Two Architects and One Engineer: The Reconciliation of Disciplines

摘要

At the end of the 17th century, when the Academie royale d'architecture was created in France, architecture was studied for the first time from a theoretical and analytical point of view. 100 years later, the Ecole royale des ponts et chaussees was found, also in France. This division of responsibilities within the building discipline varies from country to country and within the specific historical period but, the idea of two professional branches related to architecture, remains to the present day. Through the centuries, this division has been perceived as a problem or as an advantage depending on the specific event, project or construction. However, at the end of the 19th century, when reinforced concrete came into the world of construction, both branches started an interesting collaboration that produced not just marvelous buildings but also helped to evolve architecture. This collaboration started in France and then spread to Spain, Italy and the rest of Europe. As an example of the work that these professionals carried out together was the team formed in the late fifties of the last century by two architects, Bruno Morassutti and Angelo Mangiarotti and an engineer, Aldo Favini. They worked together in Italy projecting amazing and very significant works, such as the Church of Mater Misericordiae which was constructed in Milan between the years 1956 and 1958. One of the main conclusions is that an adequate approach in the collaborative work of architects and engineers, results in impressive and amazing works in which the combination of aesthetic qualities and structural efficiency result in a harmonious building with plenty of significance.