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One of Philippe Samyn’s main preoccupations is
morphology, or the design of forms. Very early
on, he adopted the (unproved) belief that a sym-
metrical structure is more economical than an
asymmetrical one. This premise was based on
earthquake-resistant engineering, in which sym-
metrical structuring is the goal in order to avoid
torque effects. In a structure with a vertical
symmetry plane, the horizontal component of the
ground acceleration in this plane excites basically
translational and rotational oscillations parallel to
this plane, but the equilibrium of internal forces
due to the symmetry prevents transverse rota-
tional oscillation. When applied to architectural
design, it would appear that any programme is
better contained in a symmetrical structure.
The experience of the Farr house
(01-128)
in 1984,
however, provided proof that an unquestioned approach
to symmetry did not work: even though the land and its
access allowed for symmetry centred on the entrance,
THE MORPHOLOGY
OF BUILDINGS
the orientation of the house depended on the amount
of sunlight. At northern latitude, the facades need to
be glazed in the direction of the sun and closed on the
opposite side (in hot countries, the opposite is true).
Seeing a perfectly symmetrical barn in the Gers, France,
gave him the idea of combining a symmetrical structure
with an asymmetrical exterior envelope (facades and
roof)
(figure 9)
and of taking advantage of asymmetries
to position isolated elements such as staircases.
Henceforth, the combination of a structural symmetry
within an asymmetrical envelope would be a constant
theme for Philippe Samyn. This principle can, of course,
be applied to complex cases. The Design Board offices
of Behaeghel and Partners in Uccle
(01-147, figure 10)
are adapted to an uneven plot of land, while the design
of the Thompson Aircraft Tire Corporation offices
(01-186, figure 11)
was the result of the juxtaposition
of two symmetrical structures. At first, these two-
dimensional symmetrical structures are repeated in the
third dimension. Philippe Samyn then understood that
the circle (cylindrical symmetry) also possessed the
virtues of equilibrium. The offices for the Boulanger real
estate company in Waterloo
(01-200, figure 12)
show
that one can combine this cylindrical symmetry in a
portion of the circumference, with a symmetry of the
whole in any diametral plane. For the 1988 Caterpillar
project in Gosselies
(01-206, figure 13)
, the industrial
content is separated from the symmetrical-structure
envelope. Other examples of this symmetry include
the
m
&
g
research centre, Venafro
(01-222, figures 6)
,
Figure 9: Symmetrical structure
and asymmetrical envelope
Figure 10: Symmetrical structure and
asymmetrical envelope adapted to
uneven terrain – Design Board offices
of Behaeghel and Partners (01-147)
Figure 11: Juxtaposition of two
symmetrical structures – Thompson
Aircraft Tire Corporation (01-186)
Figure 12: Offices for the Boulanger
real estate company, Waterloo (01-200)
Figure 13: Caterpillar project,
Gosselies (01-206)
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