Redefining structural art: strategies, necessities and opportunities

Author: Philippe Block, Tom Van Mele, Matthias Rippmann, Francesco Ranaudo, Cristian Calvo Barentin and Noelle Paulson

Date published

2 January 2020

Price

Standard: £9.95 + VAT
Members/Subscribers: Free

The Institution of Structural Engineers The Institution of Structural Engineers
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Redefining structural art: strategies, necessities and opportunities

Tag
Author
Philippe Block, Tom Van Mele, Matthias Rippmann, Francesco Ranaudo, Cristian Calvo Barentin and Noelle Paulson
Date published
2 January 2020
Price

Standard: £9.95 + VAT
Members/Subscribers: Free

The Structural Engineer
Author

Philippe Block, Tom Van Mele, Matthias Rippmann, Francesco Ranaudo, Cristian Calvo Barentin and Noelle Paulson

Citation

The Structural Engineer, Volume 98, Issue 1, 2020, Page(s) 7

Date published

2 January 2020

Author

Philippe Block, Tom Van Mele, Matthias Rippmann, Francesco Ranaudo, Cristian Calvo Barentin and Noelle Paulson

Citation

The Structural Engineer, Volume 98, Issue 1, 2020, Page(s) 7

Price

Standard: £9.95 + VAT
Members/Subscribers: Free

This paper presents strategies, based on advances in computational structural design and digital fabrication, to take on the challenge of an increasing world population, offering opportunities for a necessary disruptive change.

Synopsis

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that by 2050 the world's population will have increased by over 2.1bn people. Providing housing and infrastructure for these people would essentially require building an amount equivalent to what currently exists.

It is simply not possible to build in the future the way we do today if we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, slow the depletion of natural resources and minimise waste production. These challenges can only be addressed if engineers and architects actively include them at the source of their designs.

Through full-scale, built research demonstrators by the Block Research Group at ETH Zurich, this paper presents strategies, based on advances in computational structural design and digital fabrication, to take on these challenges, offering opportunities for a necessary disruptive change. It furthermore calls for a rethinking of how we collaborate, teach engineering and develop building codes to allow for greater flexibility and innovation.

Additional information

Format:
PDF
Pages:
7
Publisher:
The Institution of Structural Engineers

Tags

Research & Innovation Climate change Construction management Digital Issue 1

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