TECHTEXTIL STUDENT COMPETITION 2015

Following an initiative of Prof. Jan Cremers from Hightex, a new working group has been founded which will focus on the subject of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The aim of this group is to review the current status on materials and typical membrane structures with regard to LCA issues. As building certification becomes more and more standard this subject will also touch our part of the building sector. The status reached so far is very heterogeneous and inconsistent for the typical materials we use. On the level of structure types, there is hardly any information available so far. The LCA Working Group will identify and describe steps that could be taken within the TensiNet association to achieve a coherent data base to work with. It should also be as open and transparent as possible to gain a maximum of credibility. The idea is to present a kind of road map how to proceed at the next meeting.

During the setup in Barcelona (November 2011) and afterwards, there was great interest to cooperate in this working group from different sides. But of course we invite still others to join in. If you are interested, please send an email to Jan Cremers from Hightex: jan.cremers@hightexworld.com.

Arquitectura Textil

Guía Europea de Diseño de las Estructuras Superficiales Tensadas

http://www.tensinet.com/files/Reviewed_books/20091113_Arquitectura_Textil.pdf

Interested in becoming a TensiNet member?

Please look at the membership fees

http://www.tensinet.com/files/General_information/TensiNet_Membership_Fees_2015-1.pdf

You can register on-line. If you have questions please contact Evi Corne (evi.corne@vub.ac.be)

New members receive a free copy of the "European Design Guide for Surface Tensile Structures".

There are different levels of engagement as well as benefits related to the type of membership. Quite a few of the current Partner Members and Associate Partner Members participated at the initial project of the EU-funded thematic network (2001-2004).

Partner Member

   Architecture and engineering offices

   Manufacturer and fabricator

   Material producer, Coater and Weaver

   Software Companies and Products

Associated Partner Member  (extra mentioned) uit de databank

Matti Orpana 

Alessandra Zanelli

Juan Monjo-Carrió

Markus Balz

Peter Gosling

Heidrun Bögner-Balz

Rogier Houtman

Marijke Mollaert

John Chilton

....

Firm Member

Architecture and engineering offices

Manufacturer and fabricator

Material producer, Coater and Weaver

Machinery

Steelwork and Ropes

School/University Member

Academic institutions

Individual Member

Academic institutions

Architecture and engineering offices

Manufacturer and fabricator

Material producer, Coater and Weaver

Software Companies and Products

Aim

The aim of TensiNet is to enable its members to contribute more effectively, within the scope of their activities, to   

   • Provide information and advice in the field of tensile membrane buildings; 

   • Inform about research and other technical studies necessary to support such advice; 

   • Inform about the application of research findings; 

   • Improve the quality of tensile membrane buildings; 

   • Increase the range of architectural applications;

   • Get scientific results into practice and 

   • Stimulate research initiatives.  

Members of TensiNet subscribe a code of Good Practice, encourage and facilitate exchange of information and joint working, in order to increase the quality of tensile architecture. 

Objectives

TensiNet is an association or platform for all parties interested in tensioned membrane structures. 

TensiNet supports teaching and training activities in the field of tensioned membrane construction. TensiNet can support a workshop organised by one of its members (by announcement, programme, mailing) and provides information about events.

TensiNet disseminates information about ongoing research.

TensiNet publishes the TensiNews newsletter twice a year. TensiNet organises every three year the TensiNet Symposium. 

TensiNet continues to publish reference documents, Working Group publications and the proceedings of the TensiNet symposium.  

TensiNet has launched several Working Groups. Each Working Group focuses on a specific topic and is responsible for its operation. 

TensiNet maintains the website www.tensinet.com, containing a projects database, reference documents, research reports etc.

Organisation

The idea of TensiNet became reality in 1999 as a proposal for a European research project, which ran till 2004.

TensiNet continued the established network of experts of our industry under the wings of Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Since April 2020 TensiNet became an international non-profit association.

The Founding Directors are Bernd Stimpfle, Roberto Canobbio and Marijke Mollaert. The Board of Directors was re-elected during the General Assembly 2025 with Paolo Beccarelli, Heidrun Bögner-Balz, Roberto Canobbio, Maxime Durka, Fevzi Dansik and with Bernd Stimpfle as President and Marijke Mollaert as Secretary.

The General Assembly is organised once a year in spring. The Permanent Members have voting rights.

TensiNet has National Representatives. They actively support the TensiNet activities at national level. The National Representatives are approved by the Board of Directors for a period of three years.

TensiNet discusses specific issues and prepares state of the art documents in the appropriate Working Groups:

   • WG analysis & materials

   • WG ETFE

   • WG FOUNDATION

   • WG Sustainability & Comfort

   • WG Pneumatic structures

   • WG Specifications & EUROCODE

   • WG Specifications GOOD PRACTICE

During the General Assembly each WG leader reports about objectives and progress. The Working Groups welcome additional members. If interested to contribute please contact info@tensinet.com.

TensiNet (2001-04) 

The initial project has been funded by the European Commission for three years. The consortium of TensiNet consisted of 22 participating organisations with representatives from 9 EU member states. The membership formed a complementary group representing multi-disciplinary industries (coater and weaver, manufacturer, producer, engineering and architecture offices), universities and other associations. 

Within the thematic programme GROWTH (Promoting Competitive and Sustainable Growth) the partners made the knowledge of their specific domain available and exchanged know-how between different disciplines. 

The publication of the first European Design Guide for Tensile Surface Structures was the result of these three years of assembling, structuring and analysing existing data. This guide is not intended to be a European standard. However, as a ‘state of the art’ report it is a first step in that direction! Enjoy Chapter 2 on "Engineering Fabric Architecture"

TensiNet is a multi-disciplinary association for all parties interested in tensioned membrane construction. The website www.tensinet.com contains a Project Database as well as articles and links to manufacturers, fabricators, material producers, coaters, weavers, architecture and engineering offices, distributors of machinery, steelwork and ropes, software companies, academic and research institutes. The TensiNet partners are the editors of the European Design Guide on tensile surface structures, and will continue to publish reference documents on this and associated topics. Also, TensiNet publishes the TensiNews newsletter twice a year and supports teaching and training activities in the field of tensioned membrane construction. TensiNet members meet once a year for an Annual General Meeting. Every 3 year TensiNet organizes a TensiNet symposium. In 2016 the TensiNet - COST Action TU1303 SYMPOSIUM 2016 on NOVEL STRUCTURAL SKINS was held at Newcastle University from 26th till 28th October.