Cable-supported roof structures have inspired and fascinated people for many
years. However, cables systems still represent a relatively new form of roof
construction. Prior to the 1950s, steel cables were used primarily for longspan
bridge structures, not buildings. In the 1950s appreciable advancements
were achieved in the understanding and analysis of cable roof structures,
culminating in significant building structures like the Olympic Roof project
designed for the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. Today, cables
structures are recognized as unique and innovative structural solutions that
create new and dramatic forms, while efficiently enclosing large volume
spaces and providing new opportunities for transparency and natural light.