The evolution of concrete shells; innovations by Ildefonso Sánchez del Río

• Published in: Informes de la Construccion Vol. 65; no. 530; pp. 147 - 154
• Main Author: CASSINELLO, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Madrid Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 30.06.2013
• Subjects: Analysis and theory; Applied sciences; Architecture; Building structure; Buildings; Buildings. Public works; Concrete construction; Concretes; Construction (buildings and works); Design engineering; Evolution; Exact sciences and technology; External envelopes; Legacy; Reinforced concrete; Reinforced concrete structure; Roof; Shell structure; Shells; Thin walled shells; Europe; Spain; Shell structure; Architectural design; Stadia; Reinforced concrete; Case study; Water tank; Innovation; Engineer; Trend analysis; Concrete construction; Architectural history; Evolution; Roofing
• ISSN: 0020-0883; 1988-3234
• DOI: 10.3989/ic.12.051

The legacy of ildefonso Sanchez del Rfo Pison (1898-1980) contains some of the most pioneer Spanish concrete shells. It's a fact that the "Modern Architecture's Thin Shells Adventure" had just start when he designed and built his first work in Spain (1924). In the international context prevailing in the twenties, the reinforced concrete was still evolving. The first Thin Concrete Shells was built by Dyckerhoff and Widman in Jena, Germany (1922-1925). lldefonso Sanchez was looking for a system to design concrete shells in a simple way. Finally, he founded his own and innovate system based in a similar method to the ribbed Gothic Vault. He used his system to built a very different ribbed concrete shell, such as the Sport Hall of Oviedo, Spain (90m span). This article contains some results about the research on Sanchez del Rfo's work and its repercussion on the international context.