Abstract
Freeform structures play an important role within contemporary architecture. While there is a wealth of excellent tools for the digital design of free-form geometry, the actual fabrication on the architectural scale is a big challenge. Key issues in this context are free-form surfaces composed of panels which can be manufactured at reasonable cost, and the geometry and statics of the support structure. The present article is an extended abstract of a talk on the close relation between geometric computing for free-form architecture and discrete differential geometry. It addresses topics such as skins from planar, in particular quadrilateral panels, geometry and statics of supporting structures, structures in force equilibrium.