🌀 Gridshell Structures: Engineering Elegance Through Curvature and Efficiency
1. Introduction: Where Art Meets Engineering Gridshell structures represent a poetic fusion of geometry, structural ingenuity, and material optimization. Defined by their doubly curved surface created from a lattice-like grid of linear elements, gridshells achieve the spatial beauty of shell architecture while relying on the adaptability and ease of linear components. Born from experimental forms and matured into engineered masterpieces, gridshells now occupy a vital niche within sustainable design, biomimetic architecture, and performance-based engineering. Unlike traditional shell structures that demand elaborate formwork or high material thickness, gridshells use their geometry—not mass—for stiffness. Through active bending or precise node shaping, these structures embody principles of minimalism and resilience, allowing large spans with reduced resources. Their relevance has surged in recent decades with the growing emphasis on parametric design, renewable materials, and expressi...