NEW CALL ROUND ROBIN III

Discover the almost 700 projects uploaded in the Database.

Above a picture (©Pillet Denis) of the tensioned membrane roof of the TGV Train Station in Nantes, built in 1991. It was demolished in 2019, after 28 years of service. Engineer Marc Malinowski clarified for the tensioned membrane roof: "All our efforts are aimed at reducing the visual weight" and adds: "A canvas weighs less than one kilo per square metre, whereas it resists wind pressure of sixty kilos per square metre." A completely different design and construction is now realised. Link

Dear member,

Please find the latest TENSINEWSFLASH AUTUMN 2024! Link

Get inspired by quotes of interesting people such as the French engineer Robert Le Ricolais (1894-1977), considered as one of the creators of the spatial structure principle, based on mathematical logic and observation of nature.

‘Les structures étudiées pour être le meilleur auxiliaire de l’homme obéissent aux lois du minimum, sont semblables à la nature en n’ont pratiquement rien d’artificiel. Discuter leur éventuelle beauté se ramène à discuter la beauté de la nature.’

'The structures designed to be the best helper of man obey the laws of the minimum, are similar to nature and have practically nothing artificial. To discuss their possible beauty is to discuss the beauty of nature.'

Robert Le Ricolais

SHAPING THE PATHWAY TO FUTURE TENSIONED MEMBRANE DESIGN. The TensiNet symposium 2026 will be hosted by the Institute for Metal and Lightweight Structures, University of Duisburg Essen, campus Essen. Initiators are Natalie Stränghoner and Jörg Uhlemann, supported by their team and the TensiNet Association.

The main topics are 1/ Design, Modelling and simulation of structural membranes; 2/ Materials and executions and 3/ Sustainability and building physics.

The way Moriyama Akane uses fibres, textiles, colours and craftsmanship is inspiring. See link

The roof being installed at the Japanese Pavilion at the 2023 Venice Biennale​ © Studio Akane Moriyama

Beneath the glass dome of the Netto supermarket, the aim was to improve the acoustics of the retail space and provide a visual screen for the office floors above.

The tensioned mesh sculpture consists of a membrane that is anchored at 16 points in the circular ceiling opening. A vertical floating stainless steel strut element creates the three-dimensional wave shape. Tension can be adjusted at the anchor points and through the four steel cables connecting the membrane to the mast.

The lowest point of the 4.50m long floating strut is at a height of 2.30m, which means that the area under the membrane can be used without any restrictions.

The material chosen by the client, a silver grey coarse meshed fabric (with a 6% opening), allows for good lighting on the ground floor and a smooth visual barrier from above.

Visited in 2024 - while shopping - the sculpture sits elegantly under the glass dome.

Client: Art-Invest Real Estate Funds GmbH

Design/ Implementation planning/ Production/ Assembly: 3dtex GmbH

Architekten: hilligarchitekten

Statik: Ingenieurbüro Hedler

Membrane: Textilbau / Fi Daedler

Material: Mehgies Valmex TF 400

Completion: 2020

On Saturday 28 September, several presentations at the IMS BAUHAUS® Symposium 2024 focused on the sustainability and structural safety of Tensile Surface Structures, highlighting the topics of the Tensinet Working Groups 'Sustainability and Comfort' and 'Specifications & Eurocode'.

Ketankumar Solanki's topic was 'Learning from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital ETFE Roof: Recycling & Aging of ETFE Foils'.

Zehra Eryuruk presented 'Environmental Impact of Membrane Structures and their Materials'.

And Patrick Beck highlighted the 'New membrane standard (prCEN/TS19102)'.

Well done!

Figure 1. Ketankumar Solanki's presentation on Recycling ETFE-foils

Figure 2. Zehra Eryuruk’s presentation on LCA analyses.

Figure 3. Patrick Beck on the TS19102.

The TS19102 Design of tensioned membrane structures is available at

https://genorma.com/en/standards/cen-ts-19102-2023.

TensiNews 47 is online!

For members (login) link, For non-members link

In this TensiNews issue you will find a very detailed report written by Josep Llorens, summarizing the highlights at Textile Roofs 2024. Beside this you find fresh information about different tensile projects, such as a knitted installation in Oregon, a canopy covering a stand in Germany and about the refurbishment of the large membrane roof of Dresden station. Tensile architecture is also an ideal partner to support green façades or shading elements!

Dear Member,

Please find the latest TENSINEWSFLASH SUMMER 2024 including call for contributions TN47; WG activities; etc.

Enjoy your reading as well as the summer season which promise to be interesting and busy! Link

WG EUROCODE

To support the conversion of the CEN/TS 19102:2023 Design of tensioned membrane structures into a new EN Eurocode, there is a need for execution rules, to underpin the corresponding design provisions, to be included in a European Standard. Key experts in the design and construction of membrane structures are invited to contribute to the development of these execution rules. See link