Art

In recent years, composites have been used a tool to drive architectural innovation. Due to their design flexibility, university students and professional architects have shown what is possible with composites through unique structures that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also present solutions to real-world design challenges. Radical designs that incorporate composites can help push the limits of architecture beyond the traditional cladding and secondary components currently identified within the International Building Code.

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Properties and Benefits

  • Design flexibility
  • High strength-to-weight ratio
  • Low thermal bridging
  • Multifunctional
  • Easily constructed

Applications and Products

Bridges

  • Pavilion structures
  • Modular building structures
  • Facades

Roads

  • Light panels
  • Columns
  • Art installations

Tunneling

  • Sculptures
  • Ornamental features

Case Studies

Elytra Pavilion

A team of architects and structural engineers developed a robotically woven carbon fiber pavilion displayed in 2016 at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum’s John Madejski Garden.

Flotsam & Jetsam

Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed and demonstrated large scale 3-D printing using 100% bio-based and biodegradable composites.

Stuttgart Pavilion

A team from the University of Stuttgart have used robots and drones to weave a unique, composite pavilion inspired by moth webs, created by laying a combined total of 114 miles of GFRP and CFRP composite.

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