Do you see any structures around you? Which material are each made of? Why is this material suitable for the structure?
1. The Capitol's dome Is the massive dome situated above the U.S. Capitol, which is 288 feet (88 m) high and 96 feet (29 m) wide. It s made of 4.ooo tons of cast iron. Fourty brown stone columns are needed to carry this huge weight. Do you think that wood columns would do this job?
1. The Capitol's dome Do you think that wood columns would do this job? Wood is not resistant enough to carry this weight. Stone is very resistant, so it is very often used in massive structures which carry huge weights.
2. Golden gate bridge This big structure connects the two sides of the San Francisco Bay. It s 2,7 km long, and 230 m high. Carries a six lane highway, and two more lanes for bikes and pedestrians. It s made of steel. Do you think that cast iron would be a good material to make this structure?
2. Golden gate bridge Do you think that cast iron would be a good material to make this structure? Cast Iron is not a good material to make bridges because it's too fragile. Steel is very tough, so it's very often used to construct bridges, buildings, etc.
3. Madrid- Barajas Airport (T4) It has a big yet light structure, made with light steel tubes and wood. It s designed to provide a warm and aesthetic environment to the millions of passengers that use it. Do you think that concrete would be a good material for this purpose?
3. Madrid- Barajas Airport (T4) Do you think that concrete would be a good material for this purpose? Concrete is cold and unpleasant. Wood is warm and nice, so it's very often used inside buildings, where people is going to spend some time, to provide a comfortable environment.
4. Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao) It s one of the most admired contemporary buildings. It covers a 32.000 square meters site along the Nervión River. It has a remarkable titanium cover designed to catch the surrounding light. Do you think that stone would be a good material for this building?
4. Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao) Do you think that stone would be a good material for this building? Stone doesn't reflect light, so isn't good to catch people's eyes. Titanium is shiny and never gets rusty. For this reason is used sometimes to cover structures, making them attractive.
5. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Opened in 1959, Located in Manhattan, New York City it is the sister museum of the Guggenheim in Spain The exterior of the museum is made of gunite, a mixture of sand and cement that is sprayed on the inside of a wood and steel frame, which is later removed Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright The shape of the building is influenced by a ziggurat, ancient Mesopotamian temple Because of it s unusual round, windowless design, it was very controversial when it was built and many artist protested the design.
The Skylight at the center of the museum
6. The London Millennium Footbridge Steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in the City of London Began construction in 1998 and opened in 2000 and called the Wobbly Bridge due to the slight swaying. The bridge then closed for construction and was reopened in 2002 Cost 18.2 M pounds to build It is 144 meters long and 4 meters wide. Was featured in the 6th Harry Potter film franchise
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Questions Copy each question in your notebook. Then, working in pairs, answer it and write the answer in your notebook. You have five minutes to answer each one. After fifteen minutes, you will share your answers With the rest of the class, so try to make them As clear and understandable as you can.
Questions 1. Explain the purpose of each of the structures you have just seen in this presentation. 2. Explain why the material used in each structure is the best for its purpose. 3. Mention other structures that: a) carry a huge weight b) connect people c) protect its inside space d) catch people's attention 4. Why did artists protest the Guggenheim structure? 5. Why was the Millennium bridge closed for two years?