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Architectural Systems of Buildings Defined Morphologically by Their Shell

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 LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES in CIVIL ENGINEERING
CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
Organized by Polish Chapters of
International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures
Rzeszów University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and
Environmental Engineering and Architecture
XXI LSCE –2015
Rzeszów, 4 December, 2015 (Friday)
Above lines and symbols will be printed by publisher

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS OF BUILDINGS DEFINED

MORPHOLOGICALLY BY THEIR SHELL ROOF FORMS

A. Prokopska 1) J. Abramczyk 2) E. Gotkowska 3)

1)
Professor, 2) PhD, 3) M. Sc., Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rzeszow University of Technology, POLAND

ABSTRACT: The paper outlines some morphological systems of buildings covered with shell steel roof sheetings and flat glass wall panels. The
morphological systems are regularly arranged public utilities connected to each other with communicative spaces. A consistency of the
architectural forms of these systems is considered. From that point of view, an influence of diversification of the architectural forms of the
individual buildings on the morphological consistency of the resultant systems is analyzed. The most important attributes of the architectural
forms considered in the work are: a) geometric forms of the individual buildings, b) integration of roof and wall geometric forms of each
building, c) materials used for roof covers of the buildings, d) geometric and physical properties of barriers restricted the communicative space
for being and moving people between the buildings, d) coherence or dissimilarity of these systems from an environment surrounding.

Keywords: light gauge shell roofs, morphological systems, geometric shell forms, building covers, shell structures, compound shell roofs

1. INTRODUCTION designed systems may become consistent with the environment of a various
The paper concerns shaping of architectural forms of buildings type.
characterized by the fact that: a) their shell roofs are made up of flat
profiled steel sheets transformed into shell shapes, Ref. 1, b) their flat walls
are made up of glass panels, c) communicative spaces between the
buildings are covered partially or tightly with the sheets or glass used for
morphological integrating all systems. The main emphasis is put on
shaping integrated geometrical forms of roof and walls of each building to
obtain attractive, consistent architectural forms, Ref. 3. Thus, the geometric
form of each building including especially free form of shell roof sheeting
determines the attractiveness of its architectural form, Ref. 20. A free
spatial form of a cover of a communicative space between the buildings
enables us to achieve consistency of the morphological system, Ref. 21. In
addition, the system lets easily adapt their architectural form to the
architectural or natural environment on account of the great diversification
possibility of free roof shell forms.

The buildings of one system are used as public facilities. The buildings of Fig.1.a. Architectural form of a building with rectilinear roof shell, Ref. 18,
one system meat required functions separated from each other. They can be and oblique glass walls
local authorities or sport centres. However, people staying at one building
may have a need to move into another building of the system. The right
comfort of the migration between buildings should be ensured.

The above issues related to geometrical shaping of the free compound shell
forms as well as their consistent morphological systems are very popular
and considered in the literature, which was shown in the next chapter.
Thus, the morphological system designed according to the above
requirements should be characterized by the following properties assumed
as the basic criterion while shaping by the authors, Refs. 19, 22.

Firstly, the attractiveness of its architectural form can be determined by the

integration of its roof and walls geometrical forms, Figs. 1.a, b, Refs. 2, 4,
17. The freedom of shaping of the geometric form of the roof shell and
aconditioning of the geometric form of the walls on this roof form enables
Fig.1.b. Architectural form of a building with rectilinear roof shell, Ref.
us to shape really diversified architectural forms, refs. 5, 7. In addition, the
24, and oblique glass walls
free geometrical shell roof forms of buildings should be assumed so that the
Secondly, the morphological consistency of the architectural form of each
system, Ref. 20, should be obtained by unification of the roof and wall
barriers of its communicative space with the covering of all buildings of the
system. In particular, the architectural form of the covering of the shared
communicative space should have dominated influence on the system
consistency.

2. CRITICAL ANALYZE OF KNOWLEDGE

We will trace the applied ways of an integration of various morphological

systems of buildings having their roof and wall forms made up of various
materials because of the lack of the examples related to buildings covered
with shell folded steel sheets and flat glass wall panels. However, we will
be aspired to present buildings with glass walls or roofs. Most of them put
emphasis on a freedom of shaping shell roofs but no on employing walls
inclined to the vertical, Refs. 13, 24, 25. Fig. 4. System of two integrated architectural shell forms covered with a
roof shell over the open communicative space, Ref. 29
The simplest way of connecting the buildings into one system is to use an
open communicative space, Fig. 2. Here, two buildings probably with glass In the next Fig. 5, we can also see a huge communicative open space
rectilinear shell roofs poorly visible are connected with oblique steps or covered with shell roof. However, buildings are arranged in one linear row
platforms. servicing a bus station The shape of the cover is attractive because it
changes and can be divided into parts of higher and lower waves.
Functional spaces would be situated under the higher parts but
communicative spaces would be located under the lower parts.

Fig. 5. Bus station covered with strips of a compound roof shell over the
open communicative space and closed functional space Ref. 16

Fig. 2. System of two integrated architectural shell forms connected each
other by means of a communicative space partially open and partially
closed, Ref. 15
Thus, the communicative space can be partially or in the whole covered by
barriers. The next example concerns shell building connected with another
object by means of a lacing – a transport platform narrower than the
building, Fig. 3. It is not such attractive object as the building.
The urban planning or weather conditions cause that the communicative
space should be attractively covered as well as furnished to assure right
comfort for being peoples, Figs. 6, 7. The positive visual impressions of the
user observing the space and the architectural environment surrounding the
space are important and expected. Here, a glass shell roof covering one
shared communicative space was integrated with adjacent buildings.

Fig. 6. Attractive closed communicative space, Ref. 14

Fig. 3, Integrated architectural shell form connected with an open lacing

Ref. 10

In the Fig. 4, we can see a huge shell covering both two adjacent buildings
and the communicative open space between and around these buildings.
The shape of the cover is really attractive and consistent with the shell
shapes of the glass walls of these buildings.

Fig. 7. Attractive shell roof covering over the shard communicative space
between various buildings, Ref. 9
The materials and shapes of the building walls and roofs can be
complemented to each other. Two buildings characterized by architectural
forms close to each other and having shell roofs and flat vertical glass walls
are presented in Fig.8 . They are connected with each other. Their resultant
form is very attractive, however, their communicative space is not
distinguished as a separated form.
Fig. 8. Attractive architectural form of a building composed of two parts
close to each other, Ref. 11
In Fig. 9, we can see large shell buildings in Sochi. They are arranged in an
attractive circular system, Fig.10, where the mutual position of the
buildings intensifies positive visual impressions by the user. However, they
are not connected to each other by means of the same shared
communicative space distinguished the system.
Fig. 9. A system of a few various original large sport buildings, Ref. 28
Finally, we can see, Fig. 11, a shell structure whose architectural form is
really internally consistent. The last example concerns really attractive
shell structure with many glass shells employed as roofs and walls
elements. The communicative spaces between various functional parts of
the building was integrated with these functional spaces and covered with
the same shells.
Fig. 10. Two examples of the compound morphological systems of a few
integrated architectural shell forms connected to each other, Ref. 27
The externally consistence of a morphological system presented in the
further parts of the work will be also considered. In this case, we will
consider compliance or distinguishing of the architectural form of the
system from surrounding area.
Fig. 11. Complex structure of many individual shells covering the
integrated functional and communicative spaces , Refs. 12, 13
3. THESIS OF THE WORK
The unidirectional folding of the steel sheets enables us easily to transform
their forms from planar into spatial. It is possible to transform each stripe
of these sheets so that its displacements would be big and effort possible
small, Refs. 1, 25. Therefore, strips of such sheets connected along their
longitudinal borders can take relatively free rectilinear shell forms, so they
are able to adapt their shapes in the relation to curvatures and a mutual
position of roof directrices supporting their transversal ends, Refs. 3, 4, 26.
From the above properties of the profiled sheets results that the following
thesis is justified. Its truth is supported by the issues and examples
considered in the further parts of the work.
The easiness of shaping the rectilinear roof shells lets the designer to
obtain really great diversification, originality and integration of
geometric and architectural forms of the individual buildings and
their morphological systems. In addition, it is possible to depend
these forms on architectural and natural environments surrounding
these systems so that: a) the architectural form of the whole system
would be compatible with the environment, b) the architectural form
of the whole system would be very attractive and positively
distinguished from the environment.
4. CONSISTENMT ARCHITECTURAL FORMS OF
MORPHOLOGICAL SYSTES OF BUILDINGS DETERMINED
BY THEIR FREE SHELL ROOF FORMS
In the present section, morphological systems of buildings connected with
communicative spaces are considered. The buildings are characterized by
integrated shell steel roofs and flat glass walls, Refs. 4, 6. The
communicative spaces are completely or partially covered with folded steel
sheets and flat glass plates.
Simple consistent architectural forms of rectangular morphological systems
composed of four integrated buildings are shown in Figs. 12-14. In the first
example, the communicative space was very restricted to narrow paths
covered completely in the analogous way as the building coverings in
terms of geometrical forms and materials, Fig. 12. In spite of the material
and geometric consistency of all buildings and lacings containing the
communicative spaces, the covered communicative space seems to be to
much divided into small cells. This geometrical form of the lacings causes
a reduction of the architectural form attractiveness.
Fig. A. The consistent system of simple buildings connected to one another
with the very narrow and small communicative spaces
An union of all communicative spaces of the system into one big space is
presented in the next examples. An individual shell roof covering this space
is presented in Fig. 13. Its architectural form is closed to the architectural
forms of the buildings. However its geometrical form is a little bigger than
the geometric forms of buildings, which causes the fact that this roof shell
integrates all roofs the system. as well as it is the dominated agent giving
the attractive expression of the system.
Fig. 13. A consistent system of simple buildings connected each other by
means of a shell roof covering the shared communicative space and
integrating the buildings
In the next Fig. 14, we can see a positive influence of the glass wall
covering of the communicative space on the user’s impressions. The
consistence of the entire system is obtained by watertight closing the
communicative space with the shell steel roof and flat glass walls
integrated with all buildings of the system. In addition, the user is “invited”
by the system not only to stay at the inner space of a particular building but
also to move between and inside the communicative and functional (at
each building) spaces an account of intermingling of these spaces with each
other.
The usage of a glass covering of a roof and walls of the communicative
space makes it possible to distinguish this space as an element integrating
the system into a consistent integrity, Fig. 15. Complementation of roof’s
and wall’s colours is also important in the architectural shaping.
Fig. 14. A consistent morphological system of simple buildings connected
by means of an additional building allocating the shared communicative
space
A sensitive influence of inclination of the walls on the architectural form of
the system is noticeable if we use a roof shell to cover the communicative
space, Fig. 16. However, a possibility of an outer integration of the system
with a surrounding area, by means of the wall inclination towards the
vertical, is as soon as noticeable, Fig. 17. The possibility of the outer
integration of the system, by means of the wall inclination towards the
vertical, with a surrounding area is obviously noticeable if the glass walls
of the communicative space are erected, Figs. 18-20.
Thus, there are great possibilities in terms of the integration of the
architectural forms of the building systems with the various architectural or
natural environments as well as influence on the visual impressions of the
user. In those last three figures, the user standing on the base can show
various elements of the environment on the glass panels. In the case of the
Fig. 19, the user can observe the elements located further from the building
and higher over the base. In this case, the system can be easily merging
with a hilly environment. However, in the case of the Fig. 20, the user can
see the elements located in the neighbourhood of the building and the base.
In this case, the system can be easily distinguished from a natural
environment, however, similarly, it can be merged with an original urban
planning environment.
5. CONCLUSIONS
The possibilities of the flat steel folded sheets in the scope of their
diversified transformations into free spatial shapes make it possible to
shape such geometric and architectural forms of buildings so that the user
would observe both the inner consistence of these forms and the outer
harmony with the surrounding architectural or natural environment. In
special cases, these forms can be shaped so that the user can observe their
attractive separate character in relation to the surrounding area.
The additional advantage of these forms is the inner and outer consistency
of the morphological system of buildings noticeable for the user being: a)
at the individual building, b) in the communicative space, c) outside the
system. The dominated function can be performed by the partial or total
covering the communicative spaces as well as it can be penetrated by the
functional spaces of the individual buildings.
The inclination of the planes and edges of the building elevation walls to
the vertical enables us to integrate the general shape of the system with the
architectural or natural environment. In this case, the glass walls would
become narrow in the direction from the base of the building to its shell
roof. Such an action makes that the building may become similar to a
surrounding area. However, the inclination of the planes and edges of
building elevation to the vertical can make a distinction of the system from
the surrounding environment so that the glass walls would become wider in
the direction from the base of the building to its shell roof. Such an action
should make that the building becomes different from the surrounding
environment, however, its architectural form can stay very consistent, Figs.
19, 20.
Fig. 15. A consistent morphological system of integrated buildings connected each other by means of an additional glass building allocating the shared
communicative space

Fig. 16. A morphological system of integrated buildings having oblique glass walls with the additional open shell roof allocating the open shared
communicative space

Fig. 17. A morphological system of integrated buildings having oblique glass walls with the additional open shell roof allocating the open shared
communicative space
Fig. 18. A morphological system of integrated buildings having vertical glass walls with the additional closed and shared communicative space

Fig. 19. A morphological system of integrated buildings having oblique glass walls with the additional closed and shared communicative space

Fig. 20. A morphological system of integrated buildings having oblique glass walls with the additional closed and shared communicative space
 The spatial arrangement of the integrated buildings presented in the above
Figs. 21.a, b is proposed as architectural systems blended into an
surrounding environment. It is possible to exploit such architectural forms
as public buildings (airport, shopping mall), the recreation functions
(concert hall). Free geometric models obtained by varying the geometric
formss allow us to build various attractive architectural forms. Revised
figures are provided to prove the applicability of various morphological
forms using the geometrical integration of coating.
a)
b)
c)
Fig. 21. a, b. Coherent architectural forms one of the presented earlier
morphological systems of a few integrated shell building forms by Ewelina
Gotkowska
Application of the theory, Ref. 23, (as shown in Figure - visualization) in
human scale architectural layout of buildings with varied geometric forms
of the roofs is characterized by the respective proportions of forming spatial
configurations to integrate or make out from the environment. The user
observing such geometric forms changing on their lengths, widths and
heights distinguishes the shapes as innovative original architectural forms
from the environment.
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1
) A. Prokopska, Department of Architectural Design and Engineering
Graphics, Rzeszow University of Technology, Al. Powstańców
Warszawy 12, 35-959 Rzeszów, POLAND.
2
) J. Abramczyk, Department of Architectural Design and Engineering
Graphics, Rzeszow University of Technology, Al. Powstańców
Warszawy 12, 35-959 Rzeszów, POLAND
3
) E. Gotkowska, Department of Architectural Design and Engineering
Graphics, Rzeszow University of Technology, Al. Powstańców Warszawy
12, 35-959 Rzeszów, POLAND