Inspiring

At the IASS-IWSS 2026 symposium “R-Evolution of Shapes: Sustainability, Re-Use, and New Design Paradigms”, Christoph Paech from sbp, gave an interesting plenary lecture: Smart Structural Concepts as Key for Embodied Carbon Reduction in Construction. At the 8th TensiNet Symposium 2026 & 7th Essener Membranbau Symposium 2026 “Shaping the pathway to future tensioned membrane design”, Christoph Paech also gave a keynote lecture: Durability assessment and enhancement of membrane structures.

During the 8th TensiNet Symposium 2026 & 7th Essener Membranbau Symposium 2026 “Shaping the pathway to future tensioned membrane design”, Abigail Matthews of Momentum gave an interesting keynote lecture: Membranes and rapid build entertainment venues – balancing light-weight forms with acoustic requirements.

AgwA architecture office and Ney & Partners engineers were commissioned the development of a retractile membrane roof for the exceptional heritage military building known as the Carré des Arts. In the framework of Mons 2015 European Capital of Culture, the courtyard houses the "Festival au Carré" and other events run by the arts school Arts², the city and the regional cultural leader Le Manège in Mons (be) and Maubeuge (fr). The space can host up to 1200 persons. The courtyard, the largest open air courtyard in the city center, is now covered by five large membrane vaults responding the archs and rythm of the building. The membranes can be completely removed, leaving the heritage building intact. The special structure was designed in order to allow a very easy and fast handling from the ground and to integrate all structural reinforcements in the thickness of the existing concrete structure. The belgian artist Jean-Luc Moerman painted an immense network of curves on the asphalt of the courtyard: a new floor echoing the new sky.

At the invitation of the Art at Qiaoshan - Art Field Nanhai, Multi-Architecture designed an installation for the "Yugengyueyun Section - Fishing and Farming Cabanas 2.0" zone.

During the TensiNet-EMS Symposium in Essen last week, Roberto Canobbio gave a wonderful lecture entitled 'My Life: A Passion for Membranes'. His achievements are impressive, as is the way in which he achieved them. He is an inspiring person.

The pneumatic envelope forms a sphere made from two layers of membrane. Both layers are made of high translucent PVC coated polyester membrane. Ten transparent bulls’ eyes allow the view to the sky. Outer and inner membranes are coupled with synthetic fibre ropes. The envelope is connected to the platform is made with zips and aluminium clamping strips along the perimeter. In order to allow natural ventilation, two ventilations tunnels connect inner and outer membrane, closed with an open mesh on the outside, and a removable cover on the inside.

The Leaf – Canada's Diversity Gardens is a project by KPMB Architects + Architecture49.

A post from Architects & Structural Engineering Network

By using textiles or foils as main materials and air as a structural system, the search for lightness in the built environment now recognizes more than a single application.

Installing a tensioned membrane structure is a task that should be carried out by specialists working alongside the designers and engineers. The work must be thoroughly planned, with each intermediate step checked against the erection plans. The final geometry and stresses must correspond to the design assumptions to ensure the structure is stable and safe throughout its service life.

OneSails claims that its 4T process is the future of sustainable sailmaking. Matt Sheahan spent two days examining the sail-making process closely and listening to why OneSails believe they are at the forefront of sustainable sail production. PRODUCTION: Sails made of 4T FORTE are produced with a low level of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and without the use of pollutants such as glues, resins and solvents. DISPOSAL: At the end of their useful life, these sails are recycled within the normal recovery processes of polyethylene-based raw materials to generate the PE pellet. RECOVERY: The polyethylene pellet is used for the production of accessories (such as headboards) to be used in the production of new sails. https://www.onesails.com/sustainable-sails/

Part four looks at the process of building a tensile fabric structure from design to installation and beyond. It identifies some of the design considerations which need to be made and how design decisions can effect everything from manufacture techniques through to methods of installation.

Part three discusses the practicalities of using tensile fabric, from acoustic and thermal performance to printing, lighting and the environmental impact of a fabric structure.

Part two provides an overview of the benefits of including a tensile fabric structure in a building design, whether it's to make an architectural statement or for a practical applicaiton.

Part one introduces fabric structures as a building method and provides an overview of the materials which can be used and the forms which can be created.

A multi-philosophical space designed to host respectful farewell ceremonies. Tournai (Belgium)

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

A brief presentation of TensiNet: aim, activities & examples

A saddle shape demonstrator was built at TR2024

Are we going to continue the work that was started by Frei Otto?

Fabric structures provide widespan enclosures of great spatial interest and variety, requireminimal supporting elements of “hard” structure and provide very good overall levels of nat-ural daylight. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the nature and characteristics of thisstructural type and to describe the primary issues that designers deal with and makedecisions about.