The enclosure of the New library of the Freie Universitat Berlin

摘要

The proposed enclosure of the new library of the Freie Universitat Berlin is a grid structure with a double curvature on an oval footprint.The grid is made up of two curved parallel layers, each made from round hollow tubes. To keep the node geometry as simple as possible, diagonals were originally not incorporated in the systems, which means that the connections have to transfer moments. Therefore the total amount of steel was exceeding the original estimate and project costs rose considerably. Adding diagonals in areas with high bending moments and using the core of the building as a support have been excellent measures to reduce costs.