n the historic city of Aachen, an architect turned developer set out to transform a neglected and underutilised courtyard that could be used all year round. The unusual geometry of the courtyard did not lend itself to a modular solution. The architectural scheme called for a solution that was as lightweight as possible, with maximum light transmission and excellent thermal characteristics.Fire safety was also a critical factor that was easily met by the Texlon® ETFE cladding system. The structural scheme consists of a series of cables, rod bracing and slender, arched steel tubes. This extremely lightweight structure enhances the feeling of a transparent roof system. One of the major advantages of the Texlon® ETFE system is that it can accommodate a much larger range of structural movement than conventional cladding systems. This feature was used to reduce the overall structural weight by decreasing the stiffness required of the support system.