LOTUS TEMPLE

HAMEEDA SHEIK
21091AA014
 INTRODUCTION

• NAME: LOTUS TEMPLE

• ADDRESS:- LOTUS TEMPLE ROAD, BAHAPUR, SHAMBHU DAYAL BAGH, KALKAJI NEW
DELHI, 110019

• AREA COVERED: 26 ACRE (10.5 HECTARE)

• ARCHITECT:- FARIBORZ SAHBA. IT WAS DESIGNED BY IRANIAN ARCHITECT FARIBORZ

SAHBA, WHO WON ACCLAIM FOR THE PROJECT EVEN BEFORE THE TEMPLE WAS
COMPLETED. ARCHITECT MR. FARIBORZ SAHBA WAS SELECTED BY THE WORLD
GOVERNING BODY OF BAHAI FAITH," THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE" IN THE YEAR
1974.

• ARCHITECTURE STYLE: EXPRESSIONIST ARCHITECTURE.

• STRUCTURAL ENGINEER:- FLINT AND NEIL. FLINT & NEILL PARTNERSHIP OF

LONDON WAS THE CONSULTANCY ECC CONSTRUCTION GROUP OF LARSEN &
TOUBRO LTD. WERE THE CONTRACTORS DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE STRUCTURE BEGAN
IN THE YEAR 1976.

• STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: CONCRETE FRAME AND PRECAST CONCRETE RIBBED ROOF

• DIAMETER:-70 METERS (230 FEET)

• PROJECT DURATION: 10 YEARS (1976-86)

• OPENED: 13 NOVEMBER 1986

• SEATING CАРАСІТУ: 2500 PEOPLE

 WHAT IS THE SHELL
STRUCTURE OF LOTUS
TEMPLE
• The double-layered interior dome, modelled on
the innermost portion of the lotus, comprises 54
ribs with concrete shells in between. The central
hall has a diameter of 34 metres and a height of
33.6 metres above the podium. It is ringed by
nine arches which provide the main support for
the superstructure.

• The Inner surface of all the shells have a uniform, bush-hammered,

exposed concrete surface with architectural patterns
• For the inner leaves, these pattern were formed out of radial and vertical
planes intersecting the surface of torus.
• For the outer and entrance leaves, and the interior dome, the patterns
were formed out of longitudes and latitudes of sphere.
• The Lotus Temple structure formwork was designed in a manner that
timber joist support the panel instead of the regular pattern of the
structural steel supporting members of the structural steel supporting
members of the space frame.
• In the lotus temple Full-scale mockups of the bottom surface of each of
the shells were first made at ground level and the architectural patterns
marked on this surface.
 CONCRETE
• In The Lotus Temple all the ribs and shells up to radial beam level are in white • The structure of lotus temple petals were reinforced with 300 t of galvanized
concrete. bar to avoid the risk of rust staining and cracking and to maintain the pristine
• To avoid crazing and shrinkage cracks in lotus temple structure, a mix of M30 Grade
appearance of this monumental structure.
white concrete was designed. • The Lotus Temple structure in which the reinforcement used in the white
concrete shells as well as the binding wires was entirely galvanized so as to
• The entire quantity of white cement for lotus temple was therefore imported from prevent the long-term effect of rusting of reinforcement on the white
Korea.
concrete.
• Specially graded dolomite aggregates were procured from Alwar mines near Delhi • Since galvanized reinforcement for concrete is seldom used in this country,
and white silica sand several tests were carried out to ensure that the mechanical properties of
• from Jaipur. reinforcement did not become adversely affected due to galvanizing.
• In the lotus temple structure to avoid the impression of cover blocks on the
• Water/cement ratio: 0.43 Slump achieved was in the range of 70-100 mm. exposed surface of the shells, the inner layer of reinforcement was held in
• Bush hammered finish for interior dome, inner and outer leaves. Concrete was position by special steel spacers supported from the outer formwork.
drum mix on site.

• Three inner leaves at 120° spacing, were concreted at a time, in only two lifts from
their bases to the

• level of the star beams above.

• Outer and Entrance leaves were concreted in a continuous operation one at a time,
using the removable outer shutter panels for access for concrete and vibrators to
avoid cold joints.

• Concreting time for an outer leaf of lotus temple was of the order of 48 hours.

• • Ice melt water was used in the mix to take care of the hot weather in Delhi to
cool the concrete, that brought down temperature of concrete from 40° C to 25°
C.
• Lotus Temple in which the Shells & arches are clad in white
Greek Marble panels, performed in Italy to the surface profile
and to patterns related to the geometry by Marmi Vicentini
S.P.A Company.

• The lotus temple in which the panels are fixed by means of

stainless steel brackets secured by bolts in holes drilled after
concreting and the joints were filled with moulded rubber
cordon & silicon sealant was applied over it.

• Floor finishes were also of white marble.

• Balustrades, stairs were precast

• Stones used for stairs were made of red sandstone.

• Complete construction of the structure was completed in the

year 1986.
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

• The lotus temple is constructed based on the arcaded

construction system.
• Based on 9 radial grids.
• The Lotus Temple in which the structure of inner leaves
enclose the interior dome in a canopy made of crisscrossing
ribs and shells of intricate pattern.
• When views from inside each layer of ribs and shells
disappears as it rises, behind the next, lower layer.
• The double-layered interior dome, modelled on the
innermost portion of the lotus, comprises 54 ribs with
concrete shells in between. The central hall has a diameter
of 34 metres and a height of 33.6 metres above the podium.
It is ringed by nine arches which provide the main support
for the superstructure.
• Like all Baha'i temples its structure is a circular 9-sided
shape. The building is made up of 27 free-standing marble
petals arranged to form the 9 sides of the temple.
 CONSTRUCTION DETAIL
SEQUENCE:
In the starting of construction basement and the interior podium were first built.
From there, to raise the arches and shells, the structure was divided in parts, bearing
in mind that when the formwork was removed, the constructed part would support
itself until the next part was complete. The structure was divided in the following
way:
Arches
Inner leaves, radial beam & central axis
Interior Dome
Access & outer leaves
Staging & Formworks
CHALLENGES IN CONSTRUCTION
Excavation were undertaken by Ahluwalia Construction Company.
• Primary support to the formwork for the shells, dome, arches, were designed by the
contractor and constructed of welded steel.
Plywood form.
Purlins.
• The Lotus Temple structure related Forms and their supports for the all shells were
designed withstand pressure from continuous concreting and the outer forms were
placed as concreting proceeded.
• The structure of three inner leaves were concreted at a time, generally in only two
lifts
 PARTS OF STRUCTURE

• The complexity of the structure and the high

level of labour necessary required a dynamic
management with high grade of innovation. One
of the essential means of achieving the fixed
objective was to anticipate problems in advance
and to resolve them using test and Models.
• PARTS OF STRUCTURE
• A. Basement
• B. Three groups of Nine shells springing from the
podium
• C. Double layered Interior Dome
• D. Nine Arches
• E. Nine Ponds
• F. Walkways
 COMPONENTS OF STRUCTURE
• GEOMETRY

• By the help of geometry problem this typical structure design.

• The architect conceived the beautiful concept of the lotus, had to be converted/transfer into definable geometrical shapes such as spheres, cylinders, toroid and cones.

• The structure shapes were translated into equations, which were then used as a basis for structural analysis and engineering drawings.

• The resultant geometry of structure was so complex.

• The designers took over two and half years to complete the detailed drawings of the Lotus Temple.

• Complex geometry in simple terms describe below such as:

• A. ENTRANCE LEAVES AND OUTER LEAVES

• The surfaces created by the shell on each side of the entrance-ways and the outer leaves are formed by spheres of different radii, with their centres located at different points of the interior of the building.
There is a group of spheres for the leaves of the entrance, some of which define the interior surfaces and others which define the exterior surfaces of the shells.

• The diameters of the spheres have been fixed to satisfy the structural consideration of the varying thicknesses of the petals.

• For the outer leaves, another group of spheres define the interior and exterior surfaces of the shells, but in this case the thickness
of the shell is uniform: 1.33m thick toward the lower part and 2.55m toward the upper extreme.

• The structure of outer leaf in the entrance zone to the temple is 15.4m wide and rises 22.5m above the podium.

• The structure of the interior is 18.2m wide in the entrance area and rises 7.8m above the level of the podium.

B. THE INNER LEAVES

• The structure of the inner leaf, comprising a cusp (ridge) and a re-entrant (valley).
• The structure of the inner leaves rise to an elevation of 34.3 m above the inner podium
In The Lotus Temple at the lowest level each shell has a maximum width of 14 m.

• It is uniformly 200 mm thick.

THE ARCH
• The Arches play important role in lotus temple because almost the entire
structural load of the temple's interior space is supported by nine arches
which spread out around the central hall, located at angular intervals of
40°.
• The lotus temple forms of these arches are created by flat, conical and
cylindrical surfaces.
• In the lotus temple the intersection of these surfaces presents
interesting contours and considerably improves the beauty of the arches.
• The nine arches bear almost the entire load of super structure beams
were dew edged, leaving the central hub supported

THE INTERIOR DOME

• In the interior dome structure three ribs spring from the
crown of each arch.
• Up to certain height, the space between the ribs is covered by
two layers of 60mm thick shells
• In the interior dome structure other radial ribs rise from each
of these intersections and all meet at the centre of the dome.
• While the central one (the dome rib) rises radially towards
the central hub, the other two (the base ribs) move away from
the central rib and intersect with similar base ribs of adjacent
arches, thus forming an intricate pattern
 ANALYSIS & DESIGN OF STRUCTURAL
COMPONENT

• The Lotus Temple structure spherical surfaces for the Entrance & Outer leaves.
• Arch soffits have a Parabolic cone shape
• Spheres, cylinders, toroid & cone for inner leaves.
• Nine interesting spheres from interior dome
• Final geometrically converted shapes were so complex that it took the designer over two & a half
years to complete the detailed drawings of the temple.
• In-situ reinforcement concrete construction
• Interior dome is 28 m is height and 34 m in diameter.
• The structure of Inner leaves are of 200 mm thick and of 33.6 m in height.
• The structure of Outer leaves are of 135 mm from their cusps to the line of glazing, beyond which
they thicken to 250 mm and of 22.5 m in height.
• The structure of Entrance leaves are of 150 mm at center to 300 mm thick at their edges and of 7.8
m in height.
• The structure of Shells within the interior dome: 60 mm thick.
LOTUS TEMPLE DESIGNED FOR
A. DEAD LOAD
B. LIVE LOAD
C. WIND LOAD
WIND TUNNEL TEST IN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE, LONDON
D. EARTHQUAKE LOAD
➤ LOTUS TEMPLE IS DESIGNED BY
A. TUBULAR STEEL GLAZING FRAMES
B. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
C. EQUIVALENT GRILLAGE MODELS FOR SHELLS IN THE COMPUTER PROGRAM
D. QUADRILATERAL ELEMENT