Eduardo Torroja
Encyclopedia
Eduardo Torroja y Miret, (1899–1961) was a Spanish
structural engineer
, pioneer in the design of concrete
-shell
structures. His first large project was the Tempul cable-stayed
aqueduct
in 1926, Guadalete, Jerez de la Frontera, in which he used prestressed girders, and he made his name with the concrete
shell-roof at the Algeciras Market Hall (1933). Eduardo Torroja designed thin-shell
water tower in Fedala and the roof of hippodrome "Zarzuela" in the form of hyperboloid of revolution.
He also used steel with great élan, as at the roof of the Football Stadium, Barcelona
(1943). He designed innovative structures in numerous parts of the world
, including Morocco
and Latin America
. His books include Philosophy of Structures (1958) and The Structures of Eduardo Torroja (1958).
In search for new materials, Torroja later became famous for his exploration for uses of concrete, which was found to be a strong and cheap in-cost material. Today, Torroja is mainly known for his development of reinforced concrete.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
structural engineer
Structural engineer
Structural engineers analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants...
, pioneer in the design of concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
-shell
Thin-shell structure
Thin-shell structures are light weight constructions using shell elements. These elements are typically curved and are assembled to large structures...
structures. His first large project was the Tempul cable-stayed
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
in 1926, Guadalete, Jerez de la Frontera, in which he used prestressed girders, and he made his name with the concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
shell-roof at the Algeciras Market Hall (1933). Eduardo Torroja designed thin-shell
Thin-shell structure
Thin-shell structures are light weight constructions using shell elements. These elements are typically curved and are assembled to large structures...
water tower in Fedala and the roof of hippodrome "Zarzuela" in the form of hyperboloid of revolution.
He also used steel with great élan, as at the roof of the Football Stadium, Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
(1943). He designed innovative structures in numerous parts of the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
, including Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. His books include Philosophy of Structures (1958) and The Structures of Eduardo Torroja (1958).
Personal Characteristics
Torroja believed that a structure should follow the personality of its designer. Some believe every specific twist and turn in a structure reflects an important event in one’s life. Believing in the latter, Torroja developed new ways of looking at structures as well as ways to increase the strength of the structures without dimming aesthetics. Torroja illustrated an interest in forms of art that dwindled within most of his structures which often incorporated his visions.Socioeconomic and Political Environment
In the 1920s Europe was left in ruins to struggle with economic and political recovery. Since Spain was short on steel supplies, Torroja had to pursue other materials.In search for new materials, Torroja later became famous for his exploration for uses of concrete, which was found to be a strong and cheap in-cost material. Today, Torroja is mainly known for his development of reinforced concrete.
Further reading
- Eduardo Torroja: The Structures of Eduardo Torroja, Ministerio de Fomento, Madrid, ISBN 84-498-0462-0, 2000
- Eduardo Torroja: Philosophy of Structures, University of California Press, Los Angeles, 1958, (translated by Jaroslav Joseph PolivkaJaroslav Joseph PolivkaJaroslav Joseph Polivka , Czech structural engineer who collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright between 1946 and 1959....
with Milos Polivka)