'ndustrieausstellung 1968 darzustellen, kennzeichnet
die Breite des Institutes. Mit dem Lightweight-Construction-Center
 an der Washington University in
5t. Louis konnte unter der Leitung von Larry Medlin
ein Partnerinstitut gegriindet werden, Mit dem National
Institute of Design in Ahmedabad sowie mit Kenzo Tange
snd der Universitat von Tokio besteht eine Zusammenarbeit.
 Die interfakultativen Kontakte in Forschung und
Lehre werden an der Universitat Stuttgart stark gepflegt
Anfang 1969 konnte das Institut ein neues Gebäude im
Jniversitätsbereich Vaihingen beziehen. Mit Hilfe der
Stiftung Volkswagenwerk, Unterstützungen von Bund
und Land, sowie privater Spender wurde eine Versuchsseilnetzkonstruktion
 zu einem dauerhaften Institutsbau
für das IL umgewandelt: ein Großraum mit terrassenförmigem
 Fußboden, Meßräumen und Werkstatt, sehr
gut geeignet auch für Seminare mit Studenten der
Jniversitdt.
Das Institut hofft in naher Zukunft seine Stellung auf
dem Gebiet der Grundlagenforschung an extrem leichten
ond wirtschaftlichen Bauten systematisch weiter ausaauen
 zu können,
Mit der Schriftenreihe IL werden die -Mitteilungen
der Entwicklungsstätte für den Leichtbau- vom Institut
‘Ur leichte Flächentragwerke (IL) fortgesetzt.
Es werden zunächst ca vier Hefte jährlich erscheinen.
Die Redaktion liegt in den Händen der Mitarbeiter des
Institutes,
IL berichtet in aktueller Weise über laufende und abgeschlossene
 Forschungs- und Studienarbeiten, die am
Institut selbst oder außerhalb bearbeitet werden.
Außer den Informationen über bereits vorhandene Ergebnisse,
 wird in IL auf neue Probleme und noch nicht be-1andelte
 Aufgaben hingewiesen werden, die zur Dis-<ussion
 und Bearbeitung anregen sollen.

| I

1967.

INSTITUTE FOR LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES (IL)
The Institute for Lightweight Structures, called IL, has
been founded in 1964 by Fritz Leonhardt at the
Jniversity of Stuttgart, for the purpose of research on
wide spanning and adaptable buildings.
The institute belongs to the faculty of building constructions
 at the University of Stuttgart, So far fundamental
 research work regarding new constructions as well
as movable roofs for large areas has been carried
through.
A fundamental reorganisation of constructions as well
as comparisons between the costs for building material
and a generally binding comparative value have been
obtained. This makes it possible to compare all constructions
 from nature and engineering science among
one another and to look into the constructional methods
of biology.
Based on the work on minimal surfaces systems a modelaxperimental
 method has been discovered by which
minimal nets can be obtained within shortest time.
By order of the Federal Government the research works
nave been carried through in connection with the construction
 of the German Pavilion in Montreal 1967
‚Chief architect: Rolf Gutbrod, engineer: Fritz Leonnardt).
 At present, the model tests for the roofs at the
Olympiad in Munich 1972 are being carried out.

The IL has five permanent members on its staff
(1 director, 2 scientific and 1 technical employee,
| secretary) working on basic research and; at present
another 30 people working on research limited to
special purposes,
The direction is inthe hands of Frei Otto.
3ased on the institute’s work, the ASS placed the first
‘nternational colloquium for wide spanning pneumatic
nembrane constructions (air carried buildings, containers,
 etc.) to Stuttgart. This was in 1967,
The award of the Perret-Prize to Rolf Gutbrod and Frei
Otto by the UIA as well as the request, together with
‘he Institute of Biology of the Technical University
3erlin, to represent the German research at the German
ndustrial Fair 1968 on the field of Biology and Construction
 Engineering, marks the widespread and work
of the IL which was already able to establish the Light-Weight-Construction-
 Center at the Washington
University St. Louis being a subsidiary of the IL under
the direction of Larry Medlin. Furthermore, there exists
a close cooperation with the National Institute of Design

in Ahmedabad and Kenzo Tange, University of Tokyo.
At the University of Stuttgart, the IL takes much care
of the interfacultative contacts.
With the support of the Volkswagen Foundation, the
Federal Government and private contributions it became
 now possible to change a test cable net construc
tion into a permanent structure housing the IL. One
large room having a terrace-shaped floor as well as
measuring facilities and workshop, are most suitable
for research and seminaries with the students of the
Jniversity.
In the near future, the IL hopes to be able to further
extend its basic research of extremely light and economical
 constructions.

The series of publications IL are the continuation of the
Mitteilungen der Entwicklungsstätte für den Leichtbau,
To begin with, four numbers will be published annually
both in German and English. The editorship IL is in the
hands of the Institute’s staff.
‘L reports in atopical manner on current and completed
research- and project works and on studies which are
zarried out by the Institute itself or outside.
3esides the information on results already achieved
IL will point out at new problems and tasks not yet
handled, which shall inspire discussions and begin of
work.