Concrete Renaissance: Design and Construction of The Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Concrete Renaissance: Design and Construction of The Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Concrete Renaissance: Design and Construction of The Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Volume 166 Issue CE1 Civil Engineering 166 February 2013 Issue CE1
Pages 19–26 http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/cien.12.00008
Concrete renaissance: design and Paper 1200008
construction of the Auditorium Oscar Received 20/03/2012 Accepted 14/06/2012
Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy Keywords: concrete structures / dynamics / seismic engineering
Martuscelli, Coppola and Di Placido
1 2 3
The Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer in Ravello, southern Italy is an iconic new concrete building perched above the
Amalfi coast. The €16·7 million, 400-seat venue was completed in 2010 and provides a much-needed venue for this
world heritage site’s wealth of renaissance-inspired art and cultural events. The main structural feature is a 35 m
vaulted roof supported on a slab cantilevering 12 m out from supporting walls, giving the building the appearance
of floating in air. This paper reports on the many multi-disciplinary design and construction challenges involved in
delivering this unique and geometrically complex building on a steep and confined site. A key issue was the need to
respect the architectural vision while achieving an efficient and sustainable design.
19
Downloaded by [] on [13/06/20]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
Civil Engineering Concrete renaissance: design and construction of
Volume 166 Issue CE1 February 2013 the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Martuscelli, Coppola and Di Placido
337.2
336.7
344.5 338.0 336.7
346.4 344.7 343.5 342.8 341.5 340.2 339.0
336.5
335.3
334.3
332.0
329.2
328.6
0 m 10
20
Downloaded by [] on [13/06/20]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
Civil Engineering Concrete renaissance: design and construction of
Volume 166 Issue CE1 February 2013 the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Martuscelli, Coppola and Di Placido
Layer 1 2
Definition Pyroclastic deposits Calcareous bedrock
Description Brown pyroclastitic deposits, with sand and lime, humus Grey calcareous rock, of poor quality, with fractured surfaces
strata, broken road paving fragments, cm size filled in with red silt grain size distribution particles
Soil friction angle, φ : degrees 28 30
Soil Poisson ratio, ν 0·37 0·50
Soil unit weight, γ : kN/m3 16 22
Soil effective cohesion, cʹ: MPa 0·01 0·10
Soil average elastic modulus, E: MPa Not applicable 7000
Rock average compressive strength, σc: MPa Not applicable 25
Table 1. Soil characterisation
The results of these tests were used to work out the Medvedev
Technical building
stiffness parameter. The corresponding soil amplification factor for
the seismic accelerations equalled 1·1; however, a factor of 1·2 was
Via della Repubblica
used in line with the minimum code recommendations (MLP, 1996). 0 m 10
3. Structural configuration
Figure 4. Plan of below-ground structures showing structural gridlines
and the construction joints between the three building parts
The project comprises three structurally separate parts: the main
auditorium, an underground car park and a largely below-ground
technical building (Figure 3). The roofs of the latter two units provide
a large, rectangular terrace leading to the auditorium.
The main feature of the auditorium is its in situ concrete vaulted
roof, the base slab of which dramatically cantilevers 12 m beyond the
downhill supporting walls. An eye-shaped opening in the vault looks
out from the stage over the sea, while a large glass facade at the north
end visually links the auditorium to the terrace. The concrete wall at In situ concrete was chosen for
the south end features a large circular window.
In situ concrete was chosen for the auditorium due to its ability
the auditorium due to its ability
to be shaped into complex forms, the opportunity to concentrate to be shaped into complex
material along the main load paths, the option to reduce self-weight
by using lightweight aggregate and the solution it offered to site forms and the opportunity to
access and logistics problems. The car park and technical building
were designed and built more conventionally, using precast floors
concentrate material along the
and in situ columns with shear walls for lateral stability (Figure 4). main load paths
21
Downloaded by [] on [13/06/20]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
Civil Engineering Concrete renaissance: design and construction of
Volume 166 Issue CE1 February 2013 the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Martuscelli, Coppola and Di Placido
0.04
0.03 response spectrum used for the design is calculated by Sg/g = CRebI
0.02
(Figure 7), where
0.01
n C is the seismic intensity coefficient, 0·04 for a category 3 zone
0 n R is the response coefficient, 1·0 for T < 0·8 s, 0·862/T2/3 for T ≥
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
0·8 s, where T is the fundamental period of the structure
T: s
n e is the foundation coefficient, 1·2 based on code indications
(MLP, 1996) and site investigation results
Figure 7. Ultimate limit state seismic response spectrum according to n b is the structure coefficient, 1·2 for structures with shear walls
Italian building regulation DM 16/01/1996 (MLP, 1996) – for a category
3 seismic zone, the maximum design acceleration is 0·678 m/s2
and frames
n I is the seismic protection factor, 1·2 for public-use buildings.
22
Downloaded by [] on [13/06/20]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
Civil Engineering Concrete renaissance: design and construction of
Volume 166 Issue CE1 February 2013 the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Martuscelli, Coppola and Di Placido
The seismic-resisting system is formed of a series of shear walls, 4.1 Analysis results
mainly located along the perimeter of the building, that allow distribution In line with the expectations, the final structural analysis results
of the seismic horizontal loading over a wide foundation base. showed that the internal forces acting on individual structural members
Design for the vertical component of seismic loading was also would be significantly affected during construction. Figure 10 shows
required due to the nature of the structure: the maximum spectrum the bending moment and shear force diagrams in the key elements at
acceleration was 1·356 m/s2 for structures exceeding 20 m span and the end of each construction phase.
2·712 m/s2 for cantilever structures. In accordance with the code An initial analysis performed on a model without cables in the
requirements (MLP, 1996), the corresponding design actions were facade confirmed that the ribbed beams of the vault did not perform
then combined with the remaining ultimate limit state loads by using a in accordance with the classic arch theory. This was mainly due
combination factor equal to 1·5. to the flexibility of the floor supporting the vault itself, which
caused significant tensile forces inside each rib to be combined with
4. Structural analysis
The proposed construction sequence is shown in Figure 8, with
temporary propping for the cantilevered floor slab and vault roof.
This resulted in a complex series of temporary loading conditions,
in addition to which it was necessary to consider time-dependent
actions such as shrinkage and creep. Structural analysis for the main 1. Contiguous pile wall 2. Excavation to foundation level
with ground anchors
construction phases and long-term loading was therefore undertaken
using a finite-element model of the whole structure.
The geometric model was built by using shell elements for
the structural surfaces and frame elements for the linear structural
components (Figure 9). Both had time-dependent material properties,
with the Young’s modulus of concrete elements changing according to 3. Foundations, first and second 4. Temporary props to
level construction cantilever floor
the CEB-FIP formulations (CEB-FIB, 1972). Different stress–strain
curves were adopted for lightweight and ordinary concrete used for the
vault and the remaining structures respectively.
As well as the traditional static and seismic induced dynamic loads,
thermal loads due to annual variation (±15°C) and shrinkage loads
were considered. These, along with creep, were particularly relevant 5. Cantilever floor construction 6. Temporary props to vault and
for the structure due to its high level of redundancy. The cable prestress completion of concrete works
was then introduced as an equivalent thermal load able to produce in
each cable a tensile force equal to 330 kN.
The structural analysis was carried out for each of the following
phases, which cover a period of nearly 28 years.
23
Downloaded by [] on [13/06/20]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
Civil Engineering Concrete renaissance: design and construction of
Volume 166 Issue CE1 February 2013 the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Martuscelli, Coppola and Di Placido
5.2 Superstructure
Superstructure construction started with the technical building and
proceeded with the construction of the auditorium and car park up to
terrace level. Once completed, the roof of the car park became the new
Figure 11. Foundations of the technical building being constructed working platform, and was used to carry out all activities related to
inside the contiguous pile retaining wall
construction of the vault and completion of below-ground areas.
24
Downloaded by [] on [13/06/20]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
Civil Engineering Concrete renaissance: design and construction of
Volume 166 Issue CE1 February 2013 the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Martuscelli, Coppola and Di Placido
Figure 12. Cable anchor sleeves ready for concreting into the Figure 13. Concreting the top of auditorium roof vault was delayed by
auditorium slab edge-beam heavy rain until winter
25
Downloaded by [] on [13/06/20]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
Civil Engineering Concrete renaissance: design and construction of
Volume 166 Issue CE1 February 2013 the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer, Ravello, Italy
Martuscelli, Coppola and Di Placido
Also during the design stage, service routes and related penetrations
into the main structures were discussed and agreed with the mechanical,
electrical and plumbing designer. The air-handling units, located on
the first basement level, inject air by way of dedicated ducts passing
through a service wall. This is integrated with the structural concrete
walls, adjacent to the soil retailing wall, also supporting the top part of
the vault. Adjustable diffusers are located just above the stalls and direct
air to the stage area, and small cylindrical diffusers are located below
the seats. Return ventilation is by way of dedicated ducts running below
the cantilever floor and below the stage, back into another service wall
integrated with the perimeter curved concrete wall.
6. Conclusions
Construction was completed in November 2009, 17 months longer
than the originally estimated and €3·5 million over the original budget
of €13·2 million (Figure 17). The delay and cost-overrun are attributed
to the unexpected complexity of the iconic design. Figure 18. Internal view of the multi-purpose auditorium, showing the
The Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer was officially opened in January north-facing glass facade incorporating tie cables and the seaward-
2010. Ravello now has an excellent venue where a wide range of events facing eye-shaped window
can be hosted, from exhibitions and visual arts to concerts, theatre and
dance events (Figure 18).
The building fully respects the original architectural vision but still References
achieves an efficient design. It required a careful selection of construction
technologies to fulfil both architectural and structural requirements.
CEB-FIP (Comité Européen du Béton-Fédération Internationale de la
Précontrainte) (1972) Recommandations Internationales pour le Calul et
The multidisciplinary approach that strongly characterised the project l'Exécution des Ouvrages en Béton – Principes et Recommandations, 2nd
added a further element of complexity since the structural layout is edn. CEB-FIP, Paris, France (in French).
a key interface with architectural and service components as well as Gnosis Architettura (2010) Niemeyer e l’Aleph. L’universo nel Dettaglio. Paparo
Edizioni, Napoli, Italy (in Italian).
specialist requirements.
MLP (Ministry for Public Works) (1996) Decreto Ministeriale 16 Gennaio 1996.
Norme tecniche relative ai criteri generali per la verifica di sicurezza delle
Acknowledgements costruzioni e dei carichi e sovraccarichi. Ministro dei Lavori Pubblici, Rome,
Italy (in Italian).
The principal members of the project team were as follows: project Monda C and Lombardo I (2010) Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer Ravello. Arte'm,
Naples, Italy (in Italian).
preliminary design and coordination up to construction completion –
Oscar Niemeyer, A. Sussekind; architecture detailed design – Gnosis
Architettura; architectural design consultants – Alessandro Castagnaro,
What do you think?
Renato De Fusco and Carmine Ianniello (acoustics); structural design If you would like to comment on this paper, please email up to 200 words
– Interprogetti and Giuseppe Sarubbi; services design – Macchiaroli & to the editor at journals@ice.org.uk.
Partners, Elletipartners and Luigi Conte; project coordination – Aldo If you would like to write a paper of 2000 to 3500 words about your own
Cappotto, Gerardo Trillo and Ravello Municipality; site supervision – experience in this or any related area of civil engineering, the editor will be
happy to provide any help or advice you need.
Rosa Zeccato and Ravello Municipality.
26
Downloaded by [] on [13/06/20]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.