ABSTRACT
It is one of the classic narratives in construction history that the first load-bearing iron frames were erected in France in the late eighteenth century. However, early iron roof structures were already built in Russia several decades before. As part of a larger study of these virtually unknown iron structures, the paper focuses on the wrought-iron roof truss of the Marble Palace in Saint-Petersburg. Covering an area of approximately 4000 m2, it was assembled in the 1770s. Designed on the basis of patterns used for traditional timber roofs, and assembled during this “Golden Age” of Russian metallurgy, the structure is a unique example testifying to the high level of the builders’ craftsmanship. Based on comprehensive investigations, supplemented with material testing and structural calculations, this paper describes and assesses the iron roof of the Marble Palace as one of the first steps in developing the “language of construction” of building with iron and steel.
