ABSTRACT
Architects are often fascinated by the use of support-free structures to solve certain design problems. They often want a significant portion of their buildings to be supported without conventional columns or walls so the buildings have a feel of hovering. Cantilevers have been used in buildings throughout the history of architecture. However, the scale of cantilevers was limited by the properties of traditional building materials. Supported by the development of stronger and stiffer modern structural materials, such as steel and reinforced concrete in the 19th century, and continued advancements of construction techniques, dramatic cantilevers of unprecedented scales began to emerge. Cantilevers are used in architecture for various reasons and in different scales. A significant portion of primary building structures can be cantilevered to produce more dramatic sculptural expressions, or, very practically, to maximize occupiable space using air rights beyond the property limit, or for many other design-specific reasons.
