ABSTRACT
The design of the Stansted Airport Terminal building is overwhelmed by the spreading arms of the roof structure, which is based on 36 modules in tubular structure. The outside modules are standing trees of tubular structure, which keep up intermediate roof modules of the same size that are connected along their edges. The 4 spreading arms carry the perimeter of a tubular triangulated framework shell visible as a vaulted ceiling. During the construction the 4 arms were held together by ties, which are connected in a very crucial joint, on the site called the ‘Jesus joint’. The primary tubular structure module is concentrated on ground level of the terminal in 4 CHS columns, welded in a majestic framework, which penetrates the
lower stories through voids. The roof structures are clad inmetal, but the tops are covered in glass to obtain overhead daylight of the terminal space, softened by perforated metal sheeting. The large overhead volume gives the building the feeling of one unifying space with smaller activities.
