Detail: The theoretical principles of modern membrane construction were largely formulated in the work you began in 1951. How did you become involved with membranes?Otto: In 1950, I went to America as a student for six months. I visited various architects like Mendelsohn, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen. Quite by chance, I came across Matthew Nowicki’s design for the Raleigh Arena in Dorton. It was the first large-scale cable-net roof, although it was not prestressed as I mistakenly thought. I was interested in this field because of my involvement with lightweight structures. Then I wrote my dissertation on the subject and came into contact with tent construction. I discovered that the tent is also a tensile flexible structure not fundamentally different from the cable net. (Interview with Frei Otto)