This single-ply ETFE-film with a thickness of 250µm is printed with a matrix of silver-gray dots to reduce the amount of light. The total membrane area of 38,000sqm is made up of 880 individual film panels, which measure up to 216sqm. Owing to the size of the span, these panels are supported by 4,690 stainless steel cables. As it was very difficult to calculate the tolerance of the steel structure in advance, the films were first made to measure. Then, with the aid of a computer, a 3D geometry was produced for each individual panel. Each film panel is secured all the way around with aluminium clamps to broad steel drainpipes.
An interior membrane of PTFE-coated fibreglass fabric hides the roof structure from view and also improves the acoustics. The assembly time for the roofing was 40 weeks.
Header image: © Margita Jocham