pavillions [p2]

8/14/2019 Pavillions [P2]

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Phase 2 - Constructing a case study archive

American Pavillion / Hothouse, Botanic Garden AarhusFULLER, Buckminster / C. F. Mller1967 / 2013

August Lundberg, Erik Martiny, Jannik Nisgaard, Lasse Nrregrd Rasmussen


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Historical Data / American Pavillion

The US Pavillion is a geodesic dome construc-ted by architect Richard Buckminster Fuller in1967. It was originally made for the Expo 67

exhibition, in which the theme for the exhibition was Man and his World. Expo 67took place in Montreal, Canada, but the par-ticipants came from all over the world. (1) (2)

(1) BALDWIN, James Tennant (1996) Bucky Works. Canada: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.(2) STANTON, Jeffrey (1997) Westland [Online],

1967


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Historical Data / Hothouse in The Botanic Garden

The original botanical hothouse was designed by C.F. Mller in 1970 as a botanical knowled-ge centre. The new structure, made 2009-2013

is also made by C.F.Mller, the snail-shapedhothouse reach a hight of 18 meters and housestropical trees in its own indoor tropical clima-te, the climate is achieved by the way the ho-thouse is formed and orientated to the sun. (1)

2013

(1) (2) C. F. Mller (2013, Hothouse in the Botanic Garden, University of Aarhus, [Online], < http://www.cfmoller.com/p/Hothouse-in-the-Botanic-Garden-University-of-Aarhus-i2458.html > [accessed: 02 October 2013]

(2)


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Structual analysis / American Pavillion

The giant dome is shaped as a three-qu-arter sphere. The height of the sphere is62 metres, and the diameter 76. The con-

struction is made out of steel pipes, andall joints are welded. Its structure is basedon the icosahedron, which means a poly-hedron with 20 equilateral triangular faces.As in all of Fullers domes, they usedthree-dimensional units; a triangle on theoutside, hexagonal on the inside, and cur-ved to t a given arc, as its structural ba -sis. By connecting them together in theshape of a dome, it distributes the structu-res weight over the whole surface. (1) (2)

(1) BALDWIN, James Tennant (1996) Bucky Works. Canada: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.(2) STANTON, Jeffrey (1997) Westland [Online],


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Structual analysis / Hothouse in The Botanic Garden

The hothouse structure is based on a sphere,the idea is to have the most amount of vo-lume and the least amount of surface area.The sphere as been stretch and tilted to gainas much sunlight in the winter and as litt-le in the summer, combined with the EFTEmembrane this secure an optimal tropicaltemperature inside the dome. The steel struc-ture acts as load barring arches directingthe pressure loads down to the ground. (1)

(1) MENGEL, Kirsten (2012), Nyt palmehus skyder op i Aarhus, Kirsten Mengel Fotograf, [accessed: 02 October 2013](2) DANIELSEN, H. Tom H. (2011), C. F. Mller. [Online], [accessed: 02 October 2013]

(2)


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Cover Clatting/ American Pavillion

The major idea and concept of having thisenormous dome surrounding its visitors, wasrealized as wanting to attract more attentionthan the sky does when youre outside (1)and from that giving the sense of having yourown sky. The steel frame of the dome sup-

ported a closed surface of acrylic panels thatencouraged the dome to have its own clima-te inside, but it was practically impossible toheat the indoor climate, and due to the causeof the metal and acrylic expanding, the who-le system leaked. As an attempt to control theheat within, there was installed an elaboratesystem inside, were a computer controlledthe buildings retractable shading screens ac-cording to the suns rays. On the rst day, thesystem failed, and in an attempt to repair it,the whole construction was set on re of thenon- re-resistant acrylic panels, then havingthe whole panel-construction burned away.

Not until 1990 was the pavilion attempt using,this time to turn it into an interactive museumshowcasing and exploring water ecosystems.(2) The open main frame structure caused bythe re was remained permeable to having theopen air outside let inside the domes now les-ser physical membrane and open construction.

(1) ALDWIN, J (1996) Bucky Works, United States of America: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, p. 165(2) Environment Canada, (2013) Biosphere Environment Museum, [Online], [accessed: 02 October 2013]


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Cover Clatting / Hothouse in The Botanic Garden

In september 2013 the greenhousehad a dessert growing plant to blos-som, this was a clear indication of

the membrane working as intended.EFTE is the material of the membra-ne the properties of the membrane ishigh melting temp. chemical, electri-cal and radiation resistans properties.

(1) (2) C. F. Mller (2013, Hothouse in the Botanic Garden, University of Aarhus, [Online], < http://www.cfmoller.com/p/Hothouse-in-the-Botanic-Garden-University-of-Aarhus-i2458.html > [accessed: 02 October 2013]


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All though the model is a tiny section of the domeroof (Isosahedron top edge + 5 hexagons), it iseasy to tell that the construction is very strong.You can relly se why the geodesic dome isconsidered the most material ef cient tecto -nic design (low weight, high strength) youcan possibly build. (1) Reinforced with theextra layer and the connections, that make thedome a large spheric tross, the distribution ofany force from any direction is tremendous.Try to stand on the model. It will not break.

The model is made oat in the air, whichunderlines the dome / sphere experien-ced as almost light as a bubble about to

lift to the sky or a Fata Morgana aboutto vanish from the face of the earth.The model is lifted to the height of about42 centimeters, even though that in thisscale, 1:50, the top should be in a height ofabout 120 centimeters. Thereby It still al-lows you to look at it from below, as ifyour where located inside the dome. Thereal dome is of cause self supporting.

The oatation makes you to experi -ence your private skye, an expres-sion used by Fuller himself. (2)When inside the sphere you will nd you -rself in its atmosphere, and under the roofthe view to the sky will be blurred but enri-ched. You will experience the tross grid, thatis fully exposed and you will experience thefacets of the acrylic skin that covers the in-ner layer of the dome and the how it refractslight. This experience will of cause change

by changes in weather and light conditions.

Presentation model / American Pavillion

(1) ENVIRONMENT CANADA (2013) Richard Buckminster Fuller, A Visionary Architect, [accessed 02 October 2013] (2) BUCKMINSTER FULLER, Richard (2001 [1950]) YOUR PRIVATE SKY R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER, Baden/Switzerland, Lars Mller Publishers, pp. 07-14


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The nal model of the Hothouse in the BotanicGarden emphasizes having intersecting bands,from which twisted squares are formed as themain structure in the carrying construction, vi-sualized by not having all the arches shown toleave one side partly open. The model showshow the arches work individual through the

principle of a compression arch, and gives thewhole structure its strength in reinforcing eachother.

Presentation model / Hothouse in The Botanic Garden

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