Assembled Structures, Precedent Studies

BA(AS) Second Year

In the second year, we look at the affect of technology on architecture. One project we set in the design studio is an assembled structure, that is, one which is put together from parts manufactured off site. Topics over the years have included marine park pavilions, greenhouses, bus repair depots, community centres.

As the first stage in this project, we ask students to look a buildings from around the world which have been design to be constructed from such prefabricated components. In this precedent study stage, the students have to research and understand the building in question, draw plans, sections and elevations from material found, create physical and digital models and carry out basic structural analysis of components to understand their behaviours under load.

The results of some of these precedent studies have been gathered online and are available for review down below here:


2002/2003
Precedent Studies [February 2003]
2001/2002
Precedent Studies [February 2002]
2000/2001
Precedent Studies [February 2001]
  1. Alderton House
  2. Cartier Foundation
  3. Commerzbank
  4. Crownhall
  5. Eames House
  6. Exeter Library
  7. Future Systems
  8. Gateway 2
  9. Genesis Building
  10. Traditional Japanese House
  11. Jubilee Campus
  12. Kimbell
  13. La-Villette
  14. Menil
  15. Noumea
  16. Paper-Church
  17. PAT Center
  18. Portugese Espo-Pavilion
  19. Schlumberger-Cambridge Research Center
  20. Stansted Airport
  21. Tokyo Forum
  22. Town Hall
  23. Yachthouse

1999/2000
Precedent Studies [February 2000]
  1. Bercy 2 Shopping Center
  2. Channel 4 Building
  3. Denver Airport
  4. Expo 2000: Hall 26 - 1
  5. Expo 2000: Hall 26 - 2
  6. Financial Times
  7. Foundation Beyeler
  8. Olympia Stadium in Sydney



1998/99
Precedent Studies [January 1999]

Click here to access the different groups



1997/98
Precedent Studies [January 1998]
  1. KCR Terminal at Hung Hom, Hong Kong, Normal Foster
  2. IBM Traveling Exhibition Pavilion, Renzo Piano
  3. Tokyo International Forum, Japan
  4. The Menil Museum, Huston, Texas, Renzo Piano
  5. British Pavilion EXPO 1992, Seville, Spain, Nicholas Grimshaw
  6. Design Center, Linz, Austria, Thomas Herzog
  7. Inmos Microchip Factory, Richard Rogers
  8. Schlumberger Cambridge Research Centre, UK, Michael Hopkins
  9. B3 Offices in Stockley Park, Norman Foster
  10. Centre Commercial St. Herbtain, Richard Rogers
  11. PA Technology, Princeton, Richard Rogers
  12. Entrance to the Grand Louvre, Paris, I.M. Pei



1996/97
Precedent Studies [February 1997]
  1. Pavilion of the Future, Expo92 Seville, Martorell, Bohigas & Mackay (MBM)
  2. Building Precedent Study Group 2
  3. Standsted Airport Terminal, London, UK, Fosters/Arup
  4. Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art, N. Foster
  5. Daring Harbour Expo Center, Sydney Australia, P. COX
  6. Stadelhofen Railwaystation, Zurich Schweiz, Calatrava
  7. Renault Centre, Swindon UK, N. Foster
  8. Fleetguard, Quimper UK, R.Rogers
  9. Columbus International Exposition, Genoa Italy, R. Piano
  10. Lowara Offices, Montecchio Maggiore Italia, R. Piano
  11. Menil Collection Building, R. Piano
  12. Cristal Palace, London UK, Paxton/Fox



1995/96
Precedent Studies [February 1996]
  1. Two Family House in Pullach by Herzog
  2. Railway Station, Lyon, France by Calatrava
  3. Thomson Optronics Factory by Renzo Piano
  4. Waterloo International Terminal by Nicholas Grimshaw
  5. Greene King Draught Beer Dept by Michael Hopkins
  6. King Adbul Aziz International Airport, Haj Terminal by SOM
  7. The IBM Pavilion by Renzo Piano
  8. Inmos Microprocessor Factory by Richard Rogers
  9. Kansai International Airport by Renzo Piano
  10. Olympic Archery Building by Enric Miralles & Carme Pinos
  11. The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center by Renzo Piano
  12. Eagle Rock House by Ian Ritchie
  13. Le Grande Arche de La Defense by J O Spreckelsen
  14. Public Bus Stop in St. Gallen by Calatrava
  15. UNESCO workshop by Renzo Piano Building Workshop

Copyright © 2003 Department of Architecture, HKU. Updated 26/2/ 2003 by marc aurel