L’Oceanografic (The Oceanographic)

L’Oceanografic Facts
● Located in Valencia, Spain
● Opened 14 February 2003
● The building is used for conversation efforts, wildlife research and is tourist attraction
● Largest Aquarium in Europe
● Holds over 11,000,00 gallons of water
● An area 1,200,000 sq ft of land
● Architect; Felix Candela
● Has more than 500 species of wildlife
● 4500 individual animals
● Consist of 150,000 cubic meters of reinforced concrete, 15,000 tons of steel and 6,761 square meters
of methacrylate panels up to 33 centimeters thick.
● It is a thin concrete shell structure
● It is part of the city of arts and Sciences
● It has restaurants, gift shops,auditorium and control climate areas
L’Oceanografic Pictures
 Why L’Oceanografic for this project?
The reason for choosing this building for the final project assignment is because it is one of the
most famous examples of parabolic architecture in the world. Aslo the architect who designed it
is the world famous Spanish architect Mr. Felix Candela, who help developed the use of thin
concrete shell structures which are most popular used in geodesic domes, hyperboloid and
paraboloid structures today. The other reason it was chosen is because it was found to be very
aesthetically pleasing especially the parabolic shape of the roof and would like to find the
equation for them.
 Facts about Parabolic Arches in Architecture
● Parabolic Arches first appeared in Gothic architecture in the 19th century e.g. cathedrals
in Palau Guell, Barcelona 1885-1889 by Anton Gaudi
● The structure of parabolas allow for efficient use of materials, to cut cost because the
loads are distributed horizontally in pure compression, without bending, making the shape
prefect for concrete, iron, steel and masonry structures therefore requiring less material.
● The design of Parabolic arches were influenced by Beaux art school
● Parabolic Arches were popularized by Anton Gaudi
● First Parabolic Arch bridge was Douro Bridge, Portugal by Gustave Eiffel
● First Parabolic Shell cement hall in zurich by Robert Maillart
● First concrete parabolic bridge by Robert Maillart in Switzerland
● Felix Candela began to popularize thin concrete shells in 1940
 Parabola Definition
A parabola is defined as a plane curve which is mirror symmetrical and is approximately
‘U’ shaped. It has equal distance from a fixed point which is the ‘focus’ and a fixed straight
line which is the ‘directrix’.

Standard Form: Vertex Form: Intercept Form:

Pictures of Parabolic Architecture
 Facts about thin concrete structures
● An introduction of modern thin concrete shells began in the 1920s

● They are usually assembled using more than one slab or folded plates to form huge curves and are lightweight

● They allow wide areas to be spanned without using any internal support

● Monolithic shell is the strongest known concrete shell

● It reduces material and construction costs

● It is a very strong structure which can withstand ruinous natural disasters

● Thin shell structures if not treated properly will give way for water to seep through the roof

● They prevent air from escaping the building

● The oldest known concrete was the Pantheon which is located in Rome and was completed around AD125

● Three examples are the Tokyo Dome which is located in Tokyo, Japan, Tower Infinity in Seoul, South Korea, the
Pictures of Thin Concrete Shell Structures
 Dimension of Parabola
The height 50 ft) and width (40 ft) for the parabola by using google earth pro and from this it
was determined that the three points are (0,0) (20,50) (40,0?

50 ft

40 ft
 Calculation for the equation of the parabola
The parabola passes through the point (0,0), then
The parabola passes through the points (20,50) which is the vertex (h,k), so
The next point the parabola passes through is (40, 0) therefore
Thus we get the following linear equation and the steps to solve it.

Equation of the parabola

● Simplify the expression Standard form:
Vertex form:
Intercept form:
● Divide both side by -4

● Sum the equation vertically to eliminate one of the variables

● Divide both sides by 10

● Substitute the value of b in the equation and solve it.

 Calculation for the area of the parabola
a =50 the apex of the parabola to the axis
The area under the parabola (A) is calculated using distance (a) from
and width (b) of the parabola

b =40

Area of parabola =

Calculation for the axis of the symmetry

The axis of symmetry is the line the runs straight through the middle of the parabola.

Axis of symmetry = 20
 Calculation for the focus of the parabola
The focus is fixed point in the interior of the parabola that all points along the plane are an equal distance
away from.

The focus is (20, 48)

Calculation for the directrix of the parabola

The directrix is the line perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the parabola and does not touch the
parabola. If the axis of symmetry is vertical then the directrix will be horizontal.

The Directrix is y = 52
 Calculation for the focal length (l) of the parabola
It is the distance between the vertex (v) and the focus(p) measured along the axis of symmetry.

Focal Length is 2

Calculation for the focal parameter (p) of the parabola

The distance from the focus (y) to the directrix (x)

Focal parameter is 4
 Calculation for the latus Rectum
The latus rectum (l) of a parabola is a line segment that is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the
parabola, that goes through the focus (p) and whose endpoints lies on the parabola.

The latus rectum is 8

 Graphing of the Parabola
Directrix
Vertex
Latus Rectum

Focus

Axis of Symmetry

Y-intercept X-intercept
 Bibliography
● Garlock, M.E.M, Billington, D. P. & Burger, N. (2008). Felix Candela: engineer, builder,
structural artist. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
● Billing, D, P. (1990). Thin shell concrete structures. New York: McGraw-Hill.
● Chiuini, M. (2016). the parabola of the parabolic arch. Ball State University.
● De, Enrique X, and Felix Candela: (1917). The Mastering of Boundaries: Hong Kong
Taschen, Cop 2008.
● Croft, C. (2005) Concrete Architecture. London, Laurence King.
● Downs, J.W. (2003). Practical conic sections: the geometric properties of ellipses,
parabolas and hyperbolas. Mineola (N.Y.) Dover.
● Linares, M. (2019). Gaudi. S.L.: Keonemann.
● Schodek, D.L.L, & Bechthold, M. (2014). Boston Pearson.
e Mathematical Analysis of L’Oceanografic
Equation of the parabola
Standard Form:
Vertex Form:
Intercept Form:

The Submarino is one of most stunning building of Aspects of the parabola

l'oceanografic due the amazing roof design by Felix ● Focus: (20,48)
Candela. The repetitive parabola designs gives the ● Vertex: (20,50)
building rhythm as the form fosters the functionality ● Area of parabola:1,333,33
of the structure. The roof acts as a datum as the ft2
members of the structure is contained under the ● Perimeter of parabola: 4
repetitive parabola roof. It is able to hold up to 200 ● Focal Parameter:4
diners, serving Mediterranean cuisine. The ambiance ● Focal Length:2
is rather soothing due to the illusion diners are given ● Latus rectum: 8
because of the large aquarium running the length of ● Axis of symmetry: x=20
its perimeter. The inside contrasts with the outside ● X intercept:40
materiality as the restaurant is accentuated with wood ● Y intercept:0
frames and walls.