{"id":7806,"date":"2025-03-17T14:12:31","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T13:12:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/?p=7806"},"modified":"2025-03-19T17:09:25","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T16:09:25","slug":"felix-candela-the-intelligence-of-form","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/articles\/felix-candela-the-intelligence-of-form\/","title":{"rendered":"F\u00e9lix Candela: The Intelligence of form"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\"F\u00e9lix
F\u00e9lix Candela supervises the moulding of the shell during the construction of the roof of the Mexican Stock Exchange’s auction room, at 58 Rep\u00fablica de Uruguay Street, downtown, Mexico City, Mexico 1955. Cr\u00e9dit : AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Born in Spain, F\u00e9lix Candela emigrated to Mexico in 1939 at the end of the Civil War following Franco\u2019s victory. He devoted the first ten years of his exile to researching thin reinforced concrete shells alongside his work as an architect. These years of autonomous research, free of any institutional or university framework, led to the creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala<\/em>, which specialized in thin reinforced concrete shells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The technical audacity of the structures F\u00e9lix Candela built quickly drew the attention of international critics and he gained international recognition in just a few years as well as being featured in a host of publications in Mexico, Europe and Japan. After an initial period focused on the publication of scientific articles on the behavior and construction of thin shells, F\u00e9lix Candela continued to publish many articles, sometimes polemical, written for journals or conferences. He gained significant media coverage in the specialized press during his glory years but reference works on his career are rare and his writings were published only once in 1985 by Editions Xarait Madrid. However, encouraged by friends and family, he put together a selection of texts entitled En Defensa del formalismo<\/em>, which have still never been translated or republished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thin reinforced concrete shells<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thin shell structures made from reinforced concrete are spatial structures. With a very low thickness compared to their total surface area, the forces exerted on them are mainly compressive forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rigidity generated via the geometrical intelligence of the shape enables the creation of slender structures with large spans, which are economical, quick to use, and fire-resistant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wide-ranging architectural potential of this type of structure provides a solution particularly well-suited to the functional and spatial requirements of industry, with large surfaces free of any vertical load-bearing elements. During the reconstruction period, thin-shelled structures were frequently used as factory or storage hangar roofs, but also for covered marketplaces and – more rarely – gymnasiums and places of worship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the outset in the 1930s, thin shells were being developed in particular in France, Germany and Spain. This was driven by a relatively limited number of engineers: Eduardo Torroja in Spain, Bernard Lafaille in France, and Franz Dischinger and Ulrich Finsterwalder in Germany. The young F\u00e9lix Candela – a student at the time – began to a show keen interest in the subject and was awarded a university scholarship to study in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Los Manantiales restaurant in Xochimilco, Mexico City, 1958. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Oslo Exhibition Pavilion, Norway, Form and Flora, 1965. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Cosmic ray pavilion, Mexico CU, 1951. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Coyoacan market, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Church of San Antonio de las Huertas, Mexico City, 1956 . Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Trading floor of the Mexican Stock Exchange, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thin shells and the hyperbolic paraboloid or \u201csaddle\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After years of research, F\u00e9lix Candela developed a personal and critical view of the subject and began in turn to theorize on the calculation and design of these structures by developing simplified approaches that would lead to the publication of several scientific articles. The creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala<\/em> in 1952 enabled him to build his first thin-shelled structures in the form of full-scale experiments, and to put theory into practice. By becoming a builder, he made his dream possible because nobody else in Mexico had mastered the theory of thin shells like him and would have taken the risk to build them: \u201cThe only way to build these structures was to build them ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The simplification of the theoretical approach marked a first step towards the democratization of the use of thin shells. To design the shape of his structures, F\u00e9lix Candela used mathematical models of surfaces known in Euclidean geometry (also called plane geometry). He quickly decided to almost exclusively use the hyperbolic paraboloid, a surface with \u201calmost miraculous\u201d properties, that would enable him to both facilitate the use and reduce the cost of fabrication of formwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Graphic of a hyperbolic paraboloid used to create the geometry of the Lomas de Cuernavaca open chapel. Cr\u00e9dit : Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L’intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p<\/strong>., 30\u20ac<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the hyperbolic paraboloid as the only geometric object, F\u00e9lix Candela worked on the configuration of surfaces, experimenting with the way to cut and assemble them, and thoroughly researched proportions to adapt them to both programmatic (functional demands of a structure) and architectural requirements, generating extremely strong structures using as little material as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on these simplified theoretical approaches, combined with full-scale experiments, F\u00e9lix Candela pushed the limits of optimization to shave down shell thicknesses to just four centimeters: similar structures built in Europe with equivalent spans had minimum thicknesses of seven to ten centimeters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L’intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p., 30\u20ac.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Born in Spain, F\u00e9lix Candela emigrated to Mexico in 1939 at the end of the Civil War following Franco\u2019s victory. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_related_content_post":[],"_related_content_subject":[936],"_related_content_author":[7967],"_related_content_category":[1720,1716],"_related_content_folder":[7935],"_excerpt":"Undisputed master of thin reinforced concrete shells, F\u00e9lix Candela marked the history of 20th-century architecture. A qualified architect but self-taught engineer and builder, he designed and built hundreds of thin-shelled structures in Mexico that are considered masterpieces.","_duration":4,"_manual_duration":false,"footnotes":""},"article-types":[13,27],"class_list":["post-7806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article-types-article","article-types-folder"],"has_blocks":true,"block_data":[{"blockName":"enpc\/excerpt","attrs":{"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"","innerContent":[],"rendered":""},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7828,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"wide","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7_5_BOL_ISLA-4-55X36-3-colado-con-candela.jpg","alt":"F\u00e9lix Candela supervise le moulage de la coque lors de la construction du toit de la salle des ventes de la Bourse mexicaine, au 58, rue Rep\u00fablica de Uruguay, centre-ville, Mexico, Mexique 1955.","caption":"F\u00e9lix Candela supervises the moulding of the shell during the construction of the roof of the Mexican Stock Exchange's auction room, at 58 Rep\u00fablica de Uruguay Street, downtown, Mexico City, Mexico 1955. Cr\u00e9dit : AAM FA-UNAM","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image alignwide size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

\"F\u00e9lix
F\u00e9lix Candela supervises the moulding of the shell during the construction of the roof of the Mexican Stock Exchange's auction room, at 58 Rep\u00fablica de Uruguay Street, downtown, Mexico City, Mexico 1955. Cr\u00e9dit : AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
\"F\u00e9lix
F\u00e9lix Candela supervises the moulding of the shell during the construction of the roof of the Mexican Stock Exchange's auction room, at 58 Rep\u00fablica de Uruguay Street, downtown, Mexico City, Mexico 1955. Cr\u00e9dit : AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
\"F\u00e9lix
F\u00e9lix Candela supervises the moulding of the shell during the construction of the roof of the Mexican Stock Exchange's auction room, at 58 Rep\u00fablica de Uruguay Street, downtown, Mexico City, Mexico 1955. Cr\u00e9dit : AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Born in Spain, F\u00e9lix Candela emigrated to Mexico in 1939 at the end of the Civil War following Franco\u2019s victory. He devoted the first ten years of his exile to researching thin reinforced concrete shells alongside his work as an architect. These years of autonomous research, free of any institutional or university framework, led to the creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala, which specialized in thin reinforced concrete shells.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Born in Spain, F\u00e9lix Candela emigrated to Mexico in 1939 at the end of the Civil War following Franco\u2019s victory. He devoted the first ten years of his exile to researching thin reinforced concrete shells alongside his work as an architect. These years of autonomous research, free of any institutional or university framework, led to the creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala<\/em>, which specialized in thin reinforced concrete shells.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Born in Spain, F\u00e9lix Candela emigrated to Mexico in 1939 at the end of the Civil War following Franco\u2019s victory. He devoted the first ten years of his exile to researching thin reinforced concrete shells alongside his work as an architect. These years of autonomous research, free of any institutional or university framework, led to the creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala<\/em>, which specialized in thin reinforced concrete shells.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Born in Spain, F\u00e9lix Candela emigrated to Mexico in 1939 at the end of the Civil War following Franco\u2019s victory. He devoted the first ten years of his exile to researching thin reinforced concrete shells alongside his work as an architect. These years of autonomous research, free of any institutional or university framework, led to the creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala<\/em>, which specialized in thin reinforced concrete shells.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"The technical audacity of the structures F\u00e9lix Candela built quickly drew the attention of international critics and he gained international recognition in just a few years as well as being featured in a host of publications in Mexico, Europe and Japan. After an initial period focused on the publication of scientific articles on the behavior and construction of thin shells, F\u00e9lix Candela continued to publish many articles, sometimes polemical, written for journals or conferences. He gained significant media coverage in the specialized press during his glory years but reference works on his career are rare and his writings were published only once in 1985 by Editions Xarait Madrid. However, encouraged by friends and family, he put together a selection of texts entitled En Defensa del formalismo, which have still never been translated or republished.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

The technical audacity of the structures F\u00e9lix Candela built quickly drew the attention of international critics and he gained international recognition in just a few years as well as being featured in a host of publications in Mexico, Europe and Japan. After an initial period focused on the publication of scientific articles on the behavior and construction of thin shells, F\u00e9lix Candela continued to publish many articles, sometimes polemical, written for journals or conferences. He gained significant media coverage in the specialized press during his glory years but reference works on his career are rare and his writings were published only once in 1985 by Editions Xarait Madrid. However, encouraged by friends and family, he put together a selection of texts entitled En Defensa del formalismo<\/em>, which have still never been translated or republished.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

The technical audacity of the structures F\u00e9lix Candela built quickly drew the attention of international critics and he gained international recognition in just a few years as well as being featured in a host of publications in Mexico, Europe and Japan. After an initial period focused on the publication of scientific articles on the behavior and construction of thin shells, F\u00e9lix Candela continued to publish many articles, sometimes polemical, written for journals or conferences. He gained significant media coverage in the specialized press during his glory years but reference works on his career are rare and his writings were published only once in 1985 by Editions Xarait Madrid. However, encouraged by friends and family, he put together a selection of texts entitled En Defensa del formalismo<\/em>, which have still never been translated or republished.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

The technical audacity of the structures F\u00e9lix Candela built quickly drew the attention of international critics and he gained international recognition in just a few years as well as being featured in a host of publications in Mexico, Europe and Japan. After an initial period focused on the publication of scientific articles on the behavior and construction of thin shells, F\u00e9lix Candela continued to publish many articles, sometimes polemical, written for journals or conferences. He gained significant media coverage in the specialized press during his glory years but reference works on his career are rare and his writings were published only once in 1985 by Editions Xarait Madrid. However, encouraged by friends and family, he put together a selection of texts entitled En Defensa del formalismo<\/em>, which have still never been translated or republished.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Thin reinforced concrete shells","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Thin reinforced concrete shells<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

Thin reinforced concrete shells<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Thin reinforced concrete shells<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Thin shell structures made from reinforced concrete are spatial structures. With a very low thickness compared to their total surface area, the forces exerted on them are mainly compressive forces.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Thin shell structures made from reinforced concrete are spatial structures. With a very low thickness compared to their total surface area, the forces exerted on them are mainly compressive forces.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Thin shell structures made from reinforced concrete are spatial structures. With a very low thickness compared to their total surface area, the forces exerted on them are mainly compressive forces.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Thin shell structures made from reinforced concrete are spatial structures. With a very low thickness compared to their total surface area, the forces exerted on them are mainly compressive forces.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"The rigidity generated via the geometrical intelligence of the shape enables the creation of slender structures with large spans, which are economical, quick to use, and fire-resistant.\u00a0","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

The rigidity generated via the geometrical intelligence of the shape enables the creation of slender structures with large spans, which are economical, quick to use, and fire-resistant. <\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

The rigidity generated via the geometrical intelligence of the shape enables the creation of slender structures with large spans, which are economical, quick to use, and fire-resistant. <\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

The rigidity generated via the geometrical intelligence of the shape enables the creation of slender structures with large spans, which are economical, quick to use, and fire-resistant. <\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"The wide-ranging architectural potential of this type of structure provides a solution particularly well-suited to the functional and spatial requirements of industry, with large surfaces free of any vertical load-bearing elements. During the reconstruction period, thin-shelled structures were frequently used as factory or storage hangar roofs, but also for covered marketplaces and - more rarely - gymnasiums and places of worship.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

The wide-ranging architectural potential of this type of structure provides a solution particularly well-suited to the functional and spatial requirements of industry, with large surfaces free of any vertical load-bearing elements. During the reconstruction period, thin-shelled structures were frequently used as factory or storage hangar roofs, but also for covered marketplaces and - more rarely - gymnasiums and places of worship.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

The wide-ranging architectural potential of this type of structure provides a solution particularly well-suited to the functional and spatial requirements of industry, with large surfaces free of any vertical load-bearing elements. During the reconstruction period, thin-shelled structures were frequently used as factory or storage hangar roofs, but also for covered marketplaces and - more rarely - gymnasiums and places of worship.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

The wide-ranging architectural potential of this type of structure provides a solution particularly well-suited to the functional and spatial requirements of industry, with large surfaces free of any vertical load-bearing elements. During the reconstruction period, thin-shelled structures were frequently used as factory or storage hangar roofs, but also for covered marketplaces and - more rarely - gymnasiums and places of worship.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"At the outset in the 1930s, thin shells were being developed in particular in France, Germany and Spain. This was driven by a relatively limited number of engineers: Eduardo Torroja in Spain, Bernard Lafaille in France, and Franz Dischinger and Ulrich Finsterwalder in Germany. The young F\u00e9lix Candela - a student at the time - began to a show keen interest in the subject and was awarded a university scholarship to study in Germany.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

At the outset in the 1930s, thin shells were being developed in particular in France, Germany and Spain. This was driven by a relatively limited number of engineers: Eduardo Torroja in Spain, Bernard Lafaille in France, and Franz Dischinger and Ulrich Finsterwalder in Germany. The young F\u00e9lix Candela - a student at the time - began to a show keen interest in the subject and was awarded a university scholarship to study in Germany.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

At the outset in the 1930s, thin shells were being developed in particular in France, Germany and Spain. This was driven by a relatively limited number of engineers: Eduardo Torroja in Spain, Bernard Lafaille in France, and Franz Dischinger and Ulrich Finsterwalder in Germany. The young F\u00e9lix Candela - a student at the time - began to a show keen interest in the subject and was awarded a university scholarship to study in Germany.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

At the outset in the 1930s, thin shells were being developed in particular in France, Germany and Spain. This was driven by a relatively limited number of engineers: Eduardo Torroja in Spain, Bernard Lafaille in France, and Franz Dischinger and Ulrich Finsterwalder in Germany. The young F\u00e9lix Candela - a student at the time - began to a show keen interest in the subject and was awarded a university scholarship to study in Germany.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/gallery","attrs":{"columns":1,"linkTo":"none","isSlideshow":true,"images":[],"ids":[],"shortCodeTransforms":[],"caption":"","imageCrop":true,"randomOrder":false,"fixedHeight":true,"linkTarget":"","sizeSlug":"large","allowResize":false,"aspectRatio":"auto","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-1 is-cropped","style":"","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","borderColor":"","layout":[],"anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7824,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Restaurant-Los-Manantiales-a-Xochimilco-Mexico-1958-\u00a9-AAM-FA-UNAM.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Los Manantiales restaurant in Xochimilco, Mexico City, 1958. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

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Los Manantiales restaurant in Xochimilco, Mexico City, 1958. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
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Los Manantiales restaurant in Xochimilco, Mexico City, 1958. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
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Los Manantiales restaurant in Xochimilco, Mexico City, 1958. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7822,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pavillon-Oslo-Exposition-Norvege-Forme-et-flore-1965-\u00a9-AAM-FA-UNAM-1024x762.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Oslo Exhibition Pavilion, Norway, Form and Flora, 1965. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
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Oslo Exhibition Pavilion, Norway, Form and Flora, 1965. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
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Oslo Exhibition Pavilion, Norway, Form and Flora, 1965. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
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Oslo Exhibition Pavilion, Norway, Form and Flora, 1965. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7820,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pavillon-des-rayons-cosmiques-Mexico-CU-1951-\u00a9-AAM-FA-UNAM.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Cosmic ray pavilion, Mexico CU, 1951. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
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Cosmic ray pavilion, Mexico CU, 1951. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
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Cosmic ray pavilion, Mexico CU, 1951. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
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Cosmic ray pavilion, Mexico CU, 1951. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7818,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Marche-de-Coyoacan-Mexico-1955-\u00a9-AAM-FA-UNAM.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Coyoacan market, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
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Coyoacan market, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
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Coyoacan market, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
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Coyoacan market, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7816,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Eglise-San-Antonio-de-las-huertas-Mexico-1956-\u00a9-AAM-FA-UNAM_BR.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Church of San Antonio de las Huertas, Mexico City, 1956 . Credit: AAM FA-UNAM","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
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Church of San Antonio de las Huertas, Mexico City, 1956 . Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
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Church of San Antonio de las Huertas, Mexico City, 1956 . Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
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Church of San Antonio de las Huertas, Mexico City, 1956 . Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7826,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Salle-des-marches-de-la-bourse-Mexicaine-Mexico-1955-\u00a9-AAM-FA-UNAM-1024x734.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Trading floor of the Mexican Stock Exchange, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
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Trading floor of the Mexican Stock Exchange, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
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Trading floor of the Mexican Stock Exchange, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
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Trading floor of the Mexican Stock Exchange, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n
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Los Manantiales restaurant in Xochimilco, Mexico City, 1958. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Oslo Exhibition Pavilion, Norway, Form and Flora, 1965. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Cosmic ray pavilion, Mexico CU, 1951. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Coyoacan market, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Church of San Antonio de las Huertas, Mexico City, 1956 . Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Trading floor of the Mexican Stock Exchange, Mexico City, 1955. Credit: AAM FA-UNAM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Thin shells and the hyperbolic paraboloid or \u201csaddle\u201d","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Thin shells and the hyperbolic paraboloid or \u201csaddle\u201d<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

Thin shells and the hyperbolic paraboloid or \u201csaddle\u201d<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Thin shells and the hyperbolic paraboloid or \u201csaddle\u201d<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"After years of research, F\u00e9lix Candela developed a personal and critical view of the subject and began in turn to theorize on the calculation and design of these structures by developing simplified approaches that would lead to the publication of several scientific articles. The creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala in 1952 enabled him to build his first thin-shelled structures in the form of full-scale experiments, and to put theory into practice. By becoming a builder, he made his dream possible because nobody else in Mexico had mastered the theory of thin shells like him and would have taken the risk to build them: \u201cThe only way to build these structures was to build them ourselves.\u201d","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

After years of research, F\u00e9lix Candela developed a personal and critical view of the subject and began in turn to theorize on the calculation and design of these structures by developing simplified approaches that would lead to the publication of several scientific articles. The creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala<\/em> in 1952 enabled him to build his first thin-shelled structures in the form of full-scale experiments, and to put theory into practice. By becoming a builder, he made his dream possible because nobody else in Mexico had mastered the theory of thin shells like him and would have taken the risk to build them: \u201cThe only way to build these structures was to build them ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

After years of research, F\u00e9lix Candela developed a personal and critical view of the subject and began in turn to theorize on the calculation and design of these structures by developing simplified approaches that would lead to the publication of several scientific articles. The creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala<\/em> in 1952 enabled him to build his first thin-shelled structures in the form of full-scale experiments, and to put theory into practice. By becoming a builder, he made his dream possible because nobody else in Mexico had mastered the theory of thin shells like him and would have taken the risk to build them: \u201cThe only way to build these structures was to build them ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

After years of research, F\u00e9lix Candela developed a personal and critical view of the subject and began in turn to theorize on the calculation and design of these structures by developing simplified approaches that would lead to the publication of several scientific articles. The creation of his family-run business Cubiertas Ala<\/em> in 1952 enabled him to build his first thin-shelled structures in the form of full-scale experiments, and to put theory into practice. By becoming a builder, he made his dream possible because nobody else in Mexico had mastered the theory of thin shells like him and would have taken the risk to build them: \u201cThe only way to build these structures was to build them ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"The simplification of the theoretical approach marked a first step towards the democratization of the use of thin shells. To design the shape of his structures, F\u00e9lix Candela used mathematical models of surfaces known in Euclidean geometry (also called plane geometry). He quickly decided to almost exclusively use the hyperbolic paraboloid, a surface with \u201calmost miraculous\u201d properties, that would enable him to both facilitate the use and reduce the cost of fabrication of formwork.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

The simplification of the theoretical approach marked a first step towards the democratization of the use of thin shells. To design the shape of his structures, F\u00e9lix Candela used mathematical models of surfaces known in Euclidean geometry (also called plane geometry). He quickly decided to almost exclusively use the hyperbolic paraboloid, a surface with \u201calmost miraculous\u201d properties, that would enable him to both facilitate the use and reduce the cost of fabrication of formwork.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

The simplification of the theoretical approach marked a first step towards the democratization of the use of thin shells. To design the shape of his structures, F\u00e9lix Candela used mathematical models of surfaces known in Euclidean geometry (also called plane geometry). He quickly decided to almost exclusively use the hyperbolic paraboloid, a surface with \u201calmost miraculous\u201d properties, that would enable him to both facilitate the use and reduce the cost of fabrication of formwork.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

The simplification of the theoretical approach marked a first step towards the democratization of the use of thin shells. To design the shape of his structures, F\u00e9lix Candela used mathematical models of surfaces known in Euclidean geometry (also called plane geometry). He quickly decided to almost exclusively use the hyperbolic paraboloid, a surface with \u201calmost miraculous\u201d properties, that would enable him to both facilitate the use and reduce the cost of fabrication of formwork.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7814,"width":"349px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/chapelle-cuernavaca-felix-candela-1-525x1024.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Graphic of a hyperbolic paraboloid used to create the geometry of the Lomas de Cuernavaca open chapel. Cr\u00e9dit : Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes, Caryatide, 2025, 112 p., 30\u20ac.","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

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Graphic of a hyperbolic paraboloid used to create the geometry of the Lomas de Cuernavaca open chapel. Cr\u00e9dit : Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p<\/strong>., 30\u20ac<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
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Graphic of a hyperbolic paraboloid used to create the geometry of the Lomas de Cuernavaca open chapel. Cr\u00e9dit : Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p<\/strong>., 30\u20ac<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Graphic of a hyperbolic paraboloid used to create the geometry of the Lomas de Cuernavaca open chapel. Cr\u00e9dit : Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p<\/strong>., 30\u20ac<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"With the hyperbolic paraboloid as the only geometric object, F\u00e9lix Candela worked on the configuration of surfaces, experimenting with the way to cut and assemble them, and thoroughly researched proportions to adapt them to both programmatic (functional demands of a structure) and architectural requirements, generating extremely strong structures using as little material as possible.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

With the hyperbolic paraboloid as the only geometric object, F\u00e9lix Candela worked on the configuration of surfaces, experimenting with the way to cut and assemble them, and thoroughly researched proportions to adapt them to both programmatic (functional demands of a structure) and architectural requirements, generating extremely strong structures using as little material as possible.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

With the hyperbolic paraboloid as the only geometric object, F\u00e9lix Candela worked on the configuration of surfaces, experimenting with the way to cut and assemble them, and thoroughly researched proportions to adapt them to both programmatic (functional demands of a structure) and architectural requirements, generating extremely strong structures using as little material as possible.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

With the hyperbolic paraboloid as the only geometric object, F\u00e9lix Candela worked on the configuration of surfaces, experimenting with the way to cut and assemble them, and thoroughly researched proportions to adapt them to both programmatic (functional demands of a structure) and architectural requirements, generating extremely strong structures using as little material as possible.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Based on these simplified theoretical approaches, combined with full-scale experiments, F\u00e9lix Candela pushed the limits of optimization to shave down shell thicknesses to just four centimeters: similar structures built in Europe with equivalent spans had minimum thicknesses of seven to ten centimeters.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Based on these simplified theoretical approaches, combined with full-scale experiments, F\u00e9lix Candela pushed the limits of optimization to shave down shell thicknesses to just four centimeters: similar structures built in Europe with equivalent spans had minimum thicknesses of seven to ten centimeters.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Based on these simplified theoretical approaches, combined with full-scale experiments, F\u00e9lix Candela pushed the limits of optimization to shave down shell thicknesses to just four centimeters: similar structures built in Europe with equivalent spans had minimum thicknesses of seven to ten centimeters.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Based on these simplified theoretical approaches, combined with full-scale experiments, F\u00e9lix Candela pushed the limits of optimization to shave down shell thicknesses to just four centimeters: similar structures built in Europe with equivalent spans had minimum thicknesses of seven to ten centimeters.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/columns","attrs":{"verticalAlignment":"","isStackedOnMobile":true,"templateLock":null,"lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-columns","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","layout":[],"anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/column","attrs":{"width":"100%","verticalAlignment":"","templateLock":null,"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-column","style":"flex-basis:100%","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","layout":[],"anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7856,"width":"291px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"left","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/couverture_livre_laura_fontaine_credit_LesPressesDuReel_ombre-1024x1024.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

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<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes, Caryatide, 2025, 112 p., 30\u20ac.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p., 30\u20ac.<\/strong><\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p., 30\u20ac.<\/strong><\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p., 30\u20ac.<\/strong><\/p>\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n

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Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p., 30\u20ac.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n

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Laura Fontaine. F\u00e9lix Candela, L'intelligence de la forme Recueil de textes<\/em>, Caryatide<\/a>, 2025, 112 p., 30\u20ac.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"F\u00e9lix Candela: The Intelligence of form"},"media":{"img":"\"F\u00e9lix","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7_5_BOL_ISLA-4-55X36-3-colado-con-candela.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/felix-candela-the-intelligence-of-form\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Laura Fontaine","url":"\/en\/authors\/laura-fontaine\/","id":"7967","media":"\"\"","slug":"laura-fontaine"}],"subject":[{"title":"Cities, Urban planning & Construction","url":"\/en\/subjects\/cities-urban-planning-construction\/","id":"936","media":"\"\"","slug":"cities-urban-planning-construction"}],"category":[{"title":"Article collection","url":"\/en\/articles\/category\/dossier\/","id":"1720","media":"","slug":"dossier","_related_post_type":"folder"},{"title":"Articles","url":"\/en\/articles\/category\/articles\/","id":"1716","media":"","slug":"articles","_related_post_type":""}],"folder":[{"title":"Form, Function and Elegance of Concrete Shells","url":"\/en\/folders\/form-function-and-elegance-of-concrete-shells\/","id":"7935","media":"\"Projet","slug":"form-function-and-elegance-of-concrete-shells"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/felix-candela-lintelligence-de-la-forme\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"4","custom_excerpt":"Undisputed master of thin reinforced concrete shells, F\u00e9lix Candela marked the history of 20th-century architecture. A qualified architect but self-taught engineer and builder, he designed and built hundreds of thin-shelled structures in Mexico that are considered masterpieces.","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7806"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7990,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7806\/revisions\/7990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}