Structural design of free-curved RC surface – new crematorium in Kawaguchi

This chapter reports the realization of a crematorium which has a free-curved RC surface. Construction of this building was completed in 2018. In the design process of the free-curved RC surface, a computational morphogenesis method of RC shell structure is utilized where strain energy is minimized and coordinates of control points of the parametric surface defining the roof shape are adopted as design variables. This chapter shows the structural design and construction process. This chapter presents an overall process of the structural design of the free-curved reinforced concrete (RC) surface with detail of structural design and construction. The architectural design process was started in 2011, and construction was completed in 2018. Toyo Ito Associates and Architects was responsible for architectural design, and Sasaki Structural Consultants took part in the structural design. With respect to the free-curved RC surface, a method of computational morphogenesis for the shell structures is utilized where the shape finding problem has been formulated as strain energy minimization problem. Prestressed High-strength Concrete pile is used mainly. Steel Concrete composite pile is used for pile head for seismic resistance and some RC piles with a device for collecting underground heat are provided to reduce the environmental impact. The formwork consists of the CNC girder, joist, and form board. Furthermore, curved form board which is reinforced by wooden ribs is utilized around the steel column and the edge of the surface.