Tensile Architecture

Philip Drew

• Preface -- Traditional Tensile Architecture: -- The Tents of Nomad Cultures -- Tents and Nomads -- Ice Age Tents -- Conical Tents of Northern Eurasia and Northern America -- Northern Eurasia -- North America -- The Kibitka of Central Asia -- The Black Tent of the Middle East -- The Black Tent -- North Africa -- Arabia -- Iran and Afghanistan -- Tibet -- The Ancient World -- The Middle Ages and Renaissance -- Suspension bridges -- Early Suspension Bridges -- Modern Suspension Bridges -- Modern tensile architecture -- Early Tension -- Linear Tension -- Surface Tension -- Revival of the Tent -- Conclusion