Structures and Architecture – Beyond their limits

[Excerpt] Although Architecture and Structural Engineering have both had their own historical development, their interaction has led to many fascinating and delightful structures. However, there is still the need to stimulate the inventive and creative design of architectural structures and to persuade architects and structural engineers to further collaborate in this process. Following the success of the previous conferences held in Guimarães in 2010 and 2013 it was considered convenient to promote a third edition of this event, dedicated to the memory of Félix Escrig and aiming to promote the synergy of both disciplines and to bring together all of the very best work that has been done in the field of structures and architecture. Structures and Architecture – Beyond their Limits, contains the lectures and papers presented at the Third International Conference on Structures and Architecture (ICSA2016) that was organized by the School of Architecture of the University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal, in July 2016. It consists of a book of abstracts and a CD-ROM containing the full texts of the lectures presented at the conference, including the 4 keynote lectures, and 180 selected contributions from 34 countries. ICSA2016 aimed to promote the synergy of both disciplines. The contributions on creative and scientific aspects in the conception and construction of structures, on advanced technologies and on complex architectural and structural applications represent a fine blend of scientific, technical and practical novelties in both fields. ICSA2016 covered all major aspects of structures and architecture, including building envelopes / facades, comprehension of complex forms, computer and experimental methods, concrete and masonry structures, educating architects and structural engineers, emerging technologies, glass structures, ice structures, innovative architectural and structural design, lightweight and membrane structures, special structures, steel and composite structures, structural design challenges, tall buildings, the borderline between architecture and structuralengineering, the history of the relationship between architects andstructural engineers, the tectonic of architectural solutions, the use of new materials and timber structures, among others. [...]