In the discipline of architecture, structure is the entire system of load-bearing elements that allows buildings to remain stable against both their own weight and external forces. These systems not only define the physical boundaries of a building but also influence the perception, experience, and interpretation of space. Structure is not merely a technical element offering static and engineering solutions; it is also a part of architectural design as a tool for aesthetic, spatial, and cultural expression. Structural formation has sometimes been used as an indicator of power, authority, corporate identity, or cultural belonging.
Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe in Valencia (Milan Chudoba)
Historical Development
The historical development of structure began with humanity's most fundamental need for shelter and evolved in accordance with technical knowledge accumulation, material technologies, and cultural values. Early structures were simple, made from natural materials like stone, tree branches, and clay. With the increasing accumulation of technical knowledge over time, monumental structures such as mastabas, pyramids, and ziggurats emerged in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. In Greek and Roman civilizations, stone blocks and post-and-lintel systems developed. In Greek and Roman civilizations, the post-and-lintel system matured, producing examples with high aesthetic and proportional integrity, such as the Parthenon.
In Islamic architecture, structure was generally shaped around brick and stone masonry systems, along with covering elements like domes and vaults. Here, structure was not merely load-bearing but also an element carrying the meaning of the sacred space. In examples such as the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan, the structure integrated with architectural ornamentation, acquiring abstract aesthetic values.
From the 12th century onwards, Gothic architecture, which rose in Europe, treated structure as an expression of verticality and divine grandeur. In buildings such as Notre-Dame de Paris and Chartres Cathedral, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and pointed arch systems played an important role as both technical solutions and symbolic indicators.
In the Far East, timber frame systems were developed to provide flexibility against earthquake risks. In examples such as Hōryū-ji Temple, complex timber joint details emphasize the continuity of the structure and the symbolic value of the building.
Developments in the production of materials such as iron, steel, and glass in the 18th and 19th centuries led to structural revolutions. The Crystal Palace (1851) is the first building where glass and cast iron were combined in a large-scale structure. During this period, load-bearing systems turned towards expressive and experimental forms for the first time.
At the beginning of the 20th century, modernist architects adopted the principle of "form follows function," making structure simple, functional, and repeatable. Le Corbusier's residential buildings elevated on pilotis or Mies van der Rohe's steel structures with glass facades displayed the building's load-bearing system with transparency and openness.
From the second half of the 20th century onwards, structures shaped by parametric design and digital production techniques redefined aesthetic and technical boundaries. Buildings like the Centre Pompidou exposed their load-bearing systems, making the structure both the identity and the technological indicator of the building. Architects such as Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry re-envisioned structure with fluid forms and dynamic surfaces.
Types of Structures
Structural systems vary according to the arrangement of load-bearing elements, material types, and architectural design goals. Vertical load-bearing elements include columns, shear walls, and load-bearing walls, while horizontal load-bearing elements are generally formed with beams, slabs, and plates. Preferred for large-span spaces, space frame systems and shell structures provide effective load-bearing by distributing the load across the surface. Suspension and tensile systems stand out as a result of the quest for lightness and permeability. These systems are frequently preferred, especially in designs for exhibitions, marketplaces, and temporary structures.
An Image Representing a Space Frame System (Generated by Artificial Intelligence.)
In material-based systems, traditional materials such as stone, brick, and wood are used alongside modern solutions like steel, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete. Nowadays, hybrid systems (e.g., steel + glass or reinforced concrete + steel combinations) combine both structural durability and aesthetic diversity. In new generation structural systems, form, load analysis, and material distribution are simultaneously optimized under the influence of parametric design. These systems, combined with digital production, enable the realization of spatial configurations previously impossible.
The Role of Structure in Architectural Design
Structure does not only serve a physical load-bearing function; it also defines spatial boundaries, creates visual focal points, and adds meaning to the building. Especially in modern and contemporary architecture, load-bearing elements have transformed into aesthetic means of expression. Structure is a guide in organizing space, a manager of spatial flow, and a carrier of formal integrity. For instance, Frei Otto's tensile structures or Santiago Calatrava's kinetic load-bearing systems embody both the technical and symbolic dimensions of a building simultaneously.
Frei Otto's Olympic Stadium in Munich (Pixabay)
Structure and Technology Relationship
Technological advancements have expanded the formal and functional possibilities of architectural structures. Digital tools like CAD/CAM and BIM enable the modeling, testing, and optimization of load-bearing systems for production in a virtual environment. Advanced analysis software allows for the simulation of complex loads, enabling the design of safer and more economical structures. New generation systems like kinetic structures are evolving as dynamic buildings that can respond to environmental variables. In these systems, structure has transformed into a reactive and flexible component, rather than a static one.
Current Approaches and Discussions
The use of lightweight materials, modular systems, and reusable structural components has gained importance in reducing environmental impact. Solutions that increase energy efficiency in structural design (shading systems, natural ventilation openings, load-bearing solutions appropriate to the building's orientation) are becoming widespread. Structural elements produced with 3D printing enable the realization of unique geometries. Thanks to innovations in material science, new load-bearing materials such as self-healing concrete and shape-memory metal are being integrated into structural design.
Structure is no longer regarded merely as an engineering matter but also as a representational element of architecture within its cultural context; the identity, belonging, and message of a building are linked to the configuration of its load-bearing systems. For this reason, structural decisions often become the bearer of a design manifesto.
