rC Ribbed Catalan
PROJECT DATA |
---|
TYPE |
PAVILION FABRICATION |
---|---|
LOCATION |
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA |
CLIENT | UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY |
DATE | 2012 |
TEAM | DAVE PIGRAM
[UTS] PHILIPPE BLOCK [ETH ZURICH] MELONIE BAYL-SMITH [BIJL ARCHITECTURE] UTS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS |
PHOTOS | MICHAEL FORD |
AWARDS |
WINNER AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS NSW CHAPTER STRUCTURAL INNOVATION IN ARCHITECTURE PRIZE 2013 - COMMENDATION AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS NSW CHAPTER DIGITAL INNOVATION IN ARCHITECTURE PRIZE 2013 |
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f1e8441c2fd2c7e63c2d98108b3ec981cd6f8fcf1d704d1d78d0c9de1011bad4/supermanoeuvre_rC_Ribbed_Catalan_01_MichaelFord_16x9_4K.jpg)
Ribbed Catalan
Sydney, Australia
rC
A pavilion made from roof-tiles that combines contemporary computational design techniques with traditional catalan tile vaulting methods to demonstrate a new structural typology.
Traditional tile vaults are typically constructed springing off from walls or straight arches built from support element to support element on falsework. From these, the vault’s surface can be built in space with minimal or no guidework.
Built on previous research and focusing on continuous surface expression and fully representing three-dimensional equilibrium surfaces in compression, this research explores the design potential of three-dimensional networks of structural ribs, made possible by new funicular form-finding approaches.
This new structural typology for tile vaults was investigated and tested through an intensive, design-build workshop in Australia at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in co-taught by supermanoeuvre’s Dave Pigram with Philippe Block from ETH Zurich and Melonie Bayl-Smith from Bijl Architecture.
Built on previous research and focusing on continuous surface expression and fully representing three-dimensional equilibrium surfaces in compression, this research explores the design potential of three-dimensional networks of structural ribs, made possible by new funicular form-finding approaches.
This new structural typology for tile vaults was investigated and tested through an intensive, design-build workshop in Australia at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in co-taught by supermanoeuvre’s Dave Pigram with Philippe Block from ETH Zurich and Melonie Bayl-Smith from Bijl Architecture.
Plan & Elevation Views
The novel structural typology
— curved ribs with surface infill —
is clearly visible from above and from the side.
The novel structural typology
— curved ribs with surface infill —
is clearly visible from above and from the side.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3e956ff8c89e35b4f9a5e207657f36b9928845a6bb31327417c567dba6a1de49/supermanoeuvre_rC_Ribbed_Catalan_Side_Elevation_16X9_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4632d0451db6aba91de1d5a204c754c1c3e263f6cad930bdfba7dfed662e497d/supermanoeuvre_rC_Ribbed_Catalan_Plan_16x9_4K.jpg)
Exploded Axonometric
01
Graphic Statics Force Diagram
02
Graphic Statics Form Diagram
03
Catalan Tile Vault Infill Panels
04
Primary Structural Ribs
05
Cardboard & Reused Foam Falsework
01
Graphic Statics Force Diagram
02
Graphic Statics Form Diagram
03
Catalan Tile Vault Infill Panels
04
Primary Structural Ribs
05
Cardboard & Reused Foam Falsework
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/29d27087eea9063731bb0afda765b37cc784f78ee4bfe78aeb1c17e600c23286/supermanoeuvre_rC_Ribbed_Catalan_Exploded_Axon_00.png)
Construction Process
A photographic series showing the process of constructing the supported curved ribs and surface infill that is built into space unsupported in the Catalan style.
A photographic series showing the process of constructing the supported curved ribs and surface infill that is built into space unsupported in the Catalan style.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d6748edbb8459320e09606937828c0dfe4b6380d5daab52464163f1e1dae501e/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_00_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c0a145b50dff39d206cae053f12c28da0f4554635d40e72b029a7116fe86b0d5/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_01_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/27d835a80745884dcc79057c452f05cd5d85474bb4a2b71d57e7bb377a579126/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_02_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5e96f79eddf3a96f1b87a8ea56cda345c8630523a761d6c9ec763a9ba1bc907a/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_03_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/508c534996fffe1c1f2b00de68b645e94443dc397445f41e8006999f3590df24/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_04_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d97ea705c02a2c7d49b0346f70105777efafdc7dee529bbe7a916c7a3b67f5a1/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_06_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b16c60c0ff0ad93e21df6d4079e4619cbf913443dc658c40c64526a10f90500d/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_07_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3d59cdb027691aaf591d522d1b20e7ed7102a9e26911c27331532a09ab7c0ddc/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_08_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d639dcc3fb91f0db2710fbcaf8cfd34adab10ac8478f35eddca9a6c6b46b3ffa/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_09_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d1cc5dbddc51bb4cd0e0190aef7d763d07583b49fcac3f1cd1d61998b42e2238/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_10_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0956ab97478e1c35b5d2ecd2420a572ffc940494bc63c90690e1a5c34a0aae1c/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_12_4K.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/58bc043c0dbb1072397f699c1aa63756357ee2a783b82d02feba98fe75e5b7e6/supermanoeuvre_Block_Bijl_rC_Ribbed_Catalan__Making_Progress_13_4K.jpg)
Ribbed Catalan
Final Pavilion
Final Pavilion
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2c078d6ea8f950b0c89baaac4734834587f4395e54b327b24f77ffbebcf1012e/supermanoeuvre_rC_Ribbed_Catalan_00_MichaelFord_4K.jpg)