Synopsis
Good structures are an important part of our quality of life. They contribute to what in German is called Baukultur – the culture of building. It is the responsibility of structural and civil engineers to furnish buildings and our built technical infrastructure - bridges, towers, roofs – with good (i.e. high-quality) structures to make a positive contribution to the culture of building and to satisfy ourselves.
In this article, adapted from a keynote lecture at the IABSE 2015 Conference in Nara, Japan, The Institution of Structural Engineers' 2015 Gold Medallist, Mike Schlaich, explores the idea of 'elegant structures' and asks whether elegance is an ingredient of a high-quality structure.