Gridshell

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Multihalle in Mannheim, wooden gridshell structure designed with Frei Otto.

A gridshell is a structure which derives its strength from its double curvature (in the same way that a fabric structure derives strength from double curvature), but is constructed of a grid or lattice.

The grid can be made of any material, but is most often wood (similar to garden trellis) or steel.

Gridshells were pioneered in the 1940s by Frei Otto, later resulting in the construction of the Mannheim Multihalle in Germany.

Large span timber gridshells are commonly constructed by initially laying out the main lath members flat in a regular square or rectangular lattice, and subsequently deforming this into the desired doubly-curved form. This can be achieved by pushing the members up from the ground, as in the Mannheim Multihalle^[1]. More recent projects such as the Savill Garden Gridshell were constructed by laying the laths on top of a sizeable temporary scaffolding structure which is removed in phases to let the laths settle into the desired curvature.

[edit] Gridshell Buildings

Mannheim Multihalle by Frei Otto and Buro Happold [1], a very large exhibition space constructed in 1975.
Weald and Downland Gridshell [2][3] by Buro Happold and Edward Cullinan architects[4], a two-layer wooden gridshell, and the first gridshell constructed in the UK.
Savill Building in Windsor Great Park by Buro Happold and Glenn Howells Architects, a large four-layer wooden gridshell.
Helsinki Zoo viewing platform by Ville Hara
Japan Pavillion, Expo 2000, by Frei Otto, Buro Happold, Shigeru Ban and SONOCO, a gridshell of circular paper tubes[5].
Flimwell Woodland Enterprise Centre Modular Gridshell[6] by Feilden Clegg and Atelier One.
Pishwanton Hand-Built Gridshell[7] by David Tasker and Christopher Day.