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INTERIOR STRUCTURE 127▲ 6.39 Courtyard, Oxford UniversityMuseum, England, Deane and Woodward,1860. Courtyard interior.▲ 6.40 Law Faculty Extension, Limoges, France, Massimiliano Fuksas, 1997. Walls of theinterior lecture theatres protrude from the exterior wall.central feature in the iconographic scheme for the Museum to be readas a “Book of Nature” ’. 16Structure visually dominates the interior to such an extent that it maydetract from the pre-historic animal skeletons on display. Both themetallic and the animal skeletons possess similar visual properties ofcomplexity and delicacy. However, unlike the natural forms, the courtyardstructure is elaborated by decorative detailing that serves tostrengthen its relationship to natural history.At the Law Faculty Extension, Limoges, structure both provides andexpresses enclosure. Two bulging forms that protrude through theglazed skin hint at the rounded lecture theatres within (Fig. 6.40). Thecurved concrete ribs of the larger lower theatre support a smaller andlightweight version above.Curved glue-laminated timber structure defines the interior volume ofthe smaller theatre (Fig. 6.41). Orthogonally orientated ribs accentuateits three-dimensional curvatures and visually emphasize the form of thewomb-like interior. Primary and secondary ribs express enclosure asthey wrap over and around the volume. Due to their significantlygreater depth, the primary ribs play a stronger visual role. The horizontalconfinement expressed by the continuous rings of secondary ribs isreinforced by the horizontality of the timber board wall-lining. Organicform, small scale, the sympathetic configuration of the structural elements,