Frei Otto was a German architect and structural engineer known for his pioneering work with lightweight tensile structures. His interest was sparked by designing glider planes and observing how thin membranes over lightweight frames responded to forces. Notable projects include the roof of the Olympic Stadium in Munich (1972), which featured a suspended, cloud-like structure appearing to float over the site. Otto was inspired by natural phenomena like bird skulls, spider webs, bamboo, and soap bubbles to design economical and flexible structures.

1. Olympic stadium Roof
structure (Munich)
1972
F
R
E
I
O
T
T
O
May 31, 1925
To March 9, 2015
German
Architect
2015 PRITZKER PRIZE LAUREATE

2. A GERMAN ARCHITECT
AND A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
For a hobby he flew and
designed glider planes, this
activity piqued his interest
in how thin membranes
stretched over light frames
could respond to
aerodynamic and structural
forces.

3. STYLES (Lightweight champion of the world)
Otto’s work, in contrast, was
lightweight, open to nature,
democratic, low-cost, and
sometimes even temporary.
Frei Otto pioneered the use of
modern, lightweight, tent-like
structures for many uses. He was
attracted to them partly for their
economical and ecological values.
Concerned with space frames and structural efficiency.
Experimented with inflatable buildings.

4. INFLATED BUILDINGS
 Structure constructed using two layers
of membrane connected together
and the cavity formed between them is
pressurized with air producing a rigid
structural element.
 Pavilions, airships, furniture, airspace
structures, boats, escape slides, security
mattresses, swimming pools, coverings,
games and castles, air bags, etc…

5. INSPIRATION-NATURAL PHENOMENA
 His book Biology and Building (1972) examined ways
in which the lightweight sandwich
construction of bird skulls could be
applied to architecture; a further volume
published the following year dealt with the
strength and beauty of spiders' webs. If
only, thought Otto, we could stretch man-made
structures to such limits with such economical use of
material.
 Further research documents examined the
structure and building properties of
bamboo and soap bubbles. Otto observed
that given a set of fixed points, soap film will spread
naturally between them to offer the smallest
achievable surface area.

6. ROOF OF OLYMPIC STADIUM @ MUNICH
Flexibility and cost are the
two main parameters of the
Olympic stadium of Munich.

7. PROJECT DETAILS
Architects: Frei Otto and Gunther Behnisch
Location: Munich, Germany
Project Year: 1972
Structure: temporary light roofing material
Description: The Structure is a suspended
cloud-like structure that appears to be floating
over the site branching in between the
natatorium, gymnasium, and the main
stadium.

8. CONCEPT
OTTO and BEHNISCH conceptualized
a sweeping tensile structure that
would flow continuously over the site
imitating the draping and rhythmic
protrusions of the Swiss Alps.

9. ROOFING CANVAS
Large sweeping
canopies of acrylic
glass stabilized by steel
cables.

10. VIEWS

11. SAIL ROOF, FEDERAL GARDEN SHOW
TUWAIQ PALACE
JAPANESE PAVILION, AT EXPO 2000
AVIARY AT MUNICH ZOO
MULTIHALLE, GERMANY
DIPLOMATIC CLUB,SAUDI ARABIA
MULTIHALLE, GERMANY
INSTITUTE OF LIGHTWEIGHT
STRUCTURES, VAININGEN