Barrel Vault
Tianjin West Railway Station
Tianjin, China
This
building is a brand new train station in Tianjin that is on a high speed train
line between Beijing and Shanghai. It was designed as the new hub of the
Tianjin transportation system, and was commissioned by the Chinese Ministry of
Railways and was designed by gmp architekten. The barrel vault itself is made
of shaped steel and diamond-shaped glass panels. I selected this structure
because of its beauty and simplicity. The cleanliness and brightness of the
space is quite breathtaking and makes the building seem modern and “hi-tech”.
This is an image that the architect deliberately attempts to create through the
use of obviously artificial materials that harness the power of nature, in this
case light. The building symbolizes several things, one of which is the power
of technology and modernity, bringing these concepts to a country on the rise.
The steel and glass used in the building are associated with a modern or
contemporary style of architecture, and is a clear break from the past of
bricks and mortar. Another astounding feature of the space is the impression of
incredible size that it gives off. The concourse, and consequently the vault
itself, is 400 meters or approximately 1300 feet long. The size of the building
is of great importance, symbolizing once again the dominance of man over his
environment. The size and scope of the building is a testament to the strength
of engineering and the power of human ingenuity. By creating this enormous
enclosed space, the architects and the clients are claiming ownership over the
surrounding area through the imposing structure they have implanted in the
natural environment. The materials and size combine in a display of wealth and
power, as it takes immense amounts of resources to create an edifice this
large. The barrel vault’s height and material make the building seem modern,
impressive, domineering and expensive, all ideas that reflect the environment
in which it was built.
This building is an animation studio located in Santa
Monica, California, USA. It is a designed as an office building for a creative
enterprise and fits the purpose of a modern office building through its
internal division. The architect is Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio. The building is
primarily made of brick and wood, with extensive wood paneling and other brown
elements. This building stands out as an example of truss construction for
several reasons. It is a reuse of older truss structures that were created in
the 1940s and is therefore a great example of architectural environmental
consciousness and awareness. It is both an aesthetic and impact based decision.
Because of this, it is a unique implementation of recycling and is noteworthy
for that. The trusses in the construction have a major impact on the experience
of the building. It creates a very open feeling to the building, because they
allow an open ceiling plan and create a very welcoming and airy atmosphere.
They allow natural light to be introduced to the space through skylights that
would be impossible without the trusses allowing the structure to stand with
minimal support. The trusses also set the mood in terms of material choice for
the other elements in the building. The materials of the trusses are wood, and
these are the largest elements in size, other than the roof, and such set a
mood. As a result of being the only
pre-existing materials, the trusses were matched to, as opposed to making the
trusses match everything else. This resulted in an interior made primarily of
wood. This, combined with the open, airy feel and natural light gives off a
creative feeling, an environment well suited for the building’s intended
purpose and fosters creativity. The environment is homey and warm, facilitated
by the existence of the truss and to allow the building to achieve the
environmental conditions necessary to facilitate the purpose it was designed
for.
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