In many cases, when working on a renovation project within an old building, architects often encounter segmented floor plans, spaces without natural light, and complex layouts that hinder the seamless flow required in modern living. Consequently, architects typically opt for targeted demolition, removing specific walls during renovations. This solution can address several of the problems encountered but demands meticulous planning to ensure the structural integrity of the building. When it comes to scenarios like these, structural reinforcement is one of the most commonly employed methods.
Álvaro Siza's latest project in Portugal is a 16-meter high watchtower built with a lightweight steel structure featuring photovoltaic panels on the roof. This project is very different from most of Siza's works, both in terms of scale and materials. The watchtower is located in Serra das Talhadas, in the municipality of Proença-a-Nova, and is part of a larger project comprising several structures dedicated to ecotourism in the area, including the still unbuilt Miradouro do Zebro.
Structural components can be the main stars in architectural projects, contributing to the understanding of how the building's intrinsic forces are organized and distributed. Cables are constantly being used to steal the scene: they subvert the logic of supporting structures and build stable systems using tension, creating both a sense of strength and lightness in the building.
This kind of element is found in buildings of many different sizes, ranging from the steel cables of large and majestic suspension bridges to the cables on residential roofs. We have picked a series of Brazilian houses that benefit from this delicate and powerful structural component in different ways, showing the versatility of its potential applications.
Manufacturers: Saint-Gobain, A&A A Elétrica e A Hidráulica, AM Lesec Comercial, Andrade Lopes construções, Aricanduva Esquadrias, +36Cobertura Plana, Comercial e manutenção de vidros, Construflama Lareiras e Churrasqueiras, Dl Sistemas, Duratex, EG Brasil, Edal Climatização, Edilson Ferreira dos Santos Osasco ME, G.O. – InsetCenter Controle de Vetores e Pragas, Gesso Fátima, Granitorre Fulget Industrial e Comercial, HI TECH, HRX Soluções inteligentes, Hi-Tech Piscinas, Hidrosistemas, Impermeabilização Primar, J.P. Ferreira construções e instalações Hidráulicas, LS Soluções, Lightworks, Lime Service Revestimentos e Tratamento de Pisos, Lopes Construção & reforma, MJ Engenharia Elétrica, Magic Mirros, Marcenaria e Design Pimentel, Masternox, Material Zanchet, Menezes Esquadrilha comercial, Metalferco ferragens e fechaduras, Micapel Mineraao Capao das pedras, Moichi Ono, Multitherm Aquecedores Eireli, Pass World comercial Eireli, Quick Limp, Sander Inox industria e comercio, Studio metais serralheria Eireli-EPP, Zeloart Esquadrias-36
