A structural system where a flat grid of beams is bent into a curved shell form, creating a lightweight roof structure that carries loads through its geometry. Gridshells combine the spanning capabilities of shells with the constructability of linear elements.
Compound of 'grid' (regular framework) and 'shell' (curved structural surface), coined in the 1960s as engineers developed techniques for bending flat grids into three-dimensional forms. The concept bridged traditional timber framing and modern shell structures.
The British Museum's Great Court roof is a spectacular gridshell covering two acres with over 3,000 unique glass panels - no two triangular panels are identical! The computer-controlled geometry creates a surface that appears perfectly smooth while using only straight steel members.
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