The LightPRO Shell Pavilion is a lightweight structure that combines an active-bending gridshell made of natural fibre biocomposite profiles with a tensile membrane. The resulting system is a combination of two doubly curved surfaces that share a continuous beam outline. The outline is composed of two connected profiles that act as a beam, transferring forces from both systems to three anchor points attached to a superficial foundation.
The developed ‘bamboo-like’ natural fibre-based biocomposite profiles are newly produced through the pultrusion technique. Pultrusion is a continuous process for manufacturing fibre reinforced polymers with a constant cross section. In this project, natural flax and hemp fibres were used. The produced profiles are hollow, with a diameter of 25mm and 4mm thickness and lengths ranging from 6.5 m to 12.5 m to fit the required span. The pavilion has a covering span of 10 m and maximum height of 4.8 m at the perimeter.
Traditional diagonal lashing methods with steel cables are used to join the profiles in a grid. The grid is connected to the beam outline via a customized joint system. The membrane is attached to the three foundations and tensioned along the perimeter using rope lacing.
This innovative structure is demonstrating a sustainability approach towards future architecture. The outcome is based on several years of research in the field of biobased materials application.
Material development and production was carried out by the partners from DITF, CG-TEC and BAM. Zenvision GmbH was involved in the technical design and development phases. Steinhuder assisted in assessing an alternative bio-based connection system of the structure. Bieri produced and sponsored the membrane.
The pavilion is a result of intensive work linked to the research project LeichtPRO and is financed by FNR (Federal Agency of Renewable Resources) / BMEL (Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture), FKZ: 22027018.
Photo credit: BioMat at ITKE/ University of Stuttgart
Pavilion Team
BioMat Director: Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. M.Eng. Hanaa Dahy
BioMat Team: Evgenia Spyridonos, Jan Petrš, Piotr Baszyński, Paulina Grabowska
Structural Support: Yanan Guo, Marta Gil Pérez
Geodesy Team: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker Schwieger, Gabriel Kerekes
Membrane Support: Bieri GmbH | Technical: Tomas Thommen
Membrane Assembly: Zimmermann Zeltbauten | Technical: Ronald Burgau
Technical support: Michael Preisack, Michael Schneider, Michael Tondera
IntCDC Laboratory: Sergej Klassen, Kai Stiefenhofer
LeichtPro Partners
Zenvision GmbH: Carsten Fulland, Jacob Börner
DITF: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Milwich, Martin-Uwe Witt, Dr. Mark Steinmann, Patrick Kaiser, Marion Gebhardt
CG-Tec: Andreas Gerstner, Oliver Kipf, Manuel Rupp, Michael Nehmeier
BAM: Dr. Klaus Dippon, Uwe Schönfeld
Steinhuder: Michael Wölfl
Participating students
WS 20|21: Dominik Abele, Alexander Jansen, Sarah Rüngeler, Viktoria Schüle, Daniela Solueva, Rita Teixeira, Louisa Teufel, Ekin Şiar Baloğlu
SS 21: Fabian Schmid, Vural M. Ali, Matay Kaplan, Larisa Elena Simion, Maysa Abu Alqumboz, Sarah Rüngeler, Dominik Abele, Anastasia Kandylaki
Student assistants: Rita Teixeira, Daniela Solueva, Mahnaz Shahriyari, David Schadwill
Special Thanks to: Asmaa Hassan, Marcel Wachter
