The expression of form

The creative fusion of the science of structure, services, materials and ecology has been regarded as either offering a wide variety of expression or as high tech trivia, but most architects believe that the harnessing of contemporary engineering opportunities can benefit the environment.

In recent years the Modern Movement has grasped the changes in technology and design possibilities and has vastly increased the examples of expression by the evolution of new approaches to structural engineering.

These new options were partly as a result of the inter-relationships of theories of statics, dynamics and pure mathematics and partly because of the development of new materials such as strong adhesives, silicone jointing for glass assemblies and ductile iron.

At best this approach involves the creative fusion between the science of structure, services, materials and ecology offering a wider variety of expression than has been available before.

At worst, however, this approach has been criticised as technology fetishism, and discarded by some as trivial high-tech. However most architects believe that by comprehending what wonderful opportunities contemporary engineering affords, they can genuinely improve the environment in which we live and work.

The honest expression of form is not a new trend in architecture. It has been present in almost all periods and design theories.

Whilst the ways in which forms are sculpted vary enormously, steel has demonstrated its ability to provide the designer with a material which has a wide degree of flexibility, in most scales and textures, whether executed with sophistication or simplicity, for the modest or spectacular, in a lightweight or robust manner.

The successful adoption of steel across the world for almost all building types and structures, demonstrates a feeling of confidence in the material and helps promote a climate of continuous evolution of technology and engineering.

Certainly in the Western Hemisphere, where the supply and production infrastructure for steel is well developed, steel has been the dominant choice for major structures. These include long span buildings and bridges - both long and relatively modest spans, canopies and lightweight structures requiring a mark of architectural quality.

Whether in the field of transportation, sports stadia, bridges, high rise buildings, tensile structures, there are plenty of examples of current trends, which illustrate a place for steel.