Geometry and Mechanics, Inescapable Tools of Architectural and Structural Design

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to described some teaching procedures that have been applied in the education on structures for architecture stu- dents at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (unam). Even though most of the architecture curricula at Mexican higher education institutions include the subjects of mechanics and geometry, they are taught separately and are not applied to architectural concepts and struc- tural design. In order to mitigate these undesirable teaching conditions, a group of professors has attempted to simultaneously incorporate me- chanics and geometry into the conception and design of structures. In response to the aforementioned circumstances, "Mechametry" was cre- ated as a new subject in the unam architecture curriculum. Mechametry has been offered for 10 years to undergraduate students, as well as to students in the Design of Lightweight Structures specialization course. Nowadays, many former students are working for companies in Mexico and around the world and are directly involved in the design and con- struction of shells and other spatial structures, primarily tensile surface structures. Some selected projects by these students will be shown and described in this paper, as will projects that have received awards in inter- national contests for architecture students.