Professor Ornella Iuorio is an academic and researcher working at the edge between architecture and structural engineering. Ornella joined the University of Leeds (UK) in September 2015 and she is currently Professor and Chair in Architecture & Structures. Educated at the University of Naples (IT) and growing her research carrier at MIT (USA) and Johns Hopkins University, she is a leader in prefab, lightweight structures and digital. She is the Director of the "Cities, Infrastructure and Energy" team at University of Leeds.
Since antiquity masonry shell structures have had a key role in architecture. Although masonry te... more Since antiquity masonry shell structures have had a key role in architecture. Although masonry tends, largely, to be used as a non-structural cladding material in most forms of contemporary architecture, relatively recent research has been reported on the use of masonry for shell structures. Such work provides an opportunity to reintroduce masonry into the architectural environment. This paper investigates the use of two currently available form-finding methods to design a free-form masonry shell structure to comply with a basic initial brief. One form-finding method is based on thrust network analysis, the other is based on the use of particle-spring systems. The structural behaviour of the two shell structures generated using the different form-finding methods is assessed under two load combinations, vertical loading and combined lateral (wind) and vertical loading, using an elastic finite element analysis. Comparisons of the two designs are made indicating differences in the mass...
Post-earthquake (re)settlements are too often the results of political decisions, driven by the u... more Post-earthquake (re)settlements are too often the results of political decisions, driven by the urgency of housing survivors in emergency. There is very limited evidence of strategic decisions made for the long-term wellbeing of the displaced communities. This has certainly been the case, for the post-earthquake reconstructions developed in the aftermath of the 2016 Muisne earthquake in Ecuador. Previous research has indeed demonstrated, through qualitative empirical research, the failure of the developed resettlements from both a technical and a social perspective. This paper aims to re-think the way to conceive (re)settlements with the aim to co-produce with local experts and inhabitants possible future scenarios. A first pilot case, that adopts design solutions at the urban and housing unit level, which are strongly connected to the local geographic and cultural context, is discussed. This paper presents and discusses the design evolution of the proposed pilot case, posing the at...
Reducing the embodied and operational energy of buildings is a key priority for construction and ... more Reducing the embodied and operational energy of buildings is a key priority for construction and real estate sectors. It is essential to prioritize materials and construction technologies with low carbon footprints for the design of new buildings. Off-site constructions systems are claimed to have the potential to deliver a low carbon build environment, but at present there are a lack of data about their real environmental impacts. This paper sheds lights on the environmental performance of two offsite technologies: cold formed steel and cross laminated timber. Specifically, the environmental impacts of a CFS technology are discussed according to six standard impact categories, which includes the global warming potential and the total use of primary energy. The study is based on a detailed cradle to gate life cycle analysis of a real case study, and discusses the impacts of both structural and non-structural components of CFS constructions. As a useful frame of reference, this work ...
Complex forms, that in history have always been challenges for architects are now becoming famili... more Complex forms, that in history have always been challenges for architects are now becoming familiar to people working at the edge between architecture and structural design. This is, in particular, true for free form shells design. Before the digital revolution, the shell complexity was statically determined through funicular chains, and physical modelling was an essential part of the design process. Today the growth of computer modelling is accelerating the process. However, fabrication and prototyping are still essential part of the process. The growth of the additive and subtractive manufacturing industry opens new avenues for shell design as the design process can be fine-tuned through the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), and the manufacturing process can be carried out by robotics. Thereby free flowing shell forms once too complex for traditional construction methods can now be imagined through the additive manufacturing process. This paper, presents the exploration...
The research reported in this paper has been developed under a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KT... more The research reported in this paper has been developed under a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP #11543) coordinated by Dr Ornella Iuorio. The project is co-funded by Innovate UK and ilke Homes Ltd. The authors would like to thank Nigel Banks, Director of Special Projects at ilke Homes Ltd., for all the constructive comments.
This chapter discusses the interactions between vegetation and the urban environment to improve h... more This chapter discusses the interactions between vegetation and the urban environment to improve human thermal comfort as well as guarantee the well-being of people. A network of green spaces can promote well-being benefits, including recreation, healthy living, reducing flooding, improving air quality, cooling the urban environment, encourage-ageing walking and cycling, and enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience. During the decision-making process, urban planning and design cannot be based only on qualitative criteria, quantitative analyses of the benefits associated with green networks need to be considered at the various scales of the urban form. The aim of this chapter is to present quantitative tools that can be used for the evaluation of urban thermal comfort at different scales of urban planning and design. The tools briefly described in this chapter consist in field measurements, field survey, analysis of real situations and future scenario analysis. In particular, ...
Since antiquity masonry shell structures have had a key role in architecture. Although masonry te... more Since antiquity masonry shell structures have had a key role in architecture. Although masonry tends, largely, to be used as a non-structural cladding material in most forms of contemporary architecture, relatively recent research has been reported on the use of masonry for shell structures. Such work provides an opportunity to reintroduce masonry into the architectural environment. This paper investigates the use of two currently available form-finding methods to design a free-form masonry shell structure to comply with a basic initial brief. One form-finding method is based on thrust network analysis, the other is based on the use of particle-spring systems. The structural behaviour of the two shell structures generated using the different form-finding methods is assessed under two load combinations, vertical loading and combined lateral (wind) and vertical loading, using an elastic finite element analysis. Comparisons of the two designs are made indicating differences in the mass...
Post-earthquake (re)settlements are too often the results of political decisions, driven by the u... more Post-earthquake (re)settlements are too often the results of political decisions, driven by the urgency of housing survivors in emergency. There is very limited evidence of strategic decisions made for the long-term wellbeing of the displaced communities. This has certainly been the case, for the post-earthquake reconstructions developed in the aftermath of the 2016 Muisne earthquake in Ecuador. Previous research has indeed demonstrated, through qualitative empirical research, the failure of the developed resettlements from both a technical and a social perspective. This paper aims to re-think the way to conceive (re)settlements with the aim to co-produce with local experts and inhabitants possible future scenarios. A first pilot case, that adopts design solutions at the urban and housing unit level, which are strongly connected to the local geographic and cultural context, is discussed. This paper presents and discusses the design evolution of the proposed pilot case, posing the at...
Reducing the embodied and operational energy of buildings is a key priority for construction and ... more Reducing the embodied and operational energy of buildings is a key priority for construction and real estate sectors. It is essential to prioritize materials and construction technologies with low carbon footprints for the design of new buildings. Off-site constructions systems are claimed to have the potential to deliver a low carbon build environment, but at present there are a lack of data about their real environmental impacts. This paper sheds lights on the environmental performance of two offsite technologies: cold formed steel and cross laminated timber. Specifically, the environmental impacts of a CFS technology are discussed according to six standard impact categories, which includes the global warming potential and the total use of primary energy. The study is based on a detailed cradle to gate life cycle analysis of a real case study, and discusses the impacts of both structural and non-structural components of CFS constructions. As a useful frame of reference, this work ...
Complex forms, that in history have always been challenges for architects are now becoming famili... more Complex forms, that in history have always been challenges for architects are now becoming familiar to people working at the edge between architecture and structural design. This is, in particular, true for free form shells design. Before the digital revolution, the shell complexity was statically determined through funicular chains, and physical modelling was an essential part of the design process. Today the growth of computer modelling is accelerating the process. However, fabrication and prototyping are still essential part of the process. The growth of the additive and subtractive manufacturing industry opens new avenues for shell design as the design process can be fine-tuned through the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), and the manufacturing process can be carried out by robotics. Thereby free flowing shell forms once too complex for traditional construction methods can now be imagined through the additive manufacturing process. This paper, presents the exploration...
The research reported in this paper has been developed under a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KT... more The research reported in this paper has been developed under a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP #11543) coordinated by Dr Ornella Iuorio. The project is co-funded by Innovate UK and ilke Homes Ltd. The authors would like to thank Nigel Banks, Director of Special Projects at ilke Homes Ltd., for all the constructive comments.
This chapter discusses the interactions between vegetation and the urban environment to improve h... more This chapter discusses the interactions between vegetation and the urban environment to improve human thermal comfort as well as guarantee the well-being of people. A network of green spaces can promote well-being benefits, including recreation, healthy living, reducing flooding, improving air quality, cooling the urban environment, encourage-ageing walking and cycling, and enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience. During the decision-making process, urban planning and design cannot be based only on qualitative criteria, quantitative analyses of the benefits associated with green networks need to be considered at the various scales of the urban form. The aim of this chapter is to present quantitative tools that can be used for the evaluation of urban thermal comfort at different scales of urban planning and design. The tools briefly described in this chapter consist in field measurements, field survey, analysis of real situations and future scenario analysis. In particular, ...
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