Lightweight Construction: Lines of Thought

Achim Menges will deliver a keynote at the symposium Frei Otto 100 | The Spirit of Lightweight Construction on 6 June 2025: https://www.freiotto100.de

In his talk “Lightweight Construction: Lines of Thought”, Achim Menges will present some ideas on transformative architecture to honour the pioneering work of Frei Otto and expand on his concepts in relation to the current projects at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC.

The symposium will take place at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, formerly known as IL (Institute for Lightweight Structures). The two-day event will include a historical reflection on Frei Otto’s work, methods, and networks, supported by the testimonies of several contemporary witnesses. It will also focus on how different generations of researchers and practitioners interpret the legacy of the Stuttgart School of Lightweight Construction.

Further keynote speakers are:
Sigrid Adriaenssens, Princeton University
Kai-Uwe Bletzinger, TU Munich
Daniela Fabricius, University of Pennsylvania
Mike Schlaich, TU Berlin
Jenny Sabin, Cornell University
Georg Vrachliotis, TU Delft