The architectural and economical potential of lightweight structures has been explored since the end of the nineteenth century. Pioneers like Vladimir Shukhov, Gustave Eiffel, Robert Maillart, Pier Luigi Nervi have left iconic traces of their work in different countries, showing how their search for resource efficiency can lead to intrinsic architectural beauty.
Out of this heritage, renowned architects such as Frei Otto and engineers such as Jörg Schlaich and Werner Sobek have developed over more than 50 years a powerful school of thought. This Stuttgart-based school focuses on tools and methods for the integral design and engineering of lightweight structures and facades. Current research explores how the principles of lightweight systems can be used to provide a contribution towards addressing the imminent ecological challenges facing future generations.
Presenter: Lucio Blandini — Director of the Institute for Lightweight Structures (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart. The lecture was held as part of the public program of the exhibition “Anatomy of Structures”.
Video by Архитектурная школа МАРШ