Orsolya Gáspár joined the Department of Architecture faculty in the Stuckeman School as an assistant professor on July 1, 2023. She works on the interface of structurally informed architectural design and construction history, with a keen interest in the interdependence of geometry, topology, and structural performance of spatial structures. In her research, she seeks to support sustainable building practices by ‘clever’ structural design, fueled by both vernacular and engineering tradition.
Originally from Hungary, Gáspár was most recently a visiting fellow at the Form Finding Lab at Princeton University. Her queries in the stereotomy of masonry structures led to her involvement in the lab’s Angelus Novus Vault project for the 2023 Venice Biennale of Architecture.
Gáspár regularly presents her work at international conferences (IASS, SAHC) and her research has been published in top-tier journals of the architecture field, including the International Journal or Architectural Heritage and the International Journal of Solids and Structures.
Gáspár earned her master of architecture and doctorate from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. While an assistant professor there, she co-authored a textbook on complex architectural structures.
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Education
- Ph.D. in Architecture, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- M.Sc. in Architectural Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
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Publications + Presentations
BOOK
2022
- Hegyi D. Gáspár, O., Fehér E. Special Loadbearing structures // Különleges tartószerkezetek (bilingual) Budapest, Hungary: TERC Zrt. ISBN: 9786155445903. https://tinyurl.com/3tp22s7x.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
2022
- Gáspár, O., Sajtos, I., & Sipos, A. A.. Multi-Hinge Failure Mechanisms of Masonry Arches Subject to Self-Weight as Derived from Minimum Thickness Analysis. International
Journal of Architectural Heritage, 1-29. DOI: 10.1080/15583058.2022.2084702. - Gáspár , O. The optimization process leading to the tessellation of the first geodesic dome structure, the first Planetarium of Jena, International Journal of Space Structures,
37(1), pp.49-64 DOI: 10.1177/09560599211064110.
2021
- Gáspár, O., Sajtos, I., Sipos, A.A. Friction as a geometric constraint on stereotomy in the minimum thickness analysis of circular and elliptical masonry arches. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 225, p.111056. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2021.111056.
2018
- Gáspár, O., Sipos, A.A.,Sajtos, I. Effect of stereotomy on the lower bound value of minimum thickness of semi-circular masonry arches. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 12(6), pp.899-921. DOI: 10.1080/15583058.2017.1422572.
2017
- Gáspár, O., Sajtos, I. The economy of the exotic: The relation of shell architecture and industrialization in Hungary between 1949–1970. Építés-Építészettudomány, 45(1-2), pp.91-116. DOI: 10.1556/096.2017.45.1–2.2.
2013
- Gáspár, O.,Sajtos, I. Az erőjáték és az anyagtulajdonságok hatása a téralakításra. / Power of Form. Form finding methods. (In Hungarian). Építés-Építészettudomány, 41(1-2), pp.67-113. DOI: 10.1556/eptud.41.2013.1-2.4.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
2022
- Gáspár, O., Kis, A. É.: Searching for the engineering optimum: evolution of the topology of the triangulated rebar grid of the Zeiss-Dywidag domes. In Proceedings of the IASS/APCS 2022 Annual Symposium, Beijing.
- Ackermann, Á., Gáspár, O. Parametric design tool for frameworks with minimal rigidity condition. In Proceedings for the 14th Computational Structures Conference, Montpellier,
2021
- Gáspár, O., Sajtos, I.,Sipos, A.A. Safe estimation of minimum thickness of circular masonry arches considering stereotomy and different rotational failure modes. In Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Construction, ed. P. Roca, L. Pela, C. Molins, Barcelona.
- Sajtos, I., Gáspár, O., Sipos, A.A.General Thrust Surface of the Masonry Domes. In Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Construction, ed. P. Roca, L. Pela, C. Molins, Barcelona.
- Gáspár, O. Bauersfeld’s concept for the subdivision of the first built geodesic dome structure. In Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium and Spatial Structures Conference 2020/21, Surrey. cited by 4(3).
2019
- Gáspár, O., Sajtos I.,Sipos A.A. The role of rotational collapse mode and catenary-type thrust lines in the limit state analysis of masonry arches. In Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2019, ed: C. Lázaro, K.-U. Bletzinger, E. Oñate, Barcelona.
- Sajtos, I., Gáspár, O., Sipos, A. A. Geometry of the crack-free spherical masonry dome. In Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2019, ed: C. Lázaro, K.-U. Bletzinger, E. Oñate, Barcelona.
2018
- Gáspár, O., Sipos, A. A., Sajtos, I. Stereotomy related studies considering the effect of limited angle of friction on minimum thickness values for semi-circular masonry arches. In Proceedings of the 8th ICBR Conference, Lisbon.
2017
- Gáspár, O., Sajtos, I. Lower bound of the minimum thickness values for circular masonry arches based on thrust line analysis considering various stereotomies. In Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2017“Interfaces: architecture.engineering.science”, ed. A. Bögle, M. Grohmann, Hamburg.
- Mándoki, R., Gáspár, O. Shell roofing of the KÖFÉM Factory – historical case study on the effect of geometrical imperfection. In Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2017“Interfaces: architecture.engineering.science”, ed. A. Bögle, M. Grohmann, Hamburg.
2016
- Gáspár,O., Sajtos, I. On the definition of the line of thrust. In Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions: Anamnesis, Diagnosis, Therapy, Controls: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions, ed. K. Van Balen, E. Verstrynge, 1003-1010.Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
- Gáspár, O.,Sajtos, I., Parallel Universe–Evolution of Hungarian Shell Architecture. In Proceedings of IASS Annual Symposia (Vol. 2016, No. 12, pp. 1-10). International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS).
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Service + Affiliations
- Member of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS)