Design of structural systems for artworks fabrication and installation in urban areas

In urban areas, besides structures such as bridges and buildings, big sculptures are each day more common as major pieces of public art. Although these artworks are not meant to satisfy needs as housing or transport, they play an important role in the city: they are major pieces of art made accessible to everyone that enhance the environment and contribute to the urban planning.

Major sculptures must withstand the same load types as the rest of the city’s infrastructure, for example strong winds and earthquakes. The analysis of these structures is an unorthodox field for civil engineers where new challenges appear: complex shapes, innovative materials, new fabrication techniques… Moreover, public art is a field that continually evolves. Art and engineering become two aspects of the same creative process and the interaction between professionals is fundamental.

In this work, several success cases in design, fabrication and installation of artworks by some international artists in inhabited areas all over the world are presented. We reflect on the limits in analysis and design focusing on the limitations imposed by the engineering codes. The search for compromise solutions that produce safe structures that still send the artist’s message is also discussed.