2016-Present

To direct the forces of nature is a central task in the creation of spaces and load-carrying structures for architecture. This research investigates how prestress can be used as a design tool for the creation of material efficient and well-functioning structures, and in early design stages contribute to sustainable, functional and beautiful architecture.

The objective is to answer the following questions:

• What can be learnt from historic and contemporary examples about how prestress has been and can be used?
• Can, from these examples, general objectives with prestressing be established?
• Can, from these examples, basic strategies for prestressing be established?
• How can this knowledge be utilised and applied in a design process?

Wood Fusion Pavilion

Related publications

• Prestress in Nature and Technics
  Alexander Sehlström
  Licentiate Thesis, Chalmers University of Technology, 2019
   Chalmers Publication Library Record
• Stressing Timber – An exploration of the use of prestressing in timber structures through the design of a lecture pavilion
  Johanna Isaksson and Mattias Skeppstedt
  M.Sc. Thesis, Chalmers University of Technology, 2018
   Chalmers Publication Library Record
• Prestressed gridshell structures
  Mats Ander, Alexander Sehlström, Paul Shepherd, Chris J K Williams
  in Proceedings of the IASS Symposium, 2017
  Read more