Axel Thallemer leads Festo’s Pneumatic Structures Group, researching and developing new applications for inflatable air-filled membranes. Prototypes so far launched by the group range from the Festo Stingray light aircraft to the Airtecture exhibition hall. Thallemer studied philosophy at Munich University, architecture at the Munich Art Academy and business at the New York School of Interior Design before joining Porsche, where he worked on Formula 1 racing cars. He was a finalist in the 2001 World Technology Awards.
You are taking inflatable buildings very seriously. Why?
I want to see membrane plus air as the sixth construction material. We have…
