Tree-Like Structures in Architecture: Revisiting Frei Otto’s Branching Columns Through Parametric Tools

Abstract

Tree-like architectures and branching structures are one of the analogical designs that are among the nature inspired structures arousing attention of the designers, inspiring them and that are frequently confronted throughout the history of architecture. Likewise, trees are structural models for designers beyond the plant and branching patterns that are used as architectural ornamentation. Trees have the characteristics of being mentors for architects and engineers concerning how the vertical and the horizontal loads are transmitted through the trunks, branches, and leaves and how the balance is provided. Within this context, it is possible to claim that a quite wide and intuitively developed structural knowledge is acquired with the tree analogies throughout the history of architecture. By the development of computational design technologies, there have been significant developments in the design and the building of tree-like structures. Especially the number of branching, angles of dendroids, lengths, and the other parameters can be defined by using algorithms and can be optimized also by the help of computational tools. In this paper, the historical development and classification of the tree-like structures have been carried out and Frei Otto who is the pioneer to pave the way for innovative structures related to this field has been selected to revisit the efficiency of lightweight columns inspired by nature. One of the experimental studies of Otto in which he called as “minimum path system” has been determined as the case study; the parametric design behind the structure has been analyzed and reproduced by using a parametric software. The structural effectiveness has been determined and discussed by testing the obtained models using a FEM program under horizontal and vertical loads. Consequently, the structural effectiveness of today’s computational technologies and the branching structures that Otto built intuitively and by natural analogies have been able to be tested and the possible potentials that can be leading for today’s architects have been demonstrated.

Experimental investigation and simulation analysis of cast-steel joints under vertical pressure

“…The tree-like column has been widely utilized in engineering owing to its visually appealing structure and remarkable mechanical characteristics [1]. Since its introduction at Stuttgart Airport in Germany in 1991, several signi cant undertakings, such as Stansted Airport in London, the ION Orchard Center in Singapore, Detroit Airport in the United States, and the Railway Station in Changsha, China, have adopted this pioneering architectural structure [2][3][4][5].…”

An Integrated Shape Optimization Method for Hybrid Structure Consisting of Branch and Free-Form Surface

“…Shape -resistant spatial structures, whose mechanical behaviors are closely related to architectural performance, are highly favored by engineers. As representatives of such structures, free-form and branching structures are widely used in modern large-span architecture [1][2][3][4][5][6]. There are also branchsupported free-form surface buildings that incorporate the geometric characteristics of these two structural forms [7,8].…”

“…Early scholars also sought a reasonable form of branching structure based on the principle of model experiments, relying on axial force transmission to bear loads, mainly including the inverse hanging model, thread model, etc. [4,6,11,[14][15][16], which were successfully applied to the design process of the Riyadh government center, the Stuttgart Airport, and other architectural projects [34]. In the field of the numerical creation of reasonable forms for branching structure, scholars also focus on two directions: form-finding and structural optimization techniques.…”