With architects aiming to create buildings and public spaces that are inviting, interesting and novel, building designs are exhibiting far more curvature than has been seen in the past.

This is where space frame systems come into their own, providing an unmatched means of achieving almost any structural and decorative form and allowing architects to affordably add an artistic or symbolic statement to the structures they design, says a spokesman for Yousif Al Mandil, a Saudi Arabia-based manufacturer of space frame systems.
Yousif Al Mandil has developed jointly with Saudi Steel Pipe (SSP) the ME-SSP space frame system, which offers a structurally efficient joint system that could be designed to offer any degree of moment and axial capacity.
“The members of the space frame, which are directly connected to each other at their ends through a series of flanges and bolts, form an integral joint system that entirely eliminates the use of secondary nodes at the centre,” the spokesman explains.
A typical ME-SSP space frame member consists of four flanges fillet-welded to a solid steel rod at a precise location defined by the circumferential angle, and the offset distance from the rod end. The strut is stiffened at the ends by a novel “swaging” technique, which enables the rod to fit accurately at the reduced member end, thus ensuring concentric load distribution at the centre of the geometric nodal point.”
Space frames provide an affordable means of achieving visually impressive structural arrangements that provide appeal in many different ways to all buildings, says the spokesman.
“There is virtually no limit to the geometrical arrangements that are possible as they can be used to create a wide range of shapes ranging from domes, spheres, cones, prisms, ovaloids, toroids, arches, cylinders, ellipses, pyramids, cantilevered, suspended, inclined structures, multiple curvatures and free-form shapes.”
“Often a limited project budget restricts the thinking of the designer to less interesting materials and buildings layouts, It is very easy to create an aesthetic enhancement to a building with a limited budget through the addition of a decorative and functional entrance canopy that becomes the visual feature and focal point.
“In addition to architectural appeal, space frames can cost effectively make the structural members the feature in a building. Space frames not only provide structural support to the cladding system and service lines but can be left exposed internally. The savings afforded by eliminating the need for ceiling materials, installation, painting and maintenance are substantial,” he says.
The spokesman continues: “In addition, by allowing air-conditioning, heating and other service lines to pass through the frame, they help maximise the available ceiling height. This can allow major construction economy, particularly in multi-storey buildings, by reducing the required floor height.
“Curved structural members often provide more economical use of material than more conventional beam-column arrangements. A dome roof, for instance, may require only a third of the steel mass of conventional members.
Space frame structures often provide the theme at entertainment, recreational and commercial facilities, he says.
The spokesman elaborates: ”An intelligent architectural solution is one where the structural members can be the feature of the building, serving to create a visual theme but also can reduce cost that might otherwise be incurred to cover unsightly structural members. The space frame system is aesthetically appealing and very flexible in dimension, material, finish and colour. The smooth lines of the tubular members, simple joint consistency with no exposed discontinuity has considerable visual appeal.
“Ceiling-height constraints pose no problem for space frames structures because the open web of the frames allows air-conditioning and heating ducts, fire water supply, other service lines, and lighting to be accommodated within the frame depth.”
“The system’s frame ideally suits building spaces where asymmetric or complex geometry applies or where long column-free space is needed. It is frequently used in airports and other heavy-traffic areas where clear sight to signage, and open, airy, high ceiling space is required.
“Space frames structures are an ideal solution where large expanses of glass in walls or roofs are designed which must be reinforced against wind, snow, and other live loads.”
“Further advantages of space frames include the fact that the design, manufacture and installation times and costs are often much less than for other structural arrangements. Over the past 35 years, space frame design has been refined and tailored to accommodate unusual geometry. Automated processes now achieve very rapid and reliable design and detailing. Even complex space frame fabrication is readily achieved through automated, purpose-built equipment.
“Space frames are simple and quick to assemble and can be delivered onsite as kits. A single worker can readily lift each piece and the unique system requires only one bolt per joint. Since no special tools or skills are required, space frames structures can be remotely pre-assembled, so as not to interfere with other site activities, and can be easily moved to the final position when required. High quality materials and shop-applied coatings are provided to avoid site painting and in-service maintenance,” he concludes.