Capable of transforming a facade or shaping a sculptural roof form, tensile structures test the limits of our imagination (and understanding of geometry). This week’s photo set features structures that rely on cables, anchors, posts and membranes to create expansive, dramatic spans of open space bathed in natural light. Stark shadows and fair curves make tensile structures particularly photogenic, as captured in this set of images from Christopher Frederick Jones, Marie-Françoise Plissart, Yoshihiro Koitani and more.
Christopher Frederick Jones
Tent House / Sparks Architects
Guei-Shiang Ke
Dadong Art Center / Cie + MAYU architects
Tanja Milbourne
Devil’s Corner / Cumulus Studio
Woodruff/Brown
United Nations Porte Cochere / FTL Design Engineering Studio
Yu-lin Chen
Dadong Art Center / Cie + MAYU architects
Christopher Frederick Jones
Tent House / Sparks Architects
Roland Halbe
Palais Thermal / KTP Architecten + formTL
Archive ADR
Tavaru Restaurant & Bar / ADR
Christian Richters
King Fahad National Library / Gerber Architekten
Marie-Françoise Plissart
Covering of the Courtyard Carré des Arts in Mons / AgwA + Ney & Partners
Yoshihiro Koitani
Eco Pavilion 2011 / MMX
Roland Halbe
Palais Thermal / KTP Architecten + formTL