PhD Research — Form & Detail in Membrane Structures

Intro

Mechanically prestressed membrane structures enable large spans with minimal material—offering a compelling architectural and ecological alternative to conventional roof systems. Yet despite decades of built practice, the field still lacks a systematic, design-to-construction description of recurring roof forms, constructive details, and the dependencies between geometry, connection logic, fabrication, and assembly.

My research develops a structured and visually consistent reference system for mechanically prestressed membrane roofs: linking form archetypes with detail archetypes and preparing the knowledge for digital design workflows (CAD/FEM/parametric modelling/BIM) and future standardisation efforts.

Keywords

Mechanically Prestressed Membrane Structures; Textile Construction Standardization; Tensile Roof Form Typology; Structural Archetypes; Connection and Edge Detailing; Iconographic Representation System; Pattern Language for Fabric Architecture; Parametric Description of Details; Fabrication and Installation Workflow; Digital Integration for Planning (CAD/Parametric Modeling).

Research questions

• Form archetypes: How can mechanically prestressed membrane roofs be classified into structural archetypes based on functional, topological, and geometric criteria?

• Detail archetypes: How can edges, corners, anchor points, nodes, and transitions be typologised, visualised, and functionally analysed? Which parameters define and evaluate them?

• Reduction to a base catalogue: To what extent can highly individual solutions be reduced to a minimal yet functionally complete set of “universal” detail archetypes?

• Digital readiness: How can an iconographic, typological detail catalogue be prepared for integration into CAD/FEM/parametric/BIM workflows—without requiring a full software implementation within the PhD?

Approach & methods

• Typology of roof forms: Identify and define structural archetypes from literature and built projects; describe them as coherent base forms that can be extended and combined.

• Iconographic language: Develop a graphic vocabulary for nodes, lines, and surfaces to create a consistent visual “grammar” for both form and detail analysis.

• Detail harvesting & abstraction: Collect relevant details from literature, project documentation, and practice; redraw them in a multi-view standard (section / plan / perspective).

• Classification & evaluation criteria: Establish criteria focusing on fabrication, assembly sequences, tolerances, re-tensioning logic, and robustness of the constructive principle.

• Exemplary parametrisation: Model selected archetypes in a parametric environment (e.g., Rhino/Grasshopper + suitable analysis tools) to test structural logic and digital compatibility.

• Pattern Language: Capture recurring construction situations as “patterns” and link them back to the typologies and iconographic system—making tacit expert knowledge explicit and reusable.

Expected outputs

• A catalogue of form archetypes for mechanically prestressed membrane roofs

• A compact base catalogue of detail archetypes (edges, corners, anchors, nodes, transitions)

• A consistent iconographic system (visual coding + drawing conventions)

• A set of evaluation matrices (fabrication/assembly/tolerance compensation/re-tensioning)

• A Pattern Language connecting typical problems to proven solution principles, ready for digital adoption

Contact

If you are interested in supervising or collaborating on this research, I would be glad to connect.