In an era of material scarcity and rising energy costs, architects are under pressure to design building envelopes that do more with less. Cable-supported facades are gaining traction as a solution that combines structural efficiency with environmental performance. Their lightweight design reduces embodied carbon, while their ability to support passive shading and ventilation strategies enhances energy efficiency.
Framing the Future: How Lightweight Cable-Supported Facades Are Transforming Urban Architecture is a whitepaper that explores how cable-supported systems are reshaping facade design for a resource-conscious, climate-responsive future. Unlike conventional steel-framed systems, cable-supported facades rely on tension-based structures that minimise the need for heavy secondary framing. This allows for greater design flexibility and facades of lighter weight without compromising performance or stability.
Ronstan Tensile Architecture specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of tensioned structures and their components including stainless rods, cables, bars, mesh, catenary lighting, green walls, tensile facades, turnbuckles and architectural tensioning solutions for internal and external applications.
Image MLC Burwood by © The Guthrie Project
