Development of clear span buildings
Introduction
There are a number of strands to the story of the development of the clear span building. Many early developments took place in Europe where designers, in trying to use iron in the structure of glasshouses, exhibition halls, market halls and railway stations, developed solutions which we have adopted and developed in today's clear span buildings.
The relationship between historical and contemporary structures
The main hall building for the 1981 International Garden Exhibition at Liverpool by Arups is a fine three pinned trussed steel arch.
Developments in Europe
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the most significant advancements which took place in the technology of iron and steel production, and in structural design theory related to iron and steel structures, took place in Europe.
Developments in the USA
It was in the early 1900s when designers in the USA began to be innovative in the use of steel for long span structures.
Exhibition buildings
Exhibition buildings also presented designers with opportunities to explore the potential of iron and steel.
Glasshouses and conservatories
The period from 1815 to 1835 heralded a new era in architectural design characterised by the iron skeleton and glass skin, used for glasshouses, and conservatories, led by J.C. Loudon, Joseph Paxton and Richard Turner.
Naval dock buildings, market halls and factories
Early in the nineteenth century a number of roofs were built over shipbuilding slips in naval dockyards. Many of these timber structures were replaced with iron structures, an event which Coad links to the early use of corrugated iron as a roof covering.
Railway station roofs
Turner devised a new model long span structure which formed the basis for several notable station roofs, including Liverpool Lime Street and Birmingham New Street.
