Quick FACTS The Atomium consists of 9 spheres, representing an iron crystal magnified 150 billion times. The structure is 102 metres (335ft) Heigh and 18 metres (59ft) in diameter. The central tube contains the fastest elevator of the time (5 m/s). It allows 22 people to reach the summit in 23 seconds. The Atomium is, at once, an object, a place, a space, a Utopia and the only symbol of its kind in the world, which eludes any kind of classification. Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories Structural Design 🏗 The Atomium is a landmark building in Brussels, originally constructed for the 1958 Brussels World Expo (Expo 58). It is located on the Heysel Plateau, where the exhibition took place. It is now a museum. Three of the four top spheres lack vertical support and hence are not open to the public for safety reasons, although the sphere at the pinnacle is open to the public. The original design called for no supports; the structure was simply to rest on the spheres. Wind tunnel tests proved that the structure would have toppled in an 80 km/h (50 mph) wind (140 km/h (90 mph) winds have been recorded in Belgium). Support columns were added to achieve enough resistance against overturning. You May Also Like: What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world? The Atomium, designed to last six months, was not destined to survive the 1958 World Expo, but its popularity and success made it a major element of the Brussels landscape. Its destruction was therefore postponed year after year until the city's authorities decided to keep it. However, for thirty years, little maintenance work was done. The Ultimate tour guide for Brussels Available to buy on Amazon for only £5.75

Structure Review General Info 🏟📚 Construction period: October 2002 - May 2005 Capacity: 75,000 Cost: €340 million Structural Engineer: Arup Architects: Herzog & de MeuronArupSport Field size: 105 x 68 m ( 115 x 75 yd) Innovation: full ETFE exterior inflated panels The home arena of Bayern Munich Construction🏗 - Total concrete used during stadium construction: 120,000 m³ - Total concrete used for the parking garage: 85,000 m³ - Total steel used during stadium construction: 22,000 tonnes - Total steel used for the parking garage: 14,000 tonnes ETFE ♺ 2,874 ETFE-foil air panels that are kept inflated with dry air to a differential pressure of 3.5 Pa. ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) consists of modified copolymers of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene. It has been widely used in the construction industry in recent years. It has been suggested that the use of ETFE in construction can reduce build cost by 10% on small projects and up to 60% on large-scale projects. Costs are also reduced during the installation process when sheets of ETFE film can be 'welded' together with a blow torch and spans of up to 180 ft (55 m ) can be achieved with sufficient structural support. ETFE does not shrink or expand when heated. ETFE can retain its transparency and strength for over 30 years. In addition, ETFE has a high level of heat retention, retaining longwave thermal radiation and creating a 'greenhouse effect', which can reduce energy costs by up to 30%. ETFE is often called a miracle construction material for tensile architecture. ETFE is strong enough to bear 400 times its own weight. It can be stretchable to three times its length without loss of elasticity and can be repaired by welding patches of tape over tears. You May Also Like: Camp Nou Memorials Retrace the footsteps of FC Barcelona's legendary players and experience the Barça passion on this 1.5-hour tour that's perfect...Camp Nou... Read More... March 1997 - The Vision The two Munich clubs achieved some remarkable successes this year. According to Franz Beckenbauer, "Watching football should be fun and a great experience for everyone." And that is precisely why the fans are demanding a new stadium designed for football. But the city doesn't want to build an entirely new facility, but rather to restructure the Olympic stadium. May 2002: Building application After completion of the regional planning application in December as a precondition to obtaining the right to build, the building application is officially submitted. 26 March 2004: Basic structural work completed The basic shell of the stadium is completed on schedule. The final 4.5 cubic meters of concrete are ceremonially poured into the last area in the stadium to be concreted. 18 September 2004: the First seat installed After all the pre-cast terracing elements and stairway blocks are mounted in all three tiers, the first silver-grey seats are installed in the executive box area. 5 August 2005: Inaugural match A capacity 66,000 crowd witness Bayern defeat Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga opening match, the first-ever competitive fixture at the new stadium Source: Wikipedia, Designing Buildings Wiki Drop us a question in Quora