project

Centro Comercial Guadalupe

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General information

  • Location address
    Colonia Del Rio, San José Province, Guadalupe, Costa Rica
  • Location country
    Costa rica
  • Year of construction
    2008
  • Name of the client/building owner
    Centro Comercial Guadalupe, CCG
  • Function of building
    Shops and stores
  • Degree of enclosure
    Hybrid structure
  • Climatic zone
    Tropical - hot and wet all year
  • Type of application of the membrane
    covering
  • Primary function of the tensile structure
    • Rain protection
    • Sun protection

Description

This tensile membrane structure is located in San José, Costa Rica and was designed to cover the main entrance area of a shopping-centre, aiming to provide formal hierarchy to the building complex. Effective shading and rain protection was one substantial requirement of the design brief. A white, PVC coated Polyester fabric was chosen as a cost-effective material solution for this project. The membrane geometry is based on the boundaries of the existing building structure and has an irregular polygon-shaped outline in the plan view. Three inclined masts hold up respectively, one vertex peak projection and two high points, with conic shapes of different sizes and heights. The upstanding, prow-like peak rises in height and marks the entrance to the shopping centres main avenue. Overall, the membrane structure creates a covered plaza that offers a place for different activities in a semi-outdoor space.

Architect: Gerardo Lopez
Project Manager: Randall Campos
Design Engineer: Jan-Frederik Flor
External Consultor: Ramon Sastre
Manufacturer: Eurotoldos S.A.
Installation Contractor: Eurotoldos S.A.

Description of the environmental conditions

The project is located in an urban environment in the metropolitan area of the countries’ central valley at a height of 1,172 m above sea level. Costa Rica has a tropical wet and dry climate. Precipitation varies widely between the driest month (6.3 mm) and the wettest month (355.1 mm), while average temperatures vary little. The hottest month is April with an average temperature of 23.7 °C. The coolest month is October with an average temperature of 21.8 °C.

Material of the cover

  • Cable-net/Fabric/Hybrid/Foil
    Fabric
  • Material Fabric/Foil
    PVC - coated polyester fabric
  • Material coating
    PVC-coated polyester

Main dimensions and form

  • Covered surface (m2)
    182
  • Maximum height (m)
    9.7
  • Total length (m)
    21.2
  • Total width (m)
    18.3
  • Form single element
    Anticlastic
  • Form entire structure
    Anticlastic

Duration of use

  • Temporary or permanent structure
    Permanent
  • Design lifespan in years
    11-20

Involved companies

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