L I G H T
S T R U C T U R E S
LIGHT STRUCTURES mean CABLE NETS, CABLE TRUSSES,
GLASS FINS, TENSION RODS, and THIN MEMBERS
supporting either FRAMELESS POINT SUPPORTED GLASS
or LIGHT CURTAIN WALL ELEMENTS.
Light Structures become interesting applications if
they can evolve in the 3D space allowing the real
freedom to the envelope construction geometry.
Light Structures are the fundamental supports of
the solid geometry construction design and the
scope of their engineering is the applied
capability to go over a cube or a tetrahedron plane
concept of construction while reaching the
achievement of spheroidal hyperboloidal or toroidal
constructions with the same applied technologies.
Complex solid geometry construction require the
knowledge of the non-linear calculation first and
then applied to the specific response of the
building envelope materials /glass, composites,
steel) to the physical constraints of the
non-linear attitudes (elongation, rigidity, static,
multibody interactions, etc.).
This relatively new and exclusive building
engineering branch related to non-linear envelopes
and skins specifically fabricated with glass, is
less than 20 years old.
Most of our professionals have been among the
pioneers of this study and we have been the only
company in the US using the first non-linear
computing system for steel-cables and glass created
in Europe in 1992.
We think this is the most relevant guarantee of
expertise we can provide to our clients when they
are looking beyond the usual common bolted or
cabled glazed systems traded throughout the Nation
in standard packages.




KURSAAL - LUGANO, SWITZERLAND
Arch. Huber + Gazzaniga
DRESDNER BANK CH HEADQUARTERS
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Arch. Louis Caduff
PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TUCSON, ARIZONA
THE GREEN VALLEY RESORT
HENDERSON, NEVADA
Arch. Friedmutter Group
CHARLES TOWNE LANDING
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Arch. Liollio Architecture
Details of the computerized NON-LINEAR analysis
of the Kursaal project in Lugano, Switzerland