In memoriam: Jürgen Hennicke
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Jürgen Hennicke, a long-standing and influential member of staff at the Institute for Lightweight Structures (IL) and later the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart.
Jürgen Hennicke worked as a research assistant at the Institute for Lightweight Structures for many decades. As a dedicated engineer and proven lightweight membrane construction specialist, he played a key role in shaping the development of textile construction in Stuttgart. He was particularly interested in structural design, material-appropriate form finding, and the precise implementation of membrane structures—always navigating the tension between design, calculation, and realization.
Involvement in groundbreaking collaborative research centers
Early in his career, Jürgen Hennicke made a mark on research in the field of lightweight surface structures. He was involved in Collaborative Research Center 64 “Wide-Span Surface Structures” at the University of Stuttgart, an interdisciplinary research network that investigated the fundamentals of wide-span, efficient supporting structures and expanded their design possibilities.
He later applied his expertise to Collaborative Research Center 230, “Natural Constructions,” which took an interdisciplinary approach to load-bearing structures in nature and technology, thereby providing methodological impetus for the conceptual understanding of lightweight structures.
In both research networks, Jürgen Hennicke combined his profound structural knowledge with a broad view of interdisciplinary issues – always with the aim of advancing conceptual innovations in load-bearing architecture and civil engineering.
Lightweight membrane construction as an attitude
For Jürgen Hennicke, lightweight membrane construction was not just a technical field of expertise, but an attitude: resource-saving, material-efficient, and structurally clear. He understood how to consistently implement the principles of lightweight construction—from the details to the overall structure. Numerous projects in which he was involved testify to his high creative and technical standards.
He was internationally recognized as an expert in membrane structures. His contributions to specialist conferences, his seminars, and his consulting work attracted attention far beyond Germany.
Commitment to teaching
For many years, Jürgen Hennicke held seminars and courses in the field of membrane and lightweight construction. Generations of students benefited from his wealth of experience, his precision, and his enthusiasm for building with fabric.
His teaching was characterized by technical depth, constructive rigor, and a great openness to dialogue. He knew how to inspire young architects and engineers with the principles of lightweight construction while also teaching them the necessary constructive discipline.
With Jürgen Hennicke's passing, we have lost a highly esteemed colleague, a dedicated researcher and teacher, a good friend, and a personality who helped shape the institute over many years.
We will honor his memory.
