Designing for strength, economy, and beauty | Sigrid Adriaenssens | TEDxGeorgeSchool

I have a friend and his friend she’s a

I have a friend and his friend she’s a sculptor and when she sees a volume of

sculptor and when she sees a volume of

sculptor and when she sees a volume of material such as his block here she

material such as his block here she

material such as his block here she starts feeling and thinking about what

starts feeling and thinking about what

starts feeling and thinking about what form is hitting inside and then she

form is hitting inside and then she

form is hitting inside and then she starts chopping away material and she

starts chopping away material and she

starts chopping away material and she reveals that in this beautiful

reveals that in this beautiful

reveals that in this beautiful interesting shape like maybe this shape

interesting shape like maybe this shape

interesting shape like maybe this shape here I’m not a sculptor I’m a structural

here I’m not a sculptor I’m a structural

here I’m not a sculptor I’m a structural engineer and structural engineers they

engineer and structural engineers they

engineer and structural engineers they design and calculate and build bridges

design and calculate and build bridges

design and calculate and build bridges that cross busy way motorways or

that cross busy way motorways or

that cross busy way motorways or waterways or we design large roofs for

waterways or we design large roofs for

waterways or we design large roofs for star sports stadia or rooms like this

star sports stadia or rooms like this

star sports stadia or rooms like this one here and so our industry the

one here and so our industry the

one here and so our industry the construction industry is actually one of

construction industry is actually one of

construction industry is actually one of the most resource intensive industries

the most resource intensive industries

the most resource intensive industries and so when I see a volume of material

and so when I see a volume of material

and so when I see a volume of material like this one here I try to imagine how

like this one here I try to imagine how

like this one here I try to imagine how I can use this in a very efficient way

I can use this in a very efficient way

I can use this in a very efficient way the reason why I want to do that is

the reason why I want to do that is

the reason why I want to do that is because if we can use materials in an

because if we can use materials in an

because if we can use materials in an efficient way and first of all we’re

efficient way and first of all we’re

efficient way and first of all we’re gonna reduce the depletion of Natural

gonna reduce the depletion of Natural

gonna reduce the depletion of Natural Resources we’re also going to reduce the

Resources we’re also going to reduce the

Resources we’re also going to reduce the amount of co2 emissions that are emitted

amount of co2 emissions that are emitted

amount of co2 emissions that are emitted by making these materials and thirdly

by making these materials and thirdly

by making these materials and thirdly also a lot of projects that structural

also a lot of projects that structural

also a lot of projects that structural engineers are involved with our public

engineers are involved with our public

engineers are involved with our public projects so basically the taxpayer in

projects so basically the taxpayer in

projects so basically the taxpayer in the ends of paying for them and so if we

the ends of paying for them and so if we

the ends of paying for them and so if we can reduce the cost of projects I think

can reduce the cost of projects I think

can reduce the cost of projects I think we’re doing something good for society

we’re doing something good for society

we’re doing something good for society now there are a number of ways how we

now there are a number of ways how we

now there are a number of ways how we can use this material and so if I have a

can use this material and so if I have a

can use this material and so if I have a cube of about two cubic meter which is

cube of about two cubic meter which is

cube of about two cubic meter which is this much still and I want to make a

this much still and I want to make a

this much still and I want to make a roof for a room and if I were to do this

roof for a room and if I were to do this

roof for a room and if I were to do this in a solid slab so that’s just make it

in a solid slab so that’s just make it

in a solid slab so that’s just make it flat and solid this slab would be strong

flat and solid this slab would be strong

flat and solid this slab would be strong enough to span about nine meters now if

enough to span about nine meters now if

enough to span about nine meters now if I were to use this material in a little

I were to use this material in a little

I were to use this material in a little bit more intelligent way and I don’t

bit more intelligent way and I don’t

bit more intelligent way and I don’t arrange this material just in a solid

arrange this material just in a solid

arrange this material just in a solid flat slab but I maybe arranged it in

flat slab but I maybe arranged it in

flat slab but I maybe arranged it in trusses so these are these triangulated

trusses so these are these triangulated

trusses so these are these triangulated systems

systems

systems and I put a number of distresses

and I put a number of distresses

and I put a number of distresses parallel I can with the same amount of

parallel I can with the same amount of

parallel I can with the same amount of material so that you 2 cubic meter of

material so that you 2 cubic meter of

material so that you 2 cubic meter of steel I can span about 20 meters so

steel I can span about 20 meters so

steel I can span about 20 meters so that’s twice as much the length which

that’s twice as much the length which

that’s twice as much the length which means four four times as much the area

means four four times as much the area

means four four times as much the area with the same amount of material the

with the same amount of material the

with the same amount of material the same money the same depletion of Natural

same money the same depletion of Natural

same money the same depletion of Natural Resources but if I use this material in

Resources but if I use this material in

Resources but if I use this material in an even more intelligent way if I use it

an even more intelligent way if I use it

an even more intelligent way if I use it in a curved way then I can actually

in a curved way then I can actually

in a curved way then I can actually spend 30 meters and I can make a room

spend 30 meters and I can make a room

spend 30 meters and I can make a room that can hold many many more people with

that can hold many many more people with

that can hold many many more people with the same amount of material and so you

the same amount of material and so you

the same amount of material and so you might wonder I wonder why that is the

might wonder I wonder why that is the

might wonder I wonder why that is the reason why that is is because that form

reason why that is is because that form

reason why that is is because that form follows the forces that it has to carry

follows the forces that it has to carry

follows the forces that it has to carry down to the foundations and so of course

down to the foundations and so of course

down to the foundations and so of course there are many forms there are cubes

there are many forms there are cubes

there are many forms there are cubes that hire hyperbolic paraboloids there

that hire hyperbolic paraboloids there

that hire hyperbolic paraboloids there are spheres so the question and really

are spheres so the question and really

are spheres so the question and really that you could ask is what is a good

that you could ask is what is a good

that you could ask is what is a good shape to cover a large span area and

shape to cover a large span area and

shape to cover a large span area and actually to answer that question we have

actually to answer that question we have

actually to answer that question we have to go back to the 17th century to London

to go back to the 17th century to London

to go back to the 17th century to London in the Royal Society where people were

in the Royal Society where people were

in the Royal Society where people were hanging out and to pass their time they

hanging out and to pass their time they

hanging out and to pass their time they would post each other’s questions or

would post each other’s questions or

would post each other’s questions or riddles and so one of the riddles was

riddles and so one of the riddles was

riddles and so one of the riddles was what is the ideal shape for an arch and

what is the ideal shape for an arch and

what is the ideal shape for an arch and actually Robert Hooke answered that

actually Robert Hooke answered that

actually Robert Hooke answered that question he wrote the answer to that

question he wrote the answer to that

question he wrote the answer to that question in one of the honor of his

question in one of the honor of his

question in one of the honor of his manuscripts on hello scopes and other

manuscripts on hello scopes and other

manuscripts on hello scopes and other machines

machines

machines he wrote the answer to that question in

he wrote the answer to that question in

he wrote the answer to that question in an anagram and you see that anagram here

an anagram and you see that anagram here

an anagram and you see that anagram here is just a bunch of letters that you

is just a bunch of letters that you

is just a bunch of letters that you can’t actually understand

can’t actually understand

can’t actually understand so during his lifetime he never actually

so during his lifetime he never actually

so during his lifetime he never actually revealed what the answer to this

revealed what the answer to this

revealed what the answer to this question was and it it was not until he

question was and it it was not until he

question was and it it was not until he passed away that the executor of his

passed away that the executor of his

passed away that the executor of his will

translated this anagram into Latin which

translated this anagram into Latin which I’m not going to read but basically it

I’m not going to read but basically it

I’m not going to read but basically it says as hangs a flexible cable so but

says as hangs a flexible cable so but

says as hangs a flexible cable so but inverted stands the touching pieces of

inverted stands the touching pieces of

inverted stands the touching pieces of an arch so basically if I have a hanging

an arch so basically if I have a hanging

an arch so basically if I have a hanging chain like this one here and if somehow

chain like this one here and if somehow

chain like this one here and if somehow magically I could freeze it and turn it

magically I could freeze it and turn it

magically I could freeze it and turn it upside down

upside down

upside down that would be the ideal shape for an

that would be the ideal shape for an

that would be the ideal shape for an arch and so Robert Hooke understood that

arch and so Robert Hooke understood that

arch and so Robert Hooke understood that the construction materials that were

the construction materials that were

the construction materials that were available at that time or which which

available at that time or which which

available at that time or which which were basically stone could only take

were basically stone could only take

were basically stone could only take compression forces and so you understood

compression forces and so you understood

compression forces and so you understood that inversion of a chain which can only

that inversion of a chain which can only

that inversion of a chain which can only take tensile forces if you invert that

take tensile forces if you invert that

take tensile forces if you invert that shape then you end up with a structure

shape then you end up with a structure

shape then you end up with a structure that’s totally in compression and that

that’s totally in compression and that

that’s totally in compression and that can be totally built out of stones and

can be totally built out of stones and

can be totally built out of stones and that would be a very efficient structure

that would be a very efficient structure

that would be a very efficient structure and so what we do in my research group

and so what we do in my research group

and so what we do in my research group is we develop algorithms based on this

is we develop algorithms based on this

is we develop algorithms based on this principle of Robert Hooke to generate

principle of Robert Hooke to generate

principle of Robert Hooke to generate large to generate forms for large spans

large to generate forms for large spans

large to generate forms for large spans rules and bridges that basically use

rules and bridges that basically use

rules and bridges that basically use this principle of the hanging chain but

this principle of the hanging chain but

this principle of the hanging chain but people have been using this principle

people have been using this principle

people have been using this principle throughout history and I just want to

throughout history and I just want to

throughout history and I just want to share with you some I think beautiful

share with you some I think beautiful

share with you some I think beautiful structures that have been built so this

structures that have been built so this

structures that have been built so this is I don’t know if you recognize this is

is I don’t know if you recognize this is

is I don’t know if you recognize this is a very old bridge the king ty bridge in

a very old bridge the king ty bridge in

a very old bridge the king ty bridge in Japan and I have superimposed on the

Japan and I have superimposed on the

Japan and I have superimposed on the picture here on the right hand side you

picture here on the right hand side you

picture here on the right hand side you see here a hanging chain which have then

see here a hanging chain which have then

see here a hanging chain which have then inverted and indeed it matches exactly

inverted and indeed it matches exactly

inverted and indeed it matches exactly the shape of that arch as a result this

the shape of that arch as a result this

the shape of that arch as a result this arch can be very very slender and you

arch can be very very slender and you

arch can be very very slender and you can very use very little materials to

can very use very little materials to

can very use very little materials to build this arch now you might think well

build this arch now you might think well

build this arch now you might think well that’s a little bit boring if you can

that’s a little bit boring if you can

that’s a little bit boring if you can only do like an artist know that’s two

only do like an artist know that’s two

only do like an artist know that’s two shapes you can do this shape and then

shapes you can do this shape and then

shapes you can do this shape and then you have an arch and you can do maybe

you have an arch and you can do maybe

you have an arch and you can do maybe one like this and one like this but if

one like this and one like this but if

one like this and one like this but if you start imagining that you can

you start imagining that you can

you start imagining that you can actually for example rotate these shapes

actually for example rotate these shapes

actually for example rotate these shapes around the central axis you end up with

around the central axis you end up with

around the central axis you end up with a dome shape and actually if we look at

a dome shape and actually if we look at

a dome shape and actually if we look at whenever we go back now to London this

whenever we go back now to London this

whenever we go back now to London this is simples Cathedral the inner dome of

is simples Cathedral the inner dome of

is simples Cathedral the inner dome of st. Paul’s Cathedral you can actually

st. Paul’s Cathedral you can actually

st. Paul’s Cathedral you can actually superimpose also a catenary shape on

superimpose also a catenary shape on

superimpose also a catenary shape on that so that is actually a very very

that so that is actually a very very

that so that is actually a very very slender dome also as a side note this

slender dome also as a side note this

slender dome also as a side note this dome is kind of constructed around the

dome is kind of constructed around the

dome is kind of constructed around the same time that Robert Hooke was solving

same time that Robert Hooke was solving

same time that Robert Hooke was solving is riddle so I think there was some

is riddle so I think there was some

is riddle so I think there was some interaction there but so what we do as

interaction there but so what we do as

interaction there but so what we do as when I see a volume of material and I

when I see a volume of material and I

when I see a volume of material and I want to use material a very efficient

want to use material a very efficient

want to use material a very efficient way I’m going to use robert hooke’s

way I’m going to use robert hooke’s

way I’m going to use robert hooke’s example but then in

example but then in

example but then in way to generate shapes and as I said you

way to generate shapes and as I said you

way to generate shapes and as I said you might think that’s very boring because

might think that’s very boring because

might think that’s very boring because the only shape I can come up with is

the only shape I can come up with is

the only shape I can come up with is this shape like the one on the right

this shape like the one on the right

this shape like the one on the right hand side that’s not very inspiring as a

hand side that’s not very inspiring as a

hand side that’s not very inspiring as a designer or as a creative person but

designer or as a creative person but

designer or as a creative person but actually because I’m using numerical

actually because I’m using numerical

actually because I’m using numerical models I can make many many variations

models I can make many many variations

models I can make many many variations they call these parametric variations in

they call these parametric variations in

they call these parametric variations in this process I can make many decisions

this process I can make many decisions

this process I can make many decisions for example I can decide how many

for example I can decide how many

for example I can decide how many supports I’m gonna have whether I’m

supports I’m gonna have whether I’m

supports I’m gonna have whether I’m gonna have internal supports the

gonna have internal supports the

gonna have internal supports the location of these supports I can also

location of these supports I can also

location of these supports I can also decide the elasticity of these models so

decide the elasticity of these models so

decide the elasticity of these models so that I can generate either very shallow

that I can generate either very shallow

that I can generate either very shallow don’t like systems or much taller ones

don’t like systems or much taller ones

don’t like systems or much taller ones so basically me as a person I can

so basically me as a person I can

so basically me as a person I can generate many many different forms and

generate many many different forms and

generate many many different forms and that is why I have put here at the

that is why I have put here at the

that is why I have put here at the bottom of the slide etc because I think

bottom of the slide etc because I think

bottom of the slide etc because I think these numerical methods allow us to

these numerical methods allow us to

these numerical methods allow us to generate a whole new realm forms that we

generate a whole new realm forms that we

generate a whole new realm forms that we as humans have not yet seen before but

as humans have not yet seen before but

as humans have not yet seen before but what all these shapes share is that they

what all these shapes share is that they

what all these shapes share is that they spend very large distance so they can be

spend very large distance so they can be

spend very large distance so they can be used for rules and bridges and all kinds

used for rules and bridges and all kinds

used for rules and bridges and all kinds of things that need large spanning

of things that need large spanning

of things that need large spanning systems they are all very efficient so

systems they are all very efficient so

systems they are all very efficient so that means that they use very little we

that means that they use very little we

that means that they use very little we need to put very little materials in

need to put very little materials in

need to put very little materials in there because because because of their

there because because because of their

there because because because of their form follows the forces that are in them

form follows the forces that are in them

form follows the forces that are in them we can make them very slender and that’s

we can make them very slender and that’s

we can make them very slender and that’s really great because that means that we

really great because that means that we

really great because that means that we don’t really need to get so many

don’t really need to get so many

don’t really need to get so many materials out of the earth that means

materials out of the earth that means

materials out of the earth that means that we don’t need to admit so much co2

that we don’t need to admit so much co2

that we don’t need to admit so much co2 emissions to process these materials and

emissions to process these materials and

emissions to process these materials and also they can be more economic and I

also they can be more economic and I

also they can be more economic and I think clients and taxpayers like these

think clients and taxpayers like these

think clients and taxpayers like these kind of things and on top of that I

kind of things and on top of that I

kind of things and on top of that I would even argue that maybe some of

would even argue that maybe some of

would even argue that maybe some of these forms have some aesthetic quality

these forms have some aesthetic quality

these forms have some aesthetic quality these are forms as I said that purely

these are forms as I said that purely

these are forms as I said that purely come out of algorithms you know I have

come out of algorithms you know I have

come out of algorithms you know I have some say by choosing parameters I have

some say by choosing parameters I have

some say by choosing parameters I have some say in steering these forms but I

some say in steering these forms but I

some say in steering these forms but I think some of them have some aesthetic

think some of them have some aesthetic

think some of them have some aesthetic quality and I think this is also very

quality and I think this is also very

quality and I think this is also very important is if as engineers and

important is if as engineers and

important is if as engineers and architects we’re building the envisaging

architects we’re building the envisaging

architects we’re building the envisaging and designing the build landscape that

and designing the build landscape that

and designing the build landscape that we do this also in a sense a sense for

we do this also in a sense a sense for

we do this also in a sense a sense for aesthetics but

aesthetics but

aesthetics but it has been shown that people that live

it has been shown that people that live

it has been shown that people that live in beautiful places usually feel happier

in beautiful places usually feel happier

in beautiful places usually feel happier and are actually more productive and

and are actually more productive and

and are actually more productive and have a better life so in that way I

have a better life so in that way I

have a better life so in that way I think that my work that I’m doing is

think that my work that I’m doing is

think that my work that I’m doing is maybe not so different from the one that

maybe not so different from the one that

maybe not so different from the one that my friend sculptor is doing thank you

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]