TensiNet News

A brief presentation about TensiNet’s activities and aims was given by Marijke Mollaert during the annual IASS WG6 meeting. Enjoy this presentation.

IASS WG6 - Tension and Membrane Structures

Prof. Dr. Ken'ichi KAWAGUCHI (Chair) - Japan

Prof. Marijke MOLLAERT (Co-Chair) - Belgium

The TensiNet Association represents the tensioned membrane industry and is an expert in membrane construction products.

Today we have received from ECHA (European Chemical Agency) the confirmation that the TensiNet association has been accepted as one of ECHA’s accredited stakeholder organisations. Our application meets the eligibility criteria endorsed by the Agency’s Management Board and therefore our application has been accepted.

Accredited stakeholders in the Agency’s work in a variety of ways – through discussions, workshops and events, joint activities and regular updates about topical issues. We hope that you will join us in this important work of protecting human health and the environment and to ensure the safe use of chemicals. TensiNet will be represented by the following experts:

For the Committee for Risk Assessment meetings:

-        Carol Monticelli, Leader of the TensiNet Working Group Sustainability and Comfort, Associate Professor in Technology of Architecture, Politecnico di Milano, Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering Department,

-        Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heidrun Bögner-Balz, Leader of the TensiNet Working Group Specifications GOOD PRACTICE, Professor at the Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, Fakultät Bauingenieurwesen, Bauphysik und Wirtschaft, Fachgebiet Nachhaltige Werkstoffe im Bauwesen,

-        If Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heidrun Bögner-Balz is not available due to other obligations (not yet confirmed), Dipl.-Ing. Bernd Stimpfle will attend the meeting: Chair of TensiNet, Managing Director at formTL, ingenieure für tragwerk und leichtbau gmbh, radolfzell, germany.

For the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis meetings:

-        Carol Monticelli, Leader of the TensiNet Working Group Sustainability and Comfort, Associate Professor in Technology of Architecture, Politecnico di Milano, Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering Department,

-        Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heidrun Bögner-Balz, Leader of the TensiNet Working Group Specifications GOOD PRACTICE, Professor at the Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, Fakultät Bauingenieurwesen, Bauphysik und Wirtschaft, Fachgebiet Nachhaltige Werkstoffe im Bauwesen.

See link for more information on the PFAS restriction proposal.

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

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!