Part of:

• Fonds: Cedric Price fonds, 1903-2006, predominant 1953-2000
•    Series: Projects, 1903-2003, predominant 1960-2000
•      Project: Lightweight Enclosures Unit, 1956-1995, predominant 1969-1986

People:

• Cedric Price (architect)
• Frank Newby (consulting engineer)
• Christo (role unspecified)
• Cedric Price (archive creator)

Title:

Lightweight Enclosures Unit

Date:

1956-1995, predominant 1969-1986

Level of archival description:
File 79

Extent and medium:

• 1.99 l.m. of textual records
  14 drawings
  4 reprographic copies
  1 poster
  0.1 l.m. of photographic materials

Scope and content:
File documents the work of the Lightweight Enclosures Unit (LEU) which was set up by Frank Newby and Cedric Price after their completion of a UK government research programme into air structures in 1969 (see Air Structures Research AP144.S2.D63). The work of LEU included research and design into the social, economic and structural development of lightweight enclosures. The LEU published a bibliography for the industry on air structures in 1972 titled 'Air Structures Bibliography, B0001-0069 and B0070-0119. It also helped produce the report BS6661:1986 'Design, construction and maintenance of single-skin air supported structures', and reviewed lightweight enclosures in AD 8/71, p 465. LEU was commissioned to write 'Air Support Structures: BSI Draft for Development Code of Practice' (DD50). This work is documented in DOE Air Structure (AP144.S2.D91). Frank Newby continued to work on the review of DD50 up until the 1980s. Material in this file was produced between 1956 and 1993.
Group DR2004:1356 contains a 1973 drawing attributed to Pierre Martin for S.A.S. (Lausanne).
Group DR2004:1353 contains reference drawings by architect Rurik Ekstrom, for Antioch Pneumatic Campus, Columbia Maryland (1972).
Group DR2004:0132 contains material that relates to 'Air Structures' a conference on Antioch Campus in Columbia, Maryland, US May 22-34, 1973.
DR2004:0135 contains publications by Frei Otto and the Institute of Lightweight Structures at the University of Stuttgart, and a transcript of an Air Structures Lecture, presented in Maryland, possibly by Cedric Price.
DR2004:0137, DR2004:0139, and DR2004:0141 contain materials that relate to DD50 'Draft for Development: Air Supported Structures' for British Standards Institution, 1976 (see DOE Air Structure AP144.S2.D91).
DR2004:0142 contains papers from the 'International Symposium on Pneumatic Structures' - Delft, 1972.
DR2004:0145 contains material on 'Pneuma Jam'.
DR2004:0146 contains material that relates to Christo (1973 projects).
Group DR2004:0127 contains material that relates to Christo and his project, Valley Curtain.
The group DR2004:0159 contains materials from the following manufacturers:
Kurashiki Rayon Co., Ltd; Krupp Universalbau; Kleyer; Kellbro Construction Ltd; AEI; Norris Brothers Limited; Kaltenbach; Irvin Industries Ltd; Gotthard; Graydon; Gourock; Goodyear; Firestone; Environmental Structures; English Electric; Dynamit Nobel; Dunlop; Williaam Cox; Cidair; Birdair Structures Inc.; Frankenstein Beaufort; Barracuda; Air-Tech Industries, Inc.; Air Inflatable Products Company; Airco; M.L. Aviation; M.U.S.T.; Plasteco Milano; P.N. Structures; Polydrom; Peter Potter Ltd; RFD-GQ limited; RP Structures Ltd; Scanhover; Seattle Tent & Awning Company; Sheltair; Stromeyer; C.F. Taylor; O. Van Den Buys; and John Edgington & Co. Ltd.

File contains conceptual drawings, reference drawings, photographic materials, a poster, and textual records.

Reference number:

AP144.S2.D79

Arrangement:
Materials in this series were kept in the original order in which they were received.

Location:

Columbia Maryland United States

Language of material:

• English, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, German

Related units of description:

• For additional materials related to this project, see files DR1995:0236:534:001, DR1995:0260, DR2004:0098, DR2004:0103, DR2004:0104, DR2004:0175, DR2004:0176, DR2004:1178, DR2004:0171, DR2004:0186, DR2004:0187, DR2004:0200, DR2004:0207, DR2004:0217, DR2004:0172, DR2004:0183, DR2004:0185, DR2004:0191, and DR2004:0204 in this fonds. The following files in this project series contain materials related to other projects in this fonds: Files DR2004:0120, DR2004:0121, DR2004:0135, DR2004:0151, DR2004:0152, and possibly DR2004:0134 contain materials that relate to project series AP144.S2.D63, Air Structures Research; Files DR2004:0123, DR2004:0133, and possibly DR2004:0142 contain materials that relate to project series AP144.S2.D63, Air Structures Research and project series AP144.S2.D91, DOE Air Structure; Files DR2004:0130, DR2004:0205, DR2004:0132, DR2004:0137, DR2004:0139 and DR2004:0141 contain materials that relate to project series AP144.S2.D91, DOE Air Structure; File DR2004:0131 contains materials that relate to project series AP144.S2.D91, DOE Air Structure and project series AP144.S2.D67, Housing Research.

Contains:

• DR2004:0099, Progress charts
• DR2004:0100, Copy and originals of bibliography and original template sheets
• DR2004:0101, Exterior views of various structures, including Bindair structure in Canada
• DR2004:0120, Sketches and notes, correspondence, promotional material, trade catalogues, brochures, publications, and clippings
• DR2004:0121, Correspondence and trade catalogues
• DR2004:0122, Trade catalogues
• DR2004:0123, Correspondence, trade catalogues, publications, clippings, and Lightweight Enclosures Unit information forms
• DR2004:0124, Photostat samples of Lightweight Enclosures Unit information forms
• DR2004:0125, Notes calculations, graphs, and log of hours
• DR2004:0126, Correspondence, promotional material, and clippings
• DR2004:0127, Photographs and postcards showing views of Christo's 'Valley Curtain' in Colorado, USA
• DR2004:0128, Trade catalogues on lightweight enclosures, brochures, clippings, and reprints of articles
• DR2004:0129, Draft Lightweight Enclosures Unit bibliography, notes, lists, estimate, and price list
• DR2004:0130, Correspondence, trade catalogues, clippings, press release
• DR2004:0131, Correspondence, trade catalogues, publication, clippings
• DR2004:0132, Poster for 'Air Structures', a conference by the Building Research Institute at the Antioch Campus
• DR2004:0133, Publications, clippings, reprints of articles, research reports and Air Structures Research
• DR2004:0134, Correspondence, clippings, forms, and report, all relating to air structure research in Canada, including one file
• DR2004:0135, Trade catalogues, brochures, publications, clippings
• DR2004:0136, Binder 99B C.P. Lightweight Enclosures Unit, 1972-1983
• DR2004:0137, Drawing of flowchart, correspondence, invoices, clippings
• DR2004:0138, Reports and papers on air structures, reprints of articles
• DR2004:0139, Trade catalogues, brochures, clippings, notes, calculations and Draft for Development Air Supported Structures
• DR2004:0140, Photographs, correspondence, invoices, trade catalogues
• DR2004:0141, Sketch, drawings, correspondence, invoices, brochures
• DR2004:0142, Correspondence, publications, reports
• DR2004:0143, Correspondence, clippings, notes, proceedings, and bibliography
• DR2004:0144, Forms containing manufacturer's information
• DR2004:0145, Sketch, photograph, correspondence, brochures, clippings, conference schedule for Pneuma Jam, notes, and report
• DR2004:0146, Correspondence, calculations, brochures, publication
• DR2004:0147, Correspondence, trade catalogues, brochures, clippings
• DR2004:0148, Lightweight Enclosures Unit, Air Structures Bibliography B0001-B0069 with annotations
• DR2004:0149, Blank questionnaire forms
• DR2004:0150, Drawings, photographs, correspondence, trade catalogues, brochures, publications, and clippings
• DR2004:0151, Photographs, correspondence, trade catalogues, brochures
• DR2004:0152, Correspondence, calculations, clippings, notes, diagram, and graphs
• DR2004:0153, Trade catalogue, clippings, and questionnaire forms, including manufacturer's responses
• DR2004:0154, Bound copies of Air Structures Bibliography B0070-B0119, and order forms
• DR2004:0158, Product sample, microfiche, LEU questionnaires with manufacturers' and users' responses
• DR2004:0159, Correspondence, manufacturers' promotional material, brochures, publications, reports
• DR2004:0205, Promotional materials, brochures, correspondence
• DR2004:0206, LEU bibliographies, report, and HMSO publication 'Air Structures: A Survey' (1971), 1971
• DR2004:0212, Correspondence, notes, and sketches
• DR2004:1353, Electrical plans and details, plans, elevations, site plans
• DR2004:1356, Plan of air structure by Pierre Martin and sketches
• DR1995:0249:001-002, Progress charts