The research on pneumatics is part of a longstanding collaboration with Vector Foiltec – world leader in membrane materials, and Bernd Stimpfle of Form TL, a leading specialist in pneumatic structure.
The project explores the ability of a pressurized pillow to adjust its shape to the distance between structural supports (or pinching points), effectively compensating for longer spans with deeper sections and improved resisting moments.
The form-finding exercise uses a single pillow of ethyltetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a highly transparent, strong and lightweight foil, with a size of 20m x 25m. The pillow is reinforced by a metal mesh that reduces the span of the foil to less than 2 meter.
An analogue model – made of concrete injected into a rubber mold – shows characteristics similar to an air-filled ETFE pillow, providing a testing ground for exploring the correlation between span, pressure, and surface geometry.
Various levels of pressure result in under- and over-inflation; random configurations of pinching points also generate variable depths in the pillow.
The final configuration of supporting points follows the internal circulation and placement of the program under the roof.
Despite the structural span varies widely throughout the pillow, the stress plot shows a remarkable uniformity, with short and long spans having approximately the same stress value.
Partial section through the hall
The section shows the correlation between span and depth of the pillow.
The remarkable plasticity of the material provides a unique experience while standing under the roof.
The final configuration is based on principles of form-finding, as the final appearance of the roof is shaped by active structural forces following the strategic placement of vertical supports and ensuing variable spans.
