Botany town centre, Auckland, New Zealand, by Ignite Architects, 2019. The transparent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof, produced by Vector Foiltec, is supported by curved Radiata pine glulam engineered wood beams. Image Vector Foiltec.
Relevant materials
Fluoropolymer, ETFE, Cofluoropolymer, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene Pine, GLT, glulam, Engineered wood, Glued laminated timber
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Architecture, Cladding, Engineered wood, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Film, Fluoropolymer, Glulam, Membrane, Pine, Plastic, Public, Technical textile, Tensile structure, Transparent, Vector Foiltec, Wood
Aarau Bus terminal and station square, Switzerland, by Vehovar & Jauslin Architektur, 2014. Manufactured by Vector Foiltec, the 1,055 sqm bubble is fabricated as a single structure from printed ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), inflated with air. The ETFE structure is supported within a steel framework and secured between stainless steel cables. Image Vector Foiltec, Andreas Braun.
Relevant materials
Fluoropolymer, ETFE, Cofluoropolymer, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene Carbon steel, 1004-1030, Low carbon, Mild steel Stainless steel, 316, Austenitic stainless steel
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Architecture, Cable, Cladding, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Film, Fluoropolymer, Membrane, Print, Public, Technical textile, Tensile structure, Transparent, Vector Foiltec
Aarau Bus terminal and station square, Switzerland, by Vehovar & Jauslin Architektur, 2014. Manufactured by Vector Foiltec, the 1,055 sqm bubble is fabricated as a single structure from printed ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), inflated with air. The ETFE structure is supported within a steel framework and secured between stainless steel cables. Image Vector Foiltec, Andreas Braun.
Relevant materials
Fluoropolymer, ETFE, Cofluoropolymer, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene Carbon steel, 1004-1030, Low carbon, Mild steel Stainless steel, 316, Austenitic stainless steel
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Architecture, Cable, Cladding, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Film, Fluoropolymer, Membrane, Print, Public, Technical textile, Tensile structure, Transparent, Vector Foiltec
The Shed’s Bloomberg Building at Hudson Yards, New York, by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Rockwell Group, 2019. The welded air-filled ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) bubbles, manufactured by Vector Foiltec, create a lightweight insulated structure. The shell, known as McCourt, moves on rails driven by giant wheels and doubles the usable indoor space of the building. The unique colour effect comes from a combination of a printed pattern on the top layer, a white middle layer with 29% opacity, and a transparent bottom layer. Image Vector Foiltec, Timothy Schenck.
Relevant materials
Fluoropolymer, ETFE, Cofluoropolymer, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene
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Architecture, Cladding, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Film, Fluoropolymer, Membrane, Plastic, Public, Technical textile, Tensile structure, Transparent, Vector Foiltec
Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, by KL Pavilion Design Studio Sdn Bhd, Konzepte + CGNA Sdn Bhd, 2021. The mega canopy, manufactured by Vector Foiltec, is 125 m long, 115 m wide and clad with 34 two-layer ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) cushions. Each cushion is 3.2 m wide and supported by a steel structure. Image Vector Foiltec, KL Interior Photography.
Relevant materials
Fluoropolymer, ETFE, Cofluoropolymer, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene
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Architecture, Cladding, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Film, Fluoropolymer, Membrane, Plastic, Public, Technical textile, Tensile structure, Transparent, Vector Foiltec
Eden Project, Cornwall, UK, designed by Grimshaw Architects and completed 2001. Produced by Vector Foiltec, each bubble consists of layers of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), welded around the perimeter to trap a layer of insulating air within. ETFE was selected for the transparent envelope, because it enabled an extremely lightweight and efficient structure. The film allows a high level of light transmission, is extremely resistant to UV and weathering, self-cleaning due to its low surface energy, and can tolerate abrasion from grit in the wind. Image Vector Foiltec.
Relevant materials
Fluoropolymer, ETFE, Cofluoropolymer, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene
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Architecture, Cladding, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Film, Fluoropolymer, Grimshaw Architects, Insulation, Membrane, Plastic, Public, Technical textile, Tensile structure, Transparent, Vector Foiltec
Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Centre) by PTW Architects, constructed to host the aquatics competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. It consists of a steel space frame, clad with cushions made up of welded ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), produced by Vector Foiltec. The ETFE pillows allow more light and heat penetration than traditional glass, which resulted in a 30% decrease in energy costs. Images Vector Foiltec.
Relevant materials
Fluoropolymer, ETFE, Cofluoropolymer, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene
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Architecture, Cladding, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Film, Fluoropolymer, Insulation, Membrane, PTW Architects, Public, Technical textile, Tensile structure, Transparent, Vector Foiltec