COOPERATION BETWEEN ARCHITECTS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS IN THE DESIGN OF COMPLEX REINFORCED CONCRETE ROOF STRUCTURES

Abstract

The history of the relationship between architects and structural engineers went through a series of phases from the mid-19th century, when reinforced concrete began to be technologically advanced. This relationship had its ups and downs, but it became especially important when large covered spaces were formed. Both architects and structural engineers tend to make the reinforced concrete roofs more attractive, but their design is therefore becoming more and more complex. This complexity directly reflects on the relation between the architect and the engineer, on the mutual understanding of the idea and the possibility of materializing it. This paper will deal in more detail with this problem by analysing several important examples, based on which a conclusion can be drawn on the state of this relationship in the 21st century and points out the need to harmonize the relationship between the architect and the structural engineer.