project

PHÄNOMENTA Science Centre

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General information

  • Location address
    Lüdenscheid
  • Location country
    Germany
  • Year of construction
    2015
  • Name of the client/building owner
    Stiftung PHÄNOMENTA Lüdenscheid
  • Function of building
    Museums
  • Degree of enclosure
    Hybrid structure
  • Climatic zone
    Temperate - cold winters and mild summers
  • Number of layers
    mono-layer
  • Type of application of the membrane
    covering
  • Primary function of the tensile structure
    • Space defining elements

Description

The tower is just one part of the expansion to PHÄNOMENTA: a two-storey extension offers an additional 1.400m2 of exhibition space, with zones characterised by expressive shapes. On the one hand, this ensures the functionality of the exhibition space and, on the other hand, is a result of the requirements on the tower's geometry. Since the concrete building with monolithic design also serves as a foundation for the steel structure, the frame is continued by diagonal supports in the concrete structure. The clear optics of the tower is based on triangular bays made of circular pipes that are welded airtight. A demanding three dimensional analysis is required, especially for nodes where up to six pipes are joined with various angles. Membrane stress due to pretension and wind are guided directly into the nodes, which minimises bending in the structure. In order to install the tower in individual segments, revisable bolted connections were arranged in the steel tubes, covered with special semi-cylindrical metal sheets. This allowed to avoid site welding and gives still a homogeneous appearance.
The membrane helix inside the steel structure has a light and filigree appearance - "a structure that is almost nothing at all," - and yet it is still quite impressive visually. The helix consists of just three components: 990m² of membranes, three form defining cables and nine link elements including accessories. These few elements are sufficient to allow the membrane to follow the rotating and tapered tower. While the maximum enveloped geometry grants to be collision free from the structure, the minimum enveloped geometry prevents from contact with the inner pendulum structure.
The helical curve has a particularly striking effect at night, when the seams of the back-lit covering and the shadow of the ropes converge upwards in a cone shape, giving the tower an even taller appearance. Light management of the LEDs is part of the technical building equipment.
The Foucault pendulum suspended from the inner secondary structure not only demonstrates to visitors the rotation of the Earth, it also visualises the time passing. In the space below is the Phänorama: a 360º projection of Lüdenscheid and its surrounding area, controlled by the natural period of the 30m long pendulum like a huge kaleidoscope.

Description of the environmental conditions

Material of the cover

  • Cable-net/Fabric/Hybrid/Foil
    Fabric
  • Type (code)
    Ferrari Precontraint 1202 S2

Main dimensions and form

  • Covered surface (m2)
    990

Duration of use

  • Temporary or permanent structure
    Permanent

Involved companies

Editor