An Architect’s Dream is a Civil Engineer’s Nightmare

Riya Aji

Architects are the beautiful artists in society who provide marvelous designs of structures that put people in awe. They are creators who design structures that, along with being aesthetically pleasing, are also sustainable, safe, practical, and well-suited to the intended purpose of the building. On the other hand, Civil Engineers are the people who give life to the mere designs on paper. They are professionals who design and construct structures designed by architects. The statement that an architect’s dream is a civil engineer’s nightmare is valid. This is because an architect puts his/her whole soul out to create a mind-boggling structure only for the civil engineers to rack their brains out to think of how to bring this dream into reality.

Let us take the example of the Disney Concert Hall in California. We all have admired how gloriously it stands amidst the crowd appreciating the vision of Frank Gehry but have we ever wondered about the brains taken to build the structure? Extensive computer modeling and research were required to convert Gehry’s sketches into reality accomplished by John A. Martin and Associates. The French computer modeling software, CATIA was used to develop the marvelous silver waves and arcs which is the main attraction of the structure.

Although architects envision alluring designs, it’s the art of the engineers to bring them to life considering a lot of factors including sustainability, cost, safety, functionality, etc.

Another case that could be discussed is the architectural artistry of Burj Al Arab situated in Dubai. The architects Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill designed a concrete framed structure with a Y-shaped footprint on an isolated island. In this structure, the engineers encountered many problems like increasing height at the last moment, constant testing of concrete in particular for shrinkage, sudden change in the increase of height of the structure, and also the collapse of the cladding contractor, which went into liquidation.

Civil engineers, along with technicality and execution of the design, must keep in mind the climate conditions, cost, safety, and durability of the structure which is of immense importance. However the collaboration of an architect and engineer, bringing in aesthetic, functional, and structural requirements, is the beauty behind all the structures in the world.