8 DYNAMIC SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT DEFY GRAVITY

Not Your Average Column: 8 Dynamic Support Systems That Defy Gravity
By James Bartolacci, Architizer, 13 February 2014.

Traditional support systems, like upright columns and load-bearing frames, are a thing of the past. In contemporary designs, support systems are angled, turned, or thinned-out, transforming them into sculptural elements. In some designs, these dynamic supports lift entire buildings off the ground, while in others, supports span multiple stories to hold up a heavy cantilever. Check out our collection of the most innovative new support systems that seem to make contemporary buildings defy gravity.

1. Centra at Metropark by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates - Iselin, New Jersey, USA

When Kohn Pedersen Fox renovated Centra at Metropark, a formerly ordinary office building, they added a bold cantilevered addition to the rooftop to breathe new life into the drab structure. An asymmetrical tree-like column offers support and acts as a focal point.

2. Office Building in Lazika by Architects of Invention - Lazika Municipality, Georgia

This futuristic office building by Architects of Invention features slim, angled piers that stretch from the ground up through two sculptural forms, creating the illusion that the top volume is hovering.

3. *Scape by RSP Architects Planners Engineers - Singapore

Six thick columns in a hexagonal shape support a projecting section of *Scape (by RSP Architects Planners Engineers), a streamlined community and exhibition space in Singapore.

4. Spaceship Home by NOEM - Madrid, Spain

Like a lunar module, the Spaceship Home by NOEM features an innovative lightweight construction and a thin support system that lifts the structure off the ground - a fitting design for an out-of-this-world name. [Video]

5. Lanternen by AtelierOslo and AWP - Langgata, Norway

In the centre of the Langgata district of Sandnes, this glass-clad pavilion, Lanternen by AtelierOslo and AWP, revitalizes the town square. Four groups of massive 150x150mm oak columns with steel joints hold up the sculptural roof.

6. deBrug / deKade by JHK Architecten - Rotterdam, The Netherlands

To create a distinct icon in the warehouse district of Rotterdam, JHK Architecten designed deBrug / deKade, a daring addition to the roof of an existing factory. Four columns slant towards the roof, creating a support system that seems to defy gravity.

7. Toda House by Office of Kimihiko Okada - Hiroshima, Japan

To leave space at ground level for a future shop, Office of Kimihiko Okada lifted the Toda House off the street via a series of steel posts, taking inspiration from a bird's nest.

8. Haus der Schüler by METARAUM - Germany

This design for a school dormitory by METARAUM sought to expose the structure's timber and steel construction. On the façade, a rotating inclined timber column system supports the cantilevered, weather-protective roof.

[Source: Architizer. Edited. Some links added.]