Peter von Bülow

Peter von Bülow is a professor of architecture at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. His area of research focuses on the use of evolutionary computation for exploration and optimization of structural systems. Prof. von Bülow has worked professionally in both architecture and engineering offices in Germany and the United States, including RFR-Stuttgart, Greiner Engineering, and SL-Rasch. He also spent a year at the University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Lightweight Studies (under Frei Otto) as a Fulbright Scholar.

Some of von Bülow’s research work includes the development of thin-shell, lightweight concrete structures. He also worked on the design of a modular family of frame-supported, rapidly erectable fabric structures. As a long-standing member of the International Association of Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) von Bülow has published numerous papers describing optimal forms of shell and membrane structures. His recent publications focus on the design of branching column systems (“Tree” Columns). He has also designed and built a wooden grid shell based on the methods developed by Frei Otto, as well as an irregular mesh shell, which made use of reclaimed natural tree crotches for the bifurcating joints.

He has a doctorate in engineering (Dr.-Ing.) from the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design at the University of Stuttgart under Werner Sobek. He also received two degrees from the University of Tennessee: a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Architecture.