The diffusion of the Zeiss-Dywidag system in Italy. Two cases in Rome

The contribution of the German building company Dyckerhoff & Widmann was central to the pioneering experimental research on thin concrete shells. The introduction of the Zeiss-Dywidag system in Italy was due to engineer Rodolfo Stoelcker, one of the first that obtained the licence out of Germany in 1928. His builders constructed two garages for public transport in Rome, applying the patent for cylindrical thin shell roofs. This paper aims to describe the use of the Z-D system in these two projects, explaining the relevant features found in their designs. In particular, firstly the investigation of the design method shows how and why this structure was considered convenient compared to others of the same period. Secondly, the architectural description and the identification of the extension phases allows us to demonstrate the significant functional performance of this system in terms of a garage's practical requirements, alongside the rapid construction and limited budget.