Structure as Architecture, Architects as Engineers

Abstract

The construction challenges and opportunities demand a new kind of professional, with expertise in structural analysis, architectural design, systems engineering, information technology, and management. A decision has to be made regarding the extent to which structure should be exposed in an architectural design. For doing the right choice the architects should have a very good knowledge of structural engineering concepts and materials applications. Structural exposure should be limited to buildings where structure integrates with and clearly strengthens the expression of architectural ideas. Having a huge number of structural possibilities, designers and architects have considerable freedom of choice. In this article we try to make a short description of the potential of structure that is beams, columns, frames, struts and other structural members, to enrich architecture. We try to raise architects' perception of structure and materials as integral elements of architecture rather than applie d technologies.