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Architectural steel

Architectural steel

In the building industry use of steel has a well-defined function, i.e. it is intended to provide load-bearing capacity and safe and trouble-free use. In architectural structures, also visual effect of these structures is crucial. It is possible because steel is produced in an almost unlimited range of shapes, tapering forms, curves, colors and finishes. Such structures catch the eye, they can delight and sometimes they are signposts. Finally, sometimes they become even symbols.
Some of them are encountered on a daily basis in residential and public buildings, ensuring functionality and safety of their use. Among them we can include: stairs (single runs or staircases), balustrades, balconies, external facades, canopies, skylights, external elevators, fences and many, many others.

PSE Konstancin – The toughest steel detailing in my life

PSE Konstancin – The toughest steel detailing in my life

An elliptical dome made of up steel structural members, 17 metres wide, 36 metres long, 14 metres high. Twenty ribs converging along elliptical paths towards the top. The ribs formed the framework of the building. Each rib was different. Some of the ribs were basically slightly modified mirror images of each other. The ribs to one side of the building rested on the foundations and those to the other lay on structure of reinforced concrete five metres above. Each rib comprised two round tubes – top and bottom – bent to the correct shape. The ribs were wider at the base and tapered towards the top.