The　collapse　of　a　structure　serves　as　a　profound　testament　to　its　design　quality.　Forensic　studies　in　structural　engineering　have　revealed　that　collapses　are　intricate　events　with　various　interconnected　metrics.　The　introduction　of　resilience　and　robustness　concepts　has　revolutionized　structural　engineering,　surpassing　the　conventional　approach　of　designing　for　maximum　load.　This　paradigm　shift　is　especially　crucial　for　shells　and　membranes.　Postbuckling　investigation　emerged　as　a　significant　area　of　study　since　1970,　offering　insights　into　shell　design　and　stability.　This　paper　focuses　on　the　effect　of　the　improved　Multibody　Rope　Approach　(i-MRA)　for　form　finding　on　the　postbuckling　behaviour　of　gridshell　structures.　The　i-MRA　exhibits　superior　postbuckling　behaviour,　which　directly　relates　to　the　method’s　underlying　mechanics.　The　investigation　centres　around　the　mosque　roofing　in　Dakar,　Senegal.　A　comprehensive　analysis　was　conducted,　encompassing　linear　buckling　analysis　and　geometrically　nonlinear　analysis　with　imperfections　(GNIA)　under　incremental　loading.　The　study　successfully　captured　crucial　insights　into　the　behaviour　of　the　structure　throughout　both　the　buckling　and　postbuckling　phases.　Additionally,　a　standard　square-plan　gridshell　was　analyzed　to　validate　the　findings　and　evaluate　their　generality.　The　research　findings　demonstrate　the　efficacy　of　the　i-MRA　and　provide　valuable　insights　for　the　design　and　stability　assessment　of　gridshell　structures.　©　2024,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG.