TensiNet Association
The communication platform for professionals &
those interested in tensioned membrane constructions
www.tensinet.com
History
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History
TensiNet was funded
by the EC within the
5th Framework Programme
Work programme GROWTH
Start Date: 01.03.2001
End Date: 01.03.2004
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History
It started as
a Thematic Network
for Upgrading
the Built Environment
in Europe through
Tensile Structures
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History
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Ideas for a research
proposal were discussed
in 1999
Create a common basis in
Europe
Cover the full life-cycle
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History
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Establish knowledge
bases
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Accessible through
website
www.tensinet.com
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User-friendly interface
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History
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Not enough confidence
 Clients
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Almost no experience
 Architects
 Engineers
 Contractors
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History
“Der normale Architekt
beherrscht
diese Bauweise nicht,
denn er hat sie nicht erlernt”
Günter Brinkmann
Michael Andretzky
Ulrich Hangleiter
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History
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The market is changing
Looking to the future
there are
 challenges
 opportunities
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History
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The market is growing
Interest is increasing
More specific and
detailed information
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History
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Globalisation
 Increase the quality of
our products
 Improve technical
performance
Provide validated
reference data
throughout Europe
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History
“A unified effort is needed
to develop standards that
advance the performance
of membranes for
lightweight enclosures”
Alex Heslop
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History
Previous EU-funded projects
 ISIMEM
 ISIMEM M+T
 DELITE
 VINYLOOP
 and more
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History
Previous EU-funded projects
 ISIMEM
 ISIMEM M+T
 DELITE
 VINYLOOP
 and more
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Network activities
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Network activities
Inform
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Urban planners,
architects, engineers
and checking authorities
Material suppliers
Fabricators
Building owners and
clients
Educational institutes
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Network activities
Architects, engineers and
constructors require
uniform technical directives
 Initiate the transfer of basic
and multi-disciplinary
knowledge
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Network activities
Accumulate specific
knowledge to facilitate the
production of best
practice guidelines:
European Design Guide
for Tensile Surface
Structures
 Identify gaps in current
knowledge needing
scientific research
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TensiNet Association
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TensiNet Association
A memorandum of
understanding
- to arrange the continuation
of the activities - was signed
in June 2004
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TensiNet Association
is a platform for parties
interested in tensioned
membrane structures
 offers the opportunity to
exchange and share
multidisciplinary
knowledge about tensile
structures in order to
increase the quality of
tensile architecture
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TensiNet Association
interact with all parties
involved in membrane
construction
 seeks to enhance the
positive image of tensile
structures
 makes the information
specific to tensile
architecture more easily
accessible
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TensiNet Association
organizes or supports
workshops and symposia
 co-sponsors the Student
Competition at Techtextil
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TensiNet Association
Teaching and training
activities
 Textile Roofs Workshop
yearly in Berlin
www.textile-roofs.com
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TensiNet Association
TensiNet Symposia
 2003 Brussels
Designing Tensile Architecture
 2007 Milano
Ephemeral Architecture:
Time And Textiles
 2010 Sofia
Tensile Architecture: Connecting Past
and Future - proceedings still available
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TensiNet Association
Competition
 Student Competition
Techtextil
Techtextil Fair
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TensiNet Association
is managed by an elected
board under the direction
of a Chair - elected for a
period of 2 years
 the Chair is supported by
three Vice Chairs and the
Executive Secretary
 National representatives
support TensiNet at
national level
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TensiNet Association
Team
Chairperson: Heidrun Balz-Bögner (Labor Blum)
Vice Chairs: Bernd Stimpfle (Form TL GmbH), Stefania
Lombardi (Canobbio), John Chilton (Nottingham Trent
University)
Secretary: Marijke Mollaert, Evi Corne (Vrije Universiteit
Brussel)
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TensiNet Association
More then 200 Members
Partners Buro Happold; Canobbio S.p.A.; Ceno Tec;
Dyneon GmbH; FabricArt; Ferrari sa; Form TL; Hightex
GmbH; Mehler Texnologies; Messe Frankfurt Techtextil;
Saint-Gobain; Sioen Industries; Taiyo Europe;
technet GmbH; Verseidag + Associated Partners
Schools & universities
Firms
Individual members
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TensiNet Association
Meetings
 Partner Meeting: 2/year
 Annual General Meeting:
autumn
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TensiNet Association
has different Working
Groups
 participates in research
projects to drive research
forward in the field of
textile architecture
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TensiNet Association
Active working groups
 Specifications & Eurocode
Marijke Mollaert
 ETFE
Rogier Houtman
 Materials & analysis
Peter Gosling
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TensiNet Association
Future working groups
 Disaster Relief
open position
 Pneumatic structures
open position
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TensiNet Association
Working Group
Specifications & Eurocode
A proposal has been sent
to the standardisation
community CEN/TC250
as a first step in establishing
a Eurocode Part
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TensiNet Association
Working Group
Specifications & Eurocode
A Working Group
CEN/TC250 WG5
Membranes has been
established
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TensiNet Association
Working Group
Specifications & Eurocode
The Eurocode should be
achieved as follows:
 preparation of technical rules
 adaptation into a
CEN Technical Specification
 conversion into a
Eurocode Part
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TensiNet Association
Research contribution
CONTEX-T: EU-funded Integrated project
Textile architecture (2006-2010) www.contex-t.eu
The research project aimed to develop a breakthrough
in textile architecture,
the lightweight textile reinforced structures and tension
fabric structures industry by:
 the development of new materials
 the intelligent use of the materials
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TensiNet Association
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6-8 April 2011 - Montevideo
Bert Groenendaal (Sioen)
Roberto Canobbio
(Canobbio)
Heidrun Bögner (Labor
Blum)
Feike Reitsma (IASO)
Marijke Mollaert (VUB)
Rosemarie Wagner
(Wagner Tragwerke)
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TensiNet Association
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6-8 April 2011 - Montevideo
Bert Groenendaal (Sioen)
Roberto Canobbio
(Canobbio)
Heidrun Bögner (Labor
Blum)
Feike Reitsma (IASO)
Marijke Mollaert (VUB)
Rosemarie Wagner
(Wagner Tragwerke)
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TensiNet Association
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6-8 April 2011 - Montevideo
Bert Groenendaal (Sioen)
Roberto Canobbio
(Canobbio)
Heidrun Bögner (Labor
Blum)
Feike Reitsma (IASO)
Marijke Mollaert (VUB)
Rosemarie Wagner
(Wagner Tragwerke)
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TensiNet Association
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6-8 April 2011 - Montevideo
Bert Groenendaal (Sioen)
Roberto Canobbio
(Canobbio)
Heidrun Bögner (Labor
Blum)
Feike Reitsma (IASO)
Marijke Mollaert (VUB)
Rosemarie Wagner
(Wagner Tragwerke)
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TensiNet Association

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

Bert Groenendaal (Sioen)
Roberto Canobbio
(Canobbio)
Heidrun Bögner (Labor
Blum)
Feike Reitsma (IASO)
Marijke Mollaert (VUB)
Rosemarie Wagner
(Wagner Tragwerke)
6-8 April 2011 - Montevideo
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TensiNet Association
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6-8 April 2011 - Montevideo
Bert Groenendaal (Sioen)
Roberto Canobbio
(Canobbio)
Heidrun Bögner (Labor
Blum)
Feike Reitsma (IASO)
Marijke Mollaert (VUB)
Rosemarie Wagner
(Wagner Tragwerke)
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TensiNet Association
maintains the website
www.tensinet.com
containing a projects
database as well as a
library with articles
 publishes the TensiNews
newsletter twice a year

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TensiNet Association
Newsletter
 TensiNews 2/year
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Looking forwards
Aims
 Improve quality
 Get science into practice
 Promote research in the field
of tensile surface structures
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Looking forwards
To join:
Register at
www.tensinet.com
As a new TensiNet member
you receive a free copy of
the European Design Guide
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