“ Textile architecture is an underutilized architectural innovation in Canada , and it still
isn ’ t taught in schools despite being an important contribution to the construction process .
SOLLERTIA
TEXTILE ARCHITECTURE 101
Tensile architecture is ideal for multiple applications , both internal and external , from acoustic and lighting solutions , to ceilings , walls , protective roofing , and more . The goal with all of these various types of projects is to create as light a product as possible . The membranes play a structural role and can be used to cover huge surfaces without the necessity of a multitude of different types of supportive materials . The lightness of a membrane , combined with its transparent nature , creates an innovative avenue for environmentally sensitive projects . For example , architectural membrane meshes can be engineered to form translucent façades , enabling infusions of light and controlling solar gains . Lightweight , yet durable , highperformance membranes provide exceptional strength and flexibility and are designed to withstand the toughest elements of the Canadian climate .
Founded in 2000 , Sollertia opened its own state-of-the-art confectioning workshop in 2017 . The facility is conducive to both developing innovative ideas , and to ensuring consistent quality control over the entire production process of its prefabricated membrane designs . Membranes used in textile architecture typically fall into five categories , including polyester woven with PVC coating ( polyvinyl chloride ), glass fiber woven with PTFE coating ( polytetrafluoroethylene ), ETFE film ( ethylene tetrafluoroethylene ), silicone coated fiberglass woven , and PTFE expanded woven with PTFE coating ( Tenara ).
“ Technical textile membranes can be engineered for permanent , temporary , or even nomadic structures ,” explains Nathalie Lortie , Director , Design and Innovation at Sollertia . “ They are customizable to provide coverage over expansive surface areas , in a variety of geometric forms , and that unlocks the door to unprecedented freedom of architectural expression .”
BIODOME – RAISING THE BAR TO NEW HEIGHTS
No project more thoroughly incorporates the complexity of Sollertia ’ s specialized expertise than the firm ’ s commission as part of a major renovation of Montreal ’ s Biodome , a science museum immersing visitors in a diversity of delicate ecosystems . While the demands of the project pushed the firm to its limits , Sollertia rose to meet every challenge head on , and to expand the boundaries of their discipline . The project ’ s scale of complexity drew on multiple areas of expertise , and Sollertia embarked on a journey to design and install membranes to form the facility ’ s transit corridors and transition spaces between the various ecosystems . Drawing upon past experiences working on projects facilities in the Biodome ’ s surrounding Olympic complex , the Sollertia team developed a series of different prototypes before working closely with
KANVA , lead architects of the project , to select the perfect balance of materiality , flexibility , and durability for the project .
“ The success of a lightweight fabric structure project such as this one requires a symbiotic relationship between architecture and engineering in order to obtain the desired aesthetics , stability , durability , and lightness as a whole ,” explains Ms . Lortie . “ This synergy must not only exist at the level of our very own multidisciplinary team , but also with all of the professionals and the various trades working alongside us .”
The use of tensile structure techniques provided many advantages for designing large , undulated walls . Given the complexity of the building , the lightness and greater flexibility of this type of structure made it possible to produce a biophilic architectural gesture , a skin , which presents a multitude of shapes and geometries that envelope the different ecosystems ,
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