Fakultät für Architektur

The Floragê building is the brazilian southern example of the series of apartment buildings
designed by architect David Libeskind in the 1950s and 1960s. This study starts with five buildings
of the Higienópolis neighborhood in São Paulo to understand systematically the solution of the
building in Porto Alegre. The modern language standardized in the residential neighborhood of São
Paulo is at the time, except in high-class Porto Alegre´s apartments.
Edifico Arper, the first of the series, and Floragê building, the last, are compared to
understand the architectural work of Libeskind as an imminence processs, with subtle differences
and effective detailing of materials and finishes. In both of the buildings, the apartment´s plan
highlights the volumetry: three different set functions autonomously and identified by volumes with
different materiality solutions. The facade elements define the volumetric criteria specific to each
function.
The geometric configuration of the plans with subdivision rules follows traditional residential
housing in the rooms and services, with successive spaces connected to corridors and halls. The
social spaces are the exception of the compartmentalized layout, with fluid space and frank visual
connection with the outside.
The materiality and design used in each facade are essential for the demarcation of the
hierarchy configuration and volume of projects, expressing different uses with different degrees of
privacy. The fine finishes gives precision to elemental form and communicate the identity of the
projects: luxuries apartment´s modern buildings.

This research explores collective housing projects where architects have expanded their action in the development of real estate development, in this case working beyond the architectural design and Project monitoring.
These projects are examples that complies specific needs for housing inserted in a niche market. Different ways of development are explained such as architects acting as entrepreneurs or simply participating more actively in design decisions, in opposition to the usual relationship with house builders.
In addition, it is about the expansion of the working field of a group of architects developing their projects contemporarily in Latin American metropolis. A catalog compile medium scale housing projects published in specialized magazines in a period of fifteen years.
Finally, I organize relevant aspects regarding the market insertion and its promoters. The projects insertion in different scales, from housing unit to the city, demonstrates distinct forms of spatial relations.

tial amount of fine dust volume happens even more than one hour faster. Evidently, air circulation, which results from convection due to the differences in temperature at the barrier between the water and the indoor air, plays an important role here. In this case the Chilled Water Wall shows its clear advantage over uncooled water panels.

Elastically curved grid structures pose great potential to simplify fabrication as the structure may consists of straight elements [1]. However, for assembly, erection and load bearing the structures restraint forces need to be considered. While bending stresses are well explored, nonlinear normal stresses due to torsion (helix-strain) are often neglected. For large twists of lamella profiles in a practical scale, the helix-strain effects need to be considered as they amount significantly to the lamellas torsional stiffness and utilization. For lamella profiles, calculations according to G. Lumpe [2] can be simplified. The "Inverse"-method allows simulations using the final shape as initial simulation geometry and therefore reduces the complexity of static calculations. This paper presents a method to consider helix-strain effects for the simulation of lamella grids using the IGA "Inverse"-method. This method has been applied to simulate the behavior of a grid structure as central element of a canopy. A simplified simulation offered valuable information about the flat state at assembly and necessary forces to erect the grid structure.

This thesis investigates the mechanical behavior and planning methods for transformable light-weight structures. In scope are spatial grid structures for support, that perform semi-compliant transformations, including both rigid-body and compliant mechanisms. These structures are based on quadrilateral grids of initially straight, partly compliant beams, that are coupled by hinges.
The aim is to understand the geometric and mechanical interrelations for practical use. This work looks for conceptual, mechanical, and constructive approaches as well as suitable planning methods.
The state of the art presents the theoretical, constructive, and architectural basis, and describes adapted methods for modeling and simulation, that are applied in this work.
A series of mechanical studies forms the theoretical framework. Firstly, all relevant components and parameters are displayed. The decisive kinematic, kinetic, and static phenomena and relations are elaborated using analytical and computational analyses: These include the orthogonal deflection and force ratios of kinematic grids, the spatial transformability and morphology of semi-compliant systems, the inner energetic proportions during transformation, as well as decisive static, global and local stiffness proportions. The parameters of compliant grid structures are referred to individual characteristics. Physical model studies show the conceptual, morphological, and mechanical freedom of design and demonstrate general feasibility.
The architectural implementation involves conflictive mechanical requirements and parameters. These are revealed, and appropriate strategies for an iterative planning process is developed. Several case studies inform this development in a “Research by Design”-process, that introduces constructive requirements. Firstly, the one-time erection of asymptotic gridshells is in scope.
The Kinetic Umbrella marks the first reversible transformable structure of its kind. Actuated by a cable pulley system, the compliant grid structure made of GFRP lamellas deploys from a bundled, closed shape into an open umbrella. This project demonstrates the feasibility at architectural scale and shows mechanical and constructive challenges and potentials. The mechanical findings and planning methods are fully incorporated and validated in this project.
This work determines fundamental mechanical phenomena of semi-compliant, doubly curved grid structures and presents useful engineering strategies for practical use. Thereby, this work provides a comprehensive basis for the development of semi-compliant support structures for architectural use.