ABSTRACT
The popularity of shell structures in post-World War II Japan led to the construction of many reinforced concrete spatial structures. Against a backdrop of Japan’s sophisticated traditional wooden construction techniques, many of these novel shell-structure formworks were also made of wood. This paper explores the development of the general formwork method in the postwar period and its relationship to the impact of US military-related construction projects and the industrialization of the construction formwork method. Case studies of shell-structured roof formwork and shoring from the 1950s are presented and discussed, and the methods of their construction are analyzed. During the early days of formwork, curved structures were fabricated using log-framed shoring and wooden panels. However, over time, steel reusable falseworks (pipe supports and turnbuckles) came into use. The development and industrialization of the construction method are analyzed through the evolution of the method of formwork construction.
