pompidou

DigDesFab 2011 Centre Pompidou Analysis

Centre Pomp dou


Construction: 1972 -1977

150 million visitors

French National Museum of Modern Art

Public library

Center for music and acoustic research (IRCAM)

Area: 100.000 m2

Levels: 7

Height: 42m

Length: 166m

Width: 60m


" A n a r c h i t e c t u r a l a n d u r b a n c o m p l e x w h i c h w i l l m a r k o u r c e n t u r y .

G e o r g e s P o m p i d o u


Renzo Piano Richard Rogers

Aims: To achieve a large degree of

flexibility, freedom of movement ,

and an open approach to all

exhibition areas and levels.


Supporting structures

Air

Fluids

Electricity cables

Movement

DigDesFab 2011 Center Pompidou Analysis

Peter Rice developed the structural

concept for the facades, with a system

that hinged on six elegantly tapered cast

steel rocker beams known as

gerberettes.


The components and connections are of a scale rarely

seen in the construction industry- massive steel

elements were fabricated in off- site foundries and

delivered by truck to the site during the night.


The superstructure consists of thirteen bays, six

floors high, constructed of 16,000 tons of cast

and prefabricated steel with reinforced concrete

floor sections. The two main structural support

planes comprise a series of 800mm (31.5 inch)

diameter spun steel hollow columns, each of

which supports six gerberettes, or brackets.

One end of each gerberette is connected to an

outer tension column, while the other supports

a steel lattice beam. The stability of the

building is achieved through diagonal bracing in

the long facades and by stabilised end frames.


The building was envisaged as

a cross between 'an

information-oriented

computerised Times Square

and the British Museum' , a

democratic place for all

people, all ages and all creeds,

simultaneously instant and

solemn, and the centrepiece of

a regenerated quarter of the

city.

The decision to place structure

and services on the exterior

was driven primarily by the

need for internal flexibility, the

scheme provided huge

expanses of uninterrupted

space on open floors nearly 50

metres deep.


External services give scale and detail to the

facades, while the celebration of movement and

access is provided by lifts and escalators which,

like the services, are placed outside the building

envelope.

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pompidou