On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Frei Otto, the international symposium “Frei Otto 100 – The Spirit of Lightweight Construction” will be held on June 5–6, 2025, at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart. The two-day event will bring together leading researchers, architects, engineers, and students to reflect on the legacy and enduring impact of one of the most influential pioneers in the field of lightweight construction.
Frei Otto never regarded construction as a purely architectural endeavor. He consistently transcended disciplinary boundaries in pursuit of fundamental principles found in nature, social dynamics, and the structures of life itself. He thought like an engineer, observed like a biologist, and analyzed like a social scientist. This holistic approach continues to inform the work of the Cluster of Excellence Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC). As Cluster spokesperson Prof. Achim Menges notes, IntCDC “draws significantly on Frei Otto’s intellectual legacy.”
By advancing integrative research at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and computer science, and by pioneering the application of digital technologies in construction, the Cluster builds directly upon Frei Otto’s core ideas—particularly his pursuit of material-efficient, resource-conscious, and nature-inspired construction methods.
As a sponsor of the symposium, IntCDC actively supports this ongoing discourse and cordially invites participants to rediscover Frei Otto’s visionary thinking in the context of current technological and societal developments. The venue itself—originally constructed as a prototype for the German Pavilion at Expo 1967 in Montreal—provides both a conceptual and atmospheric framework for the event.
Further information on the program and registration to the waiting list is available at: www.freiotto100.de