Application Area

Tensile Structure for Park

Tensile structures are an indispensable element in contemporary park design, allowing for a creative equilibrium between artistic appearance and utilitarian shade. In public green spaces, these structures function as lively community gathering places, some weather-resistant for picnic spots, playgrounds, and outdoor amphib theatres.

Tensile membranes rely on relatively few support columns and high-strength cables, unlike traditional big gazebos, which tend to preserve the park’s “open air” quality and maintain visible views over the landscape. This relatively low footprint particularly helps in conserving natural turf and not disturbing root systems that are already in place. The product materials for park structures are designed to be durable and safe. For breathable shade, most municipal projects use High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) mesh, or PVC-coated polyester for 100% waterproof protection. The fabrics are specifically designed to block up to 98% of detrimental UV rays to support safety for children and families during the hottest times of the year. Since the membranes are tensed into “anticlastic” shapes (hypars as in saddle/conics), they’re aerodynamic, so they can shed heavy wind and rain without the risks of pooling or structural fatigue.

Tensile structures function as not just "functional" buildings, but serve as "placemaking" landmarks that add to a park's identity. Their sculptural characteristics make them public art, particularly when many colourful “sails” are overlapped to create an energetic canopy. At night these edifices can be illuminated with ground-mounted LEDs to become the material of a glowing beacon that makes parks more secure and more convenient for public use at night. From a shadow in the shade over a bench or a large vaulted roof for the community stage of a public arena, tensile architecture adds to the enjoyment of our outdoors, the cost-effective, sustained impact of which is made easier through a well-planned and robust design.