Cardiff Design Festival

Brief

The client required a skylight with venting integrated so considered a wide range of options. Grimshaw Architects were looking for an ‘ephemeral and unfinished’ look, commenting that there is a ‘greater emphasis on internal special relationships and a more playful approach’.

Result

The scheme as a whole has been widely acclaimed by those involved and the wider industry media. Architect’s Journal describes it as ‘engaging with the limitations of the commercial exhibition centre as a building type ‘. We are intensely proud of our involvement in this project and our achievement of pushing the boundaries of ETFE cushions.

Solution

Architen Landrell was contracted to design, manufacture and install three ETFE cushion rooflights each covering an area of 25m x 25m (615sqm). The two layer ETFE cushions were installed with a fritted top layer to reduce glare and control solar gain, and each with an automatically controlled actuator installed in the head ring to provide smoke and air ventilation. The cushions are the largest individual ETFE cushions installed in the UK and as far as we know in the world!

Project website

http://www.architen.com/projects/excel-conference-centre-etfe-rooflights