At the intersection of biology, digital design and robotic fabrication, the BUGA Fibre Pavilion offers an impressive vision of the future of construction. Developed for the 2019 Federal Horticultural Show in Heilbronn, the pavilion transfers the biological principle of load-adapted fibre systems into an innovative and highly efficient architectural structure.
The pavilion covers approximately 400 m² and achieves a free span of more than 23 metres. Its primary load-bearing structure consists of only 60 individually fabricated carbon- and glass-fibre composite components. Weighing just 7.6 kilograms per square metre, the structure is approximately five times lighter than a comparable conventional steel structure.
A fully transparent, mechanically prestressed ETFE membrane encloses the fibre-composite structure and protects the interior from the weather without concealing the pavilion’s intricate construction. The membrane is connected at the intersection points of the composite components and supported by precisely coordinated steel elements.
PFEIFER Structures was responsible for the structural steel engineering, fabrication, corrosion protection and installation of the steel components. These elements form the essential interfaces between the fibre-composite modules, the prestressed ETFE membrane and the supporting structure. The result is an exceptionally lightweight pavilion that combines material efficiency, structural performance and architectural expression.
