Here is the first substantial publication to look at the most interesting membrane structures built around the world in recent years. The book's introduction covers the architectural and cultural history of the tent and considers its origins, meaning and ecological elegance. At the heart of the book are thirty recent projects, grouped by theme and presented extensively through accessible text descriptions, photographs and line drawings. This wide-ranging survey of contemporary tensile building will be of immense appeal and use to architecture and design students and professionals, as well as engineers, developers and city planners.