Mike Schlaich Mike Schlaich studied Civil and Structural Engineering at the Universities of Stuttgart and Zurich. In 1989 he obtained his doctorate at ETH Zurich. He then became a a bridge designer at Fhecor Ingenieros Consultores in Madrid. In 1998 he returned to Stuttgart to join Schlaich Bergermann und Partner and became a Partner a year later. Mike Schlaich also teaches the course "Building with Cables" at the University of Stuttgart.

Experiences with Roofs

Roofs can be looked at as three-dimensional bridges. Many structural concepts that can be used for bridges can also be applied to roof structures. However, additional architectural requirements usually exist which can lead to rather complex and interesting roofs.

The following four roofs will be presented:

1. Messehalle: a wooden lattice shell in Rostock, Germany.
2. Stadtbahnhaltestelle: hanging glass roof in Heilbronn, Germany.
3. Estadio Olimpico: a wheel-spokes type membrane roof in Seville, Spain.
4. Vista Alegre: a movable pneumatic membrane roof which covers a bullfighting ring in Madrid, Spain.

These examples give an impression of the wide variety of structural types and materials which can be used to create lightweight roofs. Each solution, like in bridge design, has to be developed individually.