Past, present and future of space frame market: LANIK experience

Abstract

The market of the structures in general and space frames in particular has changed in the last years. This evolution has been linked to develop the new technologies and the increase of aesthetic requirements of architects and clients. This document treats the past, present and future of the space frame market based on the experience of LANIK company, leader in Spain in this kind of structures. It analyses the causes of these changes, and determines tendencies for the future space frames. In the past, space frames were very simple, with a general modulation to get bars and nodes as much equal as possible. All the space frames seem to be very similar and with very few aesthetic possibilities. With the new technologies revolution, computers and CAD-CAE-CAM systems, the design of space frames changed drastically; very complex geometry with all components, bars and nodes, completely different. However other important revolution is based on the new requirements of clients and architects that need more adaptable structures, asking for retractable roofs, or transparent structures, using glass and cables. Some special projects require the combination of several kinds of structures, the mixed structure, which combines conventional steel structure, space frame, cables, etc. This evolution can be seen in the catalogue of LANIK realizations, some of the most emblematic projects are shown in this document.