• Roof (up side)
  • Venezuelan Pavilion Cafeteria
  • Roof (down side)
  • Flying mast
  • Installation process - 1
  • Installation process - 2
  • Installation process - 3
  • Installation process - 4
  • Plan
  • Section

General information

  • Home page
    http://www.upc.es/ca1/cat/recerca/tensilestruc/portada.html
  • Location address
    Hannover
  • Location country
    Germany
  • Year of construction
    2000
  • Name of the client/building owner
    Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
  • Function of building
    Restaurants & bars
  • Degree of enclosure
    Fully enclosed 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
    • Rain protection

Description

A structurally active textile roof was adopted as part of a tensegrity system in the pavilion's cafeteria. A portable structure was made up of hollow sections, cables and fabric. The roofing material acted as part of the structural system. Steel compresssion and bending members were completed with prestressed membrane and cables, thereby optimising efficiency, saving on materials and providing clarity and flrxibility.

Description of the environmental conditions

Expo 2000 in Hannover, close to the Venezuelan Pavilion

General comments, links

The roof was a tensile membrane and worked as part of the structure.Neither purlins, beams or trusses were needed because nine flying masts were pushed upwards by a cable net attached to the horitzontal frame. The flying masts were made of aluminium with a curved plate on top to distribute the loads. At the bottom, four gussets were attached to the turnbuckles of the cable net. Adjustable devices allowed for periodical stressing and ensured ease in the erection and dismantling processes.

The Venezuelan Pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hannover
Tensegrity Structures for Tensile Roofs

Material of the cover

  • Cable-net/Fabric/Hybrid/Foil
    Fabric
  • Type (code)
    Ferrari, Precontraint 502
  • Material Fabric/Foil
    Polyester
  • Material coating
    PVC

Main dimensions and form

  • Covered surface (m2)
    100
  • Maximum height (m)
    4.5
  • Total length (m)
    10
  • Total width (m)
    10
  • Form single element
    Anticlastic
  • Form entire structure
    Flat appearance

Duration of use

  • Temporary or permanent structure
    Temporary
  • Convertible or mobile
    Convertible
  • Design lifespan in years
    00-05

Editor