Tensile architecture

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The world's first steel tensile structure by Vladimir Shukhov (during construction), Nizhny Novgorod, 1896
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The world's first steel tensile structure by Vladimir Shukhov (during construction), Nizhny Novgorod, 1896
The roof tensile structures by Frei Otto of the Olympiapark, Munich
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The roof tensile structures by Frei Otto of the Olympiapark, Munich

Tensile architecture is a relatively new field of architecture devoted to lightweight membrane structures. Composed primarily of a cable-net supporting a fabric or sheet material structures, this form of architecture is well suited for sheltering large areas, such as stadiums, arenas, outdoor shelters, and airport terminals.

Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov was one of the first to develop practical calculations of stresses and deformations of beams, shells and membranes. Shukhov designed eight thin-shell structures exhibition pavilions for the Panrussian Exposition of 1896, covering the area of 27,000 m².

Since the 1960s, tensile structures have been championed by designers and engineers such as Frei Otto, Eero Saarinen, Horst Berger, Matthew Nowicki, the duo of Nicholas Goldsmith & Todd Dalland at FTL Design & Engineering Studio and David Geiger.

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