Shops, restaurants and cafés line the covered atrium on all five storeys. Bridges and stairs span across to connect the different levels. Below the glass roof, white ribbons appear to float. They protect the interior from the tropical sun and at the same time generate air circulation in the atrium.

Underneath the subdivided glass roof, elements cladded with membrane create a continuous wave-like shape. Each individual blade is also twisted along its longitudinal axis. This form is achieved by using three continuous (tubular) chords as well as the cutting pattern and the prestress in the membrane.

Connection and tensioning details are concealed from the observer. Other design challenges caused tight radiuses in the area of the 90° T-junction, as well as the larger blades which were exposed to high wind load.

formTL
structural analysis membrane,
Workshop design membrane for Blades and Delta-Beams

architect
Hugh Dutton & Associés (Climate Ribbon)

engineers
Josef Gartner GmbH

membrane confection
Canobbio S.p.A.

membrane installation
IRA international rope access gmbH

photos
Canobbio

publications
Architektur Fachmagazin 06/2016
Bauingenieur 06/2016

in total
11.092m²

blades
313

Delta Beams
2.932 m²

pieces
77

membrane
PTFE coated glass Verseidag B18039