As in all areas of research, it all began as a challenge, the challenge of being able to use a fragile material like glass for the construction of great structural works. In only a few years, a group of engineers led by Maurizio Froli, Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Pisa, has demonstrated, through theoretical study and experimentation on prototypes, that certain aims which previously were judged as being practically unreachable were in fact perfectly realisable. The Engineering School of Glass Structures, which Maurizio Froli founded in Pisa, has brought together a group of young and strongly motivated engineers. Under Professor Froli’s guidance, the school has already attained much fame and recognition.

The ‘Hangai’ Prize

On the 20th of last September Manuel Santasiero, 26, from Leghorn, was awarded the ‘Hangai’ prize in London at the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures reserved for researchers younger than 30 years old.

In his final thesis for his Bachelor’s degree in ‘Civil Engineering, Environment and Territory’ supervised by Maurizio Froli at Pisa, the young student developed an innovative method of calculation which allowed for the prediction of degrees of safety in existing or newly constructed glass structures.

The ‘Vecchi Macelli’ Area of Pisa

The practical applications of the results of these studies are not lacking. An example very near to us is the work involved in the re-conversion and re-structuring of the ‘Vecchi Macelli’ area (project by Roberto Pasqualetti and Gerardo Masiello), whose construction site was inaugurated only a few weeks ago. The planned perimetric gallery in the central area will rest upon glass beams.

The designer of this structure, engineer Leonardo Lani from Florence, a student and collaborator with Maurizio Froli explains: “The restructuring of the area for the housing of a Children’s Day Care Centre was thought of so that structural elements can be created which are capable of integrating effectively into the existing context. Glass is an optimal solution because it avoids creating interference and deformities with the pre-existing elements.”

“If one of the highest functions of the University is to incubate ideas,” comments Maurizio Froli, “then our research team is, in some way, managing to fulfil it.”

The Glass Footbridge over the River Arno

It is yet again the young Manuel Santarsiero who, in his post-Bachelor degree thesis in Engineering and Civil Construction, developed the ‘Structural and architectonic Design of a footbridge in aluminium and glass over the River Arno in Pisa’ . The project consists in the creation of a pedestrian pathway between Via Sant’Antonio and Via Santa Maria, as envisaged by the ‘master plan’ of Pisa designed by David Chipperfield within the ‘PIUSS Project’ for the historical centre of the city.

Co-relators of this thesis were Maurizio Froli and Niccolò Baldassini, the Director of the RFR, (the International Design Studies of Paris) for the architectonic part of the project. “The project that Manuel Santarsiero has prepared is very well engineered and is realistically achievable. I hope that, if a selection procedure ever gets set up for this work, our student will be selected and be part of the design team ” says Froli. On the 1st of November Manuel Sanarsiero is leaving Italy and is transferring to the ‘Ecole Politecnique’ in Lausanne where he won a PhD scholarship for 4 years which will allow him to carry on with his research on glass structures.

‘Vespucci’ Prize for Research

Already in 2009 Maurizio Froli came top in the classification for the ‘Vespucci’ Prize for his research on a TVT glass beam patent. This consists of glass beams assembled by means of pre-compression with steel cables which are highly secure despite the large empty spaces between them. This has been perfectly engineered and a glass beam prototype of 12 metres in length is under construction .

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