Gridshells are extremely strong structures that need no internal support. Built from timber laths woven into a diagonal lattice mat, they have no structural strength when laid flat. When formed into curves, however, the grid locks into a rigid shell.
Carpenter Oak & Woodland have made many gridshells of varying types. One example shown here is a number of simple single lath shell (aided by subtle steel work to increase rigidity). Also, a structurally load bearing gridshell made with double layer lath clamped together with a special node designed by Buro Happold – note the incredibly tight radius.
For good measure, a variation on the theme is a ‘ribshell’, comprising of substantial ribs crossed with smaller section laths.
A simple single layer gridshell at the Earth Centre in DoncasterA simple ribshell, Farnham, SurreyStill under construction this double layer gridshell forms the roof structure on the orangery at Chiddingstone Castle in Kent
