Zollinger roof

Images under Creative Commons licence JeanPersil and Ulwald

The Zollinger roof is an example of a lamella structure, specifically a timber lamella roofing system. It is so called after the German architect, city planner and municipal construction official, Friedrich Zollinger who developed the system.

In Zollinger structures individual elements are twice the length of each grid unit, set on the diagonal, meaning that the next member is supported at the midpoint of the previous member, thus these interlinking connections create a reciprocating structure.

Although relatively labour intensive to construct, and requiring skilled workers, the design has a number of advantages over standard roof designs, including the absence of long tie beams or supporting posts. In addition, significantly less material is required than for traditional roofs, and it can adapt to openings and can be made entirely of short pieces of timber which can be prefabricated and installed without large machinery.

These types of roofing systems were adopted at times when demand was high but materials and costs were prohibitive, such as between the World Wars. Historical examples of Zollinger roofs can be found in a house in Schweicheln-Bermbeck and Augustinus church in Heilbronn, Germany, whilst modern examples can be found throughout Europe.

Structures that have great similarity to Zollinger roofs are lamella structures, gridshells, geodesic domes, reciprocal roofs and reciprocal grids.

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