SENSORIA - EXPLORING THE 'SEQUENTIAL SPATIAL EXPERIENCE' THROUGH LARGESPAN �LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES IN EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS)

Abstract

The strength of a material cannot be measured in absolute terms. The notion that weak materials cannot be used as structures has been proven wrong by architects like Shigeru Ban in his skilful use of paper tube structures. Expanded polystyrene is one such material which extremely light weight, low cost and sustainable in use (100% recyclable). Its production and fabrication can be time efficient and ultimately cost effective in the construction industry. This material which is 98% air and 2% polystyrene is extremely good in compression yet has never been used alone for structural applications in architecture and is currently used as insulation & filler material. The potential of any material is truly tested when its application starts transforming space quality giving rise to new aesthetics in architecture. This thesis is aimed to explore the potential of EPS as a light‐weight large span structural material and its architectural applications.