Tensiles and LEGO® meet in playfully clever project

A recent visit to Munich allowed us to explore a pioneering example of fabric architecture. Frei Otto was a visionary in both tensile membrane structures and utilising his love for nature to develop sustainable designs.

What makes a good architectural project a truly great one? The answer is seamless project management.

When it comes to tendering, the road to a successful outcome can be long, arduous, and time-consuming.

Current choices in materials and technological developments in synthetic fabrics and associated topcoatings has allowed a rapid growth in the fabric canopy market. There are some key advantages and benefits in using a fabric canopy. Our blog explores these and links some relevant projects to illustrate them.

Covered walkways are a fantastic way to provide protection to users of paths and walkways from wind, rain, snow and sun. They can link two nearby buildings or areas and allow users to move easily between them with protection from the elements. They also allow protection for users who may be queuing or waiting in a specific area.

Fabric Architecture structures are often artistic sculptures in their own right, but at a new housing development in the Dorset town of Blandford, one of our Signature Structures canopies is playing a supporting role to a new piece of art.

Architects and specifiers who we work with often need to explain the benefits of building with tensile fabric as opposed to using other traditional construction materials. The answer is that there are many benefits… but the decision will always come down to a combination of how the structure needs to look, function and perform over time.  

We have decided to share 3D drawing files of our bestselling ‘off the shelf’ tensile structures so architects and designers can spend their time doing what they do best, creating their client’s vision.

Fabric Architecture have in record time designed, engineered, fabricated and installed two new entrance canopies ahead of the Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse.

WAM Design and Fabric Architecture have worked together to develop a tensile fabric link structure at the “HX Building 2” scheme, an extension project between old and new buildings at the Holiday Extras company’s Hythe-based offices.

St Enoch’s Shopping Centre in the heart of Glasgow has just under gone a face-lift. The atrium area and food court have been dressed with a colourful, suspended fabric acoustic ceiling, covering over 1000 square meters.

Fabric Architecture’s specialist ETFE division is working closely with Leonard Design Architects to produce four iconic sculptural totems.

Fabric Architecture has again worked with Westfield Corporation to deliver improvement works to one of its major shopping destinations. Westfield Stratford City on the edge of the Olympic Park in East London, is one of the country’s premier retail sites.

Working alongside Main Contractors, Walter Thompson, Fabric Architecture are currently onsite at Hummersknott installing the first phase of a large bespoke tensile structure over a courtyard area, providing a weather proof cover between buildings.

Birmingham New Street officially opened yesterday and welcomed its first commuters today to rave reviews, following a £750million makeover.

Fabric Architecture are working alongside contractors Mace Group, to deliver a fully-integrated fabric lining inside Birmingham New Street station’s new atrium and concourse.

A new era will begin for Birmingham New Street Station this weekend. On Sunday the station and it’s new concourse will finally open to the public featuring tensile interiors from Fabric Architecture.

Fabric Architecture are breathing new life into Sutton Coldfield’s Gracechurch Shopping Centre this summer with a programme of works to remove and replace existing canopies which have reached the end of their life.

Stanstead airport is owned and operated by the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which also owns and operates three other UK airports.

Sutton Coldfield Mall in Birmingham was originally built in 1974 as The Gracechurch Shopping Centre.

The redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station is complex and multi-phased. Phase 1, the west concourse, completed in April 2013 and phase 2, which included the demolition of the old station, will complete in September 2015.

The Brazil 2014 Fan Zone, developed by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), including retractable roof by Fabric Architecture, has won the 2015 World Stadium Congress ‘Innovative Solution of the Year’ award.

In 2014 Fabric Architecture was awarded the contract to design, engineer, manufacture and install a significant bespoke interior project in Dubai.

The South Glasgow Hospital Campus development involves the expansion of one hospital and the construction of two new hospitals to create one of the largest hospital complexes in Europe.

As part of a remit to improve social spaces at Middlesex University, Fabric Architecture were selected to supply tensile fabric structures as a shade and shelter canopy solution for the Hendon Campus in North West London.

As part of a £400,000 conservation scheme funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund, this summer will see Fabric Architecture complete the long-awaited installation of a key preservation element at St Georges Garrison Church, Woolwich.

Over the last 4 years and as part of a £45m project to build a new grandstand at Cheltenham Racecourse, Fabric Architecture have worked with Roberts Limbrick to design a fully-integrated tensile fabric canopy for the new “See You Then” Bar.

As part of a £4.5million regeneration scheme in County Omagh, Northern Ireland, Fabric Architecture have been selected by FP McCann and McAdam Design to provide a 10m bandshell from their Signature range.

Fabric Architecture are proud supporters of the acp Charity. acp organise an annual art couture festival, held this year on Sunday 13th July in the iconic Cotswold village of Painswick.