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Graphic Statics is a graphical structural analysis and form finding method that has been around since the 19th century. This method offers an attractive tool for designers of large span systems as it makes the relationship between structural form and forces explicit. With the revived architectural interest in free form, we witness a renaissance of methods. This double issue is dedicated to graphical methods for structural design. We would like to thank the guest editors Philippe Block, Corentin Fivet and Tom Van Mele for editing a most interesting collection of papers around the most recent and exciting developments in this field.

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The approach proposed here is linked to Maxwell's reciprocal representation of force and geometry for structural modelling. It is based on the approach of Fivet & Zastavni [2014] of modelling interactive constraint-based structural equilibriums in which geometrical regions are computed to assess a domain of solutions. An examination is undertaken to establish whether the integral of relevant characterising domains can represent an interactive measure of the level of robustness. The approach is applied to case studies, one of which is the Ponte della Musica in Rome, Italy (by the architect Kit Powell-Williams and engineers C. Lotti & Associati and BuroHappold). Structures are analysed in terms of their strength for withstanding different load combinations and degrees of damage. Allowable geometric areas for thrust line(s) are calculated, synthesising the strengths and dimensional constraints, as well as the redistribution of internal forces.

The aim of this paper is to develop a complementary method to the numerical approaches proposed in the literature on the subject, which will help in assessing the constitutive dimensions of structural robustness at the conceptual stage. Based on geometrical thinking, this method defines robustness as the ability of a structure to maximise the rearrangement of its internal forces. This can be expressed graphically by admissible geometrical domains. The purpose and extent of this new approach are summarised and illustrated by the detailed robustness analysis of two case studies. The areas obtained for the admissible geometrical domains are then compared with values of the minimal load path and with structural stiffness, in order to decide on the right modelling strategy.