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completed-structure-Navigation-Park
Navigation Park Shade Structure Tarneit, VIC (DA 2022 Entry)

Navigation Park Shade Structure Tarneit, VIC (DA 2022 Entry)

LSAA 2022 Plaques 0003

APPLICATION OF PROJECT:

Shade structure for park/playground in a residential development

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Designed to inspire wonder and engage children’s creativity, a unique 60m2 floating shade structure with a flower-shaped pattern was incorporated into Navigation Park in the Newhaven at Tarneit planned community in Victoria.

Created with two different translucency fabrics lap welded together, the flower shape can be seen from below the structure, with the overall effect further amplified by sunlight filtering through the fabric unimpeded by supporting structural steelwork thanks to an innovative tensegrity structural system.

113301-Installation-crane
113302-Installation-rigging
113303-Installation-membrane-tensioned
113304-Installation-outer-ring-cables
113305-Installation-winches-to-tension-outer-ring
113306-close-up-cental-cable-array
113308-close-up-central-rigging-points
113307-completed-structure-sunset
113309-completed-structure-Navigation-Park-cable-detail
113310-completed-structure-Navigation-Park-Tree-Grate-Base
113311-close-up-flower-petal-pattern
113312-completed-structure-Navigation-Park-2
113313-completed-structure-Navigation-Park

DESIGN / FABRICATION / INSTALLATION BRIEF

Tasked by the landscaping contractor with creating a bespoke shade structure for the Navigation Park in the Newhaven at Tarneit planned community in Victoria, a floating flower pattern shade canopy was proposed to provide both a unique and exciting feature element to the park, as well as offering a practical structure to protect the picnic and BBQ area from the sun and weather.

STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

The 9m diameter shade structure is an inverted conical tensegrity structure and consists of fabric fixed to a circular compression ring supported by cables. The cables project out radially from the central column to which the fabric is also fixed creating a central penetration. In order to provide resistance against rotation of the edge beam, the cables are fixed to the top of a column in an overlapping, similar to 2-cross spoke-pattern on a bicycle wheel.

The outer ring beam is only supported by cables; this required an extremely technical installation to ensure that cable lengths and tensions were set, monitored and adjusted through install so that the final beam position and fabric tensions were correct.

The end result means that no shadow lines from steelwork above the fabric are present as would traditionally be expected which further accentuates the lightweight and creative design.

MATERIALS

The unique flower-shaped pattern was created on the fabric surface by overlapping multiple fabric layers to vary visible translucency. We used two different grades of Mehler FR900 PVC for the project, FR900-958-N and FR900-N-HTL (High Translucency). By lap welding the two different translucency fabrics together, the flower shape can be seen from below, with the overall effect further amplified by sunlight filtering through the fabric.

FABRICATION

Tight tolerances were required on cables and the steel frame to ensure that the correct prestress could be achieved during install.

The fabric welding was particularly time-consuming and required careful attention to detail using short welding bars and floaters due to the tight curvature of the seams. Multiple tests had to be undertaken to ensure that the two different fabric products would be compatible together and to find the appropriate welding parameters to use.

COLLABORATION, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

Working to produce the unique shade structure for the landscaping contractor, we assisted with installation of the structure through detailed layout plans and install methodology.

The steel outer ring was manufactured in parts and then bolted together onsite. The rope-edged fabric circle was fed into 4 curved rolled-aluminium extrusions by hand. The membrane was attached loosely to the steel outer ring via strapping and the whole structure was lowered into place over the central steel support.

With no steel crossbeam supports, the outer ring was held in place using a series of 8 1T hand winches and SWL straps whiles spoke-like cables were attached and evenly tensioned. The extrusions-ringed membrane was attached to the outer ring and tensioned. Once the whole 9 metre-diameter floating disc was tensioned to support itself, the rigging straps and winches were removed.

Also incorporated into the design was a bespoke drainage grate that sat flush with the ground level around the support pillar. The foundations, column base design and installation methodology needed additional collaboration to incorporate the inclusion of a “Tree Grate” design.

COLOUR IMAGES

  • 1133_01-Installation-crane
  • 1133_02-Installation-rigging
  • 1133_03-Installation-membrane-tensioned
  • 1133_04-Installation-outer-ring-cables
  • 1133_05-Installation-winches-to-tension-outer-ring
  • 1133_06-close-up-cental-cable-array
  • 1133_07-completed-structure-sunset
  • 1133_08-close-up-central-rigging-points
  • 1133_09-completed-structure-Navigation-Park-cable-detail
  • 1133_10-completed-structure-Navigation-Park-Tree-Grate-Base
  • 1133_11-close-up-flower-petal-pattern
  • 1133_12-completed-structure-Navigation-Park-2
  • 1133_13-completed-structure-Navigation-Park

PROJECT CREDITS

Project ID Number   1133
Project Name Navigation Park PVC Shade Structure
Project Location      Navigation Drive
City / Suburb Tarneit
State  VIC
Country        AUS
Postcode      3029
GPS Location (if known)    -37.824886, 144.670347
Completion Date     Feb-19
Preferred Category (1 – 8) 1 - Small Structures <250m2
Entrant Name (Company)  MakMax Australia
Address        133 Lavarack Ave
City / Suburb Eagle Farm
State  QLD
Country        AUS
Postcode      4009
Contact Phone Number      736335900
Mobile Number       
Email Address         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website Address     www.makmax.com.au
Entrant Type / Role Desinger/Engineer/Fabricator
Project Client LD Total
Project Architect     Urban Edge Landscape Architects
Structural Engineer  Sarah Flanders – MakMax Australia
Fabricator(s) MakMax Australia (PVC Fabric) / Steelman Fabrications Pty Ltd (Steel)