Efficiency and attitude: On the relationship between lightweight structures and sustainability

In structural engineering, the principles of lightweight structures are often associated with sustainability. However, maximising structural efficiency while minimising the use of materials does not necessarily lead to the ecological efficiency of structures. This publication analyses the relationship between
lightweight design strategies and sustainability, which are both approaches to the evaluation and optimisation of structures. The results indicate that while both lightweight structures and sustainability aim for efficiency, their relationship is characterised by complex dependencies. Only by expanding the
principles of lightweight design through consistency and sufficiency strategies can they be redefined, with a holistic view already inherent in lightweight structures. The approach to sustainable design in engineering combines structural efficiency and a value-based attitude, towards holistic, sustainable, and therefore contemporary lightweight design principles.