WORKSHOP
ANATOMY OF STRUCTURES
ВА2 2019-2020

The course "Anatomy of Structures 2019/20" of the Technology module at MARCH Architecture School was organized along with the exhibition “Shukhov. Formula of Architecture", held at the Shchusev Museum of Architecture from October 2019 to January 2020. The purpose of the "anatomy lesson" was to study outstanding works of structural engineering of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in particular, metal wide-span spatial structures, which signify the transition from planar (2D) to spatial (3D) systems, unique for the theory and practice of structures, that occurred in 1880-1920. Six iconic buildings were selected as objects of research, illustrating various stages of this transition.
Saint-Petersburg metal factory, 1890-1893
Daniil Orekhov, Rodion Istoksky, Ilya Filippov, Anna Titova, Polina Solovieva
М.Е. Mesmacher, San-Galli factory 1896
Fedor Polushkin, Anastasia Slavina, Margo Kim, Ulyana Kravchenko, Nina Grinko, Alexandra Kazandzhan
V.G. Shukhov, 1896
Vladislav Aleinikov, Vadim Galichan, Marina Gorlova, Alexandra Karpushina, Yaroslava Komarkova, Ekaterina Postoyuk
V.G. Shukhov, 1897
Balykina Sophia, Zaslavskaya Asya, Yumagulova Dina, Stepanyan Kristina, Stratu Tatiana, Tsydenov Sayan
V.G. Shukhov, 1911
Igoshina Polina, Sheverda Daria, Aleksandrovskaya Yulia, Sapozhnikov Mikhail, Keremetchi Stepan, Glebova Valeria
Karl Zeiss AG, V. Bauersfeld, 1918-1924
Andrey Astakhov, Fedor Bolshakov, Alexandra Gavrilova, Sofia Dobychina, Victoria Denisova, Anna-Maria Stepanova
The study of each object by a group of 5-6 students began with an analysis of the historical context, cultural and economic prerequisites, as well as placing it in the context of the general process of development of structural typologies. Further, with the help of archival materials and literary sources, a detailed 3-dimensional model of the structure was created in order to identify the basic principle of its performance. After that, a simplified structural calculation was carried out to confirm the hypotheses and comply with results from the original preserved engineering calculations of that time. The result of the research work was the creation of a large-scale model (1:50, 1:25) of the structure in whole or in part, in which the process of its assembly during construction was reproduced and technological issues of implementing the principles laid down in the calculations were discussed.