Structures made out of wood, steel, concrete or brick have been studied for many years, are taught in institutes and at universities and are very well known to everyone involved in the building industry. Since the mid fifties however, a new type of construction entered the world of building and has ever-since been studied and developed. Nowadays building with flexible, lightweight materials such as coated membranes, cables, etc. has become a new form of construction with its very own principles and characteristics. The aim of the proceedings of the symposium The design of membrane and lightweight structures, held in Brussels in September 2000, is to increase interest in and appreciation for membrane and lightweight building. Architects, engineers, constructors as well as professors and students interested or involved in the design and manufacture of non-conventional structures will find in this book valuable information about existing lightweight constructions, material properties, design concepts and research topics. The rather new type of construction has been looked at in all its aspects, from material characteristics to statical analysis, from concept to execution. Contributions by international speakers with years of experience are included to illustrate the wide range of applications: the Planet M pavilion and the Cycle Bowl at Expo 2000, the Millennium Dome, the Eden project and many more.

Marijke Mollaert

The design of membrane and lightweight structures: from concept to execution ; [proceedings of the symposium at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels, September 15th - 16th, 2000, Brussels]