Tensile Architecture

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Arun Madappallath

Country Manager - South Asia

Serge Ferrari India Pvt Ltd

Post Date: June 29, 2024 | Last Edited: June 29, 2024

PSG College of Architecture, Coimbatore

As we mark our 50th anniversary, we take pride in celebrating the milestones that have shaped our journey. To commemorate this, we have chosen to shed light on previous projects in which we actively participated. Today, we shine a spotlight on one of those successful projects: The PSG College of Architecture, Coimbatore.

The Building’s structure is wrapped in a 3D Diamond-shaped textile envelope made from Précontraint 381 in Silver Grey. Installation was completed by local contractor Duvo Engineering, which specialises in tensile architecture with expertise spanning design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance.

However, installation proved one of the biggest challenges in this project, as each panel had to be lifted individually into position while dealing with strong winds typical of the area. The play of curves and different-sized panels, combined with the fabric’s glossy finish, make for a distinctive design that changes with the light throughout the day. The 3000 sq m of fabric that now wraps the building creates a particularly stunning show of light and shadow.

Despite the concept’s appeal, the development of the textile facade raised a number of concerns, including with regard to securing approval for the solution in terms of ventilation, fire safety and especially statistics. At the onset of the development process, the architects were told by many prospective contractors and professional organisations that it would simply be impossible to deliver this project. But convinced by the architect’s passion for the sophisticated design concept, the clients emboldened everyone involved in the project to keep looking for possible solutions.

The key to this successful concept lay in two factors: the ability to take full advantage of tension forces and to find a novel approach to tensioning on the one hand, and a choice of membrane with a well-established stretching behaviour on the other. In this case, a fibreglass textile could not be used because of the forces involved. Conversely, Serge Ferrari’s high-resistance PVC-coated polyester membrane offered obvious advantages, not only in that it was easier to work with and shape but also because of its stretchability, which ensured better control of the considerable tension forces it would have to sustain.

The broad palette of 17 colours currently available for Frontside View 381 was another decisive element. In their design, the architects had envisioned a silver or light grey shade, which allowed for a wide range of possible colour options. Their choice eventually settled on Frontside View 381 — 3121 Shifting Grey, which ideally complemented the concept and created a beautiful sculptural effect in combination with the undulating shape.