1950s, the original iron lattice girder bridges were replaced by new concrete structures built in the same places. This study analyzes those structures, both old and new, and especially how the replacement construction was carried out without interrupting rail services. The original construction projects and the new bridges, some historic photographs of the replacement work, which include piers, formwork, arches and decks and dismantling of obsolete iron girders, are thus studied. The study provides evidence of their importance not only as territorial landmarks or major structures but also as elements with a construction history remarkable and extremely interesting in itself. Lastly, the destiny of the obsolete iron structures, sale for scrap, contributes to the discussion of the future of outdated bridges of our time. | |
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Greppi, A. & Di Biase, C. | 2021 | The Sant’Elia Kindergarten in Como: Structural behaviour and the issue of durability. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 161-68. | Giuseppe Terragni’s Sant’Elia Kindergarten offers a good opportunity to examine in greater depth the disputed issue of modern buildings’ “impermanence”. This paper aims to plot the salient phases in the complicated process of the building’s construction and to outline the material history of the kindergarten. The reinforced concrete structure of the kindergarten is completed by non-load-bearing walls which define the volumes and interior spaces; however, since construction some of these walls have shown signs of cracking due to land subsidence. These manifestations of structural instability continued over time, making various programs of interventions necessary: demolition and reconstruction of different parts and the repair of the construction framework.The paper will describe the extent and importance of these interventions, suggesting how, though they have apparently not altered the building’s form, they have resulted in major changes to its material components. | |
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Costantino, C., Benedetti, A. C. et al | 2021 | The innovative application of the curtain wall in the Galfa Tower. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 169-76. | In the US, after the Second World War, buildings’ outer shells made of glass and steel were the result of highly specialised technical processes and industrialization in compliance with the requirement framework of the emerging use of the business centre. In Italy, however, the curtain wall would not be used before the end of the 1950s.The GalfaTower (102.37mhigh),was built during this period in Milan, andwas designed by Melchiorre Bega. Every component of the project (façade, plan, internal arrangements, load-bearing structure) was defined by a precise rule referring to modularity, but different criteria were used to offer space adaptability and flexibility. The study about curtain wall evolution and Galfa Tower highlights the innovative application of this technological solution in this representative Italian building, in terms of architectural composition together with the refurbishment necessity to ensure the contemporary use while respecting the original language. | |
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Barelli, M.L. & Tocci, C. | 2021 | Masonry and its role in the mid-20th century: G area houses in the Le Vallette district of Turin. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 177-84. | The paper focuses on the housing complex designed by A. Cavallari Murat and the younger R. Gabetti, A. Isola and G. Raineri (1958–69) for the Ina-Casa public housing district of Le Vallette in Turin. The load-bearing masonry structure initially adopted by the designers, with upward tapered pillars projecting from the façades (a solution which seems to be reminiscent of the work of Alessandro Antonelli), was abandoned during the construction phase in favour of a reinforced concrete one. If this choice had no consequences as regards architectural image, it triggered a process of technological re-elaboration which is interesting to analyze in terms of the various solutions adopted by the four construction companies involved, as concerns both the organization of the load-bearing structure and its relationships with brick cavity walls. | |
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Greco, L. | 2021 | Modern dwellings afterWorldWar II: An Italian experience of wooden prefabrication by Legnami Pasotti. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 185-90. | The paper deals with the spread of prefabrication techniques in Italy after World War II with specific reference to the diffusion of the wooden construction system manufactured by the company Legnami Pasotti and applied to the production of prefabricated homes delivered as “Garda houses”. The system was based on the use of uprights and wall elements and provided for the integration of fixed furniture elements into the wooden construction system. The section of the uprights was shaped so as to allow corner, crossing and linear connections with the wall elements using a single coupling scheme. The research considers the Pasotti case in the post-WWII context and with reference to the pioneering prefabricated systems developed by Pasotti in the 1930s. Sources are both Legnami Pasotti’s technical catalogue, as well as the written sources (drawings and technical notes) preserved by the Central State Archive of Rome. | |
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Mustieles, F., Oteiza, I. et al | 2021 | Morandi (1957–1962) and the cable-stayed Bridge over Lake Maracaibo: Pioneering contributions. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 191-97. | This presentation aims to highlight the historical importance of the Bridge over Lake Maracaibo (or General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge) (1957–1962) within the framework of the cable-stayed bridge work by Riccardo Morandi, as well as its main structural and constructive contributions. This was the first modern cable-stayed bridge with multiple spans, and one of the longest in the world for many years. The result of an international competition won by the Morandi team, its design, calculation and construction was executed by a range of international and national companies, while its construction marked an important milestone for innovation in bridge building in general. Currently, after almost 60 years standing, and following the collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa, maintaining the structure is more important than ever, due to what it represents for the economy of Venezuela and for the history of bridge construction. | |
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Nozza, C. | 2021 | The USM HALLER stahlbausystem MINI-MIDI-MAXI, designed by Fritz Haller, 1959–1987. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 198-205. | A specific feature of the USM HALLER MINI-MIDI-MAXI prefabricated modular steel construction system, designed by the Swiss architect Fritz Haller, a pupil of Konrad Wachsmann, in collaboration with the engineer Paul Ulrich Schärer, is its potential adaptability and versatility intentionally programmed over time. The same architectural thinking, building logic and materials, spans three different technological thresholds, building scales and programmes: houses, schools and factories. Wohnhaus Schärer was the first private house built with the USM HALLER stahlbausystem MINI. | |
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Paradiso, M., Galassi, S. & Garuglieri, S. | 2021 | The Catalan vaults of Roberto Gottardi’s School of Theater in Havana: Some discoveries on the construction technique. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 206-13. | Despite their current state of high degradation, the NationalArt Schools (Escuelas Nacionales de Arte) in Cuba are currently considered the most iconic examples of the use of tabicadas vaults within modernist architecture. A wonderful example of organic architecture, these schools were designed in the 1960s by Italian architects Roberto Gottardi and Vittorio Garatti and the Cuban architect Ricardo Porro. They consist of five buildings set in a natural park of 660,000 m2 dedicated to teaching dance, music, theatrical art, plastic arts and ballet. The Catalan or Valencian technique has been widely used in the schools. The actual technique used is not a pure Catalan technique, but mixed, aided by reinforced concrete members. Recent visits by the authors were dedicated to the study, in situ, of the vaults using non-destructive investigation and diagnostic techniques (thermography, ultrasound, video cameras). The paper describes these results and proposes them for public discussion. | |
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Stoyanova, I. | 2021 | Plovdiv concrete: Modern, bold, valuable? Houses of youth and of science and technology. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 214-21. | This paper presents two important examples of reinforced concrete construction from the 1970s and 1980s in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. These are large-scale, public buildings and examples of in-situ concrete construction with some precast concrete elements. This paper is the first to argue that the buildings represent significant local accomplishments in concrete construction, a conclusion based on an examination of the structural and architectural use of concrete in each building. The paper draws on unpublished archival documentation and personal onsite investigations as well as the discussions in architectural textbooks and magazines of common building practices at the time. This study also compares the two buildings, which were built at the same time and had similar design and construction requirements. Finally, the paper considers if the use of concrete was approached differently in the two buildings and the ‘concrete’ heritage value of each building. | |
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Tomlow, J. | 2021 | Observations on the design and building of the Roman Segovia Aqueduct. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 225-31. | The dry masonry structure of Segovia Aaqueduct (ca 100 AD), in granite, is a masterpiece of Roman construction design. Observation of hoisting holes and scaffold holes are analyzed on their impacts. Photographs show the existence and position of the holes. Since the brittle material reduces detailing options, only traces of simple holes have survived over time. Hypotheses on the origin of these holes are discussed, also by comparing aspects to other insights on Roman scaffolds. A possible light scaffolding system is presented for the aqueduct’s piers. They were mainly work platforms, not to be used for storing granite blocks. Possibilities of safe wedging of the blocks at high altitude, necessary because of the hoisting device iron forceps, are presented, also in respect to ergonomics. In drawings, phases of the construction process and its careful preparation by skilled staff are illustrated. The current contribution adds substantial new insights. | |
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Lluis Teruel, C., Ugalde Blázquez, I. et al | 2021 | Medieval geometry and the Gothic style at the Cathedral of Tortosa. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 232-39. | The construction of Gothic cathedrals is among the great achievements of medieval science as it is defined in terms of theorica and practica. This study introduces the original sources of the Codex of the Cathedral of Tortosa (Catalonia, Spain). A documental survey of masonry books (11.o. ACTo), the Guarc parchment (ca.1345–1380) and the geometric layout ofTortosa Cathedral carried out over the last decade provide some details that afford an understanding of some of the conditions of execution and construction of what has become known as geometria fabrorum. Two main sources allow a bijective assessment of the built masonry: the ACTo chapter archive and the parchment known as la traça de Guarc (ca.1345–1380). These sources show a heptagonal apse with an arithmetical and geometric dimension based on a metrological and tonal musical proportion of 9/8, which is perfectly compatible with the bases of the quadrivium. The lateral and radial chapel, as the basic unit and feature element in 14th-century Gothic cathedral design, can be used as a pattern and its measurement established as the basic unit for the overall proportions of the cathedral. | |
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Moreira, A.M. | 2021 | Acoustic vases in the Portuguese synagogue of Tomar: Analogies with other coeval worship buildings. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 240-46. | Since ancient times, European construction history has been confronted with the existence of ceramic pots inlaid in walls often related to acoustic purposes. This paper focuses on the ceramic pots embedded in the masonry walls of the synagogue of Tomar, built in the 15th century. Although acoustic vases in Christian and Muslim worship buildings are relatively well known and documented, no similar studies published in English were found reporting similar devices in other synagogues. This paper attempts to shed light on the presence of embedded ceramic vases in the walls of this synagogue building in Tomar. The study considers the research on ceramic vases in ancientworship buildings aswell as current acoustic research on the context of cavity resonators as an ancient building technique. The origins of Tomar synagogue were also investigated in order to argue this practice can be regarded as an expression of a coexistent tradition. | |
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López-Ulloa, F.S. & López-Ulloa, A.A. | 2021 | The vaulted systems of the colonial city of Quito, Ecuador. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 247-54. | The vaulted systems of the colonial city of Quito are key to the construction history of its former main churches, mostly made of brick and stone masonry; whose singular structural characteristic bears continuous earthquakes. Recently, several restoration and structural reinforcement interventions have taken place to ensure their conservation. This in turn, has produced some studies with a number of architectural surveys. These have been compiled and systematized with comparative tables, aimed at presenting a graphic resource with schematic plans and sections, which at the same time, collect various data related to their origin and construction. As a result, it is possible to have the first comparative graphics of these structures from ten of the most important colonial churches in Quito. | |
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Grimoldi, A. & Landi, A.G. | 2021 | Pursuing comfort in late 19th century school buildings in Milan: Technical knowledge and role of the enterprises. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 255-62. | After 1860, in European states, laws made public education compulsory and the obligations, which had already been sanctioned for nearly a century, were made effective: until then, they had hardly been applied. Urbanization was advancing ever further and the increase in the population required the construction of large school buildings in the cities. The best-known architects of the time participated in the implementation of a new building type.Ventilation was essential for the hygiene and heating was necessary to pursue school comfort. School construction stimulated the evolution of techniques, both in studies and in production. In Italy, studies in applied engineering promoted the development of a specialized mechanical industry in Milan, which met the high needs of the city and the region, attaining a dominant position in the rest of the kingdom. The city archives keep extensive documentation on the construction of the Milanese schools, the application of new technologies and the company roles and strategies in applying them. | |
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Ciblac, T. | 2021 | Space funicular polygons and their applications by Émile Foulon. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 263-70. | In the thesis he presented for his agrégation qualification at the Faculty ofApplied Sciences of the University of Liège in 1939, Émile Foulon, a University of Liège Civil Engineer of Construction with a doctorate from the University of Paris, focuses on the transposition to space of the funicular polygons traditionally used in the plane and their applications to the calculation of three-dimensional constructions. Surprisingly, his approach was an original one as apparently no systematic study of space funicular polygons, as he defined them, had been published before. Foulon systematically studies the existence and degrees of freedom of space funicular polygons as a function of the number of forces considered. He further proposes to make use of descriptive geometry and develops practical methods which he applies to spatial structures. This article aims to shed light on Foulon’s approaches, their specificities and how they relate to other historical methods of space graphic statics. In particular, Foulon’s theoretical and practical motivations will be compared to the radically different approach of Benjamin Mayor. This also explores why Foulon’s methods fell into oblivion. | |
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Sampaoli, G. | 2021 | Lighting and visual comfort systems in administrative buildings in 1950s Milan. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 271-77. | In the first part of the 20th Century, architects began to experiment with the use of electric lighting as a “new building material” applied or integrated into buildings but this was interrupted due to the Second World War when cities lay cloaked in darkness. The end of the conflict redefined visual parameters and administrative centres served as a testing ground for industrialization as well as lighting techniques in the post-war phase. This paper, based mainly on perusal of articles from the period and documents from Archivio Civico of Milan, the Lombardy region archive, CSAC of Parma, and the Mendrisio Archivio del Moderno, aims to examine the issue of lighting and climatic comfort in relation to the administrative buildings erected in Milan in the 1950s. In these buildings, the various plant engineering systems attained such a level of integration as to make them intrinsic to the architecture, the spatial and visual conception of space, and structural forms, as is also reflected by the exterior appearance of the buildings and by the city’s night-time appearance. | |
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Poma, E. | 2021 | Energy-aware construction within the Modern Movement: Erskine’s approach. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 278-85. | This paper proposes discussing howthe application of climate-specific construction technologies contributed to the definition of valuable energy-aware examples of Modern architecture.The technical features of three projects by Ralph Erskine are investigated to highlight the qualities deriving from the critical implementation of building technology for a regional interpretation of the principles of Modern design. | |
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Cruse, A. | 2021 | We’re not in Kansas anymore: ASHRAE and the global growth of thermal comfort research. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 286-93. | This paper outlines the changing role of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in shaping thermal comfort research during the second half of the 20th century. During that time, the comfort research community grew considerably, while ASHRAE’s role became smaller.Yet, it remained vital.ASHRAE engineers established the basic comfort research methods andASHRAE funding supported subsequent scientific advances fundamental to the two principal comfort models, the Predicted MeanVote index and the Adaptive Thermal Comfort model. The Society’s changing role highlights how a multidisciplinary approach was embedded in comfort research, how industrial and academic ties shaped inquiry, how opposing viewpointswere addressed within the research community, and howthe network of comfort researchers expanded from the Unites States to Europe, Australia, and Asia. | |
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Smyth, F. | 2021 | ‘Sirapite for Sopranos’: Tempered construction and designing for musical tone. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 294-99. | London’s Royal Festival Hall opened its doors on 3 May 1951. The first concert hall to be built in Britain afterWorldWar Two, it was not just an iconic piece of architecture but would also become an archetype in design for musical tone. Its design fused architecture, music, and science, and its construction process was interspersed with a series of experiments that were implemented throughout 1950 and 1951 to allow for acoustic adaptation as the building was finalised. This paper examines the interdisciplinary collaborations that informed the process, and the differing forms of experience and expertise that formed a valid part of the hall’s construction. It highlights the manner in which the final stages of the construction process were tempered and revised (over the course of three months) to take account of these, and the contemporary social and cultural priorities which were brought to the fore as a result. | |
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Grom, R.S. & Putz, A.W. | 2021 | The 1968 Integrated Facade System by Josef Gartner. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 300-05. | In 1968, the company Josef Gartner & Co. was granted the patent for an “external building wall with water-filled hollow steel columns”. This patent defines the principle behind the Integrated Facade System, which conflates the supporting structure, building envelope and building services. Hollow steel columns are connected to the water heating and cooling system. For the first time, the new system was presented as a prototype pavilion at the “BAU 68” international trade fair in Munich. Translocated to Gundelfingen soon after, it has since survived as a gatehouse to the factory premises. The Integrated Facade System has since been applied to numerous objects, not least icons of late 20th century architecture. However, the integration of building services and the building envelope, once a mark of technological achievement, poses serious challenges for maintenance and repair. | |
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García-Baño, R., Salcedo-Galera, M. et al | 2021 | The aditus maximus of the Roman Theatre in Málaga: An early model of Roman stonework vault. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 309-16. | The authors of this paper performed an architectural survey to approach the study of the south aditus maximus of the RomanTheatre in Málaga,which is covered by a sloping barrel vault topped by a round arch, all made with stonework. The analysis of the survey has generated valuable information to deepen knowledge of Roman stonework techniques, above all those related to stone stereotomy, which involve the resolution of geometric problems in space and their material execution. The authors have formulated hypotheses about the design and construction strategies used, such as the division into parts and their assembly, the number of courses, locking systems, the orientation of the bed joints, vault springers and their transition to the walls, or carving methods. The solutions used in this vault are compared to others used in Roman times, analysing possible knowledge transfers and establishing analogies in the construction resources used. | |
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De Cesaris, F. & Gallo, A. | 2021 | Experimental analysis to define the stability conditions of the temple of Vesta in Forum Romanum. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 317-24. | The round temple of Vesta - located in the Roman Forum and connected to the House of the Vestals on the Via Sacra – was the site of religious practices predating the founding of the city. The temple was reassembled by the Fascist regime in 1936 as background for the Via dell’Impero. This reconstruction was made by anastylosis with significant additions. The few original marble elements were composed with travertine pieces to partially restore the ancient image recovered from coins and descriptions. Investigating the building’s structural condition verified the reconstruction methods for the N-W sector. Here, two rows of three columns are arranged in concentric circles in a system of pendular elements, which is made asymmetrical by the presence of partition walls between the inner columns. The reduced-scale model - commensurate with the prevailing building conditions - highlighted the behaviour of collapse and the possibilities for improvement. | |
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Lehmann, H. | 2021 | Geometry by eye: Medieval vaulting of the Anba Hadra Church (Egypt). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 325-32. | At first glance, the vaults and domes made of adobe bricks in the medieval monastery church of Deir Anba Hadra appear simply typical to the region. However, a closer look at their construction enables new insights into form-finding processes and the combination of specific vault forms to produce differentiated formation of space. Tracing of historical origins reveals relationships in the development of vault forms and building typologies. The paper describes the church’s vault construction and explains the principles of determination of their geometry. In order to consider how this could have been implemented at a medieval construction site, experiences derived from traditional adobe construction in the area will be included. A comparative view of the Anba Hadra monastery church along with Nubian buildings as well as Christian and Muslim buildings in the Aswan region allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the intertwined handicraft tradition and cultural exchange in the region of the First Cataract of the Nile in the 10th century ce. | |
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Wendland, D., Gielen, M. & Korensky, V. | 2021 | The construction and stereotomy of the medieval vaults in Notre-Dame: Planning, stone-cutting and building of the double-curved shells. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 333-40. | The construction of the vaults in stone masonry in Notre-Dame in Paris, which are an essential feature in the cathedral’s architecture, was a challenging task for the medieval builders, and certainly can be seen as a milestone in technical and artistic innovation. Not only the ribs, but also the shells are made of dressed stone: their double-curved surfaces are built in exposed masonry with a remarkably regular texture. During the devastating fire, the vaulted ceiling stood for good part to its task in confining the flames to the roof structure. Even though some portions were destroyed by heavy impact, it nevertheless played a key role in avoiding major damage to the interior of the cathedral. This study aims to clarify the historic position of this construction and to understand the builders’ technical knowledge.We also hope to contribute valid information for repairing the damaged vaults and integrating the destroyed portions. | |
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Maira Vidal, R. | 2021 | Geometry and construction of the severies of the vaults in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 341-48. | The fire at Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral shocked the world, which watched in disbelief as flames devoured one of the most important early-Gothic cathedrals in medieval Europe. Some vaults in the transept and in the main nave collapsed completely or in part. Reconstruction will require addressing one of the most complex challenges of recent decades. The results of the geometric and construction analysis carried out before the fire on a three-dimensional model created using a laser scanner have brought to light extremely important information for the restoration works based on the thorough knowledge of medieval construction. The severy surfaces of the Parisian cathedral have double curvature. By comparing all the courses with each other, we were able to confirm the geometry rules governing these structures and form hypotheses about the auxiliary structures used. | |
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Maissen, M. | 2021 | Vaults on the water: A systematic analysis of the vault construction in theWasserkirche Zurich. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 349-55. | This paper examines the vault construction in the Wasserkirche in Zurich, Switzerland with regard to its geometrical design and the structural engineering of the building itself. Similar to numerous vault constructions in the Late Gothic period, the vault pattern of theWasserkirche appears rather simple in its ground plan, but unfolds a highly complex geometry in its spatial configuration. In the following, the complexity of the vault construction is analysed, deciphered and simplified with state-of-the-art technical equipment and precise reverse engineering techniques.To provide additional support and better illustration, various visualisation methods are applied. In a final step, the results obtained are brought into a historical context by comparing them with contemporary and regional vault constructions. | |
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Perelló, M. & Rabasa, E. | 2021 | Stone and brick flat vaults from the 16th century in Spain. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 356-63. | Flat vaults expand the boundaries of knowledge on flat vault techniques, stepping away from the conventional rules. At first sight, flat vaults can be easily defined. They are a kind of vault without curvature. However, there are not many examples of strictly flat vaults; low vaults are much more common.We have located a group of vaults that seem flat: those located in Magalia Castle, in the Monastery of El Escorial and in the Casa de Campo’s Garden Pavilion. They belong to the same historical period and their builders are linked. The analysis of these vaults, built in stone or brick, and located in buildings with different purposes, military or monumental, allows us to know their geometric and constructive parameters to review the flat vault idea, and to conclude if they are a useful resource or an arrogant construction. | |
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Ramiro Mansilla, R. & Pinto-Puerto, F. | 2021 | The renovation of the Church of San Benito Abad in Agudo (Ciudad Real, Spain) through a 17th-century drawing. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 364-70. | This article addresses the architectural study of the renovation process of the Church of San Benito Abad in Agudo, Ciudad Real, Spain, through a 17th-century drawing attributed to the master builder, Antonio de Piña. The drawing is unique in that it records the construction phases of the building and includes an exceptional working drawing of a Late-Gothic vault that is currently concealed by a more recent sail vault. The authors conduct a comparative analysis between the document and the material traces in the building, revealing a modus operandi adopted by master builders at the time. | |
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Schmitt, R.E. & Wendland, D. | 2021 | The geometric design of the “Guarinesque” vaults in Banz and Vierzehnheiligen in relation to the treatises of stereotomy. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 371-78. | Johann Dientzenhofer’s Banz Abbey Church (1710–18) and Balthasar Neumann’s Church of Vierzehnheiligen (1743–72), both located in Upper Franconia (Germany), are characterized by their masonry vaults, sequences of oval domes separated by double-curved arches. This Late Baroque architecture has been called “Guarinesque”; however, the conceptual connection between the vaults and Guarino Guarini’s architecture remains to be thoroughly investigated. This paper discusses the geometric definitions of these vaults using the modern methods of geometric analysis and reverse geometrical engineering, based on 3D-laser scanning.Analysis of these scans reveals a design process based on plane circle segments and ovals, while more complex geometric procedures are not necessary to describe the vaults. Further, the relationship between these designs and the procedures of geometric design described in the treatises of stereotomy since the 16th century can be shown. Based on this background, the relation to Guarini’s Architettura Civile (1737) is discussed. | |
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Gasparini, D.A. | 2021 | Joseph M.Wilson, Henry Pettit and the iron truss bridges of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 379-86. | The paper examines the contributions of Joseph M.Wilson and Henry Pettit of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) to the design of iron truss railroad bridges in the US. Wilson and Pettit developed statically determinate truss forms, connection details, and details of built-up compression members that were widely adopted by other US bridge designers. These contributions are examined in context of specific bridge designs: the 1869 bridge over 30th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), the 1871 bridge over the Juniata River at Mount Union, PA, the 1874 East Span of the Monongahela River Bridge near Pittsburgh, PA, and the Delaware River Bridge at Trenton, New Jersey. These designs reflected a change in engineering judgment regarding appropriate bridge characteristics and were distinctive within contemporary international design practices. | |
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Tellia, F. | 2021 | Construction of English fan vaults: The tangent plane as a surface of operation. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 387-93. | In current historiography on fan vaults, the geometrical method employed to define the shape of the blocks constituting the conoidal shells in joined masonry is based on a horizontal plane opportunely translated to the extrados of the vault, as wonderfully described by RobertWillis. His conclusions came after noticing the flat surface of the extrados of the voussoirs of these vaults. It is worth looking afresh at Willis’s theory for two reasons. Firstly, because it cannot be confirmed as no English medieval drawing describing this procedure exists. Secondly, as commented by Leedy in his study on fan vaults,Willis’s conclusions were based on built examples featuring a top flat plane, which are the exception, not the norm. It is proposed in this paper that the individual stone blocks may have possibly been defined by a different method, which uses a plane tangent to the vertical ribs, as opposed to a horizontal one. | |
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Fuentes, P. | 2021 | Graphical analysis of masonry domes. Historical approaches (1850–1920). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 394-401. | The idea of the line of thrust appeared in the first half of the 19th century and it was promptly applied to the analysis of domes. Two main approaches were used. On the one hand, the one proposed by Poleni in 1748 for the analysis of St Peter’s dome in Rome, considering the dome divided in separated arches, with a two-dimensional behaviour. However, a dome is a spatial structure, and can develop hoop forces. The matter was addressed in an analytical way but also graphical methods were elaborated since the middle of the 19th century. H.T. Eddy, in 1878, applied a graphical method to masonry domes, considering the absence of tensile strength, and obtaining the point where hoop compression changed to tension. In similar ways, different authors struggled with the same problem. This paper summarizes the different approaches, together with application to real cases. | |
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Rei, J., Sousa Gago, A. & Fortea Luna, M. | 2021 | Portuguese timbrel vaults—description and constructive tests. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 402-10. | This paper presents the main characteristics of the Portuguese timbrel vault, known in Portugal as “abobadilha” or “abobadilha alentejana”, after the region Alentejo where most examples are found. This research is part of an extensive study that culminates in a set of experimental and computational tests which aims to determine appropriate design rules for this type of structure. The rules, shapes and proportions of the timbrel vaults are compared with the geometric features of those described in European treaties of the 18th and 19th centuries. Experimental loading tests were performed on two simple timbrel vaults, the results of which are summarized in the present paper. The numerical model (based on the discrete element method) is intended to be used in the simulation of real structures, anticipating their structural capacity, without the need to perform new experimental tests. A comparison of the experimental results and the predictions obtained is also presented. | |
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Heyman, J. | 2021 | The bells of Brisbane Cathedral. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 411-15. | The Anglican Cathedral of St John in Brisbane was built over the course of a century; it was started in 1906, and work continued until 2009. The church is of neo-Gothic style, and almost the final building activity was the completion of the crossing tower and the installation of a ring of twelve bells. An assessment was made of the consequences for the tower that would result from bell ringing. | |
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Predari, G. & Prati, D. | 2021 | Calculation methods for reinforced concrete structures at the beginning of the 20th century: The Modernissimo Theater in Bologna. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 415-22. | Palazzo Ronzani represents a junction between local tradition and modernity as it collects different construction solutions: a reinforced concrete frame, unreinforced concrete masonry, and load-bearing masonry. The structural design followed the Hennebique system, but the archival documentation contains a limited number of documents about the structural design, and no structural calculation report to confirm the adoption of the system. The paper focuses on the study of its structural calculation, simulating the procedure that technicians must undertake in intervening on buildings dated to the beginning of the 20th century, with calculation and construction documentation often missing. The restoration site of the theater offered the opportunity to carry out specialized structural surveys, bringing to light the traditional stirrups and the huge smooth iron reinforcements. The theoretical simulation of the calculation procedure has highlighted the correspondence between the patent and the real situation, confirming the adoption of the system and its excellent structural performance. | |
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Antuña, J. | 2021 | The Orense railway station: A shell roof by Eduardo Torroja. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 423-30. | A project by Eduardo Torroja made for Orense station platform roofs is presented. This project was never built. The proposed structure employs thin concrete slabs. The arrangement of the structure makes the main mechanism to balance actions that of an isostatic frame with one pillar and a beam. This beam has a section formed by two arches and curved thin sections joined in a thicker central rib. As in other projects for laminar roofs made from 1939 on, small ribs are incorporated on the upper face of the sheets in order to stiffen them. The project is described from the data that is preserved. It is shown that the solution allowed the roof to be made with a reduced amount of material, although more than was the case in the structure that was finally built, which was much less ambitious. | |
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Boller, G. & D’Acunto, P. | 2021 | Structural design via form finding: Comparing Frei Otto, Heinz Isler and Sergio Musmeci. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 431-38. | Form finding is an effective approach for the conceptual design of structures. In the 1950s and 1960s, various form finding techniques flourished to create geometries that could not be realized with analytical models or graphical methods alone. The development of contemporary form finding owes much to the seminal work of a number of structural designers of the period, notably Frei Otto, Heinz Isler and Sergio Musmeci. The scientific cultures to which they belonged led to differentiated results in their research and design. This paper examines the approaches to the formfinding of Otto, Isler and Musmeci, looking in particular at the inspirations, methods and visions of these protagonists in the history of structural design. | |
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Nazari, S. | 2021 | The practical geometry of Persian ribbed vaults: A study of the rehabilitation of the Kolahduzan Dome in the Tabriz historic bazaar. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 439-46. | Recognized as a UNESCOWorld Heritage site in 2010, the bazaar of Tabriz is one of the largest brick complexes in the world. In the mid-20th century, the complex came under the management of the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO). This article focuses on the rehabilitation of the Kolahduzan Dome in the old fabric bazaar. By the 1970s, the dome was crumbling following decades of neglect. Conservation of the dome began in 1981 under the direction of Reza Memaran Bename Tabrizi, a member of the last generation of local traditional builders. This article delves into the geometrical analysis of the new design and the construction technique adopted by the master builder. The geometrical analysis provides a new perspective on practical geometry in Persian vaulting. It identifies three geometrically different layers: 1. Theoretical geometry, 2. Structural geometry, and 3. Architectural geometry. On-site data collection was performed by the author to record all workable points on the vault. Historical documents have been received from Iran Cultural Heritage Documentation Center. | |
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Burriel-Bielza, L. | 2021 | Structure in Villa dall’Ava: Rational order versus conceptual order. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 447-54. | Regarding his approach to structural design, Rem Koolhaas pointed out the necessary intervention of the architect as a “thinker” through a critical dialogue with other disciplines converging on the project. Based on original documents drawn from his Office for Metropolitan Architecture’s archives, this paper explores Villa dall’Ava (Saint-Cloud, France, 1984–1991) as a means to address two issues. The first is the difference between rational and conceptual order, where structure operates according to spatial and perceptive conditions. The second encompasses research methodology and tools, where 3D modeling and drawing will be used to re-enact building processes and reveal hidden relations and logics that will help us understand the real value of the final version. | |
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Shotton, E. | 2021 | The Manning specification. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 457-64. | Robert Manning’s reputation in the field of hydraulic engineering all but eclipses the impact he had on the design and construction of over 128 harbours as Chief Engineer (1874–91) at the Office of Public Works (OPW) Ireland. His skill in exploiting networks, evident in the development of the Manning Formula for estimating water flow, was equally manifest in his adaptation of concrete to marine works. Though pioneering work with concrete in harbours was underway as early as 1850, by the 1880s little coherence existed in practice. Manning’s earliest concrete harbours, which drew on work by engineering colleagues as well as contractors, were no more or less precise. However, the passing of the Sea Fisheries Act (Ireland) in 1883 enabled the construction of a large number of harbours that Manning, in concert with colleagues and contractors, used to develop an adaptable specification governing cement grade, concrete mix and methods of construction. | |
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Rodrigues de Castro, C. & Gil Pires, A. | 2021 | From regulation to everyday construction practice: The Lisbon building codes between 1864 and 1930. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 465-72. | The regulations that control urban construction, while simultaneously limiting spontaneous constructive procedures, also contribute to the establishment of newones.With this purpose, the Lisbon City Council introduced the 1864 regulations, expanded in 1869. These were valid until 1886 and replaced in 1930. These codes defined the volumetry of the buildings and also constructive elements that could interfere with street or sidewalk traffic. However, implementation of these regulations was not a linear process, with amendments emerging with the everyday construction practices and constructive techniques. This article analyzes the regulations related to the drainage of rainwater from building roofs to the ground; maximum height of new buildings and extensions of existing structures; constructive elements suspended above the street; modifications to the shape of doors and windows; and relations between the working site and the public space. | |
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Morganti, R., Tosone, A. et al | 2021 | Swing bridges in the 19th century Italian dockyards. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 473-80. | Italian Unification in 1861 fostered a reorganization of national infrastructures in order to adapt them to the status of other European countries. The strategic Navy sector was implemented with a new equipment supply system in order to achieve functional and autonomous weaponry production and to develop a network of shipbuilding and defensive structures. This infrastructural system pushed a multi-year plan of refurbishment and newly founded Italian dockyards, which included experimentation with the swing bridge built in iron and steel structures. This bridge design was already known on the peninsula with models in a wooden construction tradition. This produced an original variation in the second half of the 19th century due to the influence of French and British models. Its construction combined multiple specializations of Italian engineering, involving national iron and steel construction, eager to obtain its technical and economic affirmation. | |
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Sirikiatikul, P. | 2021 | Early general contracting in Siam, 1870–1910. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 481-85. | The paper explores the emergence of general contractors in late 19th century Siam when the corvée system, which customarily provided primary resources for government construction, declined. This period’s main featureswere the introduction of capitalism into construction, the establishment of the PublicWorks Department, and the abolition of the corvée system. By looking at difficulties that the Siamese government had in dealing with the shortage of labour and the ineffectiveness in supplying building materials under the corvée system, the paper shows how European contractors offered Siamese rulers an alternative way of construction. The introduction of the general contract to tender, enabled both parties to benefit. In short, the rise of contracting in Siam was not purely the result of independent enterprise by individual contractors, but part of a holistic attempt to address the long-standing problems inherent within the corvée system. | |
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Navarro Moreno, D. & Muñoz Mora, M.J. | 2021 | Pedreño y Deu Pantheon: An example of late-19th-century funerary architecture in Spain. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 486-92. | In the late-19th century, Cartagena experienced great economic development, prompting a profound architectural change in the city, stimulated by the bourgeoisie who used architecture to display social distinction. In addition to their urban palaces, these residents began to build villas in the countryside for status, rest and recreation, and to enjoy the scenery and a healthy environment. This social class was conservative and religious, which meant that spiritual matters occupied an important place in their thinking. This led to the construction of imposing funerary architecture in Cartagena’s main cemetery. One of the most significant pantheons is the one belonging to the Pedreño y Deu family. This communication focuses on the study of the aforementioned pantheon, on which an analysis of the architectural, constructive, pathological and restoration processes were carried out. Through the study of this silent dwelling, it will be possible to understand the parallels that exist between the mansions of the living and their eternal dwellings. | |
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Isaacs, N.P. | 2021 | Building controls in New Zealand: A brief history, 1870 to the 1930s. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 493-99. | From the earliest European settlement in the 1840s to the current day, New Zealand has had a range of building controls. Initially, provincial government legislation covered only larger population centres, but following passage of the Municipal Corporations Act 1867, local authorities could make their own by-laws. Subsequent revisions increased by-law coverage. By 1923, at least 37 towns, boroughs and cities had their own (often different) building by-laws, but it was not until the 1931 Napier, NZ, earthquake that the 1935 national "Standard Model Building By-law" NZSS 95, complete with seismic requirements, was created. This paper reviews the evolution of building by-laws in two major cities – Dunedin and Wellington – from 1876 to the 1930s. It explores the issues and materials controlled in each major change in the by-laws as well as the reasons for change. By comparing the requirements between the two cities over time, it explores how these represent changes in construction systems, methods and materials as well as responses to different natural and man-made disasters. | |
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Friedman, D. | 2021 | Private responsibility for public safety: The case of Charles Buddensiek. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 500-06. | Charles Buddensiek went to prison in 1886 for manslaughter after a worker died in the collapse of tenements Buddensiek was building in NewYork. While there is no question that Buddensiek regularly built unsafe tenements of poor quality construction, he did so in a context of poor-quality speculative building and poor governmental regulation. He was used for decades as an example of the evils of corrupt building practice even as regulation to stop such practices lagged. In short, it is easier to blame individuals than the system in which they operate. | |
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Coste, A., Sadoux, S. & O’Carroll, S. | 2021 | By-passing the bye-laws: The 1905 Letchworth Cheap Cottages exhibition. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 507-13. | This paper offers an insight into the emergence, development and enforcement of building byelaws in Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It shows how some organizations and designers sought to by-pass them and suggests that the Cheap Cottages exhibition held in 1905 in Letchworth reflects such an approach. It summarizes the complex context in which 19th-century building regulations emerged. The legal apparatus is presented as a background against which the cottage exhibition initiative can be explained and understood. The paper also highlights the crucial role of the press in promoting the view that regulations were too stringent and contributed to the rural housing crisis. It also shows that two parallel processes were underway: on the one hand, the development of public policy for health and housing, on the other hand practical experiments which sought to address the same issues, albeit in different ways. | |
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Pires, A.P. & Mascarenhas-Mateus, J. | 2021 | Towards a social history of the Portuguese construction industry (1914–1918). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 514-21. | This paper discusses the impact of the FirstWorldWar on the daily life of different Portuguese classes of building craftsmen and labour organizations. During a transition period in building cultures, the war disrupted imports of coal, steel laminated products and Portland cement, and the supply of basic goods to the country’s entire population. Strikes, sabotage and violent demonstrations against the war, including by construction worker trade unions, were interspersed with campaigns for better working conditions that began prior to the outbreak of war. O Construtor, the fortnightly newspaper of the Lisbon federation of construction workers, enables us to address the following research questions: how did this working class group fight for better living and working conditions? Did they question construction processes and workplace safety? How did these workers organize themselves for protests? The work concludes with an analysis of how the 1914–8 war influenced the construction industry in Portugal. | |
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Santa Ana, P. & Santa Ana, L., Baez G., J. | 2021 | Evolution of the Mexico City building code for tall buildings in the 20th century. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 522-29. | The Mexico City building code is the product of many improvements made over the years due to tragedy and research. The current construction code is subject to stricter architecture and engineering requirements related to building and systems design due to groundwater extraction, flooding, land subsidence, and the earthquake risk with their potential effects on those components. The paper summarizes Mexico City’s building code for tall buildings. Its purpose is to highlight the contributions made to the architectural, structural, geotechnical, and seismic regulations for tall buildings. | |
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Breser, C. | 2021 | Monumentality in modern construction processes: An ideological exposure of totalitarian strategies. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 530-36. | The modernisation of architecture in Italy during the Fascist period between 1922 and 1943 was mainly driven by its monumentalisation to scale. In this article, the ideological impact of the regime on the architectural production will be examined through the Fascist regulatory mechanisms that led to a reshaping of normative conditions of construction processes. Regulatory mechanisms, such as the ’structural monumentalisation’, were applied to expand organizations through which the regime could institutionalise its power in professional networks. An ideological conformity of politics and professionals was thus not only striven for in the standardisation of construction technologies through which the regime intended to influence the building industry. Interventions, such as the establishment of new professional organisations and codes, were used to reshape Italy’s constructing conditions institutionally, that continued to influence the architectural production normatively even after the ideological change of power in 1943. | |
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Bekers, W., De Meyer, R. & De Kooning, E. | 2021 | Bricks of wrath: (Re)building the IJzertoren memorial (1925–1930 and 1952–1965). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 537-44. | Between 1925 and 1929, the IJzertoren [Yser tower] memorialwas built on theYser river bank in the Belgian town Dixmude. Both war memorial and monument to Flanders’ struggle for political emancipation, the tower became an increasingly charged and divisive symbol in interwar Belgium, and its construction was highly ideologized. This situation, exacerbated by the tower’s associations with collaborationism in the next war, would ultimately lead to its intentional destruction in 1946 under suspicious circumstances. The subsequent questions, if, how and by whom the tower should be reconstructed, refueled these debates. Despite ambitious reconstruction plans, the memorial was eventually rebuilt between 1952 and 1965 as a slightly modified and upscaled replica of the old tower, an approach that deliberately rejected modern design references or construction methods. The lengthy construction process itself was operationalized in propaganda and iconography of the annual Flemish nationalist rallies that were staged on the building site. | |
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Soares, C.M. & Rodrigues, R.M. | 2021 | Alentejo Marbles in the construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima, Portugal. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 545-53. | The ornamental stones used in the construction of the Basilica of Fátima (built between 1928 and 1954) are a carefully selected visible material that dominates both the architecture and the sculpture of the building. These rocks came from various locations and suppliers in Portugal. Using an interdisciplinary methodology that combines analysis of historical records with macroscopic analysis of the ornamental stones, it was possible to identify a great variety of stones from the regions of Pêro Pinheiro-Sintra and the Estremoz Anticline, as well as from Fátima quarries. In this paper, several varieties of white, pink, and dark marbles from the Estremoz Anticline in Alentejo that were used within the Basilica are identified. The criteria that were used in their selection for application in some of the most important parts of this building are discussed. The interdisciplinary methodological approach employed here may support decision-making for conservation and restoration work in the future. | |
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Redondo, E. & Castilla, F.J. | 2021 | Tile vaults in the works of government institutions after the Spanish Civil War: A first approach. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 554-61. | This work which aims to document the use of tile vaults in the construction of new and rebuilt villages after the Spanish Civil War is based on two main documentary sources: the journal Reconstrucción, specifically devoted to the work of the Dirección General de Regiones Devastadas y Reparaciones, and the archives of the Instituto Nacional de Colonización. The entire journal collection and a total of 254 projects from the archives have been reviewed, verifying the use of this construction system in 14% of the projects. A sample of the most representative typologies of buildings constructed with tile vaults is presented. The geographical distribution and relations between different projects were analyzed. As a first approach, we conclude this was a commonly used construction system, though not one homogeneously distributed across the country. The construction details and the actual preservation of these buildings deserves further investigation through documentary and on-site research. | |
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D’Amelio, M.G. & Grieco, L. | 2021 | The metamorphoses of the EUR Water Tower, Rome, between autarchy and economic miracle (1940–59). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 562-69. | In a 1961 article, the engineer Roberto Colosimo Sr described his iconic water tower at EUR, Rome (1957–59, also known as ‘the mushroom’), recalling a previous 1940 project, unexecuted due to the entry of Italy into World War II. This paper analyses the transition between the two towers as a sort of animal metamorphosis, largely conditioned by the different scientific and cultural contexts. The first design maximized the strength through form-resistant structures. Its image would have evoked late antique architecture, in which firmness was entrusted to mass and geometry. The continuous and bold structures of the first solution, conceived during the autarchy imposed by the Fascist government, became more discrete in the 1957 project. The second solution, built in reinforced concrete, transformed the massive buttress of the autarchic design in punctual supports, intertwined in a stellar arrangement of shelves, which showed the high technological level and creative genius of post-war Italian engineering. The paper refers to archival documents to jointly study the two projects, revealing the metamorphoses that took place between two projects conceived for the same place and by the same author, but within different political and economic conditions. | |
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Rocha, L. & Póvoas, R.F. | 2021 | The constructive principles behind the materials and techniques used in state-subsidised housing buildings: The improvement plan (Porto). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 570-77. | This paper analyses the construction process of state-subsidised multifamily housing buildings from the mid-twentieth century in Porto. The analysis focuses specifically on the scope of the ‘Improvement Plan’, including its subsequent extension, as a representative sample of the everyday building practices of this period. The research thus seeks to analyse the transformations introduced throughout this plan (over more than two decades), looking at them from both an engineering point of view, with the introduction of new materials and techniques, and an architectural point of view, with the development of new typologies and access systems. The relevance of this study lies mainly in the simultaneous analysis of these two disciplinary fields, allowing for an extensive reflection on the changing culture of construction, which was particularly significant in the period under review. | |
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Dandona, B. & Sachdeva, P. | 2021 | Construction of diplomatic embassies, post-independence New Delhi. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 578-84. | The newly independent Republic of India was for many countries an especially important location to devel-op an international presence and contribute tangible manifestations of their design ideologies. Extraordinary buildings were designed, and construction techniques evolved for their completion, by several modernists such as Edward Durrell Stone, Hans Hofmann and Johannes Krahn. The construction processes and their difficulties are rarely highlighted, and the importance of these rarely recognized, either in India or internationally, apart from some identified by their respective countries as significant buildings. Our intent is to critically evaluate the significance of this important parcel of architecture by examining and analyzing the construction processes, understanding the influence and exchange of materials and technology, and to acknowledge the role of local consultants and contractors in the construction of these buildings. Lastly, to review their significance and contribution to future developments in India. | |
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Rouizem, N. | 2021 | The modernization of raw earth in Morocco: Past experiments and present. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 585-89. | Between 1962 and 1965, some 2750 mud-brick houses were built in Marrakech (Morocco) by a French engineer who modernized the material, the tools and the building site. He then realized 200 houses in Ouarzazate in collaboration with a Belgian architect. Through the analysis of the course of these operations, this article will show how a material can be the bearer of an ideology. | |
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Giannetti, I. | 2021 | The construction history of the N2 motorway: Networking on reinforced concrete in the Canton of Ticino. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 590-97. | The N2 Chiasso–San Gottardo Motorway in Switzerland features the global use of reinforced concrete and is a symbol of the modernisation history of Canton ofTicino in the 20th century.This paper addresses the N2’s construction history (1961–86), discussing how the networked relationships among the various actors involved in the project (institutions, engineers, builders, and regional planners) were embodied in the N2’s conception, and shaped a shared technical culture of reinforced concrete design. The studies were conducted within the FSN project ‘Architecture in Canton Ticino, 1945–1980’ (www.ticino4580.ch), which was promoted by the Archivio del Moderno. The main archival sources were the National Roads Office in Bellinzona, the Renato Colombi (head of the National Roads Office), and the Rino Tami Archives at the Archivio del Moderno. | |
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Schlimme, H. | 2021 | Leonardo da Vinci, centering construction and knowledge transfer. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 601-06. | This paper discusses Leonardo daVinci’s drawings for centerings for vaults. Although the drawings are regularly mentioned in the literature, an in-depth analysis is still lacking. Taking the drawings Codex Atlanticus, f. 225r-a [609r] and Manuscrit B, ff. 19v and 67v as examples, the paper tries to figure out daVinci’s thinking behind the drawings and tries to collocate them between the theory of mechanics and the building and workshop practice of his time. | |
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Natividad-Vivó, P., García-Baño, R. et al | 2021 | The brick vaults of the Alfonsina Tower in Lorca Castle. Geometric aspects and possible sources. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 607-14. | This paper deals with an ensemble of brick vaults in the Alfonsina Tower built in Lorca Castle between the middle of the 13th and the beginning of the 15th centuries. These vaults are built using a system of brick slices arranged according to two different patterns or bonds, rhomboid and rectangular. The study analyses the geometry and constructive organization of the vaults and connects them to other similar ones which belong to Eastern and Byzantine architecture. | |
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Musiate, R.A. & Forni, M. | 2021 | The art of building in New Spain: Knowledge dissemination and religious orders in the 16th century. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 615-22. | Some 16th century religious buildings provide evidence of the influence of European treatises on architecture in the NewWorld. Many early Dominican monasteries in the central-southern regions of modernday Mexico are part of the remarkable repertoire of this phenomenon. This paper provides in-depth analysis of the dissemination mechanisms of treatises on architecture in the ecclesiastical realm. | |
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Carocci, C.F., Macca, V. & Tocci, C. | 2021 | The roots of the 18th century turning point in earthquake-resistant building. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 623-30. | The gaiola pombalina and the casa baraccata seem to be the turning point of a gradual improvement process that, in Italy, becomes clearly recognisable after the 1703 L’Aquila earthquake. The reconstruction following that event saw the introduction of a constructional system, based on wooden elements embedded in masonry works, quite distinct from the rigorous organization of the late 18th century systems but having seemingly comparable intents. Recent earthquakes in Italy have enabled the value of that early anti-seismic technique to be recognized. In this paper we describe this technique its comparison with the systems at the end of the century and attempt to trace them back to more ancient constructional techniques attested also in low seismicity areas In these areas they seem to refer to a general attempt to rationalize masonry building’s procedures whose anti-seismic potential was gradually recognized during the Enlightenment, finally leading to the Portuguese and Bourbon systems. | |
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Forni, M. | 2021 | Continuous stucco and smalto flooring in the former Austrian Lombardy: Sources, techniques and communication. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 631-36. | The revival of historic techniques that accompanied the rise of neoclassicism taste is seen in Milan with the choices of its refined aristocratic patrons. In their homes, which were veritable workshops of applied arts, continuous floors were documented. Based on ambiguous contemporary descriptions that identify a plurality of products, continuous floors can be traced as being part of the stucco or smalto categories. Among the workers who experimented in these techniques, Agostino Gerli and his brothers stand out as craftspeople and skilled communicators of their eclectic inventions and work. This knowledge applied to construction was still available in the 19th century as a specific Milanese tradition. | |
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Scibilia, F. | 2021 | Rebuilding after the earthquake: Earthquake-resistant construction techniques in Sicily in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 637-44. | This essay attempts to offer a contribution on earthquake-resistant techniques employed in Sicily between the 18th and 19th centuries through a comparative study of construction practices after three earthquakes: that of 1726 in Palermo, that of 1818 in the Etna area, and that of 1823 in the northwestern part of the island. Research is based on a cross study of iconographic and bibliographic sources (manuscripts, printed works by coeval authors, and treatises), and new archival documents, which provide general views of damage to towns hit by earthquakes, as well as many expert analyses of individual architectures. An analysis of certain case studies and the systematic study of sources, integrated with inspection of the sites, will make it possible to analyse the technologies applied to consolidate and restore buildings. The paper also shows persistence and innovations, that contribute to outlining the development of an earthquake-resistant technical culture. | |
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Volkov, V. | 2021 | Innovation and technology in the 19th-century Belgian window glass industry. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 650-57. | This paper explores the development of the window glass industry in Belgium between the Belgian independence in 1830 and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. This industry experienced a steady growth during this period, making Belgium one of the most important window glass manufacturers in the world. However, the nature of this growth is still not fully understood. In the existing literature, it is described as being based on traditional craft and lacking important innovations. This paper analyzes the development of new technologies in the Belgian window glass industry to argue that the industry was characterized by a unique combination of innovation and tradition. While Belgian glassworkerswere indeed very skillful, the entrepreneurs and engineers developed important innovations during this period. These innovations even became an export product in its own right, making the glass-producing region of Belgium into a true innovation hub. | |
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Peters, T. F. | 2021 | Education at the École centrale in Paris and its influence on the creation of modern iron construction. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 645-49. | In 1829 a businessman and a group of French scientists and engineers established an engineering school to serve industry. Building on the French excellence in theoretical engineering they developed a pedagogy based on the concept of “vulgarization” that enabled engineers to function in both theory and practice equallywell rather than simply learning how to apply predeveloped theory to practice.The method they used: a combination of intellectual communication, visual learning through drawing and tactile learning through workshop experience. The graduates of the program later helped develop the industrialized form of iron construction. They gained their initial professional experience in railway construction, the only field that used iron consistently as an industrially produced material in the first half of the 19th century. The school’s pedagogy was successful and led to the industrialization of iron construction by the middle of the century. It also initiated changes in existing programs worldwide. | |
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Marín-Sánchez, R. & Navarro Camallonga, P. et al | 2021 | Compound brick vaults by slices in written sources. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 658-665. | The vaults called “par tranches” by Auguste Choisy are those built by laying the bricks with their bed in a vertical or slightly sloped position. The form and process of executing these vaults have been scarcely studied, partly because it is difficult to define the hidden elements of the masonry. Until the 19th century there were no primary sources explaining theseways of building,which depend more on the skill of the masons than on the abstract knowledge of the designer. This article compares the technical proposals of French and Spanish texts from the late 19th century addressing construction works in Byzantium and Extremadura (Spain). The genesis of the system (designed for barrel vaults) is explained according to each author. The subsequent evolution of different types of compound vaults is analysed with special attention to the groin vault since the others are based on its layout and construction strategies. | |
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Domouso, F. & Abásolo, A. | 2021 | The first patents of prefabrication and the industrialization of reinforced concrete in Spain and Europe: 1886–1906. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 666-73. | This article explores the contribution of the European pioneers in prefabricated concrete proposals in Spain and is based on a deep analysis of unpublished patents of prefabricated reinforced concrete objects designed from 1886 to 1906. During these decades, an important catalogue of contributions was developed: from formwork or moulds intended for industrialization, to slabs and prefabricated structures. As a result, the patents for prefabricated systems and elements, which were mainly foreign in origin, provided the Spanish construction sector knowledge of complex manufacturing processes and ensured that technicians were tackling, from the very beginning, problems such as the continuity of prefabricated elements, their structural behaviour, and the layout of reinforcement bars. Prefabrication requires greater technology than the execution of in-situ reinforced concrete. This technology encouraged and boosted improvements to reinforced concrete construction in Spain. Thus, the patents for prefabricated systems and elements contributed new structural types and previously unknown techniques that had not been widely disseminated until then, such as prestressing. At the end, this contribution was fundamental to the development of construction in reinforced concrete in Europe and the future development of its applications. In this respect, we can highlight the figure of Bernardo de la Granda y Callejas, who patented the first Spanish system of pre-stressed concrete, which was possibly one of the first of its kind worldwide. | |
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López-Mozo, A., Alonso-Rodríguez, M.A. et al | 2021 | Brick vaults by slices in Toledo. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 674-81. | This paper studies the existing cases of brick vaults by slices in Toledo (Spain). This forms part of a wider study of the Mediterranean cases of this type of vault, which does not require formwork, focused on finding similarities in their constructive configuration and tracing their dissemination. The methodology is based on data collection of the preserved remains by automated photogrammetry to generate three-dimensional models allowing the study of their formal and constructive configurations. Twenty-six vaults in nine buildings, out of a total sample of eleven, have been analyzed. All cases present a rectangular or irregular polygonal plan and most display rounded vaults that remain far from perfect spheres. The study of the constructive evidence leads us to consider that a cintrel might have not been used as a control tool in the construction process. | |
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Leslie, T.W. | 2021 | “Dry and ready in half the time”: Gypsum wallboard’s uneasy history. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 682-87. | Few construction materials have become as ubiquitous as gypsum wallboard. Easily cut, shaped, and transported, its density and mineral nature make it an ideal solution to interior issues of fire separation, acoustic privacy, and durability. Meanwhile, the abundance of gypsum throughout the world and efficient manufacturing processes have made it affordable for virtually all building types.Yet, like many building materials of the last century, gypsum wallboard’s history belies its commonplace usage today. It was among the 20th century’s most disruptive technologies in terms of construction labor, threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of tradespeople and radically altering the pace and staffing of traditional interior jobs. Wallboard’s introduction forced city building commissions to directly address the growing impact of industrialization on American construction in the postwar era and the simultaneous waning influence of labor unions. It was a signal moment in the industrialization of construction, altering expectations for interior finishes and detail while influencing the wholesale evolution of building codes from prescriptive models to performance standards. Gypsum wallboard also helped to spawn a new laboratory testing industry that, in turn, encouraged the further amplification of building science research and development throughout the last half of the 20th century.Wallboard’s effects were particularly impactful in Chicago. This city saw some of its earliest applications, its major corporate producer’s headquarters, and virulent fights over its application and impact on demography and the evolving balance of power among the city’s labor and trade unions. | |
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Du, Q. & Qiu, B. | 2021 | A study of the history of concrete technology introduction in China. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 688-94. | Concrete technology was introduced to China in the late 19th century, and it deeply impacted Chinese construction patterns in the century that followed. This paper, based on Chinese publications in the first half of the 20th century, demonstrates the categories of knowledge and “importation” of concrete technology. It aims to clarify how this technology integrated into local engineering academia and industry and gradually influenced native construction in China, and it is expected to contribute to understanding the knowledge exchange between the East and West. | |
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Van de Vijver, D. | 2021 | Victor Horta and building construction. The written testimonies of the architect’s teachings and library. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 695-700. | The notes taken by Victor Horta’s students for the construction courses he taught during his professorship (1892–1911) at the Polytechnic School of Brussels University (Brussels, Archives ULB) and the presence of building construction-related books in the architect’s library (Sint-Gillis, Horta Museum, inventories, dated respectively 1931 and 1944), constitute two exceptional and unstudied written testimonies that shed light on the relationship between Horta (1861–1947) and building construction. Both source types furnish a wealth of detailed information that complement each other beautifully. Moreover, besides the individual and biographical level information, these sources provide a better understanding of the teaching subjects and practices of building construction and situate the Belgian construction culture in its broader international context. | |
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Çavdar, Meltem | 2021 | Who built the timber formwork for fair-faced reinforced concrete? In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 703-10. | Fair-faced concrete structures from the middle of the 20th century, like the impressive brutalist buildings of the post-war period, are mostly considered the product of a totally industrialized process, planned in detail by engineers and realized accordingly by unskilled labor. However, the construction of the necessary formwork in timber was an accomplishment of carpentry craftsmanship well into the 1970s. Discussing the interconnected transfer of technology, knowledge and expertise, this paper examines the transmission of traditional skills in carpentry to timber formwork construction in the post-war period in Germany. Through analyzing longstanding technical manuals, this assesses the mostly unrecognized means of timber formwork constructions. | |
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Pelke, E. & Kurrer, K.-E. | 2021 | Knowledge transfer in reinforced concrete bridges during the 1930s. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 711-18. | Beginning in the 1920s, reinforced concrete started to find its own design language for large bridges. This is seen in the building of long-span arch bridges, which reached its peak in the invention phase of reinforced concrete construction (1925–1950) and is characterized by the following: – resolving the rectangular cross-section common in conventional masonry and concrete bridges; – using better cements and separating creep and shrinkage; – refining structural analysis through equilibrium based on the deformed system. These features are demonstrated in examples of how journals contributed to knowledge transfer. This work is based on a thematic study of the main essays and short articles on theory, materials and projects in two journals that had a big impact in German-speaking countries: Der Bauingenieur and Beton und Eisen. The international significance of these specific themes was assessed by reviewing publications by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). | |
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Freitas, M.L. | 2021 | Architects, engineers, and two construction companies: Introducing reinforced concrete technology in South America (Brazil and Argentina). In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 719-26. | From the study of the practices of two companies working in South America in the 1930s, Christiani&Nielsen (Denmark) and GEOPÉ (Germany), this paper aims to understand the architectural practice whose premise is technique. The technique is reinforced concrete. Taking as starting point Smith-Miller’s article of 1937 introducing South American architecture, we will focus on two buildings, the Jockey Club of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and the COMEGA, in Buenos Aires (Argentina). While the first example was marked by intense conflict between the architects who designed the buildings and the engineers of the Danish construction company, the second saw a rich dialogue between architects and engineers from GEOPÉ, a subsidiary of the German construction company. Using these scenarios, we seek to understand the role of foreign construction companies, and the relationship between architects and engineers, in the modernization of Brazilian andArgentine architecture. | |
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Epiney, L. | 2021 | Thermal standards, rationality and choices—To regulate or design thermal environments in Santiago de Chile. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 727-34. | Thermal standards shape the way cities are built and climatically experienced. By establishing clear boundaries between the interiors and exteriors of buildings, for instance, this normalization creates ever more homogeneous global thermal environments, with little care for local specificities. However, this does not appear to simply be a tension between local and global but rather what the place of experts is regarding the definition of norms. Taking Santiago de Chile as a case, I analyze the deviations from so-called objective, rationally defined codes, to those transformed by architectural, socio-cultural or historical contingencies. Case studies on modernist housing projects and the LEED certification scheme serve to reinforce this argument, nuancing the apparent universality of thermal standards. They then question the evolving role of the architect in design in general, and in city climates in particular. This is expected to return insights into navigating between reason and experience in thermal governance and climate control. | |
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Rusak, M. | 2021 | Wooden churches, managers and Fulbright scholars: Glued laminated timber in 1950’s Norway. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 735-42. | The paper explores the introduction of glued laminated timber technology to the Norwegian construction market in the late 1950s. The paper concentrates on the activities of Norwegian construction conglomerate Moelven Brug,which in the 1950s brought back the production of laminated timber in Norway after 40 years of absence in the country. Building on the work of Norwegian glulam pioneer Guttorm Brekke (1885– 1980) and on state-of-the-art academic research and industry know-how from the United States of America, Sweden, and Belgium, in the post-war period Moelven Brug quickly established itself as the market leader for laminated timber in Norway. By mapping these scholarly and professional exchanges, the paper traces the shifting ontological understanding of timber in Norway from a “natural” to a “scientific” material and its transformation into a complex assemblage of different substances subject to control and standardization through a series of variables and parametric values. | |
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Resano, D. & Martín-Gómez, C. | 2021 | The SEAT Dining Hall in Barcelona (1956): Aeronautical construction applied to architecture. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 743-50. | In 1957 a Spanish building finished two years earlier received the Reynolds Memorial Award. A jury consisting of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe or Willem Dudok highlights the use of aluminium in this building, choosing it from among 85 applicants from around the world. How was this possible in a country that still used mostly traditional construction techniques? José Ortiz Echaugüe, president of CASA aeronautics and SEAT automotive, provided the means for his son and architect César to lead a pioneering interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers and architects. To lighten the building, because of the low resistance of the terrain, aluminium construction technology was integrated into the architectural design. To provide thermal comfort, innovative solar radiation devices, and air conditioning services were developed based upon systems employed in airplanes and cars.We address this pioneering technology transfer process between aeronautics and architecture in the SEAT Dining Hall (1956). | |
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Leander Pöllinger, A. | 2021 | Open systems for open plans: Jean Prouvé’s contribution to school building systems in the 1960s and 1970s. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 751-57. | The occasions when construction technology becomes a significant driver in efforts to reform schools are rare. In France, newexamples of experimental school buildings started to appear in the 1960s. During this period, building systems were created that responded to the new demand for open plans. The proposed paper is part of a dissertation project on the experimental school buildings developed by Jean Prouvé from 1932 to 72, that analyses the lesser-known part of his oeuvre from three main perspectives: Prouvé’s methods of developing prefabricated building systems; pedagogical methods and their impact on architecture; and the developments of the French school construction program. The projects that are analyzed in this paper, the École Tabouret and École Elancourt, are part of the second half of Prouvé’s oeuvre that have not previously been studied. These projects question the classroom as the determining unit of the building and introduce team-teaching methods for varying group sizes. The quality of Prouvé’s system lies in his ability to develop a coherent whole using elements based on specific pedagogical demands. The paper traces the origins of the construction elements of the Elancourt School and their contribution to this collaborative design process. | |
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Boone, V. & Inglisa, A. | 2021 | The Cor-Ten steel structure of the Royal Belge (1970): New insights. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 758-64. | From its inauguration in 1970, the headquarters of the insurance company Royale Belge in south Brussels, by the architects Pierre Dufau and René Stapels, became a new icon for office buildings in Belgium, and noted for the introduction of Cor-Ten-steel to Europe. The building had an extremely short construction time of three years, which also influenced the choice of the materials and construction methods, the architects opting for prefabricated concrete and a steel structure. The cruciform steel superstructure of nine floors in Cor-Ten steel is the primary feature of the building. The construction reflects a clever combination of structure and façade: structure flows over in façade, and structure is used as façade. Fifty years after completion, the material needs special attention at reconversion of the site, and to reconsider heritage values on its pioneering use. | |
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Richter, E. & Frommelt, K. | 2021 | The RBC building system—How to innovate between central planning and personal networks in the late GDR. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 766-73. | This paper explores the conceptualisation and design of a prefabricated, concrete modular system within the building sector in the last decade of the former GDR. The system called Riegellose Bauweise Cottbus (RBC) originated from an academic group and promised a more versatile, time- and money-saving system for non-residential buildings. After the conception of the core principles between 1978 and 1983, the experimental work up to the erection of prototypes lasted for another six years. The development of the RBC was ultimately abandoned during the revolution of 1989–90. This paper reconstructs the development process and provides insight into the motivations and backgrounds of the developers. They faced serious resource constraints due to the state’s centrally planned economy. Thus, the strategies dealing with the challenges are analysed and include interactions between industry, research, and education as well as between formal and informal networks. | |
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Costa Agarez, R. | 2021 | From form to words: Knowledge transfer vehicles in late-20th-century Portuguese modern architecture. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 774-79. | Design and construction statements (“memórias descritivas”) have been mandatory for every building permit application in Portugal since 1909. By the mid-20th century these bureaucratic documents had become essential means of expression for designers, architects, and non-architects, to convey arguments: functional and technical, but also their design philosophy and understanding of site and context, down to the proposal’s zeitgeist, local traditions and particular circumstances. This paper draws on a selection of design statements written for works produced in Portugal between the 1950s and 1970s, interrogating their potential as fundamental knowledge transfer devices for designers to articulate, test and communicate their ideas as well as their take on new techniques and concepts. While these writings seldom contain comprehensive theoretical arguments, I suggest they nevertheless outline their authors’ intellectual understanding of built environment creation processes, showing how (internationally) discussed ideas percolated into built artefacts and how their words complemented their form-creation process. | |
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Graf, F. & Marino, G. | 2021 | Concerning the research “Material history of the built environment and the conservation project” (2008–2020), methodology and results. In Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (ed.); Pires, Ana Paula (ed.). “History of Construction Cultures”. Proc 7ICCH, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol2, pp. 780-86. | Recent successes in the reuse and rehabilitation of 20th century architecture have shown that design begins with the study of history. Study of the material history of built structures, together with historical and critical investigation, supported by diagnostic assessment of the object’s state of preservation, are key instruments. This contribution intends to present over a decade’s research in terms of both its methods and their results. | |
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Mathe, V. | 2024 | When the Construction Site is a Place of Worship: Construction and Religion in Greece (5th-2nd Century BC). Construction History, Vol 39 No. 1, pp 1-19 | Are temple building sites representative of Greek construction habits? More than architectural characteristics, this article will consider the administrative, social, and practical aspects of setting up a construction site in a place of worship by referring to inscriptions of various kinds, notably the 525 or so accounts from Delphi, Epidauros, and Delos (5th-2nd century BC). By comparing these construction projects with others associated with civic buildings, we can see that the same procedure was adopted for both types of architectural projects. This is hardly surprising since the affairs of the gods were essentially managed by men chosen by the city. The funding arrangements were also similar, except that they primarily mobilised sacred funds rather than public ones. The characteristics of the workforces also seem to have been the same in both cases. The work practices of craftsmen do not seem to be influenced by their piety. From a material perspective, however, sponsors and workers needed to organise the space and timing of the building work taking into account how it would encroach upon the sanctuary, any particularly sacred areas, and the ritual calendar. | Ancient Greece, temples, religious architecture, economy, administration, builders, construction site organisation, 5th-2nd centuries BC |
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Paul, V. | 2024 | The Use of Incised Construction Aids and Architectural Drawings in the Cathedral St. Just, Narbonne. Construction History, Vol 39 No. 1, pp 21-43 | Investigation of the unusual number of lines and full-scale architectural drawings incised into the fabric of the cathedral of Narbonne (begun 1272) adds significantly to our understanding of medieval design and construction techniques. Some incised lines were tied to the cutting of stone and were the work of masons; others were likely drawn by the master for use by the masons when placing stone. The full-scale drawings include pier sections, moulding profiles, a flying buttress, and an enigmatic diagram, all of which are connected to the building and appear to have been used by the master to work out design problems, and perhaps by masons in making templates or as blueprints during construction. Analysis of the drawings suggests how they were laid out, reveals a system of measurements tied to a local unit of measure called a canne and indicates ways these measurements were used in the design of individual drawings. | Narbonne Cathedral, medieval construction, medieval drawings, medieval measurements, medieval design, masons’ techniques, geometry |
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Song, L. and Campbell, J. W. P. | 2024 | British Water Pipe Technology: Patents and Inventions, 1617-1852. Construction History, Vol 39 No. 1, pp 45-77. | This paper uses the original patent specifications held at the British Library and the published registers of patents compiled by Bennet Woodcroft to produce a survey of patents relating to water supply pipes in England and Wales for the period 1617-1852 (the period covered by the registers). It does not include Scotland or Ireland. The paper explores what the patents can tell us about the use of timber, clay, stone, non-ferrous (lead, copper, and brass), and ferrous metal (cast iron and wrought iron) pipe manufacture, in this period. The period 1617-1852 was a time of huge changes in water supply. The most significant change in water distribution was a move away from traditional materials such as timber and clay to cast iron for large supply pipes. The paper also explores the experiments surrounding the use of stone pipes in this period and the first appearances of other non-ferrous metals as alternatives to lead for internal pipework. It also comments on the general uses and limitations on the use of patents for exploring the development of building technology in this period. | Water pipes, water infrastructure, patents, pipe technology, 17th-19th centuries, England, Wales |
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Trout, E. A.R. | 2024 | The Thames Tunnel: A Proving Ground for Roman Cement, 1824-1843. Construction History, Vol 39 No. 1, pp 79-97. | While there are a number of comprehensive accounts of the history of the Thames Tunnel in print, this paper offers a more detailed exploration of the novel role played by Roman Cement in building the tunnel – though an outline of the project’s progress provides a necessary background. Indeed, it was said at the time that “The tunnel would not have been built if this, or a similar quality of cement had not been accessible”.1 Used in prodigious quantities to bed over 7.5 million bricks, Roman cement’s role in the tunnel’s construction was a departure from its early uses in waterproofing, rendering and decorative moulding. This paper considers the necessary testing that permitted cement’s use in the tunnel and thereby established its credentials. The Thames Tunnel was a high-profile project by a celebrated engineer and so the choice of unfamiliar materials provided not only the pretext for thorough investigation into its properties, but the favourable results generated publicity that helped consolidate the market for Roman cement in preference to lime in appropriate circumstances. The tunnel was opened to traffic in 1843, just as improved Portland cements developed by William Aspdin and Isaac Johnson were coming onto the market, and so the project coincided with the peak years of Roman cement production. While acknowledging its success in the wider market, the paper dismisses Aspdin’s oft-quoted claim that Portland cement was used to repair breaches to the tunnel. | Roman cement, natural cement, testing, strength, adhesion, tunnels, London, UK |
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Schoenefeldt, H. | 2024 | Revisiting the 19th-Century Principles of Fire Protection at the Palace of Westminster, 1835-1942. Construction History, Vol 39 No. 1, pp 99-126 | Following a devastating fire in October 1834, fire safety became a central concern during the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster. Although it was not considered at the stage of the architectural competition, between 1836 and 1860 the architect Charles Barry oversaw the development of a scheme for fire protection. This paper presents a detailed examination of the evolution of this scheme. The first part shows that Barry’s office pursued a passive approach that combined the use of fire-resistant materials with structural compartmentation. This approach had implications for the cost and design of the structural fabric and also affected David Boswell Reid’s design for the ventilation system. A study of the final scheme, which is the subject of the second part, illustrates that Barry, aware of the limitations of the structural measures, including the risk of ducts breaching compartmentation, also considered operational aspects. These became an integral part of facilities management procedures that had been implemented under Barry’s supervision. The third part explores the history of the building in use from 1852 to 1942. Over this period the original principles underwent appraisals, involving the Metropolitan Police, Ministry of Works and London Fire Brigade. They remained largely unchallenged until 1941, when the destruction of the House of Commons by incendiary bombs, led to a fundamental loss of trust in these historic principles and the adoption of first modern interventions. | Charles Barry, fire safety, structural engineering, parliament, ventilation, facilities management, compartmentation, police, 19th-20th centuries |
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Blum, R. Spiegel, D., Abdelnour, M. & Zabel, V. | 2024 | Space Frame Structures in Germany: Development of an Innovative Structural Concept in Context with Architectural Design, Computational Methods and Socio-economic Conditions. Construction History, Vol 39 No. 1, pp 127-154 | Space frame structures are one of the innovations in civil engineering during high modernity. Since the middle of the twentieth century, with the emergence of various space frame systems of standardised rods and nodes, steel space frame structures have been widely used. Despite the frequent use in the post-war period, especially for roof structures, historical space frame systems and structures developed and built in East and West Germany have received little attention as construction heritage. This paper therefore highlights the important role of space frame structures, particularly the characteristic plane double-layer grids, in German construction history and their impact on the history of architecture, mainly determined by engineering innovations and the development of calculation methods. Emphasis is placed on the development of modular space frame systems in divided Germany and their application under different economic and politico-economic conditions, as well as on the advances in the calculation methods for these structures, along with an automated design process. These achievements were decisive for the wide and universal application of space frame structures in both German states and all over the world. | Space frame structures, MERO system, standardisation, numerical structural analysis, lightweight roof structures, high modernity, 20th century, Germany |
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Addis, B. | 2009 | A Brief History of Design Methods for Building Acoustics. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 1-9. | Acoustics has been important to the designers of buildings, especially theatres and concert halls, for at least 2500 years. For most of this time, designers used empirical guidance which, while reliable within its limitations, could not be applied successfully to rooms and auditoria which had no close precedent. The science of acoustics developed in the 18th and 19th centuries, mainly in connection with musical instruments. However, design methods for room acoustics in buildings become scientific and quantitative only in the 20th century. The physicist Wallace Sabine discovered what affects the reverberation time of a room around 1895 and used this, first, to improve the acoustics of a lecture theatre and, later, in the design of new rooms – most famously, the new Boston Music Hall in 1900. The measurement of sound and waveforms became practical with the development of microphones, amplifiers, oscillosopes and early sound recording machines in the 1920s. From the 1930s physical scale models have been used to measure the acoustic response of auditoria. They are still used today, together with increasingly sophisticated analysis of waveforms, to build up more and more reliable predictions of acoustic performance. Architectural acoustic design methods are typical of other engineering design disciplines in how they developed from being purely qualitative, then using empirical data, then making use of physical model testing, and finally using comprehensive mathematical models. | acoustics |
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Aktuglu, Y. K. et al. | 2009 | Suleymaniye Mosque of Mimar Sinan, in Turkish Architectural Construction History. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 10-16 | The most distinguished and the greatest architect of the Ottoman Empire and also of the Turkish Achitecture is Mimar Sinan. He had built lots of mosques, bridges and complexes, mainly in Istanbul and in the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire. One of his most famous mosques is Suleymaniye, built for Sultan Suleyman in 16th century. The structural solution of the whole building will be explained in terms of the load transferring structure, starting from the top of the dome to the end of the columns and the perimeter masonry walls, supported with iron bars in between the columns at the end points of the arches, spanning the upper space above the people. The main characteristics of the mosque are the main full dome, supported with two half domes from two sides, while for the other sides there are walls under arches. Also there are small load balancing towers built around the sphere of the bottom layer of the dome. The retaining walls supporting the arches are lowering down by decreasing step by step. And iron bars, connecting the ends of arches can be seen in everywhere, both inside and outside. In this paper, all of these will be defined in a more detailed manner by showing the achievements of the construction technology in the Ottoman Empire Period in the 16th century. | Turkey |
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Albani, F. | 2009 | Transparent and translucent surfaces of Italian architecture in the thirties. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 17-22 | In Italy between the two World Wars, transparent and translucent surfaces became widespread in architecture, especially in the façades of buildings. The reasons lay not only in the new architectural vocabulary, but also economic, political and technical factors. The demand for transparent surfaces of larger dimensions led to new problems concerning safety, thermal insulation, the diffusion of light and the cost of glassbased materials. To meet these needs Italian manufacturers sought new materials (patents) and mechanical systems for producing sheet glass. In analyzing the characteristics of these new kinds of glass products, very different from those used nowadays, the main sources are international technical reviews and literature, and the archives of the major Italian glass manufacturers of the period. The aim of this analysis therefore is to understand not only the peculiar features of glass products in the thirties but also the meanings underlying the use of a material which in those years symbolized “modernity” in much the same way as reinforced concrete and metal. | Italy |
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Albrecht, L. | 2009 | An Insight into the Vaulting Process in the Roman Period: A One-Off Case or a Standard Construction Method?. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 23-30 | This paper describes the construction process deployed in building Roman vaults with flanking walls. The Roman method of applying concrete, known asopus caementicium, in layers has led researchers to assume that Roman vaults were successively constructed in combination with the flank walls. Using two examples from the period of Maxentius, I can prove that the walls were first of all built up like a surrounding "box" as far as the crown height, whereby a later joint between the vault and the walls was prepared. Once the masonry for the walls was completed, the scaffolding was removed to create space for the centring for the vault. The spatial conflict between the scaffolding and centring is the main reason why I believe that the described process was a standard method used for constructing concrete vaulting with flanking walls. | Roman |
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Alonso, R. B. | 2009 | The construction of the Cathedral of Segovia from Juan Guas to Juan Gil de Hontañón. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 39-46 | The Cathedral of Segovia was the last great Gothic temple built on the mainland territories of the Kingdom of Castile. Construction began in 1525, after the turbulent events of the War of the Communities destroyed the old building constructed in the 12th century. Although much has been written about the new temple (designed by Juan Gil de Hontañón, c. 1470-†1526), little is known about the old medieval building, despite having undergone significant construction work at the start of the 16th century. This paper examines that masonry workshop from the arrival of Juan Guas until the completion of the old Romanesque temple and the start of the construction of the library by Juan Gil de Hontañón in the summer of 1504. After studying the documents in the cathedral archives -the wages of journeymen, deputy foremen and master builders, their role in its construction, their origins and the business relationship between them- we were able to reconstruct this period and explain the spread of the late Castilian Gothic style. | Segovia |
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Alonso Rodriguez, M. A. et al. | 2009 | Functionalism and Caprice in Stonecutting. The Case of the Nativity Chapel in Burgos Cathedral. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 31-38 | Starting from the inaugural text of Philibert de L’Orme, stereotomic treatises and manuscripts are subject to the opposing forces of reason and fancy. The Nativity Chapel in Burgos Cathedral provides an outstanding case study on this subject. It was built in 1571-1582 by Martín de Bérriz and Martín de la Haya, using an oval vault resting on trumpet squinches to span a rectangular bay. Bed joints and rib axes are not planar curves, as usual in oval vaults. This warping is not capricious; we shall argue that it is the outcome of a systematic tracing method. As a result of this process, the slope of the bed joints increases slightly in the first courses, but stays fairly constant after the third course; this solution prevents the upper courses from slipping. Thus, in the Nativity Chapel of Burgos Cathedral, the constraints of masonry construction fostered a singular solution verging on capriccio. It is also worthwhile to remark that the warping of the joints is not easily appreciable to the eye and that the tracing process does not seem to start from a previous conception of the resulting form. All this suggests that we should be quite careful when talking about the whimsical character of Late Gothic and Early Renaissance; in some occasions, apparent caprice is the offspring of practical thinking. | Burgos |
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Bernardo, J. A. | 2009 | Prestressed Constructions without Steel. A Project of the Spanish Engineer Eduardo Torroja. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 47-52 | The aim of this paper is to show the result of the research made by the Spanish engineer Eduardo Torroja focused in finding alternative ways to build prestressed structures. It presents the design of a masonry reservoir in which a precompression is made using an original method. The reservoir is made in reinforced masonry. The wall of the tank has three layers, one is a reinforced masonry, other a masonry wall and, between both, a concrete wall. This concrete wall was made by the injection of cement mortar and the hydrostatic pressure provided the stress needed in the reinforcement of the masonry. The construction system can be an economical way for built reservoirs, highly useful in poor areas. A future work, focused in improve the system, is also proposed. | Eduardo Torroja |
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Arenillas, M. & Barahona, M. | 2009 | A new approach regarding the water supply to Toledo during the Roman Era. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 53-60. | For many years, the Roman water supply to Toledo was considered to be a single system transporting the necessary volumes to the city from the reservoir of La Alcantarilla on the River Guajaraz by means of a canal of over 50 kilometres in length. However, recent research undertaken over the last two years has enabled us to show that, in order to supply Toledo with water, the Romans resorted to a far more complex model involving the construction of three distinct systems. This paper is a partial summary of the results of the “Study and documentation of the water supply to Toledo in the Roman era”, undertaken since 2006 on behalf of the Tajo River Authority (Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo) and which are fully laid out in a book entitled The supply of water to Toledo in the Roman era (V.A., in press). In addition to the signatories of this paper, the following have participated in the study as well as the subsequent publication: Fernando Gutiérrez, Carlos Cauce, Juan Carlos Gómez, Mariano Martín, Julián Conejo, Pedro Rodríguez and Yolanda Muñoz. | Toledo |
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Attas, D., Provost, M. & Bouillard, P. | 2009 | Definition and identification of an "Engineering Heritage" – Application to the Region of Brussels. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 61-66. | Currently, if the concepts of “monumental heritage” and “architectural heritage” are relatively frequently used, the concept of “engineering heritage” is much less used. Therefore the paper focuses on this concept. After a precise definition of the scope of the “engineering heritage”, its importance is discussed and the methodology to select the striking constructions is described in detail. The paper discusses also the application of such a methodology to the Region of Brussels by a multidisciplinary expert committee (civil engineers, architects, historians, etc.). Finally, the results are compared with the already identified monument heritage. | Brussels, engineering |
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Bachmann, M. | 2009 | The Amcazade Yalısı in İstanbul. A new light on Ottoman carpentry. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 67-74. | On account of their spatial innovations and their ground plan typologies Ottoman wooden houses are a very important and common scientific topic. Nevertheless, the construction peculiarities of these buildings have been much neglected. One reason is probably the inaccessibility of their supporting structure, if the houses are in maintained condition. But the main reason is the repeatedly mentioned simplicity of the construction of the framework, as far as it was examined until now. However, these examinations have been very infrequent, and their results have seemed to confirm the prejudice against Ottoman wooden houses. But new investigations at the Amcazade Yals in Istanbul have provided the opportunity to check previous theories in the case of a very prominent example. To some extent the prejudices are confirmed, as the woodworking joints are quite simple, mostly secured with huge iron nails. But the quality of carpentry in the way the members of framework were prepared is surprising. And a closer look at the construction peculiarities reveals a distinguished and individual system probably influenced by naval architecture. | Istanbul, carpentry |
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Badalini, J. & Dandria, S. | 2009 | Diffusion of a Technological Model along the Adige Path: The Composite Beams. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 75-82. | This research starts from some consideration about the wooden composite beams used to underpin the floors of the wide halls of the mansions in the Dukedom of Ferrara between the fifteenth and the sixteenth century. These kinds of structures are localized also in Trento, Verona, and Mantua which, like Ferrara, was used to employ Tyrolean wood for their construction yards. The aims of this study are to map the spread of the composite beams in these first three cities, describe the local differences, and try to understand how and through which routes the knowledge about this particular carpentry have been diffused on a wide area. After an extensive gathering of examples in the three cities, a first analysis show that Ferrara maybe wasn’t the first to used the composite beams, even if, surely, have reached a high level of perfection in their realizations. | Italy, beams |
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Bagliani, S. | 2009 | The Architecture and Mechanics of Elliptical Domes. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 83-91. | This paper focuses on some aspects of a particular kind of structure, the elliptical dome, a structural typology that was the object of study by the great architects from the time of Sebastiano Serlio all the way through the Baroque age. It was well suited for roofing architectural spaces, above all in religious buildings which, built in the full flower of the Counter-Reformation, in XVII Century, were theatrical and evocative of the newly-reaffirmed Catholic Church. This present study illustrates the masterly structures of Rome, then moves to the areas of Piedmont and Liguria, as a necessary preamble to the study of the static and kinematic behaviour of these special structures, characterised by two axes of symmetry defining a bi-axially symmetric space, characteristic of buildings with a centralised plan with hierarchical axes. In particular, this paper includes the study carried out on the dome of the church of San Giuseppe in Voghera (province of Pavia), built in XVIII Century, to determine the limit conditions of equilibrium. | Italy, domes |
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Balboni, L. & Corradini, P. | 2009 | The Technology of Camorcanna Vaults: Examples of Use in Palaces and Villas in the Este Territory in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 91-98. | The research investigates the constructive technique of “plaster and reeds” vaults, consisting in wooden centrings which a plaster support is attached to. Starting from a careful study of its specific application in the wide camorcanna complex in the Rocca in Spilamberto (Modena), dated back to 1660, the study is extended to other similar examples in the dukedom of Este between the second half of the 17th and the 18th century. The comparison has introduced useful information about the historical evolution of the Rocca, coherent to the previous datation. Moreover, the research can be considered as the first step of a more extended and systematic study of this construction technique, firstly in the same cultural and political area, and secondly in a wider territory to investigate it in its historical and chronological meanings. | Italy, vaults |
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Bancila, R. & Petzek, E. | 2009 | The history of the Romanian Danube bridges. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 99-106. | The River Danube is an international waterway flowing 2857 km across EUROPE and is listed immediately after the river Volga, as the second biggest river in Europe. It flows from the heights of the Schwarzwald Massif down to its estuary in the Black Sea Delta. In its passage, the river crosses 22 geographical longitudes, joining 8 countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. It is largely these factors, together with the importance of the management of its water resources, which historically encouraged civilisations and cultures to develop along the banks of the river. The Danube has in Romania a length of 1075 km; they are only five permanent crossings: the paper presents a short overview of the Romanian Danube Bridges and some perspectives for new bridges across the Danube. | Romania, Danube, bridges |
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Bankel, H. | 2009 | A German War Plant from 1944/45: The Aircraft Factory Weingut I and the Concentration Camp Waldlager 6 near Mühldorf/Inn. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 107-118. | In the last year of World War II, Hitler was still convinced to win the war by producing so called Wunderwaffen, such as the V-2 rocket and the Messerschmitt 262 turbojet fighter. As the sovereignty over the airspace at that time had already passed over to the Allied Forces, hidden or bombproof production space had to be built. In southern Germany several huge semi underground aircraft factories were designed by one of the most innovative civil engineers at the time, Franz Dischinger. As German manpower was rare in 1944, foreigners – most of them Jews from Eastern Europe – were sent via Auschwitz and Dachau into concentration camps around the building sites. This report includes investigations in the best-preserved and unaltered ensemble of this kind, Weingut I and Waldlager 6 in Mühldorf/Inn, carried out by students of architecture at the University of Applied Sciences, München. | Germany, factories |
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Barbera, P. | 2009 | Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda’s Architecture: Constructing the Modern Restoring the Ancient. The Politeama Theatre’s dome in Palermo. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 119-126. | Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda (Capua 1834 - Palermo 1911) studies in Naples, and in 1859, achieves the degree at the Scuola di Applicazione di Ponti e Strade established in 1811 on the model of the famous École d’Application des Pont et Chaussées in France. He links up a strictly technical formation with his personal artistic inclination pursued with private lessons both of painting and of architecture. After having moved to Sicily, Damiani Almeyda works in the Municipality of Palermo Technical Office, where he designs and builds a series of constructions which represents an abacus of the new building types for the XIX century town: from theatres to markets, from municipality palaces to archives, from workers’ houses to schools, from urban galleries to monuments and celebration apparatuses, from streets to sewage systems. Entirely unrelated, as the whole of the XIX century culture, to the current specialisation that split, with meticulous and perhaps unavoidable precision, the architecture’s design, Damiani Almeyda spans on the contrary a vast field of competences on which he possesses a deep knowledge: from the restoration of ancient monuments to the design of new structures. The proposed case, which illustrates the metallic dome of the Politeama theatre in Palermo, exemplifies the second of the two pointed out items while in a companion paper, which analyses the restoration design for the Marsala’s Cathedral dome, the first item is treated. | Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda, Palermo |
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Barozzi, A. & Guardigli, L. | 2009 | Italian Construction in the First Half of the Twentieth Century between Materials Restrictions and Innovative Technology. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 127-134. | The first decades of the twentieth century for Italy represent a period in which strong innovative instances, either stylistic or technical, cohabit with ways of construction that are still decidedly related to handicraft, being favoured by the good availability of labour and traditional construction materials. Not considering the relatively few Vanguard experiences of the Modern Movement, in the current building production of this period tradition and innovation find a particular balance that is expressed in the several forms that characterize the process of modernization of the Italian architecture in its typological, technological and stylistic aspects. This paper presents a research on Italian construction in the first half of the twentieth century, which was possible to accomplish only by accessing some well documented projects and realizations of the professional activity of some meaningful personages of the period, in particular the archives of the engineer Ildebrando Tabarroni from Bologna (1881-1958), which have supplied a great deal of the material. | Italy |
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Basiricò, T. & Cottone, A. | 2009 | The First Experimentations on the Hollow Tile Floors in Western Sicily. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 135-142. | The paper analyzes the evolution of the constructive techniques used in the period between the First and the Second World War in which traditional and innovative elements coexisted. Symbolic example of such structures has been found in the rural suburb buildings constructed in Sicily in the first ‘40es. We refer to those buildings remembering the forms of the local rural architecture realized with vertical structures, predominantly undressed stone load-bearing masonry, and with inclined and horizontal reinforced concrete structures. This is the period when the first experimentation of reinforced concrete in the current housebuilding happened. The most important innovations regard the hollow tile floors, some of these patented typologies have been used in that period by building contractors in Italy. The buildings analyzed were put together by some of the greatest building contractors in the nation, among which we remember the Ferrobeton, created as the Italian branch of the Wayss & Freytag German company. | Italy, flooring |
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Basyn, J.-M. | 2009 | The Protection of the Public Swimming Pools in Brussels-Capital Region. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 143-150. | None of the public swimming pools of the Brussels-Capital Region benefits from any heritage protection. Recent strict sanitary norms endanger this rather unrecognised heritage in being. An exhaustive study is meant to orientate the regional authorities towards a heritage policy. It reveals that the Brussels-Capital Region presents a complete overview of the swimming pool throughout de twentieth century. From the oldest public swimming pool in Belgium, Art Deco vessels and streamline design modernism from the interwar period to great architectural gestures of the 1960’s, those swimming pools reveal the architectural, typological and functional evolution from social and hygienic needs to sportive and educational ambitions, and later leisure activities. Once being fully understood, categorised and analysed, an objective dialogue of values gives the protection priorities: from complete to partial protection, to easy actions maintaining the respect of the esprit d’époque, or the reuse of abandoned parts such as Turkish baths and foyers. | Brussels, swimming pools |
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Becchi, A. | 2009 | The Body of the Architect. Flesh, Bones and Forces between Mechanical and Architectural Theories. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 151-58. | During the Renaissance, a revival of the Aristotelian writings on animal motion took place, which started contributing to a research trend where anatomical, physiological and mechanical notions intertwine. In their works, architects of the same period devoted themselves to understanding similar “body equilibria” in relation to the imitatio naturae, in accordance to its twofold meaning of imitatio arborum and imitatio corporum. Architecture and biomechanics thus found mutual contact points whenever static considerations on buildings played an essential role in the new scientia aedificandi. The current study revisits some stages of this process, with which architectural and mechanical theories provided new interpretative tools for builders. Bones, muscles and tendons became elements of mechanical models through which an attempt is made to create a dialogue between the science des architectes and the science des ingénieurs, before the two sciences resolved into a final separation. | Architecture, Renaissance |
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Beckh, M. & Barthel, R. | 2009 | The First Doubly Curved Gridshell Structure - Shukhovs Building for the Plate Rolling Workshop in Vyksa. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 159-166. | In the year 1897, the renowned Russian engineer-polymath Vladimir Shukhov built a production hall in the town of Vyksa, a steel mill 150km southwest of Nizhny Novgorod. This building entails the first doubly curved gridshell structure. The paper explicates the construction of the building, its details, as well as the interdependence of its key elements. Different ways to conceive the geometry of the gridshell are discussed. A comparison between the original design method and the actual structural behaviour of the gridshell is presented in the last part of the paper. | Russia, gridshell |
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Bell, P. | 2009 | The Structure of Georgian London Houses. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 167-74. | The influence of the Building Acts, the Great Estates and Pattern Books on the construction of Georgian London houses is considered. The separate structural elements are then assessed – foundations, vaults, external and party walls, internal timber stud walls, the differing types of floors for the various house sizes and types, roofs, staircases and chimneys. These are illustrated by examples encountered during the author’s work as a structural engineer in the city. Particular problems such as snap header facades, eccentric timber stud spine walls, the deflection of long span floors and the vulnerability of end-of-terrace houses to movement are examined in greater detail. Whether and how different elements should and can be strengthened is debated. The ways in which these houses, designed for a different age, have been adapted structurally for modern styles of living is considered. | London, Georgian, houses |
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Beltramo, S. | 2009 | Construction Methods and Models of Cistercian Abbeys in North-Western Italy between XII and XIII Century. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 175-182. | Several studies on the Cistercian architecture in Europe have reported on the construction methods and models in the monastic construction sites. Recent European historiography has contributed to the meeting between the local constructive traditions and the over regional models spread by Cistercians into Italy. A great debate arose about the true paternity of the architectural model and the role of St. Bernard in its formulation and diffusion inside the Cistercian world. The well-preserved models of Casanova, Rivalta Scrivia give the opportunity to understand into details the rules of the planning layout ad quadratum and architectonical modules. The use of repeated modules can be found also in part of the elevation in the churches which have been analysed. In some areas, however, the employment of different skilled workers, who were used to local constructive traditions, led to building sites in which some phases signed a clear chronological and technological gap from the beginning. The skilled workers employed in Casanova, Rivalta Scrivia and Staffarda’s construction sites brought their own experience and knowledge and could hardly comply with the strict rules of the monastic order. The North-Western Italy cases, objective of this study, line up with the constructive iter which have been hypothesized for the major factories of St. Bernard’s monks in the Lombard area: after a first phase conceived in accordance with strict schemes, building sites continue with more freedom, following the local constructive tradition. | Cistercian, Italy |
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Benito Pradillo, A. | 2009 | First building stages of the Cathedral of Avila Romanesque and Protogothic stages. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 183-190. | Our starting point is the hypothesis of the existence of a "previous" cathedral. In the next phase we find Fruchel as a master builder. Fruchel’s traces are compared with the construction actually built. We study the resolution of the vaults of the presbytery, in particular we find the sexpartite vault as an original solution in the first stage of the Cathedral. A slow progress in the construction of the cathedral can be observed throughout the thirteenth century. The walls of the apse and the transept, the vaulting of the head, and the first part of the naves with its portico and the initial of the towers belong to the Romanesque style. References to these elements are found in the Cathedral’s antique archives and in documents about rigorously dated graves which are located in these places. | Avila Cathedral |
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Bernabeu, A. | 2009 | Shape Design Methods Based on the Optimisation of the Structure. Historical Background and Application to Contemporary Architecture. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 191-6. | Historically architects and engineers have recurrently applied shape-design methods based on the optimisation of the mechanical behaviour of the structure. This paper analyses the historical use of these methods and their application to contemporary architecture, comparing the use of geometrical systems and physical models of other times with the current computational analysis, as well as the different purposes and motivations that guided the use of these design methods on each case. The ilustration of this evolution is done through the analysis of three decisive historical moments and figures (the work of Antonio Gaudí, the historical development of concrete shells and the light weight structures by Frei Otto), while the work of contemporary engineers Mike Cook and Mutsuro sasaki is highlighted as interesting examples of the current application of these techniques. | Shape-design methods |
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Bertels, I. & de Jonge. K. | 2009 | Building Specifications and the Growing Standardizing of Public Building Regulation in Nineteenth-Century Belgium. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 197-204. | In the course of the nineteenth century public clients, architects, engineers and contractors increasingly desired a clear regulation of their collaboration. The tool ‘par excellence’ to communicate and to coordinate their cooperation were the building specifications. These written documents contained a detailed description of the job to be done, mostly written in accordance with the logical sequence of trades on the building site, with particular attention to the quality of materials and workmanship, as well as the organization of the whole. The aim of this paper is to study the evolution of building specifications for public building in nineteenth- century Belgium and this on various governmental levels (central, intermediate and local). Relevant international comparative analysis will be interwoven. | Building specifications, regulation |
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Bień, J., Helmerich, R. & Kubiak, Z. | 2009 | Condition Assessment of Old Railway Bridges, a Scientific Cooperation between Berlin and Wroclaw. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 205-12. | Two years ago, the East Prussian and the Low-Silesian Railway lines celebrated their 160th anniversaries. The history of both first railway connections in the Eastern railway network development in the whole region in the 19th century is presented together with information about the railway between Berlin and Wroclaw. Special attention is paid to the railway bridges built in this period. The first large iron bridges and typical masonry arch structures are presented. Special attention is paid to masonry arches. The condition appraisal of existing masonry arches requires new developed technical methodologies, effective tools and procedures for the description of the bridges current state and function. Their current technical condition as well as serviceability is described. | Railways, bridges, Prussia |
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Bögle, A. | 2009 | Structural History - A Basic Element for Teaching Creativity. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 213-20. | Regarding today’s built environment an increasing rationalized planning of engineering structures, whereas the individual boundary conditions are often neglected, can be noticed. The results are seldom satisfying from a technical, aesthetical and social point of view. This paper focuses on structural history as a basic element for evolving creativity in structural engineering and last but not least to enhance the whole quality of the build environment. It will be shown that the border between art and engineering is purely artificial; furthermore the acceptance of rational as well as emotional arguments is necessary to create technological, aesthetical, ecological and social satisfying structures. As structural history points out the dependencies of the boundary conditions and the influence of the designer’s personality it is predestinated to mirror the requirements of a holistic design. Therefore it can become an essential element in teaching. | Structural history |
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Bossi, Stefania | 2009 | Construction History: What Kind of Knowledge in the Maintenance Process? In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 221-6. | In the operative field of Built Cultural Heritage the material authenticity value is missing, in particular in the maintenance activities.This paper investigates what is the actual knowledge of Construction History, analysing the maintenance activity: the wrong customs and the regulations show how there is an insufficient knowledge. In order to change this approach the most updated theories affirm that first of all we have to innovate the cognitive process. There is need of a different look that is able to take savoir réparer as well as savoir faire. Only with this mentality it’s possible to maintain the tangible and intangible authenticity, working in a sustainable way in historic buildings. This cultural shock involves a lot of consequences: in terms of social capital it means to recognize legality of repair’s craftsmen, as a resource of local development; in the “intellectual capital” it means to qualify technicians with a long life learning training. | Maintenance |
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Bowen, B. | 2009 | The Quantity Surveyor: Missing in Action in the USA. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 227-34. | This paper examines why the British quantity surveying approach to measurement and contracting for construction work did not establish itself in the United States, given the close economic and cultural ties between the countries. The evolution of measurement at both locations up to 1800 is studied and the factors leading to the establishment of a separate quantity surveying profession in Great Britain during the nineteenth century are related. Towards the end of this century, as the American industrial revolution gathered pace and as competitive single price general contracting emerged, the issue of responsibility for the measurement of construction work was hotly debated. This culminated in a joint recommendation from the general contractor’s and professional associations that a system similar to the British approach of using bills of quantities, be adopted. The paper concludes with reasons as to why this edict was never accepted by the American industry. | Quantity surveying |
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Bravo Guerrero, S.C. & Palacios Gonzalo, J. | 2009 | Crossing Trellis Vaults in Spain and Mexico. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 235-44. | The general aim of this study can be summarized in contributing empirical evidence on the existence, design, fabrication and functioning of the crossing trellis vaults as a constructive expression of the Spanish renaissance moved to the New Spain, today México, and their mutual relation. | Trellis vaults, Mexico, Spain |
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Brucculeri, A. | 2009 | Building Construction and Architectural Practice: the Teaching of François Marie Jaÿ at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts of Paris (1824-1863). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 245-56. | This paper focuses on the teaching of Adolphe François Marie Jaÿ, successor of Jean Baptiste Rondelet, to the chair of building construction of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The contents and the means of spread of the technical knowledge and, above all, the topics of the assigned building construction competition programs, put in evidence the close link between didactics and architectural practice, established by Jaÿ in the crucial phase of a new legitimation of professional role of the architect. Without to deny the contribution of the history of the architecture to the learning of the constructive cultures, the competition programs elaborated by Jaÿ express the osmosis between his teacher’s activity and his architect’s works in particular for the municipal administration of Paris. From the end of the 1820s to the beginning of the 1860s, the technical and functional characteristics of the architectures and infrastructures of the contemporary city emerge through the competition themes and drawings. | Adolphe François Marie Jaÿ |
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Bühler, D. | 2009 | Building a Masterpiece of Concrete-Technology: The Deutsches Museum in Munich (1906-1911). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 257-66. | In the operative field of Built Cultural Heritage the material authenticity value is missing, in particular in the maintenance activities.This paper investigates what is the actual knowledge of Construction History, analysing the maintenance activity: the wrong customs and the regulations show how there is an insufficient knowledge. In order to change this approach the most updated theories affirm that first of all we have to innovate the cognitive process. There is need of a different look that is able to take savoir réparer as well as savoir faire. Only with this mentality it’s possible to maintain the tangible and intangible authenticity, working in a sustainable way in historic buildings. This cultural shock involves a lot of consequences: in terms of social capital it means to recognize legality of repair’s craftsmen, as a resource of local development; in the “intellectual capital” it means to qualify technicians with a long life learning training. | Deutsches Museum, concrete |
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Burford, N.K., Gengnagel, C. & Smith, F.W. | 2009 | The Evolution of Arches as Lightweight Structures - A History of Empiricism and Science. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 267-74. | Arches have been an enduring structural form of traditional, Gothic and Renaissance architecture since the Romans brought them to prominence some 2000 years ago. However, it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution and the advent of new, high strength, lightweight materials that a step-change was made to the form, span and construction of arches with the introduction of the first lightweight, filigree arch structure at Coalbrookdale in 1779. The advent of the tensile restrained arch occurred shortly thereafter due to the need to provide significantly larger span structures, more efficiently and economically. Over the next 100 years, spurred by the railway construction boom, there followed unprecedented innovation in materials and construction techniques. By the 1930’s, the advent of new steel technologies and simpler methods of analysis meant that the further development and applications for tensile restrained arches rapidly declined. More recently, there has been a gradual re-emergence of the tensile restrained arch in a number of significant architectural projects. | Arches |
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Cacciaguerra, G. & Gatti, M.P. | 2009 | Military Architecture: A Pool of Installations to Preserve or Demolish? In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 275-81. | Military | |
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Cajigal Vera, M.A. | 2009 | Proportion, Symmetry and Mathematics in the Renaissance Theory of Construction: Vignola’s Treaty of Architecture and its Musical Mirror. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 283-88. | This paper tries to explain the close relationship between the late-medieval musical methods of composition and the Renaissance and Baroque construction history, using the example of Vignola’s treaty Regole delli cinque ordine d’architettura, in its first Spanish version by Patricio Caxés (1593). This is a very important way to understand Renaissance construction techniques. Concepts of proportion and symmetry, and the mathematical bases of the construction after Vignola, are very similar to the theoretical writers and composers of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth centuries. The text shows a new point of view about the building profession and the construction history during the Renaissance. The following analysis is a part of the ATENEA Research Project, about Spanish Treatises of Art, consisting of a computerized source that brings together a Terminological- Conceptual Thesaurus and a Textual Corpus. The author is a Pre-doctoral Researcher for the Research and Development Department of the Galician Government (Xunta de Galicia), supervised by professor Miguel Taín Guzmán (Santiago de Compostela University). | Vignola |
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Campa, M.R. | 2009 | E.E. Viollet-le-Duc: Innovation and Tradition in Architecture. Language of Form and Structure in the Conception of Polyhedral Vaults. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 289-96. | The experiments carried out in the last few decades on reinforced or pre-stressed stone continue to conceal, like the Eighteenth century architecture, the metal inside the stone. In the Nineteenth century, Viollet-le-Duc warns of the limits and proposes a way to cross, although without having the tools to verify its validity, therefore he merely gives suggestions for a good design. These suggestions contained in some pages of the Entretiens sur l’architecture and L’ Art Russe are the subject of this study that analyzes projects carried out by Viollet-le-Duc in terms of form and structure. Works in which the stone assembled in accordance with the stereotomic principles dear to French tradition, interacts and cooperates with the metal (cast or laminated iron, depending on the role that it is due to perform) creating new forms using principles and rules of compositional tradition. Artworks that can be a resource for the design of large contemporary buildings if appropriately updated and discussed. | Viollet-le-Duc, vaults |
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Campbell, J.W.P. | 2009 | Building a Fortune: The Finances of the Stonemasons Working on the Rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral 1675-1720. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 297-304. | A number of writers have postulated that the rebuilding of London after the great Fire saw the birth the modern building firm and speculated on the amount of money that contractors made from building in the period. Actually calculating the amount of money some of the contractors made has proved much more difficult. This paper looks at the problems involved. It concentrates on a number of individuals for whom more information survives than any others: the stonemasons at St Paul’s Cathedral. It shows that, while most craftsmen were poorly paid, a few could get very rich indeed. | Stonemasons, St Paul’s Cathedral |
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Carocci, C.F. | 2009 | Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda’s Architecture: Constructing the Modern Restoring the Ancient. The Cathedral of Marsala. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 305-12. | In 1892 Damiani Almeyda was invited by the major of Marsala to predispose a relation on the interventions needed for the stability of the cathedral which exhibited heavy structural damages. The crack pattern, appeared in the dome zone presumably in the early eighties of the XIX century, brought the municipality to the decision of calling a technician of great experience in the field of the structural rehabilitation. Damiani Almeyda presented his restoration proposal in the August of 1892 but, before the works could have begun, in February the second of 1893, the dome collapsed. Then Damiani Almeyda was charged of the design for the reconstruction of the dome and the reinforcement of its support structures. In this paper, besides the unknown chronicle of the damages, the collapse and the reconstruction of the dome, the magisterial technical knowledge as well as the architectural sensibility of a XIX century engineer is highlighted through the examination of the graphical and textual reports prepared by Damiani Almeyda for the Marsala’s Cathedral. | Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda, Cathedral of Marsala |
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Carocci, C.F. & Speranza, C. | 2009 | The Plan of Street Levelling in Catania 1820-1879. Urban Restyling and Seismic Vulnerability. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 313-20. | The paper analyses the design and the execution of the Catania’s XIX century levelling plan which represented a deep changing both in the exterior and in the structural aspect of the historical buildings. As well as in the other Italian cities at the beginning of the XIX century, also in Catania started out a vast debate on the public health and the urban decorum. As consequence of the levelling a lot of problems and damages on the existing simple or monumental buildings arose, because, the previous ground floors were, to second of the cases, buried or elevated of some metres on respect the new street level. The paper try to understand the technical process used to execute both the street levelling and the correlated repairing works on the front buildings and to evaluate if these latter could assume a relevance in nowadays seismic vulnerability of the historical masonry buildings of the Catania centre. | Catania |
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Carvais, R. | 2009 | Creating a Legal Field: Building Customs and Norms in Modern French Law. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 321-28. | When a mason builds, he is bound by two sorts of rules: on one hand, those that guide his movements, taking into account the current norms pertaining to materials and their assembly, in short to technical skill; but also, on the other hand, those that foster the building’s social stability, that is to say, peace with its neighbours ensuring property rights and their developments. Construction law is therefore hybrid. It is fuelled on one hand, by technical regulations, of a rather public order, that standardise building rules, but also, on the other, by a customary law of neighbourly relations and of property’s fair appraisal, of a rather private order. | Regulations, norms |
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Caston. P.S.C. | 2009 | Historic Wooden Covered Bridge Trusses in Germany. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 329-36. | For the past five years Germany’s historic wooden covered bridges have been the subject of a rudimentary documentation undertaken by Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany which has culminated in a complete inventory of the known bridges still remaining. For the engineer and construction historian it is not just their age, heritage value and romantic settings that make them interesting, but the construction problem given and the technical solution employed. The problem is to free-span distances that exceed the intrinsic physical capabilities or economic viability of the building material, in this case wood. The solution was the clever use of assembling small components into a larger load-bearing frame or truss. The paper will summarise the current state of the inventory and present examples of the different truss-solutions found. | Germany, bridges |
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Ceraldi, C., Mormone, V. & Russo Ermolli, E. | 2009 | Timber Covering Structures of Churches Built in Naples during Angevin Domination. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 337-46. | This research goes trough historical phases of the most ancient churches built during Angevin domination in Naples Kingdom, (thirteenth - fifteenth centuries), and specifically of their covering structures. Between those churches, only St. Mary of Donnaregina and St. Peter from Majella preserve their ancient covering systems, on which a deep study has been done, also tracing the history of the most relevant transformations, partly due to decay, partly due to “remedies” contrasting deformation effects induced by the addition of the ceilings. The efficiency of those interventions has been verified comparing the static analysis on the original schemes with that on the modified ones. The historical research has been extended to the other main Angevin churches in Naples, even if they haven’t preserved their ancient timber covering systems, and it has shown that the most widespread covering system was that constituted of simple king post trusses, with slope of about 30°. The only differing one is that of St. Claire church. | Naples, churches |
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Chamorro Trenado, M. | 2009 | The Construction of the Saint Felix Church Tower in Girona, During the Fourteenth Century: Workers, Materials and Equipment. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 347-54. | I will analyze the construction of the Saint Felix church tower in Girona during the fourteenth century. Specifically, this study will focus on the workers, the materials and the auxiliary means used. To this end, I have consulted the building records of the church, an indispensable documentary source of the building’s history. After an introduction describing the chronology of the construction work of the church, I analyze the data we have regarding the anonymous, and sometimes named, builders who worked there: their origin, working hours, the family relationships, wages and so on. In this section, I will highlight the importance of the work of women during construction which, at the time, was highly unusual, be it in Girona, Catalonia, Spain or indeed, anywhere else in Europe. With regard to materials, I shall focus on the most important data provided by the building records, such as quality, price, origin, transportation, etc. Finally, I will describe the characteristics, cost, ownership and function of the equipment used in construction. | St Felix Church, Girona |
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Chiou, B-S. & Hsu, Y-H. | 2009 | Modernizing Traditional Craftsmanship: Notes on the Working Drawings by a Traditional Master Carpenter in Taiwan. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 355-62. | Due to the rapid societal, political and economical changes from traditional to modern and the decreasing availability of wood, temple buildings in Taiwan are unlikely to be constructed in traditional manner. To maintain traditional imaginal identity of a temple, reinforced concrete construction is normally applied to the simulation of wooden framework. It is interesting to know how a traditional master carpenter, the planner and constructor de facto, adjusts himself for modern change in temple building production. To approach this issue, this paper is attempted to focus on the working drawings prepared for temple buildings by a traditional master carpenter in Taiwan, Shi Kunyu (1919- ), which convey the construction message and the dimension of the building as a whole and its parts, in order to examine how a traditional temple form is formulated by Shi with a mixed method which combines traditional building craftsmanship with reinforced concrete system. | Taiwan, carpentry |
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Chrimes, M.M. | 2009 | A Forgotten Chapter in Dam History: Masonry Dams in British India in the Nineteenth Century. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 363-76. | British dam practice in the nineteenth century was dominated by the use of earth embankments with puddle clay cores (Binnie, 1981; Skempton, 1990). However, British engineers in India often benefited from more advanced academic training at the East India Company’s Seminary, Addiscombe, and later the Cooper’s Hill College, and made more widespread use of masonry structures. A pioneering buttress dam at the start of the nineteenth century was followed by Khadakwasla Dam, the first large gravity masonry dam, designed by General J G Fife, who also translated the work of Graeff and Delocre into English (Fife, 1869). Indian-trained engineers later moved to Australia, pioneering the use of masonry arch dams there, to designs generally far in advance of their UK counterparts. In that context the first modern masonry dam was not built in Britain until Abbeystead in 1881. | Dams, India |
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Ciranna, S. | 2009 | Practice, Empiricism and Science Inside the Corpo Degli Ingegneri Pontifici. The Activity of Giuseppe Della Gatta in the District of Ancona (1817-1836). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 377-84. | In 1817 Pope Pio VII passed an administrative reform which reorganized the sector regarding waters and roads in the Papal States. In this reform, he establish the institution of the “Corpo degli Ingegneri Pontifici di Acque e Strade” resuming the organization of the Bureau des Ponts, arges et travaux publics appointed to control the management of roads, waters and buildings in Rome and in entire Papal States during the Napoleonic occupation. After examining the 345 curricula presented in 1817 for a competition to select 83 engineers to form the new Corps, and following the activity of Giuseppe Della Gatta, recruited as head of the District of Ancona, this study wants to stress the contemporary presence of empiricism and science in the training/professional career and daily practice of the engineer. Consequently, the study tests in detail works realized by Della Gatta in Ancona’s port, and on bridges, roads, coasts and buildings of that province. | Ancona, engineers |
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Como, M.T. | 2009 | The Construction of Mycenaean Tholoi. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 385-92. | The masonry dome, vaulted by means of the corbelling of stone blocks in horizontal courses, characterizes the Mycenaean tholos. The results, achieved researching the way by which the Treasury of Atreus’ dome performs the actual condition of equilibrium and through the compilation of a complete survey, pointed out the display of the true-dome behaviour (Como 2006; 2007; 2008). In this framework the paper investigates on the successive building phases that could be carried out in the construction work, congruent with the maintenance of the equilibrium condition of the dome also in the phases of partial construction, which is necessary in the lack of provisional support structures. | Mycenae, tholos |
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Como, M. | 2009 | The Collapse of the Beauvais Cathedral in 1284: The Conjecture of the Creep Buckling Piers. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 393-400. | The paper analyzes the failure occurred at the cathedral of Beauvais in the past 1284. The interior vaulting exceeded 48 m in height, making it the tallest cathedral in Europe. The collapse was quite inexplicable and many theories have been debated trying to understand the reasons of the failure. This paper contributes to the discussion and investigates whether the creep buckling of the masonry piers could be considered responsible of the collapse. In this analysis the masonry has no tensile strength and the creep of the mortars is properly taken into account. The study shows that the slenderness of the masonry piers, together with the eccentricities of the axial loads and the mortar’s creep effects, can be considered the real causes of the failure. | Beauvais Cathedral, France |
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Conti, C., Martines, G. & Sinopoli, A. | 2009 | Constructions Techniques of Roman Vaults. Opus Caementicium and the Octagonal Dome of the Domus Aurea. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 401-8. | Opus caementicium represented a revolution in the history of construction since it allowed Roman vaults to span large areas thanks to the use of innovative structural solutions. A significant example is the vault covering the Octagonal Hall of the Domus Aurea: the lower part starts as a domical vault, while the upper part is a hemispherical calotte ending at the oculus. What is unusual is that the Octagonal Hall is characterized by empty spaces where other rotundae are supported by full walls, and has radial rooms full of light where other rotundae are dark. The aim of this paper is to analyse, illustrate and discuss the construction techniques used to build the octagonal dome of the Domus Aurea, focusing on the innovatory used in combining the various elements in a way that guaranteed mechanical behaviour resistant to compression. | Roman vaults, cement |
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Cottone, A. & Bertorotta, S. | 2009 | New Domes for old Churches (Palermo 1943). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 409-16. | Towards the end of the Second World War, Palermo, was heavily bombed and a large part of its artistic heritage was reduced to rubble. In particular a large number of churches were semi-destroyed. Furthermore, the baroque domes of three of these churches, namely Gesù a Casa Professa, Sant’Ignazio and SS. Salvatore, were badly damaged. From the synchronous analysis of the either total or partial renovation of these buildings, you can see that they almost always underwent significant transformations as regards volumetric structure; furthermore they have taken on a new form, totally different from that of the original structure, as a result of the use of new materials and new techniques. This paper intends to concentrate on the materials and building techniques used to effect the restoration itself, while taking into due consideration the problems connected with the ideological character of the theories of restoration that had to be faced at that time. | Palermo, churches, domes |
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Croizé, J-C. | 2009 | Academic Views on the Economics of Construction: French Variations (1920-1970). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 417-22. | Depending on whether they date from the 1920s or the 1940s and later, doctoral theses using the compared economics of construction projects as a central argument are characterised by a considerable difference in tone and content. During the 1920s, single family homes were recommended whereas during the 1940s and later, it was housing blocks that were advocated. Although not at all based on concrete observations, the interpretation that prevailed as from the 1940s has nevertheless continued to reign and contributed to justifying the policy then chosen by the public authorities in terms of new buildings. However, this interpretation has also contributed to maintaining a gap between the consensus of the elites and the popular perception of the problem. | Economics, construction, France |
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D’Alencon, R. & Nobel, L. | 2009 | Migration of Sustainable Construction. Foreign Influence and Expertise in Chile 1989 - 2004. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 423-30. | This paper examines a growing trend of construction that is claimed to be sustainable or ecological, which developed in Chile starting in 1989, and the process of importing influential environmental building principles previously developed and used in Europe, particularly in Germany. The migration of these influences is proposed to be conveyed by individuals, carriers of ideas and expertise that stem from their own educational background, access to relevant information, professional partnerships and work opportunities. | Chile, construction |
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D’Amelio, M.G. | 2009 | “Thrust and Support" of Slopes according to Carlo Fontana (1638-1714). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 431-36. | This study moves from a Carlo Fontana’s unpublished report (1700) on the stability of the Aventine Hill in Rome (Discorso dello Stato Antico, e Moderno della Portione parte riguardevole del Colle Aventino precipitante per le caggioni sussistenti, che si aducano, e dimostrate nelli seguenti Capitoli dal Cavalier Carlo Fontana). The work is also partially aimed at reviewing the status of knowledge about the laws of balance in the early eighteenth century, pointing out the intuition in the field of bastion support. Fontana’s report, enriched by an extraordinary iconographic section, is an interesting documentation about some construction aspects (such as ground mechanic and containment walls) often not mentioned and usually neglected even in the treatises. | Carlo Fontana, stability, Italy |
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de Bouw, M., Wouters, I. & Lauriks, L. | 2009 | Forty Years of de Dion Trusses in Nineteenth Century Brussels Model Schools. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 437-44. | Although, from 1830 onwards state education was one of the priorities of the new Belgian monarchy, it was not until 1875 that the policy and philosophy went into the meltingpot: inspired by the movement of the Art Nouveau, the École Modèle – a new school building typology, taking into account aspects of health, safety and hygiene – was put forward by the Ligue de l’Enseingement and architect E. Hendrickx. Famous architects such as H. van de Velde, H. Jacobs, E. Quétin and V. Horta got the assignment to design public schools in every community of Brussels according to this model school, where the préau – a spacious central covered courtyard – organized the entire school life. The prototype served as a guideline for over 55 schools in Brussels which were built between 1875 and 1920. Numerous metal roof trusses, varying from simple industrial Wiegmann- Polonceau trusses to richly decorated de Dion trusses, span the 9 to 15 m wide central hall. This paper investigates the evolution of the de Dion roof trusses spanning the préau and illustrates the role of the model school within the Belgian educational system. | Belgium, trusses |
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de Jonge, K. & Snaet, J. | 2009 | Innovation and Tradition in Seventeenth- and Early Eighteenth-Century Vaulting Techniques in the Southern Low Countries. A First Assessment. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 445-52. | Most studies of Southern Netherlandish religious architecture in the Early Modern Period still hold to the view that the ubiquitous rib vault does not have any innovatory character; i.e. is ‘still Gothic’. In this paper we offer a revised assessment, structured around the following ‘problems’: 1. wood, stone and iron: composite structures; 2. cupolas and domes; 3. light, perforated brick vaults. Rare, surviving architectural drawings (mostly from the Jesuit milieu) indeed suggest that vault, roof structure and anchoring system constitute one structure conceptually. The most obvious test-case of modernity in vaulting is the (brickwork) cupola and its covering wooden dome, which is also considered a ‘vault’ in contemporary archival sources. Thin-shelled brick vaulting pierced by oculi in all quadrants – still mostly unstudied as a technique – evolved towards the end of the seventeenth century as an alternative to ribbed crossing domes in wood and plaster. | Netherlans, vaulting |
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Debonne, V. | 2009 | Production of Moulded Bricks on a Gothic Building Site. The Case of the thirteenth-century Abbeys of The Dunes and Boudelo (Belgium). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 459-64. | While the role of the Cistercian abbeys of The Dunes and Boudelo as pioneers of brick production and brick architecture in medieval Flanders remains up for debate, recent research has shed new light on the brick architecture of both abbeys. Since built remains have either disappeared (Boudelo) or lost all authenticity due to reconstruction (The Dunes), the loose moulded bricks collected at both abbey sites are the only reliable material source for the thirteenth-century building campaigns in brick of The Dunes and Boudelo. Numerous profiled bricks from these abbeys show traces of standardized methods of production, similar to practices used on the building sites of contemporary gothic buildings in stone. As such, the moulded bricks from The Dunes and Boudelo reveal these Cistercian abbeys not so much as pioneers of brick building, but as the first to have fully integrated brick in gothic architectural design. | Belgium, bricks |
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Del Curto, D. & Landi, A. | 2009 | Gas-Lighting in Italy during 1800s. Urban Plants and Monuments Devices between Construction History and Questions of Safeguard. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 465-72. | After an overview on the diffusion of the gas-light system through Italy, the paper focuses on Mantua, a typical middle town with a great urban and construction history as it was the Renaissance Capital of the Gonzaga dukedom.The story of the gas system in Mantua has been reconstructed with the instruments of the archive research while particular attention is for the gas-light plant realized since 1864 to 1886 for the Alberti’s S. Andrew Basilica, where many rests (e.g. lamps, pipes) are still visible. This gas-light plant is a great example to analyze the way an eighteenth century industrial device had been installed (often with many difficulties) over the fragile monumental structure of such a building, determining a sudden modification in the perception of the great architectonic interior of the Basilica and the decay of its marble floor and frescoes painted walls. Nowadays, the restoration purposes of the Basilica interior, meets the historical value of this gas-light plant which has to be considered as a more recent step in the five-century construction history of the Basilica and, thus, has be preserved itself. | Gas lighting, Italy |
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DeLony, E. | 2009 | State of Historic Bridges in America Compared to the World. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 473-82. | Changing awareness and appreciation of historic bridges during the late-20th and early-21st century has made people realize the impact infrastructure has on the cultural environment. Highlighting efforts of the historic bridge world regarding regulations, codes, bridge engineering best practices, education, and how saving old bridges represent sustainability, the intent of this paper is to summarize what’s happening in the US regarding public advocacy, Interstate bridges, landmarks and World Heritage, comparing America’s experience with Europe and other parts of the world. | Bridges, USA |
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Dembo, N. | 2009 | Architecture and Industrialization: A Friendly Relationship. The Venezuelan Experience. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 483-90. | The incorporation of industrialization processes, as an option for building construction in Venezuela, has been part of our goal to enter into modernity. This ambition benefited, during the seventies, from an economic bonanza resulting from the rise of oil prices worldwide which, no doubt, had an impact on Venezuela. The practice of introducing rational constructive techniques was influenced by the Bauhaus experience and by other defenders of industrialization processes. Likewise, the post-war building experience was the source of inspiration for the development of Venezuelan projects, within a scope open to experimentation. Our objective here is to present some of the projects built in Venezuela, between 1970 and 1983, which made use of industrialization processes. From a tectonic analysis of the selected examples, we want to point out, the impact produced on the built object as a result of the incorporation of systematized building techniques. | Venezuela |
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Dorner, E., Kaiser, C. & Laue, S. | 2009 | History of Structural Design: a Hands-on Approach - First Uzbek-German Summer School for Preservation of Monuments 2007. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 491-98. | In collaboration with the main Uzbek universities for architecture and construction in Tashkent and Samarkand, in September 2007 the Institute for Architectural Research and Monuments Preservation at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences held the First Uzbek-German Summer School for Preservation of Monuments. The project was managed by Sven Wallasch. One of the main aims of the Summer School for Preservation of Monuments was increasing awareness of Uzbek architecture among civil engineering students and their teachers for careful management of historic monuments that does justice to their significance in an architectural history context. This paper describes the overall project of the first Uzbek-German Summer School for Preservation of Monuments organised by Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, the project work and a selection of results obtained by students. The paper focuses on the methodical implementation of the project aims, which can be recommended for adoption. | Structural design |
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Dotter, K. | 2009 | Sacrifice and Rebirth: the History of Lime Mortar in the North of Ireland. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 499-506. | Lime mortar typically evokes thoughts of Roman construction; however, Ireland was somewhat removed from Roman purview. Despite proof of trade with Romans during the first century BC, there is no existing evidence of Roman construction on the island. A lime mortar-like substance covers a Bronze Age burial mound in Co. Roscommon, yet the earliest known buildings utilising lime mortar date to the mid-seventh century and served ecclesiastical purposes. Beginning in the fourteenth century, improved construction methods refined lime mortar usage, with little alteration to the process in succeeding centuries. However, by the early twentieth century, portland cement supplanted lime as the preferred mortar binder. The historic conservation movement then slowly reintroduced lime mortars back into the building lexicon. Thus, the history of lime mortar in Ireland followed a path of repeated discovery, cultural need, technology transfer, dominance, decline and resurgence, a path removed from direct influence by the Romans. | Lime mortar, Ireland |
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Dunkeld, M. | 2009 | Madox Brown, Hicks, and Clausen: the Construction Site in Victorian High Art. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 507-16. | From the Medieval period onwards a series of artists in many different countries have represented construction work in a range of mediums including oil painting, watercolour, aquatint, chalk, crayon, engraving, etching, pencil and ink drawing. Some of this work has been produced by famous artists whilst others are almost completely anonymous or rarely seen. The number of such images probably runs into the thousands. Opinions differ among construction historians as to the value of such art as historical documents. This paper considers how three famous English Victorian painters - Ford Madox Brown (1821–1893), Sir George Clausen (1852-1944) and George Elgar Hicks (1824-1914) – chose to depict construction and whether their art throws any light on what building work was really like in the past. | Victorian England, construction images |
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Eggemann, H. & Kurrer, K-E. | 2009 | On the International Propagation of the Melan Arch System since 1892. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 517-26. | The Melan arch system began in 1892 as a system for building vaulted floors, but it soon became common for building concrete arch bridges. The particular feature of this system is the combination of steel arch ribs, so-called rigid reinforcement, and concrete vaults. The transfer of knowledge and means took place from the very first moment of its invention. The Melan system was exported from Europe to the United States, was very successfully copied by the Spanish engineer Ribera around 1900 and was also taken to Japan by Japanese engineers who were sent to Europe in the last decade of the nineteenth century. This paper traces the different connections and identifies three main phases of this successful invention. Today, the Melan system is state of the art or common knowledge for bridge-builders all over the world, who appreciate the technological advantage of simple and rapid erection. | Melan arch |
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Esperanza, G. R. | 2009 | Cave Construction with Masonry Arches and Vaults. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 527-34. | This paper describes a singular cave found in Chinchón (Madrid) three years ago while refurbishment works were being executed. The cave, situated at a depth of 10 metres, features brick arches and vaults and 13 earthenware jars. Constructions of this type were very common in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in this village as the special earth conditions made digging caves without need of reinforced work possible. The most striking characteristics of the cave described in this article are its great depth, plans of two galleries at right angles, its interior height and the vaulted solution employed to cover it. Historical construction studies of those underground constructions have not been very common. | Caves, arches, vaults |
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Espion, B. | 2009 | Early Applications of Prestressing to Bridges and Footbridges in Brussels Area. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 535-42. | This paper traces the origin of three very early applications of prestressing by post-tensioning on bridges and footbridges built in the Brussels area 1942-1947. The proponent of prestressed concrete in Belgium was Professor Gustave Magnel from Ghent University who was well aware of the developments in prestressed concrete in France and in Germany. In 1941, he set up the project of building what would eventually be the 1st pretressed railway bridge in the world. It consisted of simple slabs with 20 m span. It was built in Brussels 1942- 1944 on the North-South Railway Junction. For this application, Magnel developed with the contractor Blaton- Aubert a very successful system of prestressing cables and anchorages. This first realization of a prestressed concrete structure in Belgium was accompanied by an extensive testing program that included the on-site testing up to failure of a prestressed concrete beam with the same span and depth as the bridge deck. This experiment convinced rapidly the Corps of Civil Engineers of the Ministry of Public Works to accept considering bids to reconstruct bridges in prestressed concrete rather than in reinforced concrete. Early in 1944, several contracts for reconstructing bridges or footbridges in prestressed concrete had been awarded. The paper details two of these projects, which are footbridges, situated in the Brussels area. The first one, in Brussels, is a footbridge with 21 m span. It was opened to service before September 1944. The second one is a footbridge with 44 m span situated 15 km SW of Brussels. Its innovating feature was the application of external prestressing with high strength steel bars. It was opened to service in October 1947. | Prestressing, reinforced concrete, bridges |
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Etlin, R. | 2009 | Serial Barrel Vaults, Inverted Arches, and Rings: A Neglected Family of Structural Forms. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 543-52. | This paper explores the use of embedded arches, serial barrel vaults, inverted arches, and full rings primarily in masonry architecture of the pre-industrial age, while seeking to understand the intentions of the architects, especially by gathering together rare examples of written explanations. Parallels are drawn to a comparable understanding in the writings of modern architects, engineers, and architectural historians. | Arches, vaults, rings |
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De Paola, S. & Minenna, V. | 2009 | Oblique Vaults. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol1, pp. 453-58. | This research proposes the analysis of a spacious technical literature on the subject of the stone oblique vaults, retained the most refined theoretical speculation of the stereotomic lesson. The study, starting from the first medieval formulations of V de Honnecourt, arrives at the analysis of the passages and biais passé technologies, passing through the important formulations of de L’Orme and the Spanish studies, arriving at the English and Italian studies of the XIX century. Past attention has mainly focussed on methods for building larger and more complex structures. Dwelling on the main well-known types of equipment like spiral and perpendicular methods , developed in the nineteenth century in France and England. The multidisciplinary appearance, typical of the nineteenth-century searches, agreed to move the field of analysis to more complex appearance like the mechanics, the mathematics and the geometry of the structures. | Oblique vaults |
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Fallacara, G. | 2009 | Toward a Stereotomic Design: Experimental Constructions and Didactic Experiences. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 553-60. | The present study explores the possibility of tying up again the broken thread of research on stonecutting construction following in the wake of the discontinued weave of stereotomic culture, aiming at applying its innate creative momentum to the education of engineers and architects and to contemporary architecture. | Stereotomy, stonecutting |
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Fedorov, S. | 2009 | Erich Mendelsohn’s Red Banner Factory in Leningrad 1926–1928: Laboratory for Early Concrete Works in the Soviet Union. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 561-70. | In view of the growing interest in contemporary architectural practice in the preservation and further utilization of the structures of the modern movement architecture (1920–1960s), there is a need to define clear criteria for analyzing and evaluating them. The current treatment of twentieth-century architecture as a subject of historical research in the humanities frequently fails to shed light on a basic aspect of its design method – the programme approach to planning and construction innovations, including constant experimentation with new construction materials. This summary, in line with current work to restore and develop the former Red Banner Textile Factory in Leningrad/Saint Petersburg, illustrates the practical and methodological potential of the engineering appraisal of historical structures from 1920 through the 1930s. | Russia, factory, Mendelsohn |
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Ficarelli, L. | 2009 | The Domestic Architecture in Egypt between Past and Present. The Passive Cooling in Traditional Construction. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 571-78. | The issues of upgrading environmental, protection and reuse of historic interest move this research, which finds in the study of the forms, technical and character of the cities of the Mediterranean, the appropriate answers. From urban scale analysis, traditional town configuration, you come to the test of its architecture and its extrinsic systems: courtyard house, the takhtabush, the loggias, courtyards, covers, the mashrabiya, the claustrum, the wind-escaper, the malqaf, the badgir, the qà’a, the salsabil, the landscape. These cities subject to extreme climatic situations in the past have given satisfactory answers of architecture and techniques, simple and efficient. For example, the relative humidity and temperature controlled through the construction of stone and brick of raw land surface. This condition combined with control over operation of cooling systems, whose method in a hot-dry climate, is to exploit the high thermal mass of masonry stone or brick cooked or raw. This process can slow down the passage of heat inside and maintain low temperatures during the hottest hours. | Egypt, passive cooling |
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Filemio, V. | 2009 | The Architecture and Mechanics of Earthen Structures. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 579-86. | The history of earthen construction begins in ancient times: archaeological studies have shown that for a millennium it has figured among the most basic and widespread construction materials used by peoples of the most various epochs, cultures and geographic locations. The present study will illustrate some of the aspects of the most well-known constructive techniques – those of pisè, adobe e torchis – with regards to the most important chronological phases of their development in different geographic regions, and will examine the relationship between the choice of architectural typology and the mechanical behaviour of the various structures, including in some cases the reason for the diffusion of the various techniques, the problems of construction, and why they fell into disuse, in relation to factors such as climactic conditions, site geomorphology, the availability of construction materials, social and economic contexts, as well as the various functions for which they were destined. | Earth structures |
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Fischer, M. & Lorenz, W. | 2009 | Early Reinforced Brick Floors in Germany. Historical Development, Construction Types, Dimensioning and Load Bearing Capacity. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 587-94. | Since fire-proof brick constructions had begun to replace the traditional wood structures following the Chicago Fire in the 1870s, reinforced brick floors have shaped the system of skeleton construction worldwide up to our times – in a wide range of multi-storey buildings as well as in many famous buildings of “classical modernism” from Le Corbusier to Mies van der Rohe. In recent years a research project at the Chair of Construction History and Structural Preservation of the BTU Cottbus, enabled by funds from the German Research Foundation DFG, gave the opportunity to investigate for the first time systematically the historical development and structural typology of early reinforced brick floors in the German empire from the beginnings in 1892 up to 1925. The first phase of the project was focused on historical questions as different construction types, proliferation, typical advantages and faults or historical methods of dimensioning. The research in this phase was based on patent documents and contemporary publications as main sources but analyses of brick production works and of the transport ways in the German inland water and railway networks were also used. Building on the results of the historical studies, the second phase of the project was dedicated to the structural examination of reinforced brick floors from a contemporary point of view. Aiming at a close-to-reality assessment of the load bearing capacity the usual calculation algorithms could be refined. | Reinforced brick, floors, Germany |
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Fissabre, A. & Niethammer, B. | 2009 | The Invention of glazed Curtain Wall in 1903 -The Steiff Toy Factory. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 595-602. | A pioneering iron and glass construction has been preserved in form of a multistorey building of the Steiff toy factory in the east Württembergian town of Giengen. Typical of this building is the continuous use of glass as a dominant building material. The construction, as simple as consistent in its type, anticipates attempts of new constructive and formal methods in industrial building, which emerged only in the 1920s in the work of the German architect Walter Gropius. The use of modern curtain walls planned as a double-skinned construction distinguishes the glazed box of the Steiff toy factory. It is the intent of this study to show how construction and innovation goes together not only in functional factors, but although in an appreciation for the aesthetic ideals of engineers and their emphasis on efficiency and processes. | Steiff factory, Germany |
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Fittipaldi, G. | 2009 | Italian Futurist Architecture: Angiolo Mazzoni and the Study Case of Littoria Post Office. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 603-10. | Through the study case of Littoria post office building it was possible to reconstruct the character of architect and engineer Angiolo Mazzoni Del Grande. As employed at the Minister of Communication and thanks to his work, he was a protagonist within the Italian architectonical events in the thirties. His adhesion to Futurism, the editorship of architectonical magazines and the active participation at the cultural debate of those years, gave the opportunity of a clear picture of the Italian architectonical culture among vanguards, new styles and constructive techniques and a constant comparison with history and classicism. Moreover it was realised also a precise graphical and documentary reconstruction of the numerous projects of Littoria post offices. | Angiolo Mazzoni, Italy, Futurism. |
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Fleury, F. | 2009 | Evaluation of the Perpendicular Flat Vault. Inventor’s Intuitions Through Large Scale Instrumented Testing. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 611-18. | This communication describes an experimental setup devised to evaluate the structural behaviour of the flat vault in terms of thrust, ductility, loading capacity, failure mode and influence of design parameters. Three vaults are tested that differ by their span and the joint angle between the voussoirs. The instrumentation allows a continuous measure of the thrust in both directions and of the centre point displacement under load variation.The results are used to evaluate the relevance of the assumptions underlying the representations of the mechanical phenomena available to the inventors and allow validation and calibration of numerical models. These are then used to evaluate the effect of design parameters and to compare the efficiency of Abeille’s design with other more traditional flat vaults that implement converging joints in a one way or two way layout. | Vaults |
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Foce, F. | 2009 | Unpublished Saint-Venant. Studies of Structural Mechanics (1837-1853). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 619-26. | As a result of recent bibliographic investigations on the Fonds Saint-Venant at the Library of the École Polytechnique in Paris, this paper presents a survey of the studies carried out by Adhémar-Jean-Claude Barré de Saint-Venant in the field of solids and structures mechanics during the first fifteen years of his scientific research on the matter (1837-1853). Taking into account that these studies appeared only as abstracts of few pages and never received an extended printed version, the main purpose of the paper is to offer a global and reasoned picture of Saint- Venant’s prolific work in order to make it easer future investigations of the original manuscripts and get a deeper understanding of the deductive process that brought the French scientist to his fundamental contributions to the theory of elasticity and strength of materials in the period under consideration. | Saint-Venant, structural mechanics |
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Friedman, D. | 2009 | Early Predictions of Steel-Frame Deterioration: Permanency in High-Rise Construction. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 627-34. | The possibility of corrosion reducing the life-span of steel-frame buildings was recognized during the first construction of such buildings in the 1890s. The same designers who worked on the early steel-frame buildings stated publicly that this issue was a concern, but made no long-term effort to study the problem. After a 1903 report that steel at one such building was in good condition after five years in service, there was little discussion until facade failures from corrosion became a concern in the 1970s. | Steel frames |
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Diaz, J. G. | 2009 | The Construction of Suspension Bridges in Colombia During the 19th Century: Between Tradition and Innovation. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 635-40. | In this presentation, we explore how the construction of bridges in Colombia during the second half of the 19th century was conducted using a mix of artisan tradition and systems from the era of industrialization. The first of these date back to Pre-Hispanic times and involve the braiding of vegetable fibers used in the construction of hanging bridges; at the same time, standardized systems were established by foreign manufacturing entities, which sold their metallic structures around the world through catalogs seeking to adapt to the most complex local conditions. Through the study of a Colombian engineer from the period and his construction work, we aim to demonstrate this condition. | Colombia, suspension bridges |
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García, R. & Valcarce, M. T. | 2009 | Cylindrical Shed Construction: the Shell Roof on the Jamin Factory at Oosterhout, Netherlands. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 647-54. | The paper provides an overview of cylindrical shed reinforced concrete shells, a type of construction used primarily in industrial buildings. Like other types of shells, most cylindrical sheds were built between the end of World War II and the early nineteen sixties. The article reviews their characteristics and construction parameters based on contemporary studies and briefly documents of some of the most prominent structures. The final chapter contains a detailed analysis of the design and construction of what, to the authors’ knowledge, is the largest such shell ever erected. Built for the Jamin factory at Oosterhout, Netherlands, this shed was the object of an ingenious destructive study on a scale model conducted in 1955 at Madrid’s Central Construction Materials Laboratory. | Netherlands, cylindrical sheds |
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García Muñoz, J. & González, J. C. | 2009 | Modern Shastras. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 641-46. | This paper seeks to extend the scope of Construction History to the study of the end of traditions. We believe that truly knowing a particular form of architecture or a procedure means not only identifying where, when, how and why it emerges and evolves in one way or another, but also where, when, how and why it vanishes. In this case we wish to focus on Hindu architecture and construction. The Shilpa Shastras, sacred manuals on art and architecture, sum up the unique mix of technique and magic that characterizes Indian architecture. The study of these texts helps us to understand construction techniques and systems, as well as production organization processes. Below we look at these production organization systems in the Indian construction industry and their links with the traditional roots represented by the Shastras. | Shastras, India |
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Gasparini, D. A. & Simmons, D. A. | 2009 | Alfred L. Rives and the Cabin John Bridge: Creating an Unprecedented 67m Masonry Arch at Mid-Nineteenth Century. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 653-70. | The Cabin John Bridge is a masonry arch of 67m span, built from 1857 to 1863 to carry the Washington Aqueduct over the valley of Cabin John Creek. This paper examines the role of Alfred L. Rives, an 1854 graduate of Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees, in the design and construction of the bridge. The inspiration for the long-span design of the Cabin John Bridge was the Grosvenor Bridge, completed at Chester, England in 1834. For structural analysis, Rives adopted the graphical statics method proposed by Mèry in 1840. Mèry’s design acceptance criteria were based on a rigorous understanding of the lower bound theorem of limit state analysis. Rives designed the center for the bridge, devised the construction technology, and supervised its construction from 1857 until the keying of the arch on 4 December 1858. | Alfred L. Rives, Cabin John Bridge, USA |
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Gasparini, D. A. | 2009 | Charles C. Sunderland and the Diffusion of Prestressing Technologies in the Americas. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 655-62. | Charles C. Sunderland was employed by the John A. Roebling’s Sons Company for over fifty years, from 1901 to 1952. He was Chief Engineer for Roebling for the construction of the George Washington Bridge. He was appointed Chief Bridge Engineer of the newly-formed Bridge Division in 1929 and served in that capacity until retirement. Sunderland advanced fabrication and processing technology for steel wire, wire rope, and wire strand. He developed new structural designs including prestressed cable truss bridges and posttensioned concrete box bridges. Research initiated by Sunderland developed core technologies for the prestressed concrete industry in the U.S. He sustained Roebling’s vitality in bridge construction for the entire first half of the 20th century. | Charles C. Sunderland, bridges, USA |
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Genin, S., de Jonge, K. & Palacios Gonzalo, J. | 2009 | Portuguese Vaulting Systems at the Dawn of the Early Modern Period. Between Tradition and Innovation. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 671-78. | The Portuguese hall churches of the so-called Manueline Period (end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth century) are generally seen as straddling two contradictory stylistic phenomena. While their formal repertory announces the Renaissance, their conception and execution follow the geometrical and technical principles used by the gothic builders. Nave and aisles are unified spatially, a common goal in all Europe at the time. In the transversal section unification of the vaults is achieved through a continuous curved profile from side wall to side wall. In Portuguese historiography this is seen as characteristic of João de Castilho with the so-called ‘barrel vault’ of the Hieronymite church at Belém as his masterpiece. The attribution is a polemic issue, but nonetheless relevant. Our investigation has indeed revealed additional examples that certainly deserve a global presentation considering the pertinence of the author issue and of its broader European context. | Portugal, churches, vaults |
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Geva, A. | 2009 | The Utility of Computerized Energy Simulations in the Study of Religious Identity. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 679-86. | This paper highlights the methodological utility of computerized energy simulations in evaluating cultural and heritage influences on built form of immigrants’ churches. Specifically, I compared St. Paul’s Lutheran Church built by the Wends immigrants in Serbin Texas in 1871 with the Wendish original homeland church in Kotitz, Germany built 200 years earlier. A morphological analysis was conducted along accepted “design with climate” guidelines and showed that the church in Texas was built similar to the one in Kotitz. To corroborate these findings I utilized ENERWIN- a computerized energy simulation program to evaluate the comfort level and energy performance of each church in its actual location and as if “transported” from one location to the other. These simulations provided controlled analyses of thermal comfort of a given church in different climates. The findings demonstrate that immigrants retain their church form in new frontiers despite changes in climate, and introduce empirical evidence to the study of religious identity. | Thermal comfort, churches, USA, Germany |
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Giacomini, L. | 2009 | Technical Plants and Enviromental Wellbeing in Milanese noble residences (1550-1650). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 687-96. | Renaissance treatises show how much their writers were sensitive to themes related to the salubriousness of the environment in which people lived. Thus the question arises as to what provisions were made in this regard in the field of housing, focusing attention on technical plants and on a limited geographical and temporal area. The present study has investigated, with particular regard for the diffusion, construction techniques and costs, the features of the technical plants (supply of drinking water, collection and drainage of rain and waste water, latrines and cesspools, heating, bathrooms) that noble Milanese residences were equipped with in the period 1550-1650 so as to guarantee health and comfort, and what devices were suggested, and often adopted, to optimise the efficiency of these systems. The documents analysed have also shown how sensitivity to such matters was common ground, at least on the level of those who could afford to own a home. | technical plants, Milan |
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Giron, F.J. | 2009 | The restitution and drawing of lost methods of wood construction in Auguste Choisy’s Histoire de l’Architecture. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 705-12. | Each chapter of Choisy’s Histoire de l’architecture describes the elementary methods of construction proper to a historical period or a specific culture. Especially in the first book of his Histoire, many of the drawings he devoted to this question offer seemingly factual views of wood construction that are in fact inferred from buildings in stone. When considered as a whole, they form a compelling historical panorama. They lead to believe that “fossilization” was almost a general trend in architectures of the past. Each time it proved right, this hypothesis gained credibility. Choisy regarded it as the more convenient approach to what initially appeared as decorative forms. In this paper, I shall study Choisy’s particular position in relation to other historians. Secondly, I’ll research on the originality and the reliability of his graphical representations. As Choisy’s drawings usually stem from documents that we don’t see, although we receive an elusive mention about them (a photograph, another drawing, a piece exhibited in a museum), a recovery and comparative study of their sources will elucidate this point. | Auguste Choisy, wood |
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Gonzalez-Longo, C. & Theodossopoulos, D. | 2009 | The Platform of the Temple of Venus and Rome. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 713-20. | The Temple of Venus and Rome at the Roman Forum was allegedly designed by the emperor Hadrian himself and was inaugurated in 135 AD. Its construction upon the Velia hill and precedent structures required an exceptional design and execution, including the provision of a massive 167x 100 m artificial platform. Distinct historical developments on the site like the Vestibule of Nero’s Golden House and the later construction of the medieval church and monastery of Santa Maria Nova as well as the Mussolinian operations of Sventramenti in the first half of the 20th Century have influenced the construction and altered the presentation of the platform. This paper intends to discuss the strategy, design, construction and current condition of this example of a lesser-known field of Roman structural technology. Foundations and platforms of this kind can offer invaluable information on the function of a temple, its history and structural performance, but theirs study is often neglected. | Rome, temples |
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Amparo, G. | 2009 | Earthenware pieces manufactured for Roman thermae. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 721-28. | This study focuses on Roman earthenware pieces manufactured specifically for bath construction. Considered are pieces for the hypocaust (to pave the area or to support the suspensura) and those for heating the hollow walls (concameratione) and the vaults. Special attention is paid to the construction properties of these pieces and hypotheses are suggested for the appearance of new types (setting aside variations in size. | Rome, earthenware |
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Graefe, R. | 2009 | Reconstruction of Antoni Gaudí’s Church of the Colónia Güell. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 729-36. | Gaudi’s church for the workers’ settlement is one of the most important works of the Catalan architect. Only the basement floor with crypt was built, the entire church above was not realised. All documents of this project were destroyed in the civil war, only the photos of the famous suspension model still exist. Starting in 1983 with the reconstruction of the suspension model based on old photos, since several years we have been working in Innsbruck on the reconstruction of the original church design. The paper explains the complex process, in which all available sources were newly recorded, interpreted and conclusively connected to accomplish a precise and detailed reconstruction of the lost project. | Antoni Gaudi, Colonia Güell |
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Grandjean, A. & Brühwiler, E. | 2009 | Advanced examination of historical masonry bridges for future traffic demands. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 737-44. | The key to extending the service life of a historical masonry bridge is an accurate examination of its actual performance. This paper presents a risk-based safety approach which introduces a risk matrix illustrating the risk presented by a structure as a function of the failure probability of the structure and consequences of structural failure. The failure probability of a structure is established on the basis of condition surveys to evaluate the condition state of the structure. The latter is represented by the arch deviation compared to its original shape and, therefore, by the number of hinges visible along the arch. The risk, reflected in the matrix, indicates the sophistication of the analysis and the importance of the likely intervention measures that need to be taken. As a preliminary step in the structural analysis of a single span masonry arch bridge, a simple analytical model to determine its ultimate resistance has been developed. The application of the model is illustrated with an example. | Masonry arch bridges |
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Greco, L. | 2009 | Building Techniques and Architectural Quality of Motorway Restaurants in Italy. The Case of Mottagrill by Pier Luigi Nervi and Melchiorre Bega. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 745-52. | Motorway restaurant bridge buildings began to be erected along Italian motorways in the second half of the Twentieth Century. The Mottagrill in Limena by Pier Luigi Nervi and Melchiorre Bega, built in 1967, is a peculiar example of this architecture for the role of reinforced concrete construction. It stands out for the unitary concept of design and building techniques resulting in the efficiency of the structural system, the expressivity of the large exposed concrete elements, and the control of the building sequence during construction. These features and the affinities between the Limena design and the experimentation carried out by Nervi on motorway restaurants for the Motta company in the previous years highlight Nervi’s central role in this development. | Italy, motorway restaurants |
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Grimoldi, A. | 2009 | The "Frame Vaults" of North Italy between the Sixteenth and the Eighteenth Century. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 753-58. | The compound and complicated vaults, built by a segmentary and policentrical arches, whose bear smaller flat vaults, are especially known as a masterpieces of the Piedmontese architecture in the seventeenth and in the eighteenth century. But there is almost unknown, that at the same time this pattern is largely diffused in the North Italy, chiefly between Cremona, Mantua and Brescia up to Verona, and here it is attested until the end of eighteenth century. In the second half of fifteenth century the pattern reproduce in brick the wooden floor: the arches are transformed in a pair of consoles that shorten the free span of a beam (Uggeri Palace, Brescia). By them, it’s possible to cover any great spaces, with more as eight meters span and to realized flat surfaces for the frescoes, inside a frame decorated by stuccoes. These vaults are a feature of the masonry construction analogous to the “trompes” or the “escaliers suspendus” of the French stereotomy. They are often connect by the written sources to the activity of the builders of Tessin, and they appear as the result of a empiric practice, out of the intellectual echelons of the treatises of architecture, with the partial exception Guarini’s. | Italy, framed vaults |
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Giese, S. | 2009 | Mimar Sinan published in the World Wide Web. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 697-704. | Mimar Sinan is a relatively unknown building master in Central and Western Europe but his reputation is completely different in the countries of the former Ottoman Empire. He entered history as probably the most important building master in ancient Ottoman building through his work, mostly the construction of mosques. What information can we find about him in the internet? Various databases mention him but they always seemto show him in a different light. Great Engineers is a relatively new internet database that is mostly directed at students and everyone interested in the history of construction engineering. How does this online reference work introduce the Ottoman building master Sinan?. Is he not only the most important Ottoman architect but also a ‘Great Engineer’? What are the advantages of the internet lexicon Great Engineers for the user? What can an internet database do? | Mimar Sinan, engineers, architects |
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Guerci, M. | 2009 | A Late Seventeenth-Century Case Study in Rome: The Construction of the Palazzo Mancini, 1686-1690. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 759-66. | The paper deals with the construction of the Palazzo Mancini in Rome, an important, yet littleknown palace on the via del Corso, conceived in 1660 by Cardinal Jules Mazarin and eventually built in c.1686-1690. From 1725 to 1804 it was the seat of the French Academy. The analysis concentrates on a period starting from 1686, when the so-called “Casa Mancina”, a series of old houses that had previously been incorporated into a single unit, was further extended with a new wing and gradually became a magnificent palace. It shows how pre-existing structures were integrated into the new fabric, and what type of foundations, walls, floors, and ceilings were used. The nature of important changes in the early aftermath of construction up to the early 1700s is also investigated. Thanks to its well-documented history, this case study provides important insights into Roman building materials, processes and techniques of the seventeenth century. | Palazzo Mancini, Rome |
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Guerra, R.A. | 2009 | The Dome of the Colegio del Cardenal in Monforte de Lemos (Spain). Geometry, Construction and Stability. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 767-74. | The aim of this paper is to study three aspects of the extradosed ashlar dome of the Colegio del Cardenal: its geometry, construction and stability. The Colegio was built between 1593 and 1616, and it is considered an “offspring” of the Monastery of El Escorial. The original drawings have been lost, but a historic document with a thorough description of the work has survived. The geometrical part covers an accurate geometrical survey, a metrological study, hypotheses of geometrical patterns, and a comparison with the proportions of other domes. The construction part deals with the quartering and the building procedures described in the historic document. Finally, the third part of the study focuses on the stability, over which there is some safety concern, as the building was damaged by the Lisbon earthquake in 1755. | Colegio del Cardenal, Monforte de Lemos, domes, Spain |
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Gulli, R. | 2009 | Pre-Fabricated School Buildings in Italy. The Experimental Events of the ’60. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 775-82. | Regulation No. 17, published in 1962, by the EEC Treaty saw the allocation of 20 thousand million lire to support the construction of new pre-fabricated school buildings in Italy; moreover, it initiated a particular event in building industrialization development. The primary aim of the regulation was concerned with the necessity to construct a large number of buildings in a short time and at low cost in order to meet the demands of increasing school intake numbers. A key issue was to identify and assess new building technologies and strategies that could be applied in the education sector. To address these issues, the Centro Studi per l’Edilizia Scolastica (CSES) was founded as a new body within the Ministry of Education; it was delegated to defining the technical programme and guiding the development of pre-fabricated building systems. | Schools, Italy, pre-fabrication |
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Hamman, M., Schäcke, A. & Brandes, K | 2009 | The First Complete Frame Structure Made of Cast Iron in Prussia. Luther-Haus Wittenberg - Ceiling of the Lecture Hall by A. F. Stüler. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 783-90. | "Iron Architecture" emerged after about 1780, in Germany after about 1800 when the new material opened new options to design advanced constructions. In the beginning, only cast iron was available. Besides the material, extraordinary architects/engineers were needed to apply the new material to adequate constructions. In Prussia, F. A. Stüler was the most ingenious architect to understand the potential of cast iron, and just at the beginning of his dealing with cast iron, he created the very light construction of the ceilings of Neues Museum, Berlin, and, on the other hand, the relatively heavy ceiling construction of the Great Hall of the rebuilding of the Luther-Haus in Wittenberg/Elbe, both in the 1840s. The latter one is the subject of the paper. | Germany, iron, ceilings |
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Heinemann, H.A. & Nijland, T. | 2009 | Concrete in the Netherlands. Historic Use of Components and Conservation. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 791-98. | Historical studies of concrete in late 19th and 20th century built cultural heritage are often presented from an architectural point of view. In order to assess cultural heritage values, however, the material concrete should also be evaluated by itself, i.e. as manifestation of a combination of cements (and other binders) and aggregates used in a particular time. These do not only reflect the state-of-art of concrete technology at that time, but also determine physical-mechanical and durability properties that should be taken into account when considering an intervention. In the present contribution, an overview is given of binders and aggregates used in Dutch historic concretes. With respect to the latter, the work of the late architect H.G.J. Schelling is discussed. In the 1950’s, Schelling designed a remarkable series of railway stations, combining a concrete structure cast on site with prefabricated concrete elements with various carefully selected aggregates. | H.G.J. Schelling, concrete, Netherlands |
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Henze, F., Heine, K. & Gunnar, S. | 2009 | Developments of Surveying Technologies in Construction History. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 799-806. | The investigation, construction and documentation of buildings and their constructive details is intrinsically tied to the development of geodetic and photogrammetric surveying methods. From ancient times to the 18th century elementary methods based on mechanical distance measurement and simple angle measurement have been used for building construction surveys. 150 years ago the German civil engineer Albrecht Meydenbauer developed photogrammetric measurement techniques as an alternative method to the traditional manual measurement. The ideas and methods Meydenbauer developed are effective to this day. More than 100 years ago, photogrammetry asserted oneself as the most effective method for building measurement. In the second half of the 20th century, electronic surveying instruments such as electro-optical tacheometers, electronic level instruments, digital cameras, global positioning systems and laser scanning revolutionized surveying technologies. The paper gives an overview of geodetic and photogrammetric measurement techniques for construction surveying. The application of several methods is presented through selected examples of historic and current construction projects. | Surveying, technology |
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Heyman, J. | 2009 | La Coupe des Pierres. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 807-12. | The Author discusses the methods of calculation for masonry, and confesses to an error he made in 1969 in the determination of the minimum thickness of a semicircular arch (Couplet’s problem). The correct solution is given. The strength of a masonry structure depends on its stereotomy. | Masonry, stereotomy |
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Hof, C. | 2009 | Masonry Techniques of the Early Sixth Century City Wall of Resafa, Syria. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 813-20. | Although the Persians never came near Resafa during the war of 502–506 AD, the war’s events did have effect on the building of the new city wall. It seems certain that the walls were begun ca 500 AD, a time of relative peace. They demonstrate that effort was not in question as the wall’s elaborate structural design was developed. In Resafa we find three-leaf solid masonry with ashlar faces and a core of fairly squared blocks for which walling techniques found in the Limestone Massif stood example. There, two-leaf walls can be found, as well as voussoirs with grooves like ones found in Resafa. The war definitely slowed down building progress in Resafa, forcing the builders to finish only the curtain wall and to neglect the towers, while improving the security of the water culverts. The massive structure was approved and later copied at the north wall of Halebiye-Zenobia. | Masonry, Syria |
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Holzer, S.M. & Köck, B. | 2009 | On the Use of Iron Elements in Southern Bavarian Roofs of the Baroque. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 821-28. | We report on structural iron elements employed in southern German timber roof constructions erected between 1600 and 1800. We discuss the diversity of forms of iron members employed, ranging from fasteners with keys and nuts, to straps, as well as iron anchors and rods. Iron was originally used mainly for joints subject to tensile stress; we demonstrate how, initially, iron connectors were introduced as subsidiary fasteners in addition to traditional carpentry joints, and show how they finally tended to replace the traditional carpentry joint altogether. This can be studied by the example of the king posts. Iron also became almost indispensable in the construction of the typical Bavarian baroque roofs which usually lack tiebeams, in favour of high vaults; the thrust of these roofs is usually carried by highly stressed scissor braces. The joints associated with scissor braces are another issue where iron replaced traditional jointing. We also show some exceptional uses of iron in the form of larger straps, rods and anchors, which helped to solve exotic design challenges where very high stresses had to be transmitted or "tightening" of the connection would be desirable. | Iron, roofs, Bavaria |
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How, C. & Lewis, M. | 2009 | The Ewbank Nail. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 829-36. | A productive liaison between an American mill engineer and an English merchant, led to the production in Newport, Monmouthshire of one the first effective machine made nails suitable for hardwoods. It had a remarkable run of over one hundred years in use in Australia, where for a long time it was ubiquitous. Subtle changes to the nail profile are particularly useful in establishing a series of threshold dates for various buildings constructed there during the pioneer period and hence assists in estimating their construction dates. The “Starhead”, or “Ewbank” nail, as it was often known, was also exported to China, Chile, India, New Zealand, and other parts of the British Empire, during the latter half of the of nineteenth century, as well as being widely used within Britain. | Ewbank, nails |
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Hurtado Valdez, P. | 2009 | Masonry or Wooden Vaults? The Technical Discussion to Rebuilt the Vaults of the Cathedral of Lima in the Seventeenth Century. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 845-52. | During reconstruction of the vaults of the Lima’s cathedral, in the seventeenth century, master builders searched for construction systems that were more resistant to seismic activity. The original vaults, due to the earthquake of 1609, were extremely damaged. This situation motivated a discussion to analyze the causes of damages and the features that would require their reconstruction. It was thought desirable that the new construction would be Gothic-ribbed vaults, not as a return to an ancient aesthetic style, but because the masons thought this kind of vault could better resist the earthquakes than the existing barrel vaults. However the continuing damages and collapses prompted a second discussion, to determine the best way to rebuild these vaults. This time the problems of the ribbed vaults were discussed under horizontal loads, possible antiseismic solutions were adopted and the possibility of changing the masonry vaults for the nascent curved timber plank in the colonial lands, especially after the highly structural efficient response proven by the wooden vaults in some parish churches. | Lima Cathedral, vaults |
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Iori, T. & Poretti, S. | 2009 | The Golden Age of "Italian Style" Engineering. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 853-60. | In Italy the postwar era (1945-1964) was a period of truly exceptional development in the sector of large structures, to a much greater extent than seems to have been recorded in collective memory. For Italian structural engineering, limited to substantial operative stagnation for decades but constantly involved in intense theoretical research, this was the moment to finally test lines of experimentation that had been developing for many years. This led to the appearance in the realization of projects of an original character: an “Italian Style” for structures. | Italy, structural engineering |
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Isohata, H. | 2009 | Historical Study on the Development of Construction Management System in Japan. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 861-68. | This paper describes the historical study on the development of construction procurement system for public works from the middle age through the modern era to today. Author clarifies the characteristic of the development of procurement and management system as a part of soft technology such as tendering, contracts, and construction managements in modern Japan. The scope of the study also includes the clarification of the historical factors that affected and caused what and how the construction procurement system has been produced. Present issues in Japanese construction industry are stated as a background in the beginning. Then the traditional procurement and management system before modernization is clarified. This will followed by the study on modernization of construction in the latter half of nineteenth century, and the consideration on the characteristic and factors affected the development of construction procurement system for public works in modern Japan. | Japan, construction management |
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Kahlow, A. | 2009 | Different Manners of Constructing in Different Contexts. Roebling’s Niagara Bridge and Gerber’s Cantilever Beam. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 869-78. | The comparison of both Roebling’s as well as Gerber’s construction techniques is supposed to shed light on the different work processes and communication structures of both engineers. Gerber was highly respected as the “Master of German Iron Bridge Construction”. He was the founder of a method of working that was summed up by the term “Gustavsburg School.” Its impact is still important today. Roebling, who was much more successful in economic terms, was at least as gifted an engineer as Gerber. He did not leave behind a certain school, but he was unique in a specific sense. This concerns his method of working as well as the structures he created. The selective comparison of both engineers’ methods shows the different contexts in which both Roebling and Gerber worked. | Roebling, Gerber, bridges |
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Kamibayashi, Y. | 2009 | Two Dutch Engineers and Improvements of Public Works in Japan. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 879-888. | 136 years ago two Netherlanders, George Arnold Escher and Johannis de Rijke, came to Japan and established the basis for improvements of Japanese rivers and harbours. Their achievements were analyzed from their correspondences, memoirs and related data remaining in the Netherlands. Their plans/ designs are based on the principle that public facilities should have universal function of the nation’s safety and to be used together with flexibility of sustainable improvements responding to changing needs of the time. J. de Rijke never attended any ground-breaking nor inauguration ceremonies of his projects. This is presumably because of his consideration to sovereignty of Japan and personality and human right of the people. This presents their basic philosophy of transfer of technology in public facility improvements to developing countries. | Japan, public works |
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Kayser, C., Barthel, R. & Stehlin, V. | 2009 | Stone and Oak - The "Glücksrad" of Basel Cathedral. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 889-96. | The so-called ‘Glücksrad’ – wheel of fortune – is one of Basel cathedral’s main attractions. The present study aims to examine the central wooden ‘rota’ from 1225 with its building and restoration history. The preserved original fragments of the dismantled structure provide the basis for an analysis of material, details and building process as well as the relationship to contemporary stone structures. The rota’s structural system is discussed. Fractures and deformations of the work pieces can be explained as results of the famous Basel earthquake of 1356. | Basel Cathedral |
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Kierdorf, A. | 2009 | Why Hennebique failed in Germany. Strategies and Obstacles in the Introduction of a New Construction Technology. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 897-902. | In several countries, François Hennebique and his local representatives stand at the beginning of reinforced concrete construction. Hennebiques’s activities in Germany were first organized by the Martenstein & Josseaux construction company. In spite of massive problems with local building control, a number of regional construction companies realised Hennebique system constructions, among them Pommer in Leipzig, Thormann & Stiefel in Augsburg, Gebr. Rank in Munich and Eduard Zueblin in Strassburg. But, as in France itself, in Germany strong competitors opposed to the patent quests of Hennebique: Former Monier specialists Wayss & Freytag and Beton- und Monierbau had Hennebique’s patents annulled in 1901. In spite, they initiated the publishing of structural and technical details. The business history of reinforced concrete demonstrates the possibilities and limits of technology transfer as well as the relation between national interests and international business. | Hennebique, Germany, reinforced concrete |
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Köck, B. & Holzer, S.M. | 2009 | Baroque Timber Roofs without a Continuous Tiebeam. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 903-10. | In 2007, the authors have conducted a survey of baroque timber roof constructions in Southern Bavaria, and inspected around 40 church roofs (Holzer et al. 2008). An observation made was that a considerable percentage of the roof trusses analyzed are characterized by the lack of a continuous tie beam. We classify these roof structures according to their load-carrying characteristics and demonstrate, by some preliminary numerical analyses that different principal load-carrying mechanisms can be activated. Up to date only little research has been carried out to determine the actual load-carrying mechanisms of baroque roofs, which exhibit a complex three-dimensional behaviour. For a better understanding of the structural behaviour a full-scale loading test was performed on a typical baroque roof. Based on the results we suggest an improved non-linear model for traditional carpentry structures. In a last step and in view of a realistic computation, some data obtained by non-destructive test methods are presented. | Roofs, tiebeams, timber |
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Huerta, S. | 2009 | The debate about the structural behaviour of Gothic vaults: From Viollet le Duc. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 837-44. | The structural behaviour of the Gothic vault will be discussed, focussing in the debate about Viollet-le-Duc’s rational theory (c. 1850): the ‘active’ ribs support the load of the ‘passive’ masonry of the webs. The debate reached its climax in the 1930s with the frontal attach mounted by Abraham: the ribs are merely decorative, it is the shell that carries the vault. Other eminent French scholars (Aubert, Focillon) were not so drastic, since Abraham, Viollet’s ideas have been viewed with suspicion. The debate is still alive though in fact was closed by Heyman in the 1960s when he formulated the principles of modern Limit Analysis of masonry structures. Within this new theoretical frame it is a false debate , as it states a question that cannot be answered: what is the ‘actual’ or ‘true’ structural state of a building? This fact, discovered in the 1920s by Baker, supposes a Copernican change in the approach to the analysis of structures. The debate on Gothic vaults may serve to illuminate this approach and its corollaries. | Viollet-le-Duc, vaults |
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Krieg, S.W. | 2009 | Max Pommer and the Oldest Known Hennebique-Construction in Germany. A Printer’s Shop at Leipzig. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 911-18. | The oldest known multi-storey Building in Germany with a full reinforced concrete frame on the Hennebique system is a wing of a printing house erected 1898 by Max Pommer at Leipzig. Until 2005 a granary at Strasbourg erected in 1899 was thought to be the oldest Hennebique-construction in the then German Reich. To the well-known pioneers of concrete constructions such as Züblin and Wayss & Freytag, who worked together on the Strasbourg example, we have to add Max Pommer, who changed from architect to building contractor and also had an impact on social reforms. Already by 1899 he had erected five more buildings with Hennebique-construction. While these are mostly renovated and in use, the oldest example is decaying and threatened with destruction. | Hennebique, Germany, reinforced concrete |
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Kulukcija, S. et al | 2009 | Existing Historical Foundation System of Two Old Bridges from the Ottoman Period in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 919-26. | Authenticity evaluation of cultural and historical buildings is one of the most important elements of their categorisation. Therefore, on the occasion of rehabilitation or reconstruction it is necessary to give special consideration to the correct assessment of state of existing foundation construction. Literature on historical foundations is very scarce comparing with literature on other structural elements, leading to a situation where engineers are seldom familiar with the problem. This paper provides description and more detailed research on foundations of two masonry arch bridges dating from the Ottoman period in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Old Bridge over the River Neretva in Konjic and Old Bridge over the River Drina in Visegrad. Upon examination on the spot, it has been established that both bridges have similar foundations i.e. multi-layered timber grillage. | Bosnia, bridges |
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Lambert, G. | 2009 | Promises and Disappointments in the Representations of Innovation in Architecture. The Goods Lifts in the Hôtel des Postes of Paris (1878-1888). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 927-34. | Goods lifts were crucial to the project of the Hôtel des Postes. The consequences of their failings were the most obvious, as well as paradoxical, indication of this. They were fundamental issues for the actors involved when the project was launched. They were still central to the reputation of the building at the time of its completion, but by mainly because of the delays they caused to its opening. This paper intends on shedding light on the vast range of representations of technical innovation in architecture. By measuring the discrepancy between the designers’ “faith in the powerful means of modern mechanics” and the disappointment linked to the technical failure, the aim is to identify the factors at play in these representations, which involved the identity of the protagonists as well as the context. | France, lifts |
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Lapins, A. & Dirveiks, I. | 2009 | Construction of the Order’s Castle in Cesis, Latvia. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 935-42. | The ruin of the Medieval Order’s Castle in Cesis is the best preserved castle ruin complex in Latvia. The rich history and spectacular outlook place it amongst the most peculiar and interesting tourist attractions of the whole Baltic region. Investigation of the Castle, begun at the end of the nineteenth century, has continued into modern times. Scarcity of written and visual sources of information has made it necessary to rely on what could be discovered from the investigation of the building itself, including archaeological excavations and architectural survey of the standing structures. Preliminary analysis of the original planning and a summary of the results of previous historical, archaeological and architectural research has provided a broad view of the development of the Castle. The present paper is illustrated with theoretical reconstructions of the Castle, obtained from this analysis. | Latvia, castles |
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Thomas, L. | 2009 | The Importance of Steel to Wind-Resistant Building Frames. Riveting and the Quest for Structural Rigidity. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 943-50. | The gradual development of the tall commercial building at the end of the 19th century is usually described as an outgrowth of steel’s development as a building material. Rarely, however, are the mechanisms of this enabling described. One might well ask why steel per se had very much to do with skyscraper construction, as it was seen by many as an expensive, unreliable version of structural iron. Iron had been the primary structural material in most tall buildings during the mid-1880s, during which record heights of eight, ten, and eventually fourteen stories had been readily achieved. Why would architects, engineers, and clients change their material preference so quickly – from about 1888 until about 1895, when Engineering Record suggested that any use of iron in building “could not be recommended” – and what about steel made it so overwhelmingly better than iron? The need for stiff connections and for lateral resistance provides one possible answer. | Steel, frames, USA |
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Lewis, M. | 2009 | Lehmwickel and the German Diaspora. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 951-58. | Lehmwickel, or earth wrapping, is a traditional German building technique of medieval or earlier origins. It consists of stakes of timber, wrapped around with earth and straw, and placed in parallel within a wall or ceiling panel, usually in a timber framed building. In some examples one or both faces are plastered over to a smooth finish. This technique spread to Hungary and Romania, North and South America, and Australia, mainly as a result of German emigration. Although examples have been reported, the technique never been comprehensively studied on a worldwide basis. A special mystery surrounds its use in Northern France, because examples there date from at least the thirteenth century and are clearly not the result of German migration in modern times: a tentative explanation is proposed here. | Lehmwickel, Germany |
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Lohmann, D. | 2009 | Drafting and Designing. Roman Architectural Drawings and their Meaning for the Construction of Heliopolis/Baalbek, Lebanon. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 959-66. | For the monumental Roman temples of Baalbek, although preserved exceptionally well, many questions about the construction methods remain unanswered. With the discovery of numerous architectural drawings etched into stone surfaces in the course of the excavation works of the 1940s until 1975, and now recently in the last years, some of these questions can be answered. For the first time, these scarcely published drawings are compiled and identified entirely now. A recently discovered and documented reduced scale partial floor plan drawing suggests new theories about the construction of the hexagonal forecourt to the Jupiter sanctuary. This case shows the degree of abstraction in designing as a first theoretical step before practical construction starts. Details of this outstanding etching show an alternative design, and appear in an unsuitable scale for execution. On the other hand, several discovered full scale drawings of construction details explain the practical construction process used to dimension and assemble the giant ashlars used for the construction of the Baalbek temples. In combination with the rooms and wall surfaces that were used to etch the lines into, the drawings help to progress our understanding of the former appearance as well as the construction process of Baalbeks temples substantially. | Heliopolis, Roman, temples |
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Maclot, P. | 2009 | Towards an Alternative Solution for the Detection of Historic Structures in Antwerpen (Belgium). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 966-74. | This paper aims to present the try-out of a method which allows to go back to about the end of the fourteenth century (in this particular case even to about 1150), tracing both continuity and changes of plots and construction phases in an old city centre, using limited survey techniques, and combining various archival data with any available archaeological information. This method is based on the systematical archival analysis of building-blocks by making an inventory of the whole, investigating layers of history going backward in time, so as to detect with absolute certainty the connections between the individual sites, and to reveal possible systems of building construction and typologies. | Antwerp, archaeology |
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Mähner, J. | 2009 | Salisbury Cathedral and Its Diversity of Flying Buttresses. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 975-82. | The flying buttresses of Salisbury Cathedral are unique in their number of diverse types and in the irregular layout of these types in the Cathedral plan. Yet research on this topic has been neglected both from the fields of art history and construction history. Now the various types of flying buttresses were surveyed each as part of the complete section of the building and have been examined with the means of building archaeology within the research project presented here. The section drawings form the basis for the ongoing research which aims at gaining a realistic understanding of the structural function of the flying buttress types. In this paper the analysis of the structural behaviour of a selected number of flyers is presented. The flying buttresses are examined as isolated structures under minimum thrust conditions in order to exemplify their strengths and weaknesses. The examination of the behaviour of the flying buttresses in the context of the overall system of the cathedral will follow. | Salisbury cathedral, flying buttresses |
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Maierhofer, C., Woestmann, J., Milmann, B. & Hennen, C. | 2009 | Structural Assessment of Stone Walls of St. Servatius Church in Quedlinburg. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 983-90. | Non-destructive and minor destructive testing methods enable a classification of historic structures, building processes, applied building technologies and materials. Therefore, these methods should be part of the global investigation of historic buildings which is usually required before the planning of any building intervention. The case study presented herein encompasses experimental work carried out at the St. Servatius Church in Quedlinburg, Germany. Within a comprehensive restoration campaign, non-destructive on-site investigations were carried out with radar and ultrasonics. The results were combined with plans, views and cores recorded in advance. | Germany, churches, walls |
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Marconi, N. | 2009 | Technicians and Master Builders for the Dome of St. Peter’s in Vatican in the Eighteenth Century. The Contribution of Nicola Zabaglia (1664-1750). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 911-1000. | The works of Nicola Zabaglia, master mason of St. Peter’s Fabbrica, may be considered an influential model of cohesion among architecture, building yard and applied mechanics. Zabaglia’s work represents a basic milestone for the development of Roman building technology, as proved by his being deeply involved in the works for hooping of the St. Peter’s dome, directed by Luigi Vanvitelli between 1743 and 1744. Nevertheless, the role of Nicola Zabaglia has remained not well known even today. Thanks to the information also provided by unpublished documents, this contribution highlights the working procedures, phases, technologies and organisational models adopted by Zabaglia and Vanvitelli for the restoration works of the Cupola. These works represent one of the most extraordinary examples of the capability achieved by the technicians of St. Peter’s Fabbrica in the middle of the 18th century. | St Peter’s Vatican, domes |
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Talaverano, R.M. | 2009 | Two Flat Ribbed Vaults in San Juan de los Reyes (Toledo, Spain). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 1001-12. | Late gothic flat ribbed vaults have special interest since they are considered as a technological work that belongs to a specific period of change in which the medieval ideas are living together with the new humanistic view of Renaissance. At that moment, a new kind of vault was built using a deep geometrical and technological knowledge, that was never seen in the Middle Ages. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze and compare two of these vaults that are built in San Juan de los Reyes monastery, in Toledo (Spain), in order to extract the geometrical ideas and the technological knowledge that made them possible. | Vaults, Spain |
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May, R. | 2009 | Discovering Construction as an Art – The ’Cologne Bridge Quarrel’. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 1013-18. | It is commonly known that modern architecture became deeply influenced by the severe beauty inherent in the engineers’ structures since the beginning of the twentieth century. But it is far less known that at the same time also a noticeable change in engineering occurred. A central occurrence for this shift of paradigms in engineering is the Cologne Bridge Quarrel, which developed subsequently to the design competitions for the Hindenburgbrücke in 1913. It is the aim of the author to discuss the main arguments that were given by the experts in the course of this fascinating judicial proceeding about the artistic qualities of an engineer’s construction, and by this, to revive our knowledge of what can be identified as a milestone in Construction History. | Hindenburgbrücke, Germany |
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Menchetti, F. | 2009 | Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and the Building Site of the citadel of Ancona. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 1019-24. | I’d like to introduce my recent research concerning the engineering activity of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and his collaborators in the Marches’ territory and especially the study of the building site activity promoted by the “Camera Apostolica”. On the basis of some sketches of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, sixteenth century papal engineer, this search gathers documents relative to an iconographical study of machines (barges, hoists, cranes, and mills) in the Adriatic coast, especially in the citadel of Ancona, between 1530 and 1540 through the traditional schools of Florence and Siena during Renaissance. | Antonio da Sangello the Younger, Ancona |
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Meyer, L-H. | 2009 | "Kiesel, Cailloux, Pebble, Keien": Curious Material in the Eighth Century. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 1325-32. | The paper reports on a rather unknown building technique with round stones, pebbles, developed before 800 in several parts of Europe. The regions where this material and method can be found are separated from each other and scattered over Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Britain. In fact, two characteristic ways of building walls used contemporarily are the topic: not just the one transferred by imperial master builders but also a second kind, where knowledge perhaps was transported by English missionaries on the older route of St Jacob. On their way to Rome, monks would have travelled by boat to Spain, from there along the Pyrenees to France where they saw the buildings of the Christian Ostro- and Visigoths and then to Italy where the Lombardian churches built out of pebble could be seen. Further scientific research is necessary to date the “Kieskirchen” more precisely and maybe prove an expected relationship. | round stones, walls |
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Meyer, T, & Hassler, U. | 2009 | Construction History and the History of Science – An approach to the Scientification of Building Knowledge. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol2, pp. 1333-38. | Oscillating between different approaches based on engineering as well as humanities, Construction History reflects an openness with respect to academic disciplines. It functions thus as a movement rather than an academic discipline on its own. Despite this categorical openness, certain barriers remain: specifically, there has been little interest in reflecting and integrating new approaches from the History of Knowledge and History of Science. In our opinion such restraint is neither appropriate to the scientific self-understanding of Construction History nor sensible in an epistemic sense. We argue that Construction History can benefit especially from the integration of current concepts from the History of Science and the Sociology of Science. By integrating such concepts, Construction History would catch up with the current discipline-spanning research on “knowledge” and could contribute substantially to this discourse. Notably, Construction History focuses on both material and immaterial sources, which represent explicit and implicit knowledge systems respectively. Thus it would bring source material into the focus of the recent debate that otherwise would not be considered. | Construction historiography, science |
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Mislin, M. | 2009 | Annotations on the History of Curtain Walls in Industrial Buildings of the United States and Germany between 1890 and 1920.. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1039-48. | The propagation of the curtain wall goes back to W. Gropius manifest on industrial buildings (1913). Its development was not restricted to the aesthetics and constructions of industrial building, but eventually became part of the theory of modern architecture and of all building purposes. The emergence of the curtain wall cannot fully be understood without taking into account the building experiences with glasshouses, castiron-buildings, the technological development of the glass manufacturing and skeleton-constructions. Today further development includes new elements of solar and energy-saving architecture. | curtain walls |
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Mochi, G. & Predari, G. | 2009 | The Relationship between Materials and Techniques. The Use of Bricks in Traditional Bolognese Building.. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1049-56. | Historical construction techniques that use brick cannot be fully understood without a comprehensive knowledge of this base material, including an appreciation of the changes that bricks have undergone over the past centuries of development in construction techniques. Bologna, as a subject for this field of research, presents the advantage that the old town is characterised by the almost exclusive use of brick. Furthermore, construction features in wood make testimony to the period in which the lack of prime materials intended for the production of bricks and inadequate workforces resulted in the overall impoverishment of construction techniques – events that allowed wooden materials to assume an ever increasing dominant role in construction. In the light of the various historical documents and archaeological evidence available today, this report analyses the changes in the building technologies and in residential buildings that have taken place in Bologna during the delicate time that saw the passage from the Dark Ages through to the late Middle Ages. | Bologna, bricks |
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Morales-Segura, M. | 2009 | The Skylight in the Roman Baths: The Construction. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1065-72. | People from every social level used to take Thermal Baths very often during the Roman Empire. Therefore, Roman Baths are a very important building within the Roman life and culture. The building presents many difficulties due to the necessities that these constructions have to face. Roman builders are able to overcome those difficulties by making buildings that meet the demands. The usual roof of a Thermal Bath is the vault because rooms must be clear and wide spaces due to the big quantity of users; the best way for an optimal acclimatisation is a circular space because it makes hot air to move easily. The roofs need to have holes to give light and air to the rooms because: - Walls are very thick due to the weight and pressure that they have to bear. - Bath ritual needs concatenated spaces - Users should not be seen from the outside | Roman baths |
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Morganti, R. & Tosone, A. | 2009 | The Steel House in Twentieth-Century Italian Architecture. Experimental Prototypes and Projects at the Milan Triennale Exhibitions, 1933-1954.. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1065-72. | Research and experimentation in the use of steel technology for residential architecture has always been a limited field, especially in Italy. Although housing was a central theme in the modernist debate in Italy, and a social problem after two world wars, any approach to the question of housing in relation to steel technology remains conditioned by Italy’s historical development, and by a cultural environment in which the idea of domestic living does not sit easily with the temporary feel that steel technology evokes. The Milan Triennale exhibitions in the early 1930s were the venue of choice for those wishing to bring developments in architecture into meaningful confrontation with innovations in steel technology. But with the unfolding of historical events, the Triennale became a celebration of the autarchic policies of the fascist regime, and it was not until the years of reconstruction after the Second World War that it regained its central role as the main forum for cultural and scientific debates on industrialisation and the use of prefabrication in the construction industry. | Steel, Italy, housing |
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Mornati, S. | 2009 | The Skyscraper in Rome. Between Innovation and Italian Building Traditions.. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1073-80. | Interest in the new typology of the skyscraper developed in Italy during the early nineteenth century, following its widespread diffusion in the United States. While Italy was witness to some interesting experiments at the time, it was necessary to await the second post-war period to observe the development of skyscrapers in Italian cities. While not as widespread in Italy as overseas, this new typology nonetheless contributed to modifying the urban skyline. This essay, focused primarily on the first skyscrapers built in Rome between the 1950s and the early 1960s, is interested in this period of construction in Italy, when the office building was seen as an opportunity for innovation and technological experimentation while simultaneously maintaining, at least in the earliest examples, standard practices of construction and more monumental traditions | Rome, skyscrapers |
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Münchmeyer, A. & Kruse, S. | 2009 | Master Mateo – Skilled Artist or Medieval Engineer?. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1081-88. | The research presented here is part of the integrative project “Bauphasen und Bauverlauf der romanischen Kathedrale von Santiago de Compostela” led by the Chair of History of Buildings (BTU Cottbus) under direction of Prof. Dr. Ing. Klaus Rheidt in co-operation with the Department of History of Art (University Bern - CH). The analysis of the tachymetric-based survey and the stratigraphic investigation are discussed in an interdisciplinary team, an architectural historian and a civil engineer. The results lead to a new insight into the building process. Based on the structural analysis of the fabric, further knowledge of the different phases of the development are obtained. The investigation of the flow of stresses in the historic masonry in relation to the assumed material properties of the granite stonework offer new conclusions. As a result, the first stages of construction of the famous Portíco de la Gloria can be revealed and Master Mateo’s role in its design and development is more closely examined. | Santiago de Compostela, churches, builders |
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Negre, V. | 2009 | Some Considerations on Traité de L’Art de Bâtir by Rondelet and the Technical Literature of his Time. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1089-96. | The object of this paper is to understand the reasons for the success of Rondelet’s celebrated Traité théorique et pratique de l’art de bâtir, a text of fundamental importance in the history of writings on building construction. Hugely successful, this general treatise of building construction was first published, privately, from 1802 to 1817. By 1885, seventeen editions had been published. Rondelet‘s Traité théorique which constitutes the first encyclopaedic approach on building construction quickly became a reference. The paper examines the treatise’s position in the architectural literature at the time of its publication. The first part focuses on the production of the work (financing, distribution modes, price and shape of the various editions). The second part concentrates on the specificity of its contents, and in particular on the use it makes of references and historical models. | Rondelet, construction theory |
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Oikonomopoulou, A., Ciblac, T. & Guéna, F. | 2009 | Modeling Tools for the Mechanical Behavior of Historic Masonry Structures. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1097-1104. | The study presented herein has been performed in ARIAM-LAREA and focuses on the modelling and the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of historic masonry structures. Initially, we present a tool of interactive evaluation of the thrust of a masonry structure. To this end we use a program of dynamic geometry and apply some fundamental concepts of graphic | Modelling, mechanics, masonry |
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Olivira, B.T. | 2009 | The Morro da Queimada Archaeological Park Project, Ouro Preto, MG - Brazil. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1105-1112. | This paper deals with development of the project for the installation of the Morro da Queimada Archaeological Park in Ouro Preto, MG – Brazil. This project is coordinated by IPHAN and is supported by national and international institutions, as well as religious bodies, NGOs and community associations. It was formally proposed by the Museu de Arte Sacra do Carmo, and was approved by the Conselho Nacional de Incentivo à Cultura – CNIC (National Committee for the Promotion of Culture), under the auspices of MinC – the Federal Ministry for Culture of Brazil. The Morro da Queimada (“Burnt Hill”) is a place of memory, not only because it is intimately linked to the Rebellion of Vila Rica of 1720, but also because it is located on the plateau where mining began in Brazil, an economic activity that gave birth to the City of Ouro Preto. In this city occurred the earliest truly national artistic stirrings, and from which were disseminated the first ideas for independence, facts which have ensured that it is considered the cradle of the Brazilian national identity. | Brazil, mining |
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Orsel, E.D. | 2009 | The Earliest Development of Roof Construction in Leiden (NL). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1113-1120. | Intensive building-historical research in the Dutch city of Leiden makes a comparative study on fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth century roof constructions possible. The earliest constructions are rafter roofs supported by trusses. No changes are discernible in the basic design until in the 16th century. A new element is a triangular truss that supports a ridge purlin. This modernization was presumably the result of a transition to heavier roofing materials.More developments are progression and simplification on a constructive level. The use of tenon joints diminishes and the joints become increasingly butted and nailed. The carpenter’s craft can be derived from the assembly marks. The dated examples make a development apparent. Dendrochronological research reveals that the timber came from West Germany. Felled timber was transported by raft via the rivers, and came to Leiden as traded timber. Raft holes are the witnesses to this trade. | Leiden, timber roofing |
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Orsini, M.S. | 2009 | "L’Ossatura Murale" and Italian Modern Architecture from 1920 to 1940. Three Works by G.B. Milani between Theory and Practice. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1121-28. | Starting from Milani’s theories, we will analyze some of his works, in order to read how his language evolved towards the modern and to understand the methodological approach, so rich in implication for the contemporary design. Milani’s point of view about the adoption of new materials and of new construction techniques bears a useful reflection on the deep relationships between type, structure and decorative expressiveness. His masterpiece, L’Ossatura murale (Masonry anatomy), is considered by some researchers – often to underline its anachronism – to be the last epilogue of the classical treatises. In it he presents the drawing, the measure, the mental operations of disassembly and reassembly, as instruments of analysis and comprehension of the logical immanent principles, valid for building design. We analyzed, in particular, those aspects of difficult relationship between the use of the traditional shapes and the adoption of the modern constructive technologies, which will be typical for the “other Italian modernity”. | G.B. Milani, Italy, Modernism |
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Ostermann, I. | 2009 | Factory Buildings of the Modern Movement - Different Kinds of (Constructive) Flexibility, Can They Meet the Expectations? In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1129-38. | On the basis of case studies of factory buildings of the Modern Movement from Germany and The Netherlands we will look at the historical presupposed flexibility, in the matter of structure, division and loadbearing capacity. It is interesting to note that right from the start, nearly all our examples of factory buildings were designed to allow for later extensions of the production and office facilities. Together with the effects of other such as choice of materials and location these had effects on the design of the factory buildings. Factories that were built in the 19th and early 20th century usually had no provisions for expansions of the building. Instead, in most cases, apparently haphazard outbuildings and annexes were added. After discussing the different kinds of flexibility and if they really met the expectations, the intention is to have also a short look to the possibilities of the examples for conversion. | Factories, Germany, Netherlands |
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Pauwels, P., Verstraeten, R., de Meyer, R. & Van Campenhout, J. | 2009 | Architectural Information Modelling in Construction History. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1139-46. | The past few years show a significant increase in the usage of three-dimensional modelling and semantic description techniques for architectural research purposes. Where this increase has already shaped today’s design and construction industry, research in architectural and construction history can still improve its work methods and results through these techniques. Therefore, we propose a new conceptual approach for Architectural Information Modelling (AIM), which aims at describing historical information in construction and architecture directly related to design information and design practice. This paper will give an introduction into existing 3D modelling techniques and semantic description techniques, continuing with how these techniques are applied in the AIM approach. This investigation of 3D modelling and semantic technology shows promising results. However, in order to integrate these techniques into an AIM framework, more work is needed. Future work in this research project will therefore explore in further detail the semantic description scheme proposed below and the implementation of a proof-of-concept. | Architectural information modelling |
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Payá Zaforteza, I.J, Adam Martínez, J.M., Pellicer Armiñana, T. & Calderón Garcia, P.A. | 2009 | Use of ConcepTest in a Course on Building Structural Analysis for Teaching Construction History. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1147-54. | Construction History is an important and interesting topic which is seldom given much attention in civil engineering degree study programmes. For this reason and from the teaching perspective, the compulsory subjects that pupils study have to be used to kindle their interest in the area. To this end, this paper examines the use of the ConcepTest technique in a course on building structural design. The methodology is based on posing conceptual questions on special building structures and is explained using specific examples, such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (France). The technique used enables: a) students to assimilate how structures function, b) a closer relationship to be built between teacher and student, and c) students to develop an interest in Construction History, better to understand and value the built environment. | ConcepTest, construction history |
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Pelke, E. | 2009 | The Client’s Influence on the Developments of Methods of Construction in Germany. The Example of Willy Stöhr (1905-1997). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1155-62. | Willy Stöhr acquired his knowledge in the decisive development and innovation period of prestressed concrete before 1945 and became a member of the south German network; consisting of a few persons, of the incipient method of construction. In the early part of the orientation and competitive period of prestressed concrete (1945 to 1965), his knowledge, network and his position as a client combined to become a driving force in prestressed concrete bridge construction (Pelke 2006). Willy Stöhr’s journey through life reflects in an exemplary manner the behaviour of many German engineers in the period between Nazism and reconstruction, technical challenge and political repression, and shows the influence of German administrative engineers and the period when they had an effect on innovations in building. | Willy Stöhr, prestressed concrete |
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Perucchio, R. & Brune, P. | 2009 | The Evolution of Structural Design of Monumental Vaulting in Opus Caementicium in Imperial Rome. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1163-70. | We present a numerical study of the structural behavior of monumental Roman cross-vaulted halls in opus caementicium under static gravitational loads. The study is based on linear elastic FEM stress analysis and is focused on the Great Hall of Trajan’s Markets and the Frigidarium of the Baths of Diocletian. Both cross vaults were designed following a similar supporting scheme based on contrasting arches, transverse shear walls, and supporting blocks. There are, however, critical differences in the two structures, which allow us to evaluate the shift in design paradigms that took place after the construction of the Great Hall. The analysis of the Great Hall reveals the inherent weakness of the support system. The contrasting arches play no significant role in the static equilibrium of the vault. The shear walls and, in particular, the supporting blocks are the critical elements on which the stability of the vault hinges. In fact, motion of the blocks might have caused a near collapse of the vault. The analysis of the Frigidarium shows a much improved structural configuration. The shear wall is extended upward, the contrasting arch is lowered and becomes an integral part of the shear wall, and, most importantly, the supporting blocks are now completely encased in the opus caementicium. This suggests that Roman engineers were able to detect and correctly interpret the structural deficiencies of the Great Hall, thus developing the knowledge necessary to build the gigantic hall of the Frigidarium. | Rome, vaulting, cement |
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Peters, T. F. | 2009 | Patterns of Thought as Contributors to Design and Construction. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1171-78. | This is a speculative paper, one that attempts to suggest a new perspective on our modern construction thinking, which is far more complex than we have thought it to be until now. It does this by beginning to examine an alternative to the traditional school of scientifically based thought. There are as yet no firm conclusions, only vectors, but these demonstrate that pre-scientific, empirical ‘overlay thinking’ survived as a complement to scientific ‘model-thinking’ and influenced it. The concepts explored here are: hybrid overlay, process, association, and problem avoidance. Two nineteenth-century, German-trained builders: John Roebling and Karl Ludwig Althans serve as the prime examples, but there are surely others, also in other cultures. The further development is indicated with the introduction of the concept ‘problem avoidance’ in American examples. | design, construction, science |
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Pinon. M. | 2009 | Graville Castle: Evolutions and conversions of a defensive building in France in the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. .1179-86 | This study continues research on all the worksites of the royal engineers on buildings in the Marquisat of Graville in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This study is of interest on several counts: firstly it allows study of the other royal worksites, in the light of many studies on the abandonment of Harfleur in favour of the port of Le Havre, the construction of which was begun by Francois 1er in 1517. We shall consider the main element of the Marquisat, namely le castle and its outbuildings. An understanding of its layout in the medieval period is a prerequisite for considering its conversion into a foundry. Finally, we shall look at the water tank, the last element of this Norman fort which is still standing. | Graville castle, France |
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Pita Galan, P. | 2009 | The Establishment and Spread of the Architectural Vocabulary in Renaissance Spain Diego de Sagredo’s Medidas del Romano (1526). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1187-90. | The Modern Ages treatises are one of the most relevant sources for the knowledge of the architectural techniques, models and thoughts that have governed the European Architecture between XVIth and XVIIIth centuries. One of the main problems when researches have to interpret the contents of these treatises is the right comprehension of the concepts that their authors tried to pass on, modified by the time. This paper presents a new methodology for terminological and conceptual research that allows a deeper and systematic understanding of the real meaning of the terms used in these texts and determines its establishment, evolution and spread of some ideas that conditioned the European art of building in those centuries. | Spain, architecture |
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Pracchi, V. | 2009 | The Teaching of the Historical Construction Techniques in the Italian Faculties. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1201-08. | This essay deals with the didactics of the historical construction techniques in Italy. It does not deal with the training of the operators as much as with the competences that are considered necessary in order to plan the intervention on ancient buildings. From the result of the research it can be inferred how a huge number of graduation courses foresee teachings are related to the restoration discipline, although often within the humanistic faculties, while those specifically dedicated to the analysis of ancient constructions are very scarce. The declared importance of the existing heritage is, in fact, not reflected in the construction of educational paths adequate for a renewed concept of protection of ancient buildings. | Italy, construction techniques |
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Radelet de Grave, P. | 2009 | The Problem of the Elastica by Jacob Bernoulli and the Development of this Study by Leonhard Euler. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1209-18. | The article first recalls how Jacob Bernoulli began his study of elasticity with four problems, the solutions of which are made possible by the use of Leibniz’s new differential and integral Calculus. These problems are the catenaria, the velaria, the lintearia and the elastica which gave its name to elasticity. He immediately tries to re-formulate all four problems within a single general theory. He tries to do so not only by starting with the principles of mechanics but also by starting with a variational principle or as he calls it with “isoperimetrical problems”. The article then proceeds to show how Euler will, during more than forty years, try and finally succeed in reaching Jacob’s goal of generalization. | Bernoulli, Euler, elasticity |
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Rheidt, K. | 2009 | Pile Foundation in the Anatolian Mountains – Wrong Technique at the Wrong Place?. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1219-26. | Building bridges, houses and temples on foundations consisting of wooden piles is not at all unusual in Roman times. Historical and archaeological evidence of roman pile foundations however is regionally restricted – mainly to the marshy plains of northern Italy and to the Northern provinces along the rivers Rhine and Danube. Recent excavations brought to light an example of a pile foundation at a place where it would never have been expected: on a hilltop in the Anatolian mountains. In this paper I will present the archaeological evidence and then discuss why and how this particularly ‘western’ technique could have found its way to Anatolia. The pile foundation in Aizanoi appears not only to be the earliest example of this technique known up to now from archaeological excavations. It can also be seen as one of the rare traces of the presence of Roman troops in Asia Minor between the late 2nd and the first half of the 1st century BC. | Roman, piles |
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Riedel, A. & Hamann, J. | 2009 | From the Quarry to the Finished Building. The Ancient Meroitic Stone Masonry at the Site of Naga/Sudan. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1227-34. | The Meroitic kingdom (300 B.C. – 350 A.D.) was situated to the south of Egypt and can be seen as a link between the ancient Mediterranean World and Central Africa. Meroitic art and architecture reflect the influence of both cultures. Applied construction techniques also show peculiarities which emphasise Meroe’s exceptional position. The Naga research project, conducted since 1995 by the Egyptian Museum in Berlin and its director Prof. Dr. D. Wildung, provides observations on a wide range of constructions and structural details. Today, due to extensive documentation work, we are in the fortunate position to be able to reproduce the construction process from the quarry to the finished stone building. With their preserved trenches and quarry marks, the different quarries at the Jebel Naga mountain provide evidence how local sandstone blocks were prepared and extracted from the mountain face. Furthermore, the well-preserved stone temples of Naga demonstrate the methods and tools used in the construction process. On the one hand, a continuation of a long masonry tradition is evident and influences can be traced back to Egypt to the Pharaonic period as well as to the Ptolemaic and the Roman periods; on the other hand, exceptional and unusual construction methods show an individual Meroitic development. | stone masonry, Sudan |
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Rocks, D.F. | 2009 | Ancient Khmer Quarrying of Arkose Sandstone for Monumental Architecture and Sculpture. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1235-42. | The medieval period of Khmer history witnessed stone extraction and construction on a monumental scale throughout Cambodia and the neighbouring boarders of Thailand and Laos. This paper attempts to delve further into the methods and techniques of the ancient Khmer stonemasons, and the quarrying procedures undertaken at various remote locations where the occurrence of sandstone benefited construction endeavours. This paper reveals the exploitation of arkose sandstone in two categories: 1) sandstone that was extracted from sound bedrock, either from rock plateaus, valleys, riverbeds, and mountain ranges; 2) sandstone construction material that was acquired from eroded escarpments in the form of slabs and idle boulders, including stone material utilized from rock fall debris. Archaeological evidence drawn from quarry markings provides an insight to explore different periods of stereotomy, and the possible migration of knowledge and skills by stonemasons. | Cambodia, Khmer, quarrying |
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Rodriguez Espinosa, C. | 2009 | Influence of New Materials in the Transformation of Traditional Home Building Technology in Michoacán, Mexico. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1253-56. | This paper presents the actual situation of the traditional building technology, specially the transformation of the traditional house in areas with a large indigenous “tarascan” presence in Michoacán.The principal problem that has been detected is the negative cultural effect in the preservation of this cultural heritage, mainly because this kind of technology is transmitted from parents to sons. And this new generation is actually influenced by the United States architecture, as a product of the migrant culture.In addition, the money that the migrant workers send back to their Mexican families, allow them to use the newest building materials available, without even considering using the traditional technology, which has proved among years, to be the most adequate in terms of climate comfort.Basically, this study presents the transformation of the traditional building technology (earth and wood) by the influence of new building materials (steel and concrete). | Mexico, materials |
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Rodríguez García, A. & Hernando de la Cuerda, R. | 2009 | Timbrel Construction and Reinforced Concrete in Madrid Rationalism (1925-1939). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1257-64. | In the period between 1925 and 1936, within a national and international context marked by the search for a new architectural idiom and the use of new materials, a series of important buildings were constructed using reinforced concrete in Spain, as a result of the fruitful collaboration between the group of Madrid- based architects known as the Generation of 25 and civil engineer Eduardo Torroja. Several of the most brilliant contributions of modern Spanish architecture to the European scene were made in little over 10 years. In this context, timbrel construction, with its long and deep-rooted tradition in Spain, continues to be used throughout the entire country. In Madrid, it survives and exists alongside new techniques totally naturally in a significant number of new buildings built by the best architects, who are at the same time working on the spectacular reinforced concrete projects. | Madrid, reinforced concrete |
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Rodriguez Mendez, F.J. | 2009 | February of 1933, Spanish Courts: an examination of the building of State Schools. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1265-72. | Until 1920, to construct school buildings was a work of the city council. The Department of school Architecture of the Ministry of Public Education reported technically on projects, written by local and provincial architects and presented by the city councils, subsidized by the State Government. This system failed completely and, in view of the slowness of construction and the lack of capacity of the town councils for this task, the Oficina Técnica para la construcción de escuelas por el Estado (Technical Office to construct school buildings in the State) was created. It had an architect in chief, Antonio Flórez Urdapilleta, ten designer architects and head architects in each province. Among them, Bernardo Giner de los Ríos, Joaquín Muro, Jorge Gallegos, Guillermo Diz and Leopoldo Torres Balbás excelled (RODRÍGUEZ MÉNDEZ, unpubl.). This communication tries to explain the constructive system used by the Oficina Técnica and why this system was the object of a widespread criticism, above all in the framework of the Parliamentary question from February 1933. It will also try to establish to what extent the conclusions of the debate during the consecutive campaigns for building schools, promoted by the Government, were decisive. | Spain, schools |
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Rogers, H. | 2009 | Structural Form in History and the Construction of Complex Forms. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1273-80. | Form is one of the inherent common interests of architects and engineers. A study of form in the design and construction of buildings has shown that there is furthermore a link between theory and practice where the built architectural form, especially the complex form is concerned. This link relates primarily to the communication and the execution of a design into the final built form. A brief summary first shows the impact of scientific discoveries in the field of structural engineering on the design of shapes in architectural history. The use of complex forms is not only influenced by the scientific and technical knowledge but also by social circumstances. Although first designs breaking out of the simple geometrical pattern can be found since 1700, the complex designs only managed to establish themselves around 1900. Different methods of translating complex shapes from the sketch to the finished building are demonstrated with three significant examples from the era before the application of computer technology. | Structural form |
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Romanazzi, H. | 2009 | Crossed Arches in thirteenth Century Armenian Architecture. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1281-86. | This work is on the formal-constructive theme of the crossed arches spreading in the historical Armenian regions during a period of big cultural and economic growth in order to have a wider and free inside space for civil meetings in connection with the church inside the monastic building. The typical domed space, not larger than 12 meters, was replaced by a new structural solution: a system of piers along the walls bearing two couples of parallel, usually pointed, arches. The meaning and the declination of this constructive form in Armenia distinguish it from the Iranian tradition of crossed arches in brick domes. The great variety of spaces covered by the system of crossed arches shows the ability of medieval builders who, starting from a structural problem, decline in various ways its formal potentialities. The highest concentration of this structural form is in the historical region of Lori-Tashir, under Bagratid power. | Armenia, arches |
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Rozhko, V. | 2009 | Methods of Graphical Reconstruction of Log Cliffside Architecture. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1287-92. | This paper analyzes the problems of research and graphical reconstruction of little-known log cliffside architecture. Its uniqueness lies in the opportunity it provides for a highly accurate reconstruction of multistoried wooden architecture from the ninth to thirteenth centuries, the period from which there are no extant examples of wooden buildings. This is possible due to the thousands of cliffside traces chiselled into the rock surface of the large stone outcrops to receive the ends of logs and support beams for the wooden structures. Previous investigations by archaeologist Mykhailo Rozhko are being reviewed, reanalyzed and supplemented with new approaches and technologies such as laser scanning, three-dimensional modelling, geographic information system and computer-assisted design. | Cliffsides, timber |
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Sakarovitch, J. | 2009 | Gaspard Monge Founder of "Constructive Geometry". In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1293-1300. | As a mathematician, or as the “father of the Ecole polytechnique”, the most famous French engineering school, Gaspard Monge has been the object of numerous studies by historians of science. In this article, I wish to address another aspect of Monge’s work, which also allows one to see in Monge the father of “constructive geometry”. This field comprises two aspects: either one wishes to determine a surface with construction properties that meet a number of given constraints, or one seeks to build a surface that is given a priori in the best possible way. It is the second aspect that Monge developed in his course of descriptive geometry through a “theory of stone assembly”. In spite of the imperfections of his theory, Monge inaugurated a highly original way of linking geometry and construction. | Gaspard Monge, geometry |
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Sanna, A. | 2009 | Reinforced Concrete and Limestone: Rebuilding a Modern Church on Gothic Ruins. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1301-08. | The S. Domenico Church reconstruction (Cagliari, 1949-54, Arch. R. Fagnoni, Eng. E. Bianchini), almost completely destroyed by bombs in 1943, constitutes an interesting example of constructive mixture between historical structures and modern materials. A new additional church was set upon the limestone masonry ruins, after covering them with a reinforced concrete slab. The new church solved the difficult constructive problem of founding itself above fragile and damaged masonries: half-portal frames, rooted in only two points, supporting the entire vault weight of its structure. Beside the undoubted architectural result - with evident gothic echoes mindful to the ancient church - the structural system is certainly the most interesting aspect, along with its practical realization. The double curved covering, the parabolic dome, the intermediate slab and the external surface in bush-hammered concrete were really painstaking for employer and engineers, but allowed an appreciable example of reinforced concrete use in historical building. | San Domenico Church, Cagliari, reinforced concrete |
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Saura, M. | 2009 | Building Codes in the Architectural Treatise de re Aedificatoria. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1309-16. | Building codes in architectural treatises are seldom a source for construction history. The title of The Ten Books of Architecture, written by Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472), keeps changing from architecture to the art of building. There is a debate on whether Alberti wrote for engineers or for architects. Most authors neglect professional competition in the Renaissance among artists, patrons, architects, engineers and builders. The architect Giorgio Vasari did not mention Alberti’s architectural theory even Alberti is quoted afterwards in many other treatises. In this paper I will present two original documents: a Latin manuscript De architectura at The University of Chicago and an Italian MS Architecttura at Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris. Evidence drawn from both texts will show that building codes and design principles are indeed construction history. | Leon Battista Alberti, building codes |
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Schlimme, H. | 2009 | Santa Margherita at Montefiascone and Carlo Fontana’s Knowledge on Dome Construction. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1317-24. | This paper presents a study of the dome of Santa Margherita in Montefiascone, built in 1670- 1672/73 by the architect Carlo Fontana (1638-1714), and an analysis of the technical construction knowledge upon which it was based. The paper questions Fontana’s 1673 manuscript justification of the dome’s design, and compares the architect’s manuscript presentation of the built dome with the evidence that emerges from a new architectural survey of the church and dome executed by the present author. The paper aims at investigating the way in which Carlo Fontana gathered, handled and interpreted information about dome construction, and how he went about synthesising past and current technical knowledge. The paper studies Fontana’s Montefiascone experience as the starting point for his development of a set of influential rules for the construction of single shell domes that he published in 1694. | domes, Carlo Fontana |
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Segura-Graiño, C. | 2009 | The Building of The Hydraulic System in Madrid (Spain) in The Middle Ages. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1325-30. | At the end of the Middle Ages, the city of Madrid had a perfect system of water supply to the population formed by a wide network of “qanats” or “viajes de agua” (water trips). This network improved and spread as the same time as the city and its needs. The city subterranean water sources proved to be insufficient and it was necessary to look for new ones more distant and remote. New “water trips” were, therefore, needed. This water supply system was in constant renewal, and it was still until today, where the actual system is the descendant of the primitive constructions. The original construction basis of the primitive system has been maintained, taking always account of the innovation of the building techniques, the current water needs and the care of environment. | Madrid, water systems |
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Silva Contreras, M. | 2009 | Modern Architecture’s Technologies in Venezuela: Industrial Heritage in Crisis. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1331-38. | Architecture in Venezuela during the 1950’s decade implied projects and works with different references to international architecture. This decade witnessed local improvements to adapt international references to the tropical weather, and even new applications for building technologies. Those were the leading roles for architectural expression, most of them with concrete as the basic component. Large roof canopies for different uses were unique structures. Those experiments during the fifties made possible the development of standardized design and prefab systems for specific projects during the seventies. In all of them it was important to streamline construction schedule, optimize local labour and use of materials. The works discussed on this paper represent some of the brilliant collaboration between engineer and architecture in Venezuela, as it relates to factories and storehouses. These works are an important industrial heritage, part of modern architecture and fundamental ingredient to the image of this oil Latin-American country during that age. | Venezuela, concrete |
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Slivnik, L. | 2009 | An Overview of Mushroom Structures in Slovene Structuralism. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1339-46. | This paper is an overview of mushroom and umbrella structures in Slovenia. It starts with a brief introduction to the development of mushroom and umbrella structures. The main part of the paper describes five selected buildings in Slovenia which are all based upon the idea of a single central column supporting the roof. All of them were built between 1960 and 1971, a decade when Structuralism dominated Slovene architecture. The selection has been made according to their importance for Slovene architecture and therefore the analysis is made from the architectural point of view. At the end, various reasons for their sudden disappearance from Slovene architecture after 1970 are discussed. | Slovenia, mushroom structures |
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Smars, P. & de Jonge, K. | 2009 | Geometry and Construction Techniques of Gothic Vaults in Brabant (Belgium). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1347-54. | The present paper is concerned with the masonry webs of Gothic rib vaults built in the former Duchy of Brabant between the thirteenth and the sixteenth century. Contemporary documents providing information on vault geometry and construction are exceptional in Europe; they are non-existent or at best very fragmentary in Brabant. The buildings themselves are the principal source of information. Rib vaults are complex three-dimensional structures. In order to facilitate their understanding, four exemplary vaults were surveyed using a hybrid technique combining reflectorless total station measurements and digital photogrammetry. Four textured 3D computer models were built. After a short description of the surveying and modelling technique, the vaults are analysed and hypotheses are formulated on their construction technique. Emphasis is given to the close relationships existing between materials, geometry and construction techniques. | Belgium, rib vaults |
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Smith, R.E | 2009 | History of Prefabrication: A Cultural Survey. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1355-64. | Prefabrication is a method of production in housing that has been harnessed to meet the needs and desires of different societies throughout the globe. Although the U.S. owns 26% of the prefabrication housing market, this is primarily due to the shear quantity of growth in the country. The UK, Scandinavia, and Japan control the majority of the innovations in which prefabrication constitutes a larger majority of the overall production of housing in these regions. This can be primarily attributed to the social and cultural contexts that give shape to the tradition of construction and knowledge base that make up these construction markets. This paper examines the history of prefabrication in these societies in order to identify how the U.S. might revaluate its construction ideologies, products and process in order to produce more affordable, higher quality housing. | Prefabrication |
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Soygenis, S. & Kiris, I.M. | 2009 | Reflection of Construction Technology on the Built Environment. Housing Fabric in the Turkish Cities. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1365-70. | History of architecture, in one respect, is the history of construction technology and its influence on the built environment. Physical environment houses examples that reveal the relationship of materials and construction techniques with architecture in the past and today. Mid-twentieth century marks a period of change in architecture where modern replaces the traditional, especially in the case of residential architecture in Turkey. With increasing urbanization starting from 1950s, transformation in the housing fabric of Turkish cities is recognized. Anatolian residential architecture that may earlier be grouped according to regional differences bound to the use of local materials and construction techniques gradually lost their characteristics. New material and technology seem to have overruled the principles of design, concept of space, function, form, and aesthetics. This paper discusses the dilemma of the loss of local traditional housing types, and the creation of a wide-scale local type, in the context of building technology and material. | Turkey, technology, materials |
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Stegmann, K. | 2009 | Early Concrete Constructions in Germany – A Review with Special Regard to the Building Company Dyckerhoff & Widmann. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1371-78. | The birth of concrete construction in Germany has often been associated with the period of Modernism and its well-known architects. What is frequently forgotten, however, is that the essential principles in the use of the material had already been established in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and that this had been the work, not of architects, but of newly established building companies, some of which went on to become the most important in Germany. With reference to the company Dyckerhoff & Widmann, Karlsruhe, this paper will demonstrate how, in the course of just a few decades, these companies managed to establish a recognised and accepted place for the new material in the field of construction. | Dyckerhoff & Widmann, Germany, concrete |
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Strobel, T. | 2009 | The Construction of the Iffland-Theater in Berlin by Carl Gotthard Langhans, 1800. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1379-86. | The Prussian architect Carl Gotthard Langhans specialized in the construction of acoustic rooms and auditoria like theaters, churches, and amusement-halls. He publicized his theoretical conceptions in 1800 in an essay in which he summarized his lifelong experience with optic and acoustic principles in theater design. Langhans developed a systematic structure for acoustic rooms, based theoretically on the books of Pierre Patte and Gabriel Pierre Martin Dumont of the Académie d’Architecture in Paris and practically on the architectural principles of traditional German baroque churches like Steinhausen and Steingaden by Dominikus Zimmermann. | Carl Gotthard Langhans, theatres, acoustics |
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Svenshon, H. | 2009 | Heron of Alexandria and the Dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1387-94. | Writings have been published under the name of Heron of Alexandria in a long period between the 1st century AD and the Byzantine middle ages. This extensive collection was issued for use by engineers, geodesists, architects as well as for other engineering related professionals and it belongs to the most important sources for the history of the ancient building trade, yet even until today it remains almost entirely overlooked. These manuals, conceived for a wider specialised readership and broadly known, also contain the mathematical and technical prerequisites, that were essential to professionally realise the concept of a building. The groundwork for this, is found in a mathematical tradition, that has been almost consistently passed down from Old-Babylonian times to the geometrical treatises of the early modern times. The comparison between Heron’s texts with singular, well-preserved buildings and especially the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, demonstrates the degree of influence this neglected source has had on the technical and built environment of antiquity. | Heron of Alexandra, Haga Sophia |
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Taín Guzmán, M. | 2009 | "La Memoria de la Catedral de Santiago" by José de Vega y Verdugo. An Example of artistic Baroque Literature in Spain. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1395-1402. | The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Archive possesses a manuscript titled Memoria de la Catedral de Santiago, written and illustrated with twelve drawings by the young Canon José de Vega y Verdugo between 1655 and 1656. The text deals with his ideas the renovation of the old Romanesque cathedral, especially his plan for hiding the ancient basilica behind newly constructed façades, cupolas and steeples of new construction, giving it a new external unity following the new European style, the Baroque. The author informs us about construction techniques to support his proposals, which he learned in the Escorial monastery, in whose seminary he became a priest (1637-1645), and in the Rome of Bernini, Borromini and Pietro da Cortona, a city where he lived for several years, working for the Spanish ambassador Count Íñigo Vélez de Guevara and for Cardinal Gil Carrillo de Albornoz, and where he was named canon of Santiago by Pope Inocencio X (1647?-1649). He also cites prestigious national and Italian monuments as models which, I am convinced, he knew personally. | José de Vega y Verdugo, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral |
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Theodossopoulos, D. | 2009 | Aspects of Transfer of Gothic Masonry Vaulting Technology to Greece in the Case of Saint Sophia in Andravida. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1403-10. | The Frankish Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Andravida, in Elis, Greece was an emblematic construction of the crusaders Princes of Achaia that used cross vaults in a manner not attempted before in a territory dominated by Byzantine architecture. Analysis of the construction and structural behaviour shows careful application of rather archaic vaulting techniques and patterns. A key question is how such schemes and technology were transferred into a politically and culturally foreign, almost hostile environment. Comparison with contemporary developments in Byzantine architecture shows research into the spatial role and structural efficiency of vaults and domes but not similar to the gradual disintegration of the envelope in Gothic architecture. It is therefore important to identify the role of patrons and masons in the design of the church. Study of the construction and structural performance using Finite Element analysis showed a well executed conservative design with limited direct input from local practices. | Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Andravida, vaults |
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Tragbar, K. | 2009 | Constructing Siena Cathedral. Sources and Observations on the Use of Brick in the Middle Ages. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1411-18. | As part of the comprehensive research project Die Kirchen von Siena, realised by the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, Siena cathedral S. Maria Assunta or Our Lady of the Assumption was studied within the last years by an interdisciplinary group of scholars, including art and architectural historians as well as archivists. The appropriate archive of the Opera di Santa Maria di Siena, nowadays Opera della Metropolitana, is numbered among the richest and most complete mediaeval archives in Italy; it allows a widespread view on the organisation of the building site, on payments and on the providing of material. But the archival tradition needs to be confronted with observations of the building itself – and, of course, converse: Is there an archival evidence for an architectural observation? The paper discusses possibilities and limits of an interdisciplinary research into Siena cathedral, confronting sources and building observations on the use of brick as a both well documented and researched sample. | Siena Cathedral, brick |
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Turchiarulo, M. | 2009 | Building Styles brought to Egypt by the Italian Community between 1850 and 1950. The Style of Mario Rossi. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1419-26. | This research paper explores the ways to design and build imported by Italian master craftsmen working in Egypt between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with particular reference to the work of Mario Rossi, the chief architect of the Ministry of Awqaf from 1929 to 1954. Through their architectural knowledge Italian technicians, arriving as political exiles because of the Risorgimento motions and later as migrants to seek their fortune, built the modern face of Egypt after the industrial revolution, in a moment marked by the possibilities of new technology and materials. It is often ignored that more than just façade style, they also imported types and above all construction systems, techniques, materials and a workforce. They generated an updated process in continuity with the indigenous traditions. The approach to the theme of overseas architecture goes beyond the limitations of historiographical and archival research to investigate the domains of execution and construction. | Egypt, Italian, craftsmen |
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Turri, F., Zamperini, E. & Cappellett, V. | 2009 | The Evolution of Construction Techniques in Italian Barracks after National Unification. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1435-42. | During the years between the Unification of Italy (1861) and Fascism (1922-1943) there was a great development of military buildings. The designer’s technical skills combined competence in the disciplines of fortification and military and civil architecture, and took place under the teacher’s guidance – officials of the Engineer Corps themselves – whose notoriety and cultural influence often extended to the civil field. At the same time the construction field followed a gradual but radical evolution process, thanks to the progressive change of traditional buildings techniques and materials – masonry elevation structures, vaulted or wooden floors and roofs – with ones: cast iron, steel, and reinforced concrete. In accordance with technological evolution there was a progressive shift from projects based on empiricism and the well-established ‘rules of art’, to scientific analysis of structures, which had become essential to optimize the use of these new materials. | Military buildings, Italy |
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Turri, F., Cappellett, V. & Zamperini, E. | 2009 | Military Contribution to Building Technical Evolution in Italy (1860-1940). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1427-34. | In the second half of the nineteenth century in Italy great transformations occurred in construction industry. National unification (1861) obliged to improve fortifications and to build many new barracks, therefore it was necessary to expand Engineer Corps enlisting military officers from dissolved armies of the former states; coincidently the Military Schools were reorganized. The professors of these teaching institutions contributed to develop and to spread new construction techniques and theories publishing manuals and papers, establishing a school that gave military engineer a technical and scientific training corresponding to European culture. Moreover their activity played a part in determining civil architecture thanks to the diffusion of their technical and theoretical work. A few of these teachers worked out original analysis methods for the design of reinforced concrete structures that had been thus precociously used in military constructions. Among these professors we can particularly mention generals Sachero, Castellazzi, Caveglia and Marrullier. | Italy, engineering schools, military |
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Ungermann, D. & Preckwinkel, E. | 2009 | Appraisement of Historic Industrial Buildings Designed 1880-1940. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1443-52. | Historic steel constructions are an important part of the industrial building stock. For appropriate maintenance and restoration of such historic buildings and evaluation of load-carrying capacity specific knowledge of historic constructions is required. This article presents the results of a research project dealing with historic steel structures, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The research work was carried out by the Institute of Steel Construction, TU Dortmund, in cooperation with the Institute of Historic Building Research and Conservation, ETH Zürich. In the completed research project the important facts, like mechanical properties of historic steel, particular design methods and construction characteristics, were examined and merged for industrial buildings built between 1880 and 1940. An integral investigation of all aspects was made by analysing the load-carrying capacity of a couple of exemplary historic roof structures according to current regulations. These investigations led to the result, that sufficient resistance of most links of lattice trusses could be proved also taking account of the reqierements of modern standards. Also, the analysis of still existing industrial halls showed that structures were in good condition. The result of the integral investigation was that maintenance and restoration of most historic steel structures could be promising due to good load bearing capacity. | Steel, frames |
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Van de Voorde, S. | 2009 | Hennebique’s journal Le Béton Armé. A close reading of the genesis of concrete construction in Belgium. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1453-62. | In June 1898, François Hennebique issued the monthly journal Le Béton Armé. Published until 1939, with 378 issues in all, this platform on the interface between information and propaganda serves as a perfect means to obtain a comprehensive overview of Hennebique’s legacy. Giving an insight into the increasing sphere of action, the growing number of applications and the hierarchic structure and policy of the firm, the journal is a work of reference, essential to document the unremitting development of concrete construction. By means of a close reading (based on the collections preserved at Ghent University and the Centre d’archives du XXe siècle de l’ifa in Paris), the content, meaning, and changing discourse of Le Béton Armé will be critically analyzed. Fitting within the scope of a PhD on the history of concrete construction in Belgium (www.architecture.ugent.be/concrete), particular attention will be given to the application of ’le système Hennebique’ in Belgium. | Hennebique, Belgium, reinforced concrete |
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Verswijver, K., de Meyer, R. & Denys, R. | 2009 | The Writings of Belgian Engineer Arthur Vierendeel (1852-1940). Homo Universalis or Contemporary Propagandist? In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1463-70. | During the last decade of the nineteenth century, Belgian engineer and professor Arthur Vierendeel - mostly known for the Vierendeel, a frame without diagonal rigidifying elements - published a series of books in which he expounded his views on the use of steel in architecture and engineering. Vierendeel described the structural possibilities of constructing in iron, and also theorized how this ‘new’ material should capture its own architectural style. Structural aesthetics is derived from rivets, proportions, tie rods, columns and covering strips whereas auxiliary aesthetics can be created through adding ceramics, other metals and decorative painting. Formal issues had to surpass structural considerations, or in Vierendeel’s words: “Pour les constructions métalliques les dimensions doivent être déterminées à priori par des considérations esthétiques et qu’après seulement il y a lieu de recourir à la formule mathématique.” | Arthur Vierendeel, Belgium |
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Voormann, F. | 2009 | The Use of Welding in Civil Engineering – Conditions of a technological Innovation in the 1920s. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1471-78. | The article describes the beginnings of welding technology in steel constructions in the 1920s and presents its technological, legal and economic conditions. Developments in Germany will be presented, and compared with those of other countries. | Germany, welding |
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Waite, S.C. | 2009 | Construction of the Seventeenth Century Dzong in the Kingdom of Bhutan. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1479-84. | The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, while protected by daunting geographical features, still found it necessary to develop a defensive fortress system during its feudal period. The first dzong (citadel) was built in the twelfth century and many of the finer examples we observe today are from the seventeenth century. It was during this latter period that the militaristic purpose was expanded to include district administrative functions and Buddhist monastic activities. These culturally significant examples of Bhutan’s heritage still function today in the dzongs, much as they did in their original period. Simply built of stone and wood, but massive in scale, the dzong exemplifies craftsmanship and construction methods unique to this isolated country. Currently, Bhutan is transitioning to a constitutional monarchy, with a desire to join the world community. It now faces the imposing challenge of progress without sacrificing its architectural heritage and cultural values embodied in this building type. | Bhutan, citadels |
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Weber, C. | 2009 | Fritz Leonhardt’s Contribution to the Construction of New Main Station of Munich (1939-1942). In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1485-92. | Fritz Leonhardt (1909–1999) is one of the best known constructing engineers of the 20th century. He was not only an outstanding representative of his profession, but his vita is as well interesting as his role in the Weimar Republic, under the Nazi dictatorship, and as an influential figure of the Federal Republic of Germany. In this paper, Leonhardt’s role in the national socialist system with its major building projects is investigated and put into its historical context. Fritz Leonhardt’s contributions to the replanning of the city of Munich by Hermann Giesler from 1939 to 1943 will be explained in their technical aspects of the light weight structure. From a historical point of view, the personal networks created by Leonhardt during this time are of special interest: his contacts to architects like Paul Bonatz, Gerd Lohmer, and engineers like Otto Graf in Stuttgart were formative for his rapid advancement in post-war Germany. | Fritz Leonhardt, Munich station |
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Weber, J. & Sigrist, V. | 2009 | The Engineer’s Aesthetics - Interrelations between Structural Engineering, Architecture and Art. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1493-1500. | Engineering structures are said to represent a specific aesthetics based on principles such as material efficiency and flow of forces. This paper wants take a closer look at this aesthetics. By the examples of steel and concrete bridges, it aims at tracing back its origins and by taking into account also examples from other disciplines it wants to reveal interrelations between structural engineering, architecture and art. Besides showing how profoundly these disciplines were influenced by what was and still is called the “engineer’s aesthetics”, this paper also wants to raise the question, if and in how far current proclamations of this aesthetics seem reasonable. | Engineering, aesthetics |
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Wendland, D. | 2009 | Cell Vaults – Research on Construction and Design Principles of a Unique Late-Mediaeval Vault Typology. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1501-08. | The design and construction principles of a special type of late-gothic vaults are analyzed. The approach of the research is the connection of detailed geometrical analyses of the vault shape and masonry texture, and experiments on models and in full scale. In first place, a critical revision of the current description in the technical literature of the 19th and 20th century is carried out, which is confronted with the archaeological evidence in a survey. The necessity of a critical analysis of the historical technical literature is underlined, and an approach is presented which combines the geometrical analysis of 3-D-data from the survey with experimental archaeology. For the analysis of constructions with complex geometry, a method is shown using reverse geometric engineering and selective data acquisition on site by means of current measuring equipment. | Cell vaults, geometric analysis |
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Wermiel, S.E. | 2009 | California Concrete, 1876-1906: Jackson, Percy, and the Beginnings of Reinforced Concrete Construction in the United States. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1509-16. | This paper describes the early history of reinforced concrete construction in the United States. It traces the line of development from Thaddeus Hyatt through the engineer Peter H. Jackson and architect George W. Percy, to the constructor Ernest L. Ransome. Surprisingly, this occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area, far from the places where Portland cement was produced. Jackson was probably the first American to build Hyatt’s patented reinforced concrete slabs. Percy and Ransome together created two of the earliest reinforced concrete buildings, in 1890-1891. Yet, after this, no all-reinforced building went up in the Bay Area until about 1906. Ransome moved his business east, and at the opening of the twentieth century, reinforced concrete buildings began to be built on the East Coast, by Ransome and others. Nevertheless, the few reinforced concrete buildings in the Bay Area, and the many buildings there with steel frames and concrete floors passed through the tremendous earthquake of 1906. The satisfactory performance of concrete in the 1906 earthquake and fire led to its widespread use in rebuilding San Francisco. | Reinforced concrete, USA, Ransome |
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Wouters, I. & Leus, M. | 2009 | Refurbishment of Industrial Buildings in early Reinforced Concrete. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1517-24. | The presence of François Hennebique in Belgium until 1896 certainly urged the use and spread of reinforced concrete as a building system in Belgium. Although numerous buildings were erected, not much of them have survived the 21st century. The early witnesses are now protected as historical monument. However, their refurbishment is a long and difficult process. The paper explores in depth the architectural and technical design process of two renovated industrial buildings in Belgium: the Vuurmolen (1902) in Overijse constructed according to the M. Dumas patent, and the Royal Entrepot (1903-6) in Brussels, constructed according to the Hennebique patent. By going into the construction history, re-use, assessment, strengthening and thermal upgrading, it becomes clear that there are no standard procedures for the rehabilitation of these multiform early industrial concrete buildings. | Hennebique, Belgium, reinforced concrete |
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Yoda, T. | 2009 | Structural Preservation of the Japanese Historical Timber Bridge: Kintaikyo Bridge. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1525-32. | The Kintaikyo Bridge was originally constructed in 1673. The Kintaikyo Bridge has undergone repairs and renovations on countless occasions. The City of Iwakuni, home of the Kintaikyo Bridge, bears the responsibility of preserving the Bridge for present and future generations. Despite the Bridge’s unique five-span arch structure, which is designed to enhance durability, the Bridge is vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. As a way of long sustaining the Bridge, the City of Iwakuni decided to guarantee the succession of bridge construction technology, so as to ensure repeated rebuilding of the Bridge. This solution is unique in the history of bridges in the world. In this paper, the background of bridge construction, the bridge construction system and the structural characteristics of the Kintaikyo Bridge will be dealt with, in which each of the central three spans of the Bridge is proved to be a unique arch structure. And finally the structural preservation of the Bridge will be discussed. | Kintaikyo bridge, Japan |
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Zalivako, A. | 2009 | Soviet Avant-Garde – Origin of New Materials and Construction Methods or Extension of Europe’s Modern Movement? A Critique. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1533-36. | This paper exclusively refers to the time between 1920 and 1934, when a revolution in construction technology hit Europe. The Architectural Avant-garde of the former Soviet Union is well known for its unique icon buildings, such as the Narkomfin Commune House (1930, arch. M. Ginzburg), the House and Studio of Konstantin Melnikov, both in Moscow, or the Gosprom House of the State Industry in Kharkov/Ucraine (1925–35, arch. S. Serafimovich, M. Felger, S. Kravets). However, few is known about the materials and construction methods that were used to erect constructivist buildings during the years 1920 -1932 in the Soviet Union. Slag concrete, peat mull, shotcrete-concrete are typical materials of the 1920s early Modern Movement. At the time experiments to minimize the external wall by inserting insulation materials such as peat mull or wooden chips were carried out in several countries. Who was first? Did soviet architects take part in this process? What was their philosophy of materiality? Does the term Avant-garde just refer to the unique design of the buildings or does it also refer to the materiality of Russian Constructivism? These questions are discussed based on results of the research project The Architecture of Russian Constructivism (Moscow 1920-34). Building materials, Construction Methods and Preservation of Buildings at the Berlin University of Technology, sponsored by the German Research Community (DFG). | Soviet Union, materials, Constructivism |
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Zastavni, D. | 2009 | What was truly innovative about Maillart’s designs using reinforced concrete? In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1539-46. | This paper attempts to reveal the specific nature of the work of Robert Maillart [1872-1940], after carefully reviewing the historical context of concrete design. Maillart’s favourite material was reinforced concrete, and he devised forms that synthesised all the characteristics of a relevant structure. He succeeded by establishing a clear status for each material used – concrete and reinforcement steel – which allowed him to define the geometry of his structures correctly. This is demonstrated here by an analysis of the design drawings for the Salginatobel Bridge and the Chiasso Shed. These examples offer clarification of the use he made of calculation and graphic statics for design purposes. We conclude with the specificity of his approach as a singular vision of how (reinforced) concrete can be used within a structural scheme, which in turn allows an original, expressive structure to be produced of great relevance and reliability. | Robert Maillart |
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Zhao, C. Feng, J. & Bi, Sheng | 2009 | Tectonic Studies on Wooden Arched Bridge. As the Case of Span in Chinese Wooden Construction Tradition. In Kurrer, Karl-Eugen (ed.); Lorenz, Werner (ed.); Wetzk, Volker (ed.). Proc. 3ICCH, Cottbus, Germany, Vol3, pp. 1547-56. | Strong tradition of Chinese wooden structure has been noticed by architectural academia for decades, while many existing interpretations were based upon stylistic architecture theory, so that the scientific and tectonic issue of this tradition has not be expressed well. This situation very much influenced Chinese architects to learn the wooden structure as the cultural tradition and transformed into the application of modern architecture in China. In order to change this situation, we turn to the tectonic approach. Structure issue of how to make the span Chinese wooden construction tradition became focus of our wooden tectonic studies. As the case of span in Chinese wooden construction tradition, this study is focused on the wooden arched bridge, be described as “Rainbow Bridge” in some case, a special ancient construction in wood and has been used widely historically, can still be fund in the region of the Southern Zhejiang and Northern Fujian Provinces. Authors made decent inventory for this important culture heritage of Chinese wooden construction on the site, after the collection of information from the site, a historical / environmental and typological study has been made, in order to explore the relation between the wooden structure form and local cultural / environmental definition. Furthermore, authors made the profound studies on structure, material, and construction process of the structure forms with the built wooden models, which express the technique element of the wooden arched bridge in the analytical way. Based upon the scientific analysis, authors have been able to explore the construction process of the bridge, and also the evolution of typological development to answer the made of this special bridge type. With those studies, authors tried to re-evaluate the meaning of tectonic culture and mountainous human habitat culture on the wooden construction. | Timber, bridges, China |
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Porrino, M. | 2009 | Typological, Formal and Structural Elements of the Industrial Architecture of Paul Friese. The Electricity Generating Stations and Sub-Stations of Paris, 1889-1912. Proc 3ICCH, Vol 2, pp1191-1199. | This essay relates to certain typological and formal elements of electricity power stations and sub-stations in Paris as designed by Paul Friese (1851-1917). Despite the fact that the work of the architect was entirely informed by the rules and design templates of Eclecticism, it was far from lacking architectural innovation. Indeed, throughout a career characterised by successive improvements in the spatial and functional organisation of buildings, Friese experimented with, and adopted, a certain number of practical and structural solutions precisely at the time when scientists, technicians and industrialists were perfecting the harnessing of electric generators, the output of which had become satisfactory, to the driving force of steam engines. | Paul Friese, Paris, generator stations |
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Malcolm Shifrin | 2015 | Victorian Turkish Baths | This book traces the bath’s Irish-Roman antecedents, looking at how its origins were influenced by a combination of the Irish physician Richard Barter’s hydropathic expertise, and the idiosyncratic diplomat David Urquhart’s passion for the hammams of the Middle East. The book reveals how working-class members of a network of political pressure groups built more than 30 of the first Turkish baths in England. It explores the architecture, technology and sociology of the Victorian Turkish bath, examining everything from business and advertising to sex—real and imagined. The book offers a wealth of wondrous detail—from the baths used to treat sick horses to those for first-class passengers on the Titanic. Victorian Turkish Baths will appeal to those interested in Victorian social history, architecture, social attitudes to leisure, early public health campaigns, pressure groups, gendered spaces. Contents I. Background to the Victorian Turkish bath 1. Introduction: what is a Victorian Turkish bath? 2. Early communal hot-air baths 3. The British ‘discovery’ of the ‘Turkish’ bath II. Early history of the Victorian Turkish bath 4. The birth of the Roman-Irish or Victorian Turkish bath 5. David Urquhart, his Foreign Affairs Committees, and their baths 6. Dr Richard Barter and the bath 7. The Victorian Turkish bath travels overseas 8. Building the Jermyn Street Hammam 9. The Jermyn Street Hammam, 1862-1941 III. Problems and attitudes 10. Early problems and controversies 11. 19th century attitudes to the Victorian Turkish bath IV. Victorian Turkish baths for all 12. Ownership 13. Housing the baths 14. Commercial Turkish baths 15. Municipal Turkish baths 16. Turkish baths for the working classes 17. The Turkish bath in the workhouse 18. The Turkish bath in asylums 19. The Turkish bath in ho |
System design and development by
Dennis McDermott a Freelance Access Developer at Bespoke Software Development
Dennis McDermott a Freelance Access Developer at Bespoke Software Development
Version 1.1
Date 21/12/2024