Josep Llorens

Josep Llorens, Spain

Keynote Lecturer

J. Llorens has a Ph.D. in Architecture (Barcelona, 1986) and teaches Architectural Technology at the Barcelona School of Architecture. He completed postgraduate and professional studies attending courses and seminars on building technology in Spain and other countries. He has been invited as a visiting professor or lecturer to several Architects’ Associations and Universities such as the Strathclyde University ( Glasgow), the Royal Institute of Dutch Architects (Amsterdam), the Technische Universität (Berlin), the “ Universidad Central de Venezuela“ (Caracas), the Tongji University (Shanghai), the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (Desssau), Fakultät für Architektur (Innsbruck), Institut für Tragkonstruktionen und Konstructives Entwerfen (Stuttgart) and the Architecture Faculties of the „Universidades Nacional Autónoma i Veracruzana“ (Mexico).

His research focuses mainly on experimental designs and works, particularly in the field of tensile structures and textile architecture such as roof membranes, awnings and canopies for restaurants, cafeterias, terraces, stages, discotheques, shopping centres, markets, open air theatres, sport and multipurpose halls, pavilions, squares and streets. The results of his research have been presented in international conferences and symposiums in Barcelona, Brussels, Berlin, Caracas, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Girona, Lyon, Madrid, Miami, Milano, Montpellier, Nagoya, Paris, Sevilla, Valencia, Shanghai and Sydney. (ORCID identifier).

He has been prize winner, finalist or recipient of a special mention in a number of local and international competitions: “Countryside housing” (Madrid), “Sports in Fine Arts” (Madrid), “Refurbishment of the Barcelona Railway Station” (Barcelona), “Innovative technology in Building Construction” (Barcelona), “Decorative Arts Promotion” nominations for architectural and industrial designs, “UNESCO Alexandrina Library” (Egypt), “Amphitheatre Square convertible roof” (Nîmes), “Superspace Dwelling”, 8th Makmax Membrane Design Competition, Taiyo Kogyo & Shinkenchiku-sha Co.Ltd (Tokyo). Exhibitions of his works have been held in Barcelona, Chicago, Firenze, Ljubljana, Madrid, Paris, Roma, St. Louis (Mo) and Sydney.

He has been consultant at the Technical University of Catalonia, forensic adviser and expert in evaluation of the European Union (SMT, Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme). He also collaborated with Architect A.Soldevila and ARQINTEGRAL (C. Garcia-Diego & H. Pöppinghaus) on designing light-weight and tensile structures.

He contributed to the „Project LIFE: Building and architectural technicians in environment. Formation“ co-funded by the European Commission. Researches in progress are the application of tensegrity principles to structural membranes and the implementation of the “Tensile Structures and Textile Construction Details and Connections Data Bank” in the Internet.

He participated recently in the research promoted by the Shelter Research Unit of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: “Anchoring and fixing”, belonged to the Management Committee of the Cost Action TU1303 „Novel structural skins“ and belongs the CEN/TC 250 Working Group 5 „Membrane Structures“.