The fabric used for the structures is white in colour and weighs 1.25 kg/sq m.
Tensile tent enhances traditional themes
01 October 2001
What is believed to be the largest tensile fabric structure of its kind in the region has been erected at the Bahrain Mall. A white tent-like structure, measuring 27 m by 36 m at its base, crowns the large atrium area of the shopping centre.
"It is the first project of this scale in Bahrain," comments Osama Al Thawadi, managing director of Arabian Gulf Associates, the parent company of Gulf Shade which supplied and erected of the structure.
The tensile fabric structure installed above the central courtyard - covering an area of more than 800 sq m over the travelators, fountain pool and entrances - aims to address the primary concern of the client and the architects: to aesthetically blend traditional themes with contemporary design, according to Jassim Redha, project manager of Gulf Shade.
"The old Bedouin tent design of the structure reflects the culture of the region while imparting a sense of space and providing diffused daylight into the mall," he says.
"The PVC-coated polyester fabric structure provides a single columnless roof spanning 27 m. Weighing a total of 900 kg, it allows 35 per cent of daylight transmission. It provides heat insulation with 6 per cent heat transmission and 76 per cent reflection," he explains. ''The whole tent is tensioned by means of a 600-kg central flying mast in a lattice design. The 'tent' was jacked up with a force of 15 tonnes to reach the desired tautness."
Redha continues: "The main challenge was in lifting the 16-m-long mast through a closed area which did not allow access for a crane. The mast was transported in three sections. The framework for the structure was assembled on a huge platform erected in the atrium area. It was then raised vertically using special rigging devices of 3 tonnes each, which provided supports for the 12 mm diameter stainless steel permanent cables."
A smaller tensioned structure employing the same system has been installed in a second hall, covering an area of 144 sq m.
"These fabric structures are a focal point of the mall internally and one of the landmarks of Bahrain externally," he points out.
Gulf Shade received the order for the project in August and completed installation of the tents in February.
"Tensile fabric is a relative new construction material and is ideal for roofs in shopping malls, reception tents and other public areas," says Thawadi. "Tensioned structures can also cover wide spans such as spectator stands in football stadiums."
The tensile fabric was supplied by Ferrari of France. Designed and manufactured according to the exclusive Precontraint Ferrari technology, these fabrics possess remarkable qualities of dimensional stability, weather resistance and durability, says Thawadi.
The fabric used for the Bahrain Mall structures is white in colour and weighs 1.25 kg/sq m.
Highlighting other advantages of the product, he says. "The material is 100 per cent waterproof. It also offers architects greater flexibility in building structures in a variety of configurations and shapes. Another advantage is its light weight and ease of transportation. The fabric is also easily maintained and washable.''
Gulf Shade has the experience and skill to erect tensioned structures, says Thawadi. ''We can design and erect these structures. We use the skills of an engineering firm in South Africa to provide us with computer modelling, load analysing and detailed drawings. Our workforce is highly experienced and can easily tackle projects such as the Bahrain Mall.''
Tensile fabric have been selected for use on the Formula 1 race track project that is to be built in Bahrain. Gulf Shade has recently erected fabric shades for the staff car-park at the Citibank headquarters in Bahrain.
Redha stresses that architects planning to use fabric structures should involve the contractors concerned in the early stages of the project. ''Some architects do not give due consideration to the load exerted by these fabric structures on the building. Tensile structures are a specialised field of engineering. We prefer to come in early on a project so that we can provide input on the form, idea development and engineering load calculation,'' he says.
Gulf Shade provides a wide range of shading structures made of fabric or aluminium, ranging from tents and sunshades for car-parks to retractable awnings. With competition being fierce, Thawadi aims to specialise in the high-
