Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell
In 1969 a thin concrete shell roof designed by the master shell builder Heinz Isler was erected for the fire extinguisher manufacturer Sicli, SA, in Geneva, Switzerland. From this research carried out at the Heinz Isler Archive at ETH Zürich, it was found that more, previously unrevealed, alternativ...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
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2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35560/ |
| _version_ | 1848795107665379328 |
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| author | Chuang, Chu-Chun Chilton, John |
| author_facet | Chuang, Chu-Chun Chilton, John |
| author_sort | Chuang, Chu-Chun |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | In 1969 a thin concrete shell roof designed by the master shell builder Heinz Isler was erected for the fire extinguisher manufacturer Sicli, SA, in Geneva, Switzerland. From this research carried out at the Heinz Isler Archive at ETH Zürich, it was found that more, previously unrevealed, alternative proposals and physical models were employed to accomplish this project.
This paper describes an investigation of the original physical modelling process of the Sicli shell and discusses the infinite potential of form-finding methods for shaping a good shell. Four alternative free-form design schemes proposed by Isler for the Sicli shell, in addition to the final chosen hanging cloth modelling approach, are introduced and discussed. The actual construction details of the Sicli shell will be reviewed with regard to both architectural and engineering perspectives. In conclusion, more research to be carried out on the valuable legacy of Isler’s form-finding techniques is suggested. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:26:50Z |
| format | Conference or Workshop Item |
| id | nottingham-35560 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:26:50Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-355602020-05-04T18:02:53Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35560/ Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell Chuang, Chu-Chun Chilton, John In 1969 a thin concrete shell roof designed by the master shell builder Heinz Isler was erected for the fire extinguisher manufacturer Sicli, SA, in Geneva, Switzerland. From this research carried out at the Heinz Isler Archive at ETH Zürich, it was found that more, previously unrevealed, alternative proposals and physical models were employed to accomplish this project. This paper describes an investigation of the original physical modelling process of the Sicli shell and discusses the infinite potential of form-finding methods for shaping a good shell. Four alternative free-form design schemes proposed by Isler for the Sicli shell, in addition to the final chosen hanging cloth modelling approach, are introduced and discussed. The actual construction details of the Sicli shell will be reviewed with regard to both architectural and engineering perspectives. In conclusion, more research to be carried out on the valuable legacy of Isler’s form-finding techniques is suggested. 2016-07-07 Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed Chuang, Chu-Chun and Chilton, John (2016) Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell. In: “Spatial Structures in the 21st Century” IASS Annual Symposium 2016, 26–30 Sept 2016, Tokyo, Japan. (In Press) Heinz Isler concrete shells conceptual design form finding optimization |
| spellingShingle | Heinz Isler concrete shells conceptual design form finding optimization Chuang, Chu-Chun Chilton, John Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell |
| title | Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell |
| title_full | Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell |
| title_fullStr | Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell |
| title_short | Design and modelling of Heinz Isler’s Sicli shell |
| title_sort | design and modelling of heinz isler’s sicli shell |
| topic | Heinz Isler concrete shells conceptual design form finding optimization |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35560/ |