Geometry
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You can’t take a tour of London and not notice one of the most iconic elements of the skyline – 30 St Mary Axe – otherwise known as the Gherkin. The design and construction of this striking building would not have been possible without mathematics. In fact its tapered curved shape and spectacular construction all rely on the strength of the humble triangle. -
From the Millennium Bridge you get an excellent view of the iconic curves of 30 St Mary Axe (otherwise known as the Gherkin) and the Shard. How many more pieces of curved glass are there in the round, curved Gherkin than in the flat, angled Shard? The answer is just one. The only curved piece of glass in the Gherkin is the curved panel at the very top. Instead its curved form is created with hundreds of flat panels of glass. -
The shape formed by a chain hanging under its own weight suspended from either end is called a catenary curve. This shape plays a vital role in architecture as it is the perfect shape for an arch. There are some lovely examples of this on the walls of the Thames! -
In St John’s College, Oxford, one of the buildings is hexagonal in shape. Was this hexagonal structure a whim of the architect? Why are most buildings square? What does all of this have to do with bees? -
"This dome has got to be a hemisphere!" my friend protested the other day. "No! It's actually egg-shaped," I said, showing her the photo on the right. Criss-crossed with fine lines on its surface, the "Pineapple Bun" in Tsim Sha Tsui has overlooked Victoria Harbour for three decades. The building was the avant-garde in the city when it opened in 1980, but the maths behind this bizarre piece of architecture has been obscure. -
The recently restored Leeds Tiled Hall cafe and the Central Library are stunning examples of Victorian architecture and tilings. The parquet floors, tiled walls, ceilings and staircases display amazing colourful tiling patterns made by using shapes like triangles, squares, hexagons, rectangles and octagons. But why were these particular shapes used to create the patterns? What is so special about them? How can you create your own tilings using these ones as stimuli? -
Construction industry, Geometry, Highway design, Integration, Land surveying, Surface fitting, TrigonometryStand in any urban environment. Look around. All was once open countryside. We will show what is involved in moulding the ground ready for constructing roads and buildings. -
For more than three centuries since it rose above the ashes of the Great Fire, the dome of St Paul's Cathedral has illustrated the importance of maths in understanding our physical and philosophical worlds. -
Satellite dishes have sprouted on the walls and roofs of many of our buildings over the last 10 years. But as well as providing us with endless hours of entertainment, they are also a brilliant example of the power of maths. -
You can’t take a tour of London and not notice one of the most iconic elements of the skyline – 30 St Mary Axe – otherwise known as the Gherkin. The Gherkin, with its tapered curved shape and spectacular construction, would not have been possible without mathematics.
