Structure Type: ETFE cushion facade
Project Scope:
Project Size: 69,425 sqft
Material: Two-layer ETFE membrane facade, composed of 462 cushions in 176 different forms
Location: Macao, China
Completion Date: 2009
Market Segment: Event & Entertainment Facilities
Owner: Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Jai Alai, Limited
General Contractor: WingWo Curtain Wall Engineering (Macau) Limited
Architect: Simon Kwan & Associates Ltd.
Engineer: Merry Ocean Façade Technologies Ltd.
The architects, Simon Kwan & Associates, have used ETFE membrane cushions in irregular forms for the façades. Their idea was to create a truly conspicuous, sculpted exterior. It was possible to comply with the client’s request for an uncommonly tight radius to the outer layer of foil through precise design work, realistic mock-ups and accurate cutting patterns for the 462 ETFE elements in 176 different shapes.
In order to guarantee the necessary structural strength and resistance to wind and water, the complete membrane cushion system was subjected to an intensive series of tests after production.
At night, the red, yellow, blue, green and violet coloured effects of some 6.000 LEDs seem to make the building come alive. The two-layer ETFE membranes are coated blue on the outside and the pattern of silver dots printed on the inner layers achieves a degree of shading of 63%
