Otto, Frei Paul

Otto, Frei Paul ôˈtō [key], 1925–2015, German architect. Most notable for his tensile and pneumatic structures, Otto was among the first major architects to experiment with lightweight design. He was a noted designer of exhibition tents and sports arenas. Otto also experimented with pneumatic membranes stabilized and maintained by means of air and gas pressure. Structures built with these membranes have been used for oil-storage tanks, grain silos, and greenhouses. In 2015 he was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Architecture: Biographies