Domino System

Le Corbusier conceived the "Domino System" in 1914, using reinforced concrete columns to bear weight instead of load-bearing wall structures. Architects can divide the interior at will

The name Domino House is a pun that combines allusions to domus (Latin for house) and pieces of the domino game. Because the floor plan resembles a game, and because the units can be aligned like dominoes, it is called the domino system

Previous life

Corbusier worked at the Perret studio in 1908. , learned the basic knowledge of reinforced concrete in 14 months. Perret was good at using reinforced concrete. He became famous in 1904 by "civilizing" the reinforced concrete frame in an apartment building on Franklin Street in Paris.

< p> Perret was convinced that reinforced concrete was the material of the future, in addition to its plasticity, durability, integrity and economy, the reinforced concrete frame was the solution to the humanistic values ??that had existed for many years in Gothic structural authenticity and classical forms. In 1910, Corbusier went to Germany to gain an in-depth understanding of reinforced concrete technology, where he worked for 5 months at the Behrens Office and the Deutsche Werkbund. After contacting the members, Corbusier realized the achievements of modern product engineering, including ships, airplanes, and automobiles. This was an important experience for him in modern, industrialized production.

In 1913, Corbusier. He established his own office in his hometown in Switzerland, nominally specializing in reinforced concrete technology. In 1915, Corbusier collaborated with his childhood friend, Swiss engineer Max Dubois, and proposed the idea. The prototype of the Domino House. This model was used in almost all the houses he designed from 1935 to 1935. After moving to Paris in 1916, Corbusier worked as a manager in a building materials factory during the day and in his spare time. All used for painting and writing.

In 1920, Corbusier developed the "Citro?n House" from the "Domino House" (considered to be a "wine bottle" on a wine rack in a Marseille apartment.)

Corbusier made two plans for this basic typology, and for the first time he made his typical double-level living space, including a bedroom mezzanine in the middle and a children's bedroom on top.

▲ Citro?n Residence? 1920, 1922 plans.

▲Citro?n Residence

Contemporary interpretation of the straight staircase in Citro?n Residence

Gifu Kitagata apartment building? Building i9#, Xiangshan Campus, China Academy of Art

Industrial Logic

The "domino" (meaning "domino") model can be interpreted at different levels. On the one hand, it is just a technical facility for production; on the other hand, it borrows the brand name "domino", which means that it is a standardized house like a domino. The free-standing columns on the plane can be seen as individual dominoes, and the reciprocating pattern displayed by the grouping of these houses resembles the arrangement of dominoes.

Corbusier wanted to think of the domino as a product, similar to product design in its form and the way it was put together. Corbusier regarded these elements as "object-types" whose form is modified as the type requires. (Later classified as a representative of paradigm typology)

Geometric Logic

In an article, Eisenman used linguistic methods to analyze in detail domino's The logical association between various components, using exhaustive methods to reason and deduce the position and geometric relationship of each architectural element, such as columns, floors, stairs, and foundations. By analyzing this most basic prototype, he excavated the hidden meanings in modern architecture. The basic syntax of existence.

Eisenman tried to further prove that modern architecture has the same basic language and grammar as classical architecture, but we have not yet summarized it. At the same time, it is believed that the geometric tradition of more than 400 years since the Renaissance was broken by this prototype.

Classical architecture is spiritual and elevational (the plane represents the content, and the elevation represents the form). Modern architecture is functional and flat.

Colin Rowe believes: "Corbusier's floor is actually a horizontal wall." The reasoning goes like this: "The floor is a horizontal wall; the wall is also horizontal The floor; the facade becomes a flat surface.

▲ Domino system diagram

Development

After the end of World War II, materials science and manufacturing have developed rapidly. The Domino system also developed accordingly. Architects at that time began to explore in depth the possible contributions of different materials and construction methods to architectural design, especially the application of industrialized construction ideas based on standardization and modularity.

In the 1950s and 1960s, steel structure domino also received great development. The most famous one was the structural system proposed by Swiss architect Fitz Haller, who studied the design and construction methods of industrialized materials. Corbusier transformed the domino structural system using reinforced concrete as the material.

He used steel as the structural material and proposed 3 types of transformation systems:

Suitable for private residences. "Mini-System" for office buildings, "Midi-System" for high-rise buildings, and "Midi-System" for industrial park buildings The "Max-System".

The characteristics of the domino system in this industrialized context are the configuration of steel structural columns, the addition of open-web truss beams between the columns and the plates, and the The components in the system can be disassembled and recycled through bolted connections.

At the same time, the space formed by the hollow beam can be integrated and used in the steel structure Domino. In the system, due to the addition of beam elements, the structural force flow transmission path is clearer and the structural efficiency is significantly improved; due to the use of standardized connection nodes and modular components, Domino's rapid construction is possible

Timber. As a structural material, great breakthroughs have been made in the transformation of the Domino system, especially the development of glulam technology, which has made wood widely used in construction as a structural material.

This Life

The single domino structural system is obviously no longer able to meet the design and expression of modern architecture.

The optimization of traditional structural systems has naturally become a necessary means to construct diversified architectural forms.

Efficiency optimization.

One of the optimization strategies for the Domino structural system is to improve the stress of the column plate system.

On the one hand, it can effectively resist the punching shear stress of the column plate part.

< p> On the other hand, it improves the stress of the board and improves the structural efficiency, so that the board uses less material and reduces its own weight.

In the picture below, the column head is enlarged or the top plate is partially thickened (a, b). , frame system support applications (c, d, e), primary and secondary beam and well beam support applications (e, f), are all based on the above optimization considerations.

Component Reconstruction

Using modern structural technology and construction technology, by analyzing the materials, organization methods and structural resistance properties of the "columns" and "plates" in the domino system. It has been transformed in other aspects to establish new characteristics of architectural form, spatial pattern and structural system.

▲The Sendai Media Center designed by Toyo Ito? Tubular columns + honeycomb panels

Integration of tension and compression systems

All structural components in the traditional domino system Mainly subjected to compression and bending, its structural efficiency is low, and structural components are subject to tension, pressure and bending moments. Ordinary structural components cannot achieve efficient distribution and organization of tension and pressure, but through the cables in the structural system The addition of the system distributes the tension and pressure in the structural system to compression members and tension members in a targeted manner, making the structural system more efficient and saving structural materials.

▲ KAIT Studio of Kanagawa University of Technology, Japan? Junya Ishigami

Tension and compression combined column + prestressed plate

Modification of the plate:

The floor slab adopts a steel rib beam system and utilizes prestressed technology: first, the pressure members are put in place to bear the weight of the roof, and then possible snow loads are simulated on the 1990 m2 slab. When the stress deformation of the roof drops to a certain height, the tensile members are connected from the beam frame downward to the ground. When the simulated applied load is removed, the structure forms an efficient system of prestressed (tension) and compression combinations.

Renovation of columns:

Because of the above-mentioned testing and modification strategies of prestressed plates, the "columns" in the new structural system naturally appear as compression columns and tension rods Two forms. Using 42 columns as pressure columns to support vertical loads and 263 columns as tension rods to balance the structural system, the entire structural system was completed at the same time.

The columns are all in rectangular cross-section. The thinnest tension member is 16mm×145mm, and the thickest pressure member is 63mm×90mm.

▲Egg Exhibition Hall Ulrike Schartner and Alexander Hagner

The design aims to provide the best viewing angle for the collection while freeing up the building space on the ground floor and completely integrating the building into the surrounding area. in the environment.

Column slab modification method:

Use two compression steel columns and edge pull-down stabilizing cables to form the vertical and horizontal stress system of the building structure;

1 The floor adopts a steel tic-shaped beam floor structure. The tic-shaped beams are bent upward at the eaves to support the upper structural system and provide a wider view of the first-floor space. The two steel columns on the ground floor of the building are deliberately tilted at different angles. , and also increases the visual dynamics of the building to varying degrees.

During the construction, two steel columns were first built, and then four temporary pillars were erected at the four corners of the rectangular plane. The floor structure was then put in place and the eaves and roof of the glulam structure were built. , then add the bottom stabilizing cable system, and finally remove the four temporary pillars at the corners.

This kind of structural system can reach or even surpass the performance of ordinary structures in terms of stability and stiffness, and achieve the unity of function, space and structure. It can be said that the transformation is very efficient.

Planar column network

Starting from the plane, breaking the plane organization method of the traditional domino system, reconstructing the organization method of the column network system, and constructing it on the basis of satisfying the structural functions. A more flexible and unique architectural space.

Regular column network

▲Designed by Optimistic School of Architecture WAI Architectural Office

Taking the traditional domino system as a starting point, the traditional building system is expanded. Especially in terms of structural system, in order to adapt to the complex functions and flexible space requirements of modern diversified buildings, it reconstructs the orthogonal column network of traditional buildings.

Irregular column network

▲Toyo Ito Tama Art University Library

Structural bionic reconstruction

Bionic architecture is With the help of the composition and logic of the form and behavior of materials in nature, combined with knowledge in related fields such as ecology, morphology, architecture and technical science, a relatively optimized form or structure of building type is obtained.

Similarly, structural bionics draws on the form or composition logic of things in nature as the structural system in the building to improve the resistance performance and stability of the structural system.

▲The Wilfredo Mendez Vazquez Design Research Group in Puerto Rico

Through research on the composition and structure of human bones and muscles, they abstracted them as the structure of the building using a structural bionics method The system has greatly improved the traditional domino structural system in terms of the usage of structural materials and the resistance performance of the structural system.

Based on the light weight and strong structural capabilities of human bones, computers are used to translate the biomorphological parameters of bones and muscles (such as geometric shapes, proportions, structures, etc.) into reinforced concrete materials in buildings. Structural members, and imitate the hollow characteristics of bones, use the mechanical principle of minimal bending in the geometric center area of ??the structural column to process the structural members into a hollow form, and use cables to enhance the stability of the structural system.

Conclusion

The classic domino system contains extremely rich connotations. Using specific technical thinking paths and corresponding technical actions can stimulate its inner vitality and ultimately contribute to architecture. Innovative design purpose. Therefore, studying the traditional domino system is still very inspiring for us to restore the structure of the system, use new materials, new technologies and new thinking to explore innovative channels for architectural design.