Bradford University Sails
Client:
University of Bradford
Year of Completion:
2005
Architect/Designer: Rance Booth & Smith Architects Main Contractor/Customer: Interserve Project Services Limited
Architect/Designer: Rance Booth & Smith Architects Main Contractor/Customer: Interserve Project Services Limited
Plans to refurbish of one of the buildings on the Bradford University campus led designers to ask Architen Landrell for a price to design, manufacture and install tensile fabric structures for two main areas. Competitively priced, and with decades of experience in the field, Architen was pleased to be awarded the contract.
Designers of the building had specific functions of the tensile canopies in mind. Externally, a triangular sail was to be installed above the reception entrance to provide weatherproofing and to attract visitors attention to an otherwise fairly plain door.
The steelwork, a steel cross to support the fabric sail, was fixed between buildings either side of the door to create a suspended cover and to avoid obscuring the walkway area.
Internally, five fabric sails were installed to combat solar shading problems and to assist in hiding the ugly service pipes and cables within the ceiling. The white Natte sails were installed at regular intervals along the corridor and can be easily removed to allow access to the services they disguise.
