World famous architect Zaha Hadid designed The Issam Fares Institute for the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. The building, which provides a forum for debating public policy and international affairs as they pertain to the Arab world, features a cantilevered design over a public courtyard.
Hadid lifted half of the building off the ground, creating a public plaza at its entrance. She explains, "The building emerges from the geometries of intersecting routes as a series of interlocking platforms and spaces for research, engagement and discourse."
The concrete structure features walls depressed with curvaceous, multi-dimensional shapes, which have a double-function as windows. Inside, the lower level of the building accommodates a concave auditorium that seats 100. Meanwhile, the rest of the building contains workshops and research areas separated by glass partitions to retain visibility.
Fluid Concrete Buildings
Zaha Hadid Designed the Issam Fares Institute as a Cantilevered Structure
Trend Themes
1. Cantilevered Architecture - Adopting a cantilevered design for buildings in urban environments is a disruptive solution to make use of limited space and create public areas.
2. Curvaceous Designs - Innovative concrete techniques using curvaceous multi-dimensional shapes can be used to create unique and visually striking buildings that both serve a functional purpose and stand out from traditional architectural designs.
3. Transparent Partitions - Using glass partitions instead of opaque materials to separate areas within a building enhances visibility and communication between different departments, ultimately promoting collaboration and creativity.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Implementing cantilevered structures, curvaceous designs, and transparent partitions can disrupt the traditional architectural industry by offering unique and innovative solutions to common design challenges.
2. Construction - Adopting cantilevered structures and curvaceous designs require innovative construction methods and materials, opening opportunities for disruption in the construction industry.
3. Education and Research - Designing buildings that promote visibility and interaction through transparent partitions can disrupt the traditional educational and research industries by encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing.