Structure
Good cooperation between the conceptual architect and structural engineers led to a decision in favor of the structural design with specific geometry, which at first glance gives the impression of irregularities. However, a closer look reveals that the natural lines of the main beams are curved to form "snakes". They are placed regularly at 26.2-foot intervals in the basic module grid of the entire structure.
The main beams are tall welded box sections. The snakes curve in the ground plan with a radius of 3.2 feet. They seem to differ from one another, but they have identical geometry. The ground plan in the characteristic part of the roof consists of a beam with two bends that is alternately mirrored around the vertical plane in the transverse and then in the longitudinal direction of the roof.
The stability of the main beams is secured by secondary beams of the similar but more subtle cross‑section. The secondary beams weave through each other and mutually support themselves in every field.
The production and assembly were challenging. The individual parts of the snake beams were welded on the spot.
The structural model for the internal forces analysis and design was created in the structural engineering program RFEM.
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