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STRUCTURAL DETAILING 163▲ 7.67 Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Paris, France, Henri Labrouste, 1850. Curved ironbeams over the reading room.outcome of the quest for lightness, delicacy, minimalism, and unobtrusivenessin structure. 18While the designers tried to minimize the visual impact of most details,one in particular stands out. In three locations, and most importantlywhere the two arms of the L-shape meet in the corner and the roofbulges beyond its normal barrel forms, additional tensile stiffening maintainsthe cylindrical geometry. Vertical fans of cables radiate upwardsfrom a central plate suspended high above the courtyard floor and heldin physical and visual equilibrium by an inverted V-shaped tension cable.A stainless-steel plate whose roundedness echoes that of the vaultedform above, its shininess, the fan-like layout of cables and intricacy ofconnectors between plate and lower cable, all create an impression ofa necklace-like piece of jewellery (Fig. 7.69).SUMMARYHaving defined structural detailing as the configuration, shaping and finishingof members and their connections, the chapter explores howdetailing makes significant architectural contributions to buildings.▲ 7.68 Hamburg Museum CourtyardCanopy, Hamburg, Germany, Von Gerkan,Marg and Partner, 1989. General view ofthe canopy.First, it examines the expressive and responsive nature of structuraldetailing. An analysis of observed structural details suggests that mostexpress or respond to some aspect of the building of which they arepart. Examples illustrate details that relate to architectural form, buildingfunction, materiality and construction, and structural actions.