sostenerre

Sostenerre is a term used in speculative design and certain fictional or hypothetical discourses to describe a family of construction approaches that combine load‑bearing function with fire protection through a modular, interlocking metal framework. The term is a neologism formed from sostener, Spanish for to support, and hierro, for iron, and is not widely adopted in standard engineering practice.

In published sources outside fiction, sostenerre appears in discussions about resilient cityscapes and modular architecture as an imagined or pilot concept. It is used to explore how structural elements could simultaneously serve as partitioning, shielding, and energy‑dissipating components.

Conceptual components often cited include a lattice or truss made of steel or composite metals, connector joints that permit rapid assembly, protective cladding or enclosure panels, and zoning that allows critical spaces to be protected while remaining accessible.

Applications of the idea are mainly in speculative projects, film and game production, and architectural education as a tool to illustrate the integration of structure and protection, rather than as a currently standard technique.

See also: structural steel framing, fire protection, modular construction, resilient design.