Problems for the architect and town planner caused by air in motion

Abstract

This short paper makes no original contribution to knowledge but simply describes and identifies a range of problems encountered in practice by town planners and architects. The term ‘ architectural ’ in the subject title of the Discussion Meeting is taken to imply that the results of aerodynamic research are now as applicable to architectural as to engineering problems. Architecture is broadly interpreted as the coordination of many techniques to give significant form to social programmes. As this is a comprehensive activity, it follows that the problems caused by air in motion range from the location and layout of whole cities at one end of the scale, to the design of a window or the control of an ornamental jet of water at the other. In the middle of this range typical problems arise from the siting of buildings singly and in groups, and in the structure and cladding of high-rise and low-rise buildings to resist wind, rain penetration and air-borne pollution.