TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J.

Llorens 1
Textile Roofs 2010






Report

"Shanghai Expo Axis (from the spectacular presentation of Mr. D.Richter, Bro fr Leichtbau, Radolfzell)

June 03
rd
- 05
th
2010

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lothar Grndig
Technical University of Berlin (TUB)
Berlin, Germany
Prof.Dr.-Architect Josep Llorens
Technical University of Catalunya (UPC)
Barcelona, Spain
[email protected]

Introduction

Textile Roofs 2010, the Fifteenth International Workshop on the Design and Practical
Realisation of Architectural Membranes, took place on 3-5 June at the Technische
Universitt Berlin and was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ing. Lothar Grndig. It was attended by
49 participants from 13 countries on three continents, once again demonstrating the
success of the event, which has become firmly established since it was first held in
1995.


TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 2
Design principles and requirements. J. Llorens, Barcelona School of
Architecture.

The basic principles and requirements for designing membrane structures can be
summarized as follows.
1. Basics: tension, curvature, pre-stress



2. Structural requirements: resistance, stability, redundancy, stiffness, flexibility

Two strategies of design: hiding (left) or following (right) the load paths..

The proportion between parts
needs to be balanced
Left: gravity for
compression
(Egipt).
Center: rigidity for
bending
(Florence).
Right: curvature
for tension
(Alacant)
More curvature
(right) means less
tension, improving
drainage, increasing
height and
increasing the ratio:
manufactured
membrane / covered
area.
3. Geometry: form, funicularity, convergence,
balance, need for space, scale effect,
coordination.
4. Material.
5. Visual expression: overall expression,
lightness, load paths, balance, proportion,
translucency, boundaries, framing the views,
common vocabulary, smoothness, style.
6. Surroundings: isolated, urban space,
nature, buildings, enclosures.
7. Environment and sustainability.
8. Installation process.
9. Economy.
10. Conclusion: the design process for textile
architecture.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 3
Architects meet membranes. H.Drr, R.Essrich & R.Dinort, IF Group.

Membranes are uncommon design challenges for most architects who seek special
conditions. During the presentation, the concepts of "fertile soil and "what to do
and what to know were described and examples from IF were presented.

Detailed flow-chart of the total development of the project.

Mr Drr explained that "fertile soil refers to the need for people to think
innovatively and to be open-minded and creative. He compared conventional
stadiums and stations with textile roofs, in which new forms emerge with new
details and materials. Curved surfaces in tension can be used to overcome
problems involved in creating round designs and 90 and 60 angles, but special
software that can manage form and equilibrium together is required. Materials tend
to be composites for lightness, translucency, foldability, fire resistance, UV barriers,
dirt repellency, insulation, energy saving and energy collection. The typology of
structural membranes is a hybrid of surfaces curved in two directions, masts,
beams, arches and other structural supports.


10 Steps of design:
1 Define design
2 Look for an idea
3 Draw in 3D
4 Find form of membrane
5 Complete 2D drawing
6 Pre-calculation, pre-
dimensioning
7 Find measures
8 Make a presentation
9 Define details
10 Make a budget price
To explain "what to do and what to
know, the following design aspects were
provided: space, positioning, orientation,
form, function, construction, legibility,
conceptual reference, sustainability,
ecology, power consumption and cost.
After the concept phase, which is
conducted by the architect and the client,
the engineer carries out the planning and
project-management phases. These
require a series of leadership and
organizational techniques and resources
for initiating, defining, planning, managing
and completing the project.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 4
Membrane Lightweight Structures. R. Wehdorn-Roithmayr, Vienna, Austria

Robert Wehdorn presented Membrane Lightweight Structures, a MEng programme
at the Vienna University of Technology.

The aim of the masters programme is to combine the pioneering spirit of Frei Otto
and his team with current and future building technologies with a view to providing
graduates with adequate tools and an understanding of appropriate technologies in
the field of fabric architecture and fabric engineering.

Mr Wehdorn, who considers knowledge to be the most powerful source of
innovation, said that the masters programme would prepare postgraduate students
to work in the "fastidious field of building with membranes and provide them with
the knowledge required to work as qualified architecture and engineering
professionals in the private or public sectors.



The five core topics of the course were presented.
1. Design: form finding for equilibrium, functionality and aesthetics.
2. Geometry (typology and proportion): given the high number of geometries, few
details are re-used.
3. Element catalogue: build, appearance.
4. Building physics: climate, acoustics, fire protection.
5. Manufacture: installation process, maintenance.

Individual modules have been designed to raise awareness of the entire operational
sequence, from the first sketch to the realization of membrane architecture. The
aim of the programme is to enable graduates to develop projects independently
and to become part of a unique network of experts. The exchange of information
and long-term co-operation form the basis for a successful career in the field of
fabric architecture.

Several "finders are used, including the typology finder, the project finder, the
image finder, the material finder, the form finder and the value finder (the one-click
cost estimation tool for the design of form-active structures was presented at
Textile Roofs 2009).

The course will be scheduled in 4 semester part-time in 4 units each lasting 12
days: Unit 1: Nov. 8th to 19th 2010. Unit 2: Feb 21st 2011, Unit 3: Oct. 17th 2011.
Unit 4: Jan. 16th 2012 plus one optional unit.

And the teaching staff will include Christoph Achammer, Peter Bauer, Martin
Bechthold, Rainer Blum, Horst Drr, Jrgen Hennicke, Ali Heshmati, Alex Heslop,
Waltraut Hoheneder, Barbara Imhof, Peter Kneen, Johann Kollegger, Ami Korren,
Peter Mandl, Lars Mee-Olsohn, Riklef Rambow, Peter Resch, Michael Schultes,
Vinzenz Sedlak, Michael Seidel, Bernhard Sommer, Hannes Stiefel, Dieter Strbel
and Robert Wehdorn-Roithmayr.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 5
Computational modelling of lightweight structures. D.Strbel, P.Singer &
J.Holl, technet GmbH

Dieter Strbel presented the requirements and possibilities of the computer models
for membrane engineering based on the Easy suite of software modules for the
complete design of lightweight structures.

The computer models must be correct, precise and complete (realistic approach),
rapidly generated and used for mass production. They must also use information
from a variety of experts: architects, membrane engineers, wind consultants,
geological surveys, material consultants (mechanical, acoustic, heat, light,
humidity) and universities.








Boundary parameters Net parameters Fixed points


Form finding Generation of surface elements Support forces

Force distribution Stress distribution Slope lines: drainage

Analytical form finding is the procedure for determining the shape of a surface.
Double curved shapes in force equilibrium are typically sought.

Static analysis is based on the energy method and non-linear system, and the
approximate starting values are provided by the previous form-finding process. This
type of analysis may include beam elements and the results are exported to RSTAB
from Dlubal GmbH to check the steel elements.

Additional tools are force finding, flexibility ellipsoids and sensitivity analysis by
redundancy numbers.

Cutting patterns are obtained by means of small flattening distortion using
geodesic lines that optimise the use of material and minimise deformation energy.

Some examples were mentioned: Velodrome in Abuja, Allianz Arena in Munich,
Matti Orpana Big Air Hall in Finland, Swiss Expo Chambered Pneumatic Structures,
Astana Cable Tower and the National Stadium in Beijing.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 6
Easy modelling. An introduction. J.Holl & U.Grndig, technet GmbH

Membranes are made of flexible materials that carry only tensile (and shear)
forces. They transfer loads through double-curved pre-tensioned surfaces. Pre-
tension is introduced mechanically (leading to anticlastic forms) or pneumatically
(leading to synclastic forms). They are form-active. There is a direct relationship
between form and force distribution and forms are figures of equilibrium. The
designer influences the form through definitions of marginal parameters:
boundaries, supports and pre-stress distribution.

Ulrike and Jrgen presented the Easy suite of software modules for modelling
membrane structures and divided it into three main sections:

1) Easy for membranes with struts, cables and pneumatic structures.

1.1 Easy.Form: analytical form finding based on the force density method. A
solution (form and force distribution) is obtained in a single calculation step.

1.2 Easy.Stat: non-linear static analysis covering external load generation,
material property assignment, visualisation of stresses and forces and results
(deflections and stress distribution). Additional tools include contour lines and slope
lines for fast drainage dimensioning.

1.3 Easy.Cut: cutting pattern generation for creating planar cloth geometries from
double-curved surfaces envisaging cut-off and distortion minimisation, exporting to
cutting machines and ensuring fully automated optimisation in standard cases. The
number, width and direction of the patterns are set to calculate the strips and the
process can be iterated to adjust them.

2) Easy Beam: calculation of bending elements combined with structural
membranes for hybrid structures (membrane elements combined with beam
elements and struts). This leads to reliable results and prevents over-dimensioning
of steel framework structures. The model data from the easy static analysis are
imported to the Beam Editor, which creates a Beam Model. Cross sections and
material dimensioning is possible with RStab. After the forces, stresses,
deformation, torsion and bending moments of the hybrid model are calculated, a
report is produced to check if the model is in balance. The residual force values
must be smaller than the stop criterion values. If the model is not in balance then
more iterations with changes in the cross sections or materials are needed.

3) RStab: the calculation of steel frameworks was presented.



Conclusion: the separation of non-linear lightweight systems is only an initial
imprecise and expensive estimation.
The advantage of hybrid modelling
was illustrated by the Chambered
Pneumatic Structures of the Expo in
Switzerland. The separation of the
structure into two subsystems
(pneumatic membrane plus steel
ring, struts and cables) led to a 0.5-
m deflection and a 30,000-mkN
maximum bending moment,
whereas one hybrid system resulted
in a 0.25-m deflection and a
18,000-mkN maximum bending
moment.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 7
Engineering software for structural analysis and design. W.Rustler, Dlubal
GmbH

DLUBAL Engineering Software, based in Tiefenbach (Germany) and with
development facilities in Prague, has over 20 years of experience in developing
structural analysis software. The company currently employs about 100 people. Its
software is used in over 40 countries by more than 7000 users.

Dlubal solutions:


Dlubal solutions were used in the development of the following constructions.




A demo version can be downloaded from www.dlubal.com
RSTAB Beam Elements, the
framework program and additional
modules:

- Stress-Analysis
- Stability Analysis
- Connection Design
- Dynamic Design
- CAD Interfaces
- Concrete and Timber Design
- Composite Beam Design

RFEM Beams, Plates, Shells, Solids,
the FEM program and additional
modules:

- Stress-Analysis
- Stability Analysis
- Dynamic Design
- CAD Interfaces
- Concrete and Timber Design

Ferrari World Theme Park:
a roof structure of about
195,000 m
2
was erected on Al
Yas Island (United Arab
Emirates) for an amusement
and leisure facility. The Mero
spatial framework, with
around 170,000 bars and
42,200 joints, is the largest
spatial framework ever built.

Eden Project in Cornwall
(England): based on a 180 x
131 x 62.5-m structure
created in CAD and imported
into RSTAB. The load cases
and load groups correspond to
BS 5950 and the project was
analyzed using second-order
theory. Nicholas Grimshaw
and Partners (London) carried
out the architectural design
following a static pre-design
by MERO.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 8
Visions - Ideas - Projects. Un hommage Frei Otto. J. Hennicke, IL, Stuttgart
University.














Das hngende dach, 1954
Frei Otto, the creator of lightweight structures,
contributed many ideas. Although most of his
designs were never built, he succeeded in
stimulating others to work in the field.
He earned a doctorate in tensioned constructions
in 1954.
His saddle-shaped cable-net music pavilion
garnered a great deal of attention at the Federal
Garden Exposition in Kassel (Germany) in 1955.
Many of his ideas began with small sketches or
models. He believed in "building the model and
finding the problems and learning from nature-
looking at its principles, behaviour and shaping
mechanisms-rather than imitating it.
The most renowned achievement of his career
was the 1972 Munich Olympic Stadium, whose
preliminary model was the West German Pavilion
for the Montreal Expo in 1967. The pavilion was
an experiment using a pre-stressed cable net and
its test building was the Institute for Lightweight
Structures at the University of Stuttgart, founded
by Otto in 1964. Here he started an
interdisciplinary research movement involving
engineers, biologists, physicists and philosophers.
The extensive research conducted at the Institute
involved testing cable nets and membranes,
pneumatic and tree structures, suspended chains
and domes made of steel and timber rods. Tents
and pneumatics, membrane-covered cable nets,
grid shells, space frames and various hybrid
combinations offer an abundance of creative,
structural and functional possibilities that
conventional structures either cannot provide or
can provide only insufficiently.
The objectives were to improve the aesthetic
quality, create a visual and functional attraction
by means of a variety and diversity of forms and
structures, save material and energy, optimise
resources and achieve sustainability and recycling
capacity.
A series of experiments using soap bubbles was
conducted to calculate the ideal surface curvature
required for the enormous space to be
constructed on the cable net and membrane
structures. The resulting structures are considered
a beautiful architectural creation that is in
harmony with nature.
Everything was published in the IL magazine of
the Institute where famous (and not so famous)
people went to learn and lecture about their
experiences.
F.Otto, 2000 With F.Vivas
Music Pavilion, Kassel, 1955
German Pavilion, Montreal, 1967
Petal for Venezuela, 1999

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 9
The Shanghai Expo Axis, an enormous
membrane roof that covers the Expo
Boulevard, was presented. With a total
surface area of 65,000 m
2
, the membrane
roof is the largest of its kind in the world and
its free span of almost 100 m sounds the
limits of technical feasibility.
The basic architectural design idea was
developed by SBA Architects and Knippers
Helbig and initially consisted of a boulevard
covered by a glass canopy, but during the
design process it was changed to six sun
valleys and a textile membrane.
The roof has a height of 45 m and a free
projection of 80 m. It is supported by 19
interior masts, 31 exterior masts and six
funnel-shaped framework shells made of
steel and glass. They are called sun valleys
because they direct natural light into the
basements.
In terms of structure and shape, the roof
lives up to Stuttgarts tradition of
internationally respected lightweight
constructions and follows in the series of
outstanding architectural engineering works
such as the German Pavilion at the Montreal
World Exposition 1967 and the Munich 1972
Olympic Stadium.
The first attempts at form finding and
preliminary analysis were carried out using
Rhino and Sofistik, respectively, but in the
end the Easy suite of software modules was
used for the complete design of lightweight
structures. However, deformations-up to 6
m-were a major problem, which was solved
by introducing inner masts that reduced the
deformations to 1 / 1.5 m.
Loads included 0.3 kN/m
2
of snow and 0.55
kN/m
2
of wind. Failure scenarios were
simulated. Physical modelling proved to be
useful at all design stages. The structure was
created by the Chinese partners. The design
and construction of the roof are a successful
example of German-Chinese cooperation.
Expo Axis 2010, Shanghai. D. Richter, Bro fr Leichtbau, Radolfzell.



































TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 10
Faade design is now. Textile faades. M. Vohn, Ferrari S.A.


Stamisol Textiles are part of the Ferrari textile architecture range. They are
expressive materials for architects and builders. Lightness, transparency, solar
and thermal protection, colour tones, rapid installation, UV resistance, curved
volumes, graphic personalization and longevity, are possible.

With Stamisol the Ferrari Group offers a product range of technical membranes
specifically developed for facade and roofing. This ranges major innovation is
that it embodies a comprehensive technical solution specific to facades.

Composed of Stamisol FT faade textile and Stamisol Color coloured membrane,
the range offers multiple finishing options through its scenic usage of light and
3D design. This solution is attractive because of its relevance, technical
performance, reliability and durability.
The Stamisol FT & Color combination is the ideal answer to architects and
investors requirements for modern ventilated faades. Stamisol also offers an
extensive selection of membranes for transparent and openwork faades and for
under-roof screening. The cutting-edge coating technology of Stamisol breather
membranes mean they work just like our skin: they breathe, protect from
external aggression and control building humidity and thermal performance.


TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 11
Retractable roofs. Material Choice. D.P.Emmer & J.Tritthardt, Vector Foiltec
GmbH & Bro fr Leichtbau-lightweight design.

A presentation was given about the material choice and design of retractable
roofs and how they were applied to the Athens Heart Shopping Centre. The
atrium is covered with a membrane roof and the membrane panels can be reefed
in parallel to open the atrium.

The goal during the design stage was to find a light roof with a direct view to the
blue sky. The solution was a north-light roof with highly translucent membrane
panels giving shade from the south and with a transparent cladding on the north
side of the parallel steel girders to allow a direct view and the entrance of cool
northern light.


The main structure consists of 13 crescent-shaped tri-chord trusses (one at the
top and two at the bottom) between 13 m and 60 m in length. The diagonally
orientated trusses are covered on their northern side with two ETFE cushions
each. The cushions are double-layered and clamped to the top and bottom
chords. Between the top chord of one truss and the bottom chord of the
neighbouring truss, one layer of silicone-coated glass fibre membrane is spanned.
The membrane is attached with travellers to an aluminium rail and can be opened
and closed with a motor-driven cable pull system. The chosen silicone-coated
glass fibres are highly transparent. Together with the ETFE, the shopping centre
has a convenient ambient light, even on cloudy days, which transforms the
atrium into a pleasant area.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 12
Timber and membranes. B.Briegert & R.Burri, Membranbau.

"It does not always have to be steel summarizes the message of the
presentation quite well.

Membranbau was established in 1991 for the production of roof windows. In 1999
membrane structures were added to the business based on the advantages of
timber-membrane constructions: thermal conductivity, in-house manufacture
with special connection points that enables very fast assembly, and on-site
machinab

Inlinedrom Weinfelden (2006)

BUGA 2011 Cablecar, Koblenz (2919)



TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 13
Wind and snow loads on membrane roofs. M.Buselmeier, Wacker-
Ingenieure, Birkenfeld.

The structural design of a membrane roof requires realistic wind and snow loads.
Information may be obtained from wind and snow load standards (for example
DIN, Eurocode and ASCE, whose specifications are only valid for simple
structures), theoretical estimations, experience from former projects with similar
geometry, literature, numerical simulations and wind-tunnel tests.

3 Wind tunnels are available at Wacker Ingenieure:








The geometric similarity (typical scales: 1/150-1/400), the similarity of the
approaching flow and the similarity of the flow around the structure are important
modelling laws to be taken into account.

Rigid models are typically used if the deflections do not influence the pressure
distribution. If deflections are influential then additional tests considering the
deflected shape, theoretical estimations or numerical calculations of flow-
structure interaction may be carried out because the aeroelastic modelling of a
textile structure is extremely complex, approximate and expensive.


Wind loads are classified as exterior, interior and overall wind loads on the main
supporting structure, wind loads on tributary areas (membrane design,
substructure), local wind loads on cladding, quasi-steady wind loads and dynamic
wind loads that induce vibrations.

Further wind engineering aspects include snow drift and accumulation
simulations, wind-induced vibrations and accelerations, wind load impact on
neighbouring buildings, dispersion of exhausted air, natural ventilation, indoor
airflow, smoke extraction in case of fire, pedestrian comfort at the base of the
building, impact on ventilation of neighbouring districts and wind-induced noise.

Costs for 2010:
C25,000 for a stadium (4 to 6 weeks)
C10,000 for small structures
C100 to C800 for estimations based on former tests

Wind tunnel 1 2 3
Type Boundary layer
wind tunnel
Boundary layer
wind tunnel
Aeronautical
wind tunnel
Cross section 2,50 x 1,85 m 2,05 x 1,85 m 1,30 x 1,30 m
Speed 17 m/s 20 m/s 30 m/s
Exposure Suburban Open Uniform flow
Local wind pressures are measured at
several locations (typically < 300).
Pressure taps are installed in the
model. Numerical integration shows
contour plots of the wind pressures for
each wind direction.

Wind pressure time series are
measured instead of mean wind
pressures with optional dependency of
the design wind velocity on the wind
direction.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 14
Design of membrane structures. R.Wagner, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

On the printed paper, Mrs Wagner presented new applications for textile fabrics
developed within the EU project Contex-T (www.contex-T.eu):

- New PC coatings for use as outdoor covers, featuring easy cleaning and
sufficient seam strength.
- Soft, flexible silicone-coated polyester fabric for deployable membrane
roofs.
- Low-E coatings to improve thermal behaviour.
- Improved fire resistance and acoustic performance.
- Translucent and thermal insulation of membranes.











How accurate are our designs?

The oral presentation was more challenging. Some interesting points on
membrane structure design were discussed:
























Lastly, Wagner asked the question "how accurate are our designs? and gave
a warning: "don't forget to conduct experiments to know how far away you
are.
New applications include the exploitation of
natural resources such as water and the use
of solar energy by integrating PV units in the
membrane.

"It is the responsibility of architects and
engineers to recognize the potential of
membranes in buildings.
- Safety concepts: does every imprecision go
to the load safety factor?
- Stiffness attracts forces.
- Wind tunnel tests and simulation models.
- Tensions influence deformations and vice-
versa: with large deformations, it makes a
difference to start with the deformed
situation.
- It is necessary to know stresses and
strains coming from imperfections.
- It is important to know the pending of the
pretension elements.
- Starting the static analysis with form
finding is not exact. Re-meshing from the
deformed situation is needed.
- How can the compensation factors be
defined?
- Welded joints are plastic; sewn joints are
elastic.
- Biaxial tests may not be accurate enough.
- Non-orthogonal fabrics resulting from the
manufacture process lead to distortion.
- Poissons ratio is a surface rather than a
number.
- Ask the supplier/manufacturer of the
fabric.
Load carrying behaviour
of a horizontal cable

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 15
From Tent Culture to Textile Architecture, I.Sariay, Arch & Art Architectural
Design and Application Group, Alancak,Izmir

Tents were traditionally used in the Anatolian peninsula. Turks associated the sky
with the tent and the "pole of the sky with the pole of the tent. This belief
spread across the world and became universal. The ancient Roman and Greek
cultures called this pole Universalis columna.

The rider Turks of Middle Asia used to compare their tents to the sky. This was a
Middle Asian belief, because neither Babylon tents nor Israeli tents were shaped
like a dome.


Some examples of Turkish tents are the tent of the Sultan, the Pasha tent, the
council tent, the Grand Viziers tent, the tent with curtains (tent for the governor
of Sanjak), the treasury tent, the Turkish bath tent, the hospital tent, the tent for
food storage, the tent for leather crafters, the kitchen tent, the punishment tent
and the soldiers tent.

With the establishment of permanent settlements, tents and similar structures
lost importance. However, by the end of 1980 the historical forms were
reinterpreted with new, high-strength, improved textile membrane materials
similar to those found in Europe in the 1970s.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 16
Lightweight ArchitectureJ.Hennike, IL, Stuttgart University.

The whole field of lightweight architecture was presented by J.Hennike, not only
restricted to pre stressed membranes and new developments, because "nothing
is really new: principles may be found in nature.

Radiolarians: a skeleton that supports natural The Bedouin tent has a hump instead of
pre-stressing a high "point

Mongolian yurt: straight lines, top ring, and Multipurpose Hall Model, Federal Garden
vertical enclosure for transport purposes Exhibition, Mannheim, 1975
















More than simply a series of pictures, the
lecture was a philosophical look at the field.
Various efforts are underway to make
technology and its consequences more
endurable and less destructive for the
environment. Among them, the search for
natural laws that govern the relationships
between form, structure, material, load,
energy and function play an important role.
The general aim is to understand what is
needed now and in the future to enable
humankind and man-made objects to
become integrated in living and non-living
nature. The creation of architecture using
lightweight structures should be considered
a holistic process, as a synthesis or seam
of invention and production of forms and
structures made for the constructed
environment that is compatible with nature
and satisfies economical and ecological
needs as well as cultural demands.
How to bring forces down saving
material ?

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 17
Student Seminar. Teaching staff: R.Wagner & M.Sedighi

For the sixth time, an international student seminar was held in parallel to
the Textile Roofsworkshop. Students from several countries worked under the
guidance of Prof. R. Wagner and Prof. M. Sedighi.

The following is taken from the conceptual formulation of the student seminar:

"The main objective of the design project consists in the architectural design of a
public transport stop as a culture-oriented urban element that is open to visitors.
This makes movement perceptible and establishes a connection with the issue of
breaking the wall, or unity. An additional feature of the public transport stop
should be the capability to communicate with passers-by in many different ways
while they wait. It is a temporary platform that can be used, for instance, as an
information point, an exhibition, an art installation or a stage.

The concept and layout of public transport stops should act as an interface that
demonstrates an objection to the formerly separating borderline and have its own
motto and characterizing name. The stops, which will be installed at various
locations throughout the city, could form a unique cross-town network and
symbolize a place of motion with a connecting function (reunification or `unity).


In doing so, the stop-as a hybrid, multidimensional architectural module-will be
a new model that links function, form, material and construction.

The effect of the unity can be achieved by representing lightness as part of the
conceptual design, for example by applying transparent materials, textile fabric
or membrane materials that reflect dynamic motion through their flexibility and
transparency. The draft of a public transport stop (e.g., sketch, model, texts) and
clear documentation on the design and the design process are very important for
assessing the results of the workshop.

TEXTILE ROOFS 2010 THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, BERLIN - J. Llorens 18
Hands-on physical modelling workshop













Hands-on physical modelling workshops were held in the afternoon. Participants
worked on their own models before (or after) creating them onscreen.

Sightseeing cruise

The 2010 sightseeing cruise along the River Spree went through the city of Berlin,
past famous sights including the Reichstag, Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral and a
number of masterworks of contemporary architects.

Textile Roofs 2011

June 23
rd
- 25
th
2011

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lothar Grndig
Technical University of Berlin (TUB)
Berlin, Germany

The Sixsteenth International Workshop on the Design and Practical Realisation
of Architectural Membrane Structures will be held on 23-35 June 2011. Its
format will be similar to that of TR 2010, with seminar-style lectures and
hands-on activities. It will be preceded by the student seminar and sponsored
by TU, TensiNet, Ferrari and Technet.