Although pneumatic structures stabilized by excess air pressure have existed for quite a long time, the properties and applications of vacuum (low-pressure) structures are little known in architecture. Under the heading of “vacuumatics”, they have been investigated as part of a research programme at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart. Elements based on deflation function with a moderate partial vacuum. This considerably reduces the loading on the enclosing skin material, thereby allowing the use of transparent film or translucent membranes. As with pneumatic, high-pressure inflated cushions, the vacuum pressure internally has to be constantly regulated because of the lower diffusion density of film and membrane layers. As early as 1968, preliminary trials of vacuumbased structures were carried out at the Institute for Lightweight Structures for the German Industrial Fair. This construction principle requires a load-bearing primary structure to stabilize the position of the skin.