Prestressed membrane roofs have been designed since the invention of prestressed concrete. They are described in the basic books written by pioneers of prestressed concrete. For illustration, four architecturally most successful roofs are discussed. The authors emphasize that the prestressed membrane roofs are still modern, structurally efficient, and architecturally interesting. If they are assembled of precast members, they can be erected without scaffolding. Recently, the authors have studied different membrane structures from the point of view of their architectural and structural arrangement, process of erection, and static and dynamic behavior. In‐depth studies were carried out for membranes of simple curvature situated above the whole or portion of the rectangle area and self‐anchored membranes supported by arches or shells. Also self‐anchored suspension membranes situated above circular or elliptical plans, hypar membranes, and membranes of a free form that are suspended on arches or suspension cables were analyzed.

Experience with the analysis and performance of 15 lightweight concrete footbridges is presented from the point of view of their dynamic response caused by moving people. The footbridges are formed either by a stress ribbon or by a slender deck supported by arches or suspended from pylons. The dynamic response was determined according to a procedure given in a 1998 draft of Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures – Part 2: Concrete Bridges. Thirteen footbridges have been built and so far no complaints about their dynamic behaviour have been recorded.

Light and transparent pedestrian bridges with slender prestressed concrete decks are described in terms of their architectural and structural solutions. The function and principles of prestressing design are also discussed. The advantages of prestressed concrete decks are demonstrated on examples of arch, cablestayed, suspension and stress ribbon structures.

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