Part 1: Architect’s Guide 1 - 64 8 CONCLUSION Thanks to its outstanding mechanical performance, to the freedom of technical prowess it affords, to its flexibility of use in different types of buildings, to its plastic and aesthetic potential and the creativity it inspires, steel has a natural place in the pantheon of materials for architectural design. When an architect chooses steel, he knows this is a choice of no small consequence. First this choice implies rigorous design, awareness of the functionality of each of the elements that make up the design, and analysis of all stages in the building process – from drawing board to routine management of the completed project. Second, the choice is an expression of affirmation, of putting ones mark on a design, a way of conceiving and perceiving, a willingness to contribute to the urban landscape, to integrate with light and air into the urban fabric. Steel is a form of expression which gives meaning to architectural design. Choosing steel to design a multi-storey building is to choose a material which offers low cost, strength, durability, design flexibility, adaptability and recyclability. It also means choosing reliable industrial products which come in a huge range of shapes and colours; it means rapid site installation and less energy consumption. It means choosing to commit to the principles of sustainability. Infinitely recyclable, steel is the material that reflects the imperatives of sustainable development. In conclusion, choosing steel means choosing a greater freedom of construction, of architecture. It means injecting style into the buildings and the cities of tomorrow.
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