Conceptual design of a building with movable parts

Abstract

Although we live in a Dynamic Universe filled with movement, the design methodology that has been given to Architecture is clearly static: buildings look the same all the time. As an approach to "Dynamic Architecture", the design of a building with a changing geometry is examined in an attempt to explore factors that affect the design of this type of building. The proposed building is 200 m in height and follows the shape of a "T", it has a movable structure on its top that can rotate 360 degrees. Because of the changing geometry of the building due to the rotation of the upper part, two assumptions can be made in the structural analysis: a. that the changing geometry drastically changes the dynamic behavior of the building, or b. that this changing geometry doesn't affect at all the dynamic behavior. Since the movement will be slow, the structural analysis can be quasi-static. The cantilevered structure acts as a concentrated mass on the top of the building which is an important factor to consider against seismic loads. The design of the connection of the movable structure to the building is a critical aspect so it can move but at the same time be fixed to the building. A correct assumption of the modeling of this connection is critical in the structural analysis. Due to the rotation of the upper part, special emphasis has to be made in the torsional effects of the whole structure.