The Principle of Tensegrity
Tension + Integrity
"Tensegrity never was anything—it is a word, and it relates to a hierarchy of principles which deals with free floating compression members which are very intricate and a beautiful part of nature."
Kenneth Snelson's summer break experiments as a Black Mountain College student resulted in a new principle, then named and carried forward by his professor, Buckminster Fuller: Tensegrity.
It's a principle we've been experimenting with since the early days of the Studio.
Quote from Artforum interview with Snelson, 1966, shown at right.
"Tensegrity" refers to structures that are given integrity by having different components in compression (typically rods) and tension (typically wires or rubber bands).
The video below helps to illustrate our application of the concept in our lighting design.
The principle of tensegrity produces exceptionally strong and rigid structures, made to last.
