Abstract

GALINDO-DIAZ, Jorge. Cylindrical shells in Colombian architecture in the 20th century. Rev. Arquit. [online]. 2018, vol.20, n.2, pp.36-50. ISSN 1657-0308.  https://doi.org/10.14718/revarq.2018.20.2.2057.

In 1946, cylindrical shells began to be designed in Colombia as a roof solution for industrial buildings, mainly replicating structural forms used in Europe and the United States since the beginning of the 20th century. This article describes and analyzes the first three projects of importance in Colombia, in which cylindrical shells were used through ingenious constructive resources. It defends the hypothesis that this initiative sought to take advantage of both the technical advantages and spatial attributes of these shells with a comprehensive view on the relationship between architecture, construction, and structure. Using a qualitative research method, available planimetric information was analyzed, and contrasted with buildings that are still standing and in service. The conclusions demonstrate how this type of structures, with their attributes and limitations, became a common resource in Colombian architecture in the second half of the 20th century.

Keywords : Colombian architecture; 20^th century; membrane vaults; civil construction; project design; industrial buildings; architectural engineering.

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