project

Manchester International Festival Pavilion 2007 – Temporary PVC Membrane Festival Hub

Membrane
Prev project Next project
  • 1

General information

  • Home page
    https://www.architen.com/projects/manchester-international-festival-pavilion/
  • Location address
    Manchester city centre, UK
  • Location country
    United Kingdom
  • Year of construction
    2007
  • Name of the client/building owner
    Manchester International Festival
  • Function of building
    Exhibition
  • Degree of enclosure
    Hybrid structure
  • Climatic zone
    Temperate - cold winters and mild summers
  • Number of layers
    double-layer
  • Type of application of the membrane
    covering
  • Primary function of the tensile structure
    • Rain protection
    • Space defining elements

Description

The Manchester International Festival launched in 2007 as a new festival of original work, with a strong focus on new music and on the city's role in music culture. At its centre was a temporary Festival Pavilion, designed with award-winning Manchester architects Stephenson Bell and engineered, manufactured and installed by Architen Landrell for the festival organisers.

The pavilion was the festival's focal point and social hub: the place to meet, talk, eat, drink and soak up the atmosphere between performances. Its dynamic, sculptural fabric form gave the new festival a striking, recognisable centrepiece in the heart of the city.

Architen Landrell's in-house team designed and engineered the structure and made the canopy in PVC-coated polyester, chosen for its strength and durability and because it allowed fast installation and removal. The pavilion was installed in time for the festival's opening on 28 June 2007, remained in place for several weeks, and was dismantled at the end of the festival.

The project shows how a temporary tensile membrane structure can give a new cultural event an architectural identity while providing a dry, sheltered and flexible space for large numbers of people.

Client/building owner: Manchester International Festival. Architect: Stephenson Bell Architects. Membrane design, engineering, fabrication and installation: Architen Landrell.

Description of the environmental conditions

Temporary city-centre festival installation in a temperate, frequently wet climate. The PVC-coated polyester canopy provides a dry, sheltered gathering space for festival visitors.

Material of the cover

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

Main dimensions and form

  • Covered surface (m2)
    440
  • Maximum height (m)
    21
  • Total length (m)
    21
  • Total width (m)
    21

Duration of use

  • Temporary or permanent structure
    Temporary
  • Convertible or mobile
    Convertible and mobile

Involved companies

Editor