In This Issue

Past Issues

May 2008 Issue

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Features

Textile shades protect balconies and apartments

A compact cluster of low-cost apartments soaks up sun and sea on the Mediterranean.
Olympics feature top-to-bottom membrane structures

As the world’s first public top-to-bottom membrane structure, the ETFE infused Watercube gets its moment in the sun this summer in Beijing.
Metaphors and materials meet in Beijing’s National Stadium

China’s civic infrastructure and economy continues to grow at Olympian proportions.
Brewer distribution center acclaimed as Britain’s greenest warehouse

The Adnams Distribution Centre in Suffolk, England, instills the green approach to building throughout.

Case Studies

Ribbon guides visitors through aviation exhibition

The “Flight Path” is an undulating, twisting three-dimensional ribbon that passes down the length of the first-floor museum gallery to guide visitors from one exhibit to another.
Suspended banners humanize expansive space

Three large banners were suspended from the ceiling, which created a canopy that respected the linearity of the building.
BC Place may get retractable roof

In anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympics, BC Place’s management is researching the possibility of replacing the iconic Vancouver building’s air-supported fabric roof with a retractable fabric roof.
Euro Experience Tour infiltrates

A traveling show for the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament began in late January in Basel, Switzerland when an innovative inflatable building opened to the public as the first of a 13-city tour through Austria and Switzerland.
Fabric roof membrane shape promotes good acoustics for bandshell

A series of custom aluminum trusses support a fabric roof membrane and can be installed with a series of custom self-lifting winches.
Structure, awnings and umbrellas create inviting look

The Miramar Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii, desired a centerpiece structure, awnings and umbrellas over its bar and special events room to create a new and inviting look.
Awnings and cabanas help restore casino

The project consists of 16 quarter-bullnose awnings, 10 fully enclosed pool cabanas, and four open poolside cabanas in large shell-style with compound-radius bullnose edge-frames and carousel frames.
Textile shades protect balconies and apartments

A compact cluster of low-cost apartments soaks up sun and sea on the Mediterranean.
Olympics feature top-to-bottom membrane structures

As the world’s first public top-to-bottom membrane structure, the ETFE infused Watercube gets its moment in the sun this summer in Beijing.
Metaphors and materials meet in Beijing’s National Stadium

China’s civic infrastructure and economy continues to grow at Olympian proportions.
Retractable canopy system extends outdoor service of Seattle café

One of Seattle’s public golf ranges gets a makeover to improve outdoor dining at the club café.
Double-sided banners create visually appealing storefront

The challenge was to create a storefront display that better utilized the customer’s expensive retail space and to create an environment that provided privacy without being totally closed off.
1950s tensile structure may grace London Festival of Architecture

The original “Skylon” was erected in 1951 on the edge of London’s South Bank for the Festival of Britain that year.
Sculptural installation reflects theme of time and change

Hovering archives was a temporary art project in Hafen, in the harbor of Hamburg, Germany.
Shopping center canopies provide escape from the heat

The shading canopies located throughout the facility provide a necessary escape from the heat, as well as an artistic composition of functional design that complements the surroundings.
Shade structures add sculptural feel to resort lagoon pools

This beachfront resort on Fiji’s Denarau Island wanted to provide its pool and spa area with comfortable shaded areas.
Leaf designs provide functional centerpiece for renovation project

A basic flat canopy was to be turned into something more exciting and utilitarian at the Fairfield Hawaii resort in Waikiki, Oahu Reef, Hawaii.
Fiber and nature inspire public artist

Trained as an architect, Randy Walker has a keen appetite for creating architecturally inspired public art projects from woven materials.

Design

Architectural membrane workshop to take place in May

The 13th international workshop on the design and practical realization of architectural membrane structures will take place this May at the Technical University of Berlin.
Metaphors and materials meet in Beijing’s National Stadium

China’s civic infrastructure and economy continues to grow at Olympian proportions.
New materials inspire architects

The latest films, membranes and new materials fire the imagination of architects.
Rooftop gutter and ETFE clamping assembly

PTW Architects designed the Beijing National Aquatic Center to take advantage of ETFE’s lightweight to clad the entire building with the air-filled pillows (“bubbles”)—twice!

Expertise

Awnings create buildings that fight global warming

Will the awning industry take advantage of growing worldwide awareness and concern for environmental preservation–and how much of a part can they play?
Book review: Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals

Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals aims to restore the balance with a hands-on approach to design and production.
Wind dam designed to deploy fabric sail

A fabric sail-fan combination aims to take advantage of a unique geological setting for sustainable purposes.
Textile shades protect balconies and apartments

A compact cluster of low-cost apartments soaks up sun and sea on the Mediterranean.
Olympics feature top-to-bottom membrane structures

As the world’s first public top-to-bottom membrane structure, the ETFE infused Watercube gets its moment in the sun this summer in Beijing.
Metaphors and materials meet in Beijing’s National Stadium

China’s civic infrastructure and economy continues to grow at Olympian proportions.
Brewer distribution center acclaimed as Britain’s greenest warehouse

The Adnams Distribution Centre in Suffolk, England, instills the green approach to building throughout.
Retractable canopy system extends outdoor service of Seattle café

One of Seattle’s public golf ranges gets a makeover to improve outdoor dining at the club café.
Fiber and nature inspire public artist

Trained as an architect, Randy Walker has a keen appetite for creating architecturally inspired public art projects from woven materials.

Sustainability

Recycling is new priority for vinyl roofing industry

Following its European counterpart, the Vinyl Roofing Division of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association, has launched a new phase in its commitment to environmental sustainability through recycling.
Brewer distribution center acclaimed as Britain’s greenest warehouse

The Adnams Distribution Centre in Suffolk, England, instills the green approach to building throughout.
Wind dam designed to deploy fabric sail

A fabric sail-fan combination aims to take advantage of a unique geological setting for sustainable purposes.
Fabrics in an era of global warming

A look at our changing climate.
Sustainable views and fabric structures

Three ways to look at their benefits.
Awnings create buildings that fight global warming

Will the awning industry take advantage of growing worldwide awareness and concern for environmental preservation–and how much of a part can they play?
Olympics feature top-to-bottom membrane structures

As the world’s first public top-to-bottom membrane structure, the ETFE infused Watercube gets its moment in the sun this summer in Beijing.

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