Form-driven design of a bending-active tensile façade system

Abstract

This article highlights the design potentials of a recently proposed form-driven approach for bending-active tensile structures, in which the geometry of the actively bent elements can be directly defined without the recourse to a form-finding procedure. The approach is applied to the design of a lightweight sun-shading system that can be used to protect glazed building façades, and in which actively bent beams are restrained by pre-stressing strips. Other than structural requirements, the geometry of this hybrid structure is informed by functional and environmental considerations to prevent overheating and glare inside the building.