Frei Otto Libros

Cities, estates, and routing systems are in constant flux, making them difficult to plan effectively. Ownership claims, land regulations, and political decisions hinder the adaptability of settlement structures to evolving needs, complicating the ecological use of land. Despite this, new techniques and flexible planning models could connect with the organic processes of urban development. While plants are rooted in place, animals and humans occupy mobile territories that become static as density increases. Human settlements resemble organisms but lack the hereditary form of natural structures like corals or beehives, often growing and shrinking simultaneously. Their forms are rarely chaotic, as typical self-formation processes lead to remarkable optimization over time. However, the rapid pace of change has outstripped current urban planning theories. Effective, self-created, unplanned settlements can achieve energy and biological efficiency, resulting in ecologically sound and aesthetically pleasing solutions. This study, part of research into "natural constructions" by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, was previously available only in German. Frei Otto, a key architectural visionary of the 20th century, transcends traditional construction, blending technical skill, artistry, and philosophy, with a focus on harmonizing building practices with nature.

Primeval architecture embodies necessity, utilizing materials like stone, clay, and wood in a minimalistic fashion. It achieves beauty even in poverty and holds ethical significance. Good architecture, which is both ethically sound and aesthetically pleasing, is essential for preservation. Many existing buildings are now obsolete, yet the demand for new constructions persists across diverse climates. Modern settlements represent a new ecological system where technology plays a crucial role. Today's architectural needs call for lighter, energy-efficient, mobile, and adaptable structures that prioritize safety and security. This evolution points towards developing light constructions, such as tents and air-supported membranes, fostering mobility and changeability. A fresh understanding of nature is emerging, blending aesthetic and ethical perspectives under the concept of high-performance form. The future of architecture leans towards minimalism, reflecting self-education and self-optimization processes inherent to humanity. In 1992, Frei Otto, a key figure in modern light construction, received the Bavarian Deutscher Werkbund's first prize, leading to a collaborative exhibition with his pupil, Bodo Rasch. Otto, who passed away on March 9, 2015, was posthumously awarded the 2015 Pritzker Prize, expressing that his life's goal was not accolades but aiding those in need.

In the 1950s, Frei Otto’s tent structures left their mark on the horticultural shows of the new Bonn Republic; together with Behnisch & Partner he created the roof landscape for the Munich Olympic Games in 1972. The innovative potential in his work is based on the interdisciplinarity of a mode of thinking that took in architecture, technology, art, science, and society. He saw nature as a model and tried throughout his life to harness it for the sake of architecture and civil engineering — and thus also for the future. The Frei-Otto Archive features a large number of experimental models. The book will come out in two editions (German and English) and will be the first time Frei Otto’s models have appeared in print. The book is being published in conjunction with the most extensive exhibition to date of the work of Frei Otto at the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe in association with the Wüstenrot Foundation. The exhibition will open in autumn 2016.

Zum Konstruktionssystem Pneu in der Natur; zum Zuschnitt, der die Form der Organismen bestimmt und zum Knochen, dem Bauelement des Skeletts von Tier und Mensch

Als ein Ganzes gesehen erweisen sich seine fünf besten Romane als eine harmlos beginnende und sich allmählich zum grandiosen Finale von Rebell steigernde Auseinandersetzung eines Sohnes mit seinem überstarken Vater. Ein Kampf auf Leben und Tod der das zentrale Thema der 68er-Revolte, den Generationskonflikt, ins persönliche, individuelle Erleben verlegt und der sich am Ende als das aussichtslose Aufbegehren eines Abtrünnigen gegen Gott und die Schöpfung entpuppt. Das Eindrückliche an den fünf Romanen aber ist, dass sie Tragik bis zuletzt mit groteskem Humor und sinnlich-ansteckender Erzählfreude einhergeht, so dass die in die Landschaft des Thurgauer Seerückens eingebettete Comédie humaine und auch immer zum Lachen bringt.