Design and fabrication with fibre-reinforced polymers in architecture: A case for complex geometry

Fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are a family of strong and lightweight composite materials combining fibres and polymers. FRPs are widely used in the aviation, naval and automotive industries for components that require a high ratio of strength to weight and durability. Despite some pioneering experimental architectural applications in the 1960s, it is only in recent years that a growing interest in FRP elements is evident in the architectural field. The following paper critically reviews the current use of FRP in architecture and proposes a framework and a method to design and fabricate freeform architectural elements and structures from FRP without the need for using moulds. The proposed method is examined in a case study design and fabrication of a shading structure for beach areas. The case study results are discussed and conclusions are presented for future developments of the proposed method for the use of composite materials in architecture.