The structural systems have evolved from mud and wooden skin cover huts to modern buildings and skyscrapers
defying gravity. These new constructive systems have been possible by develop and materials with high
resistance and versatility. However, regardless of era, the structural systems keep two main components:
substructure (foundations) and superstructure (beams and columns).
For this Library Assignment, pick an iconic building worldwide, and explain its structural system using course
concepts such as materials, foundations, soil resistance, beams, frames, structural behavior, and aesthetics,
among others. The paper should be in APA format, have a title page, 3-4 pages of content (minimum), and at
least three scholarly references. The research paper can be enhanced with visuals. I have chosen the Dancing
House in Prague, Czech Republic.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Structural System of the Dancing House in Prague
Introduction
The Dancing House, located in Prague, Czech Republic, is an iconic building that stands out for its unique and unconventional architectural design. Designed by architects Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry, the Dancing House has become a symbol of modern architecture in Prague. This paper aims to explore the structural system of the Dancing House, focusing on its materials, foundations, beams, frames, and overall structural behavior.
Materials
The Dancing House’s structural system incorporates a combination of materials to achieve its distinctive form and functionality. The building’s exterior features a glass curtain wall, which provides transparency and allows natural light to penetrate the interior spaces. The use of glass as a primary material not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also contributes to the building’s lightweight construction.
Additionally, the Dancing House utilizes steel and reinforced concrete for its load-bearing elements. Steel beams and columns are strategically placed to provide support and stability to the structure. Reinforced concrete is employed for the floors and core walls, ensuring strength and durability. These materials are carefully chosen to withstand the forces acting upon the building and maintain its structural integrity.
Foundations and Soil Resistance
As with any building, a strong foundation is essential to support the structural load of the Dancing House. Due to the site’s location near the Vltava River, the foundation had to be designed taking into account the potential challenges posed by the soil conditions.
The Dancing House’s foundation consists of a system of piles that extend deep into the ground. Piles are long cylindrical elements made of reinforced concrete or steel that transfer the building’s load to layers of soil with higher load-bearing capacity. The piles help distribute the weight evenly across a larger area, reducing the risk of settlement or structural damage.
To ensure adequate soil resistance, extensive soil investigations were conducted during the design phase. The engineers analyzed soil properties such as density, shear strength, and compressibility to determine the appropriate pile design and placement. This meticulous approach to foundation design ensures the stability and longevity of the structure.
Beams, Frames, and Structural Behavior
The Dancing House’s structural system relies on a combination of beams and frames to provide stability and support throughout the building. Steel beams are utilized to span large distances and distribute loads efficiently. These beams are carefully designed to resist bending and shear forces, ensuring optimal performance under various loading conditions.
Furthermore, frames play a crucial role in distributing vertical and horizontal forces across the structure. The Dancing House incorporates both moment frames and braced frames to resist wind and seismic loads. Moment frames, consisting of rigid connections between beams and columns, provide resistance against lateral forces. Braced frames, on the other hand, employ diagonal bracing elements to enhance structural stability.
The overall structural behavior of the Dancing House is characterized by its dynamic form and curved shape. The unconventional design introduces unique challenges in terms of load distribution and structural behavior. Through careful analysis and engineering, the architects and engineers were able to create a structurally sound building that defies gravity while maintaining its aesthetic appeal.
Conclusion
The Dancing House in Prague showcases an innovative and unconventional structural system that combines materials such as glass, steel, and reinforced concrete. Its foundation design ensures stability even in challenging soil conditions near the Vltava River. Beams and frames distribute loads efficiently, while the unique architectural design contributes to its overall structural behavior.
By utilizing these course concepts such as materials, foundations, soil resistance, beams, frames, structural behavior, and aesthetics, we can appreciate how the Dancing House stands as an iconic example of modern architecture. The combination of form and function demonstrates the successful integration of structural principles with architectural design elements.
