To inform both the projects concepts and the design decisions, research was undertaken into the history of the building and the architect who conceived it:
The Markham Moor hyperbolic roof was conceived by architect Sam Scorer, and constructed with the help of structural engineer Dr Hajnal-Kónyi.
Hugh Segar "Sam" Scorer FRSA (2 March 1923 – 6 March 2003) was an architect who worked in Lincoln and was a leading pioneer in the development of hyperbolic paraboloid roof structures using concrete. He also was involved in architectural conservation and research into the work of local 19th-century architects, as well as creating an art gallery in Lincoln, now known as the Sam Scorer Gallery.
Thin shell concrete roofs were invented in Germany around the 1920s, as a means of achieving large spans with limited materials and at low cost. The strength of the roof lies in its shape, and the way it carries the loads by the forces exerted in the planes of the shell, rather than by the weight of their materials. The first shell roofs were simple barrel vaults. The earliest is Wythenshawe Bus Garage, Manchester, built 1939-42. After the Second World War, the form was taken further. One of the first engineers to specialise in concrete shell techniques in Britain was the German refugee of Hungarian origin, Dr K. Hajnal-Kónyi, who arrived in London in 1936, and who worked with Sam Scorer. Scorer became fascinated by the possibilities of shell roofs as a student, and designed a hyperbolic paraboloid roof in 1956 for a water tower in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
The form was particularly appropriate for developing countries because of its simple materials and low cost. The rationing of steel in the post-war period in Britain also was reason for the popularity of these designs. The 'hyper', as it is sometimes known, enjoyed a brief fashion, seen in buildings such as the Commonwealth Institute of 1960-2 and also the Wrexham swimming baths of 1964. Examples of Scorer's Work are the Lincoln Motor Car Company Garage and Showrooms (1959) and the St John the Baptist Church in Ermine, Lincoln (1962).
Wikipedia: Sam Scorer
Timber hyperbolic roof structures were popular in Britain between the 1950’s-1970’s, and 140 buildings are now known to have been covered with timber hp shell roofs
By 1952 there were some 500 concrete shell roofs in Britain
Markham Moor Petrol Station was constructed in 1961 and cost a total of £4,500 to construct
The concrete roof was cast in-situ with the use of a timber pro-former (mould)
The structure was threatened with demolition in 2004, and was then converted to a Little Chef which saw the addition of the restaurant building underneath the original roof. The Little Chef restaurant closed in 2012 and the building (both roof and restaurant) have remained unused ever since
English Heritage awarded the Markham Moor structure Grade II listed status in 2012
The canopy to the former petrol filling station, constructed in 1960-61 to designs by architect Hugh Segar (Sam) Scorer and structural engineer Dr Hajnal-Kónyi, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Technical innovation: it is a particularly direct example of a hyperbolic paraboloid roof, an unusual and dramatic roof solution which was then being experimented with by a number of architects and engineers all over the world. * Architectural interest: it is a dramatic piece of concrete design which displays the hyperbolic paraboloid form in a daring manner. * Architectural authorship: the team of Scorer and Hajnal-Kónyi was advanced in the design of hyperbolic paraboloids. Scorer is chiefly remembered today for his three buildings that are substantially roofed in hyperbolic paraboloid shells, two of which are listed, one at Grade II*. * Architectural distinction: during a period when standardisation of petrol stations was introduced as an aid to product recognition, the example at Markham Moor is unique by virtue of its technical innovation and individual design. * Rarity: it is one of few extant hyperbolic paraboloid shell structures from the 1950s and 1960s. * Intactness: The canopy and four structural supports remain intact and un-compromised by the inserted building beneath.
Canopy to Former Petrol Station, Markham Moor - Historic England
Construction
The Hyperbolic Paraboloid Roof is a continuously loaded, double curved, self-supporting structure
The hyperbolic paraboloid is a three dimensional surface that belongs to the family of surfaces known as conicoids. Better known examples are the sphere, an ellipsoid (a rugby ball), a hyperboloid of revolution (a cooling tower), and the cone.
The shell may be considered as a system of intersecting ‘arches’ and ‘suspension cables’ - thus the surface is in direct compression in directions parallel to the ‘arches’ and in direct tension to directions parallel to the ‘cables’.
Construction History Vol.13 1997: The design and construction of timber hyperbolic paraboloid shell roofs in Britain: 1957-1975
A major advantage of the HP is the design simplicity which it offers
Although the HP is curved in two directions, it is composed entirely of straight lines
Thanks to the straight line characteristic, forms for the HP can be built from straight lumber
All thin shell roofs derive their strength though shape rather than mass
Hyperbolic Paraboloid - New Thing Shell Roof Type That Promises Great Things
The canopy is a hyperbolic paraboloid shell structure. It has sharp fins that point skywards while the sides sweep low towards the ground. Its form can be likened to a handkerchief, with two corners rising to apexes of 37 feet 4 inches above the ground, while the two opposite corners are only 5 feet above ground. At the dip in the centre, the height is 18 ft 6 in. The canopy is supported on its lower edges by four, simple concrete stanchions.
Canopy to Former Petrol Station, Markham Moor - Historic England
A 3D rendering of the hyperbolic paraboloid
Legacy
These petrol station canopies are splendid reminders of an era, not so long ago, when motoring was first becoming available to all, and a family car journey was very often an adventure in itself. These designs were futuristic at the time and they continue to delight - they have clearly stood the test of time.
Simons Group
Findings
This research produced many contextual details which will help inform the direction of the project. The history of both the building and the architect will contextually ground the project, and the information gathered about the engineering and physical construction of the hyperbolic roof can be directly applied to the design of any visual material.