Space Grid Structures

Abstract

This book has been long in gestation. The original stimulus for it came about seven years ago out of my teaching about space structures to student architects, reinforced by my earlier doctoral research into space grid structures. When asked by students to suggest an appropriate text where they might encounter information about the geometry, design parameters, detailing and construction of space grids, I found the choice was rather limited (although there seemed to be many more books describing the structural behaviour and analysis of such structures). At that time a book that I consistently recommended was Space Grid Structures by John Borrego, which was published in 1968 by MIT Press (and, coincidentally, has the same title as this present volume). However, thirty years have passed since its publication and the technology of space grids has developed considerably over this period. Therefore, from the outset my intention has been to create a text of similar utility for architects, engineers and builders who wish to understand the basics of space grid design and construction in the late 1990s. Encouragement to pursue this idea came in 1993, when I attended the 4th Space Structures Conference at the University of Surrey, where I tried to strike up a conversation with Stéphane du Château, one of the pioneers of space grid structures who sadly died this year, aged 92. He immediately asked if I was an engineer or an architect and when I responded ‘engineer’, he at first was not too keen to talk to me but when I added that I taught in a School of Architecture he became very communicative and eventually presented me with a signed copy of his own book on structural morphology in which he wrote: ‘a Jean – John Chilton – pour l’inspirer des idées pas comme les autres – avec toute ma sympathie’ Guildford 10.9.93 It was after much consideration that the title ‘Space