Vocabulary-MONOCOQUE

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Monocoque (French for *single shell*) stands for a construction technique that supports structural load using an object's external skin. (from Materialecology.com)

Monocoque, from Greek for single (mono) and French for shell (coque), is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin. Monocoque construction was first widely used in aircraft in the 1930s. Structural skin is another term for the same concept. (From Wikipedia)

LORD'S MEDIA CENTRE by Future System architect is one of the MONOCOQUE example

The NatWest Media Centre at Lord's is one of the most innovative buildings this century.

It is the first all aluminium semi-monococque building in the world and represents a breakthrough, not just in the creation of a new three-dimensional aesthetic but in its method of construction.

This building was built and fitted out not by the construction industry but by a boatyard, using the very latest advances in boat building technology.

Raised 15m above the ground, the aerodynamic contours of the building reflect the sweep of the plan of the Ground with the enclosing skin formed by a smooth, white, seamless shell. The west facing glazing is inclined to avoid any glare or reflections while providing unobstructed views of the game for the world's media.

Text from Futuresystem architect

Photos from Flickr.com