The document summarizes a student group's project to construct a scale model of the San Paolo Parish Complex designed by Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas. It describes the structural systems of the walls and roof, the model-making process showing construction of the walls, beams, and skylights, and an analysis of materials used and the challenge of angled light shafts penetrating the walls. It concludes that the project was a success and provided the students knowledge of solid construction techniques.

1. Massimiliano & Doriana Fuksas
San Paolo Parish Complex

3. Introduction
Structural Focus
Systems Function
Structural Systems: Walls
Structural Systems: Roof
Model-making Process
Concept
Model Analysis
Structure Analysis
Conclusion
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4. CONCEPT
pg 4

5. “The suspension of a volume
within another. Seeing through
concrete heaven, from outside,
to inside, to outside”
-Massimiliano Fuksas
“For the achievement of the architect
was inspired by the vertical design
of the church, in keeping with
the liturgical celebration of the Mass
and the intention was to redefine
the concept of a link
between heaven and earth
through the momentum upward.”
-Bellaumbria.net
pg 5

6. Site: Via del Roccolo 30, 06034 Foligno PG, Italy
Project Year: 2001-2009
Client: Italian Episcopal Conference - Diocesi of Foligno
Total area: 20,690 sqm
Building area: 610 sqm
Parish complex: 1,300 sqm
symbol of rebirth - the San Paolo church designed by
Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas in 2009 was introduced
after a devastating earthquake locally. It emerged as the winning
entry for a competition - proposed for a developing town named
Foligno, against a gorgeous mountainous backdrop in Italy. Til
present, it functions to serve the San Paolo Parish’s Catholic
congregation.
The 25 metres tall, monolithic, box of a building stands out in
strong contrast against the organic backdrop of huge mountains
and amongst quaint residential buildings, yet, it manages to blend
in with its seemingly modernist neighbours.
Cladded in light grey, the concrete and steel church features
distinctive “light canons” on its East and West facades. These
structural openings ingeniously control and direct sunlight into the
building. To the South, a gentle slope leads to a broad band of clear
glass, with a cross marking the point of entry. The interior is a box
within a box, position centrally and unified by a ceiling with three
rectangular skylights which alludes to the holy trinity. The interior
“box” is made of lightweight concrete on a steel frame, suspended
from structural beams in the roof to hover above the floor at the
height of 3 metres.
As if personifying the paradox of faith, the San Paolo church is
really a complex creation, in spite of staggering simplicity observed
at first sight.
Factual reference: http://www.theplan.it/J/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88
2:complesso-parrocchiale-san-paolo&Itemid=367&lang=en
A
pg 6

7. STRUCTURAL FOCUS
ROOF
WALLS
pg 7

8. STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: WALLS
Exterior Wall
Materials:
- The structure of the external wall
consists of reinforced concrete columns
with reinforced concrete beams forming
the frames.
- Styrofoam panels form the walls with
reinforced concrete layer sandwiching
the Styrofoam panels.
- The concrete layers are linked to each
other with metal elements.
Holes for
metal ties
Styrofoam
Panel
Reinforced
Concrete layer
Column
Beam
Holes for metal
ties
Reinforced
Concrete layer
Styrofoam Panel
Column
Beam
pg 8

9. Interior Wall
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: WALLS
Secondary
roof beam
Steel Structure
Plaster Board
Bracket on beam to
connect to the steel
structure
Materials:
- The internal walls are supported by steel
structure which connects to the roof.
- Plaster boards are installed to form the walls.
Secondary roof
beam
Plaster Board
Steel structure
Bracket on beam to
connect to the steel
structure
pg 9

10. STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: ROOF
Secondary
roof beam
Main roof
beam
Roof truss
Materials:
- The roof consists of 5 main beams and a series
of secondary beams. The secondary beams
support the “hung walls”.
- The internal elements of the roof are formed
by trusses.
The roof is finished with a reinforced concrete
slab
Main roof beam
Roof truss
Secondary roof
beam
pg 10

11. SYSTEMS FUNCTION
Roof
External wall
Internal wall
Light shafts
- Barrier to harsh weather
- Windbreaker
- Provides thermal
insulation
- Waterproofs building
interior
- Control excessive lighting
- Hold up roof beams
- Isolate space for privacy
- Provides added insulation
- Control and direct sunlight
into the main space
- Creates an “upward
momentum”
- Define spatial hierarchy
Barrier to harsh cold weather
- Windbreaker
- Provides thermal insulation
- Waterproofs building interior (Direct rainwater away)
- Control excessive lighting
pg 10

12. MODEL-MAKING PROCESS
The walls
pg 12

13. MODEL-MAKING PROCESS
The I-beams and trusses
pg 13

14. MODEL-MAKING PROCESS
The walls and roof
pg 14

15. MODEL-MAKING PROCESS
The skylights
pg 15

16. MODEL-MAKING PROCESS
The mock-up model The final model
pg 16

17. MODEL ANALYSIS
Materials:
Failure - Concrete (cement+sand+water)
Initially, concrete was used for the construction of wall. However the it was predicted that the heavy load of concrete was
not practical due to the large area of walls needed to be built. Other than that, there wereforeseen difficulties in controlling
the thickness of the internal concrete walls. At the chosen scale, those walls would measure 0.2cm thick which might lead
to severe concrete cracks.
Success – Chipboard
Instead of using concrete, chipboard was used to represent the concrete material as it is lighter in weight and could
acheive the appropriate thickness needed without compromising in structural stability.
Concrete Concrete Chipboard
pg 17

18. MODEL ANALYSIS
Construction of light shafts:
Slanted light shafts penetrating through the outer and inner walls are angled, therefore, their openings vary in position
on both walls. This resulted in a tricky situation as the angles are varied and unknown to the team. Nevertheless, an
ingenious solution was found by one of the teammates thereafter.
The location of openings on both walls were figured out by calculating ratios with the formula below:
d1/d2 = D1/D2
pg 18

19. STRUCTURE ANALYSIS
Load distribution:
pg 19

20. CONCLUSION
The project has been a success despite several bumps faced along
the way. Much knowledge with regards to solid building construction
has been gained by the team. Many thanks to Ms Sufina who was
supportive of the project and provided effective advice.
pg 20

22. PRODUCED BY:
Choo Ai Lin [0317253]; Hiew Yen Nee [0314212]; Kian Soon Jean [0314978];
Leong Carmen [0314953]; Liew Hui En [0314920]; Tan Heng Yee [0314941]; Yong Seh Li [0314345]
Building Construction 2 (ARC 2513)
Project 2 - Solid Construction