This workshop focused on studying reciprocal frames, a type of self-supported structure that requires no center support. Students developed concepts, created digital drawings and 3D models, and fabricated a 1:1 scale model. Six projects were analyzed in detail and three were constructed. The model explored different patterns and support methods for the frame units.

1. Reciprocal Frames
Course: Workshop Reciprocal Frames
Work: Group
Students: Englezou Maria
Diamantouli Eliki
Year: 2014
Name of Supervisor: Vrontisi MariaSoftwares
used: Autocad 2D, Autocad 3D, Sketch up,
Rhino, Lumion, Photoshop, Illustrator, Vegas
Pro
Contribution to the project: concept develop-
ment, digital drawings, 3d digital model, pre-
sentation preparation, scaled model making/
lazer cutting, fabrication and construction of
1 : 1 scaled model, video editing for several
assemblies timelapses
Description: This workshop focuses on a study
of the reciprocal frames. A reciprocal frame
is a class of self-supported structure made of
three or more beams and which requires no
center support to create roofs, bridges or sim-
ilar structures. During the workshop, research-
es of this type of strustures and the fabrication
of small scale models were accomplished.
Firstly, six different projects were studied in a
more detailed analysis, three of which were
constructed in situ.
W
PR
RF
LEC
UD
MA
PA
ELI
MA
HA
PA
MI
PO
PR
FR
LEC
MA
PA
ELI
MA
R
VO
Th
fra
str
req
sim
of
sca
pro
thr

2. 38 units
38 large pieces
228 dowels
76 small pieces
45mmx45mm
170cm
90cm
40cm
40cm
118cm
9cm
UNIT
PLAN
PATTERN PLAN
4,07m
1,63m
ASSEMBLY
CONSTRUCTED MODEL

3. PATTERN ANALYSIS
COUNTERCLOCKWISECLOCKWISE
(L + x)/3 | L = 85.5cm||
(L + x)/3 | L = 85.5cm
PATTERN
||
(L + x)/3 | L = 94.5cm||
(L + x)/3 | L = 94.5cm
PATTERN
||
PATTERN ANAL ANAL
a = 30cm
b = 60cm = 2a
c = 30 cm = a , if (L +x) / 3
a = 33cm
b = 66cm = 2a
c = 33cm = a , if (L +x) / 3 and L = 94.5cm
30 3030
103.5
30 3025.5
30 304.5 4.54.5 4.5
5.54.54.5 4.54.5
34.5 34.534.5
a c
b
33 33 33
3 .5 3 .53 .5
33 334.54.5 4.54.5
33 2 .5 33
4.54.54.5 4.54.5
111
a c
b
L/2
(L+x)/3
(L+x)/4
(L+x)/5 a
(L+x)/5 b
L/2
(L+x)/3
(L+x)/4
(L+x)/5 a
(L+x)/5 b
PATTERN ANALOGY
ANALYSIS

4. WITHOUT BEAMS | 12 SUPPORTS||
WITHOUT BEAMS | 12 SUPPORTS||
LONGITUDINAL & TRANSVERSAL BEAMS | 12 SUPPORTS
- 4 SUPPORTS IN THE CORNERS
-2 LEVELS-LAYERS
LONGITUDINAL & TRANSVERSAL BEAMS | 12 SUPPORTS
- 4 SUPPORTS IN THE CORNERS
- 2 LEVELS-LAYERS
||
SUPPORT ANALYSIS
40 RF UNITS
31 RF UNITS
417.42
275.12
LAYER #1 | RF STRUCTURE
LAYER #2 | RF STRUCTURE
348.83
281.74
LAYER #1 | RF STRUCTURE
LAYER #2 | RF STRUCTURE
B1A1 B1A1 A1
A2
B2
SIDEb
SIDE c
A2
B2
SIDEd
SIDE a
B1 A1 A1 B1B1
SIDE aSIDE b
SIDE d SIDE c
LAYER #1 | TRANSVERSAL/LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT BEAM &
RF STRUCTURE
LAYER #2 | RF STRUCTURE
SIDE b
SIDE a
SIDE c
A
B
24 RF UNITS
2 TRANSVERSE BEAMS (SANDWICH METHOD)
2 LONGITUDINAL BEAMS (SANDWICH METHOD)
5 RF UNITS TYPE A1
2 RF UNITS TYPE A2
[A1, A2 : DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS]
5 RF UNITS TYPE B1
2 RF UNITS TYPE B2
[B1, B2 : DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS]
B1 A1 B1 A1 B1
SIDE a
SIDEb
A2
B2
A2
A2
B2
A2
SIDEd
B1A1 B1A1 A1
SIDE c
SIDE a
SIDE b
A
B
38 RF UNITS
2 TRANSVERSE BEAMS (SANDWICH METHOD)
2 LONGITUDINAL BEAMS (SANDWICH METHOD)
5 RF UNITS TYPE A1
4 RF UNITS TYPE A2
[A1, A2 : DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS]
5 RF UNITS TYPE B1
4 RF UNITS TYPE B2
[B1, B2 : DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS]
SIDE b SIDE a
SIDE cSIDE d
LAYER #1 | TRANSVERSAL/LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT BEAM &
RF STRUCTURE
LAYER #2 | RF STRUCTURE
SUPPORT ANALYSIS
FABRICATION DETAIL
PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT
PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT
PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT
PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT
PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Because of the existing weather
conditions and the multiple
asseblies the structure collapsed
and the units fell apart. There-
fore, we added 2 screws per
unit to make them more stable