Inverted pyramid (architecture)

In architecture, an inverted pyramid is a structure in the shape of an upside-down pyramid.

The Hanoi Museum and Hong Kong Coliseum are buildings which have an inverted pyramidal shape. The Pyramide Inversée in Paris is a skylight of this shape. The Tokyo Big Sight's conference tower consists of four inverted pyramids mounted on support bases. Whitney Museum is another example and its inverted pyramid design allowed the building to gain an unusual spatial distribution and conform to the New York City's zoning requirements.[1] The Tempe Municipal Building's inverted pyramidal shape helps in keeping the building cool in summer and warm in winter.[2] The same applies to Slovak Radio Building in Bratislava, Slovakia. The inverted pyramid can also be integrated as a component of a structure such as the case of the stalactite work design, which is formed by an intricate corbeling of brackets, squinches and inverted pyramids.[3] In addition to the hidden safety hazards, it is also one of the challenges for the public to accept such a style. At the design level, architects need to carefully consider the design of the internal structure and materials of the building while ensuring aesthetics.

  1. ^ Yaneva, Albena (2009). The Making of a Building: A Pragmatist Approach to Architecture. Oxford: Peter Lang. p. 78. ISBN 978-3-03911-952-3.
  2. ^ Toscas, Mariana (January 1, 2012). "Arizona's Avant-Garde Architecture". Journal of Property Management: 34–35. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  3. ^ Ching, Francis D. K. (2012). A Visual Dictionary of Architecture. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-470-64885-8.