zaha%20hadid%20mif%20case%20study

8/7/2019 zaha%20hadid%20mif%20case%20study

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The TeamJack Thompson, Technical Director, MIF

Tracey Low, Senior Producer, MIFMelodie Leung, Architect, Zaha Hadid Architects

Gerhild Orthacker, Architect, Zaha Hadid Architects

Kevin Hemmings, Architect, Base

Andy Traynor, Installation Director, Base

Tony Hogg, Engineer, Tony Hogg Design

Benedict Whybrow, Designer, Tony Hogg Design

Michael Whitcrot, Acoustic Engineer, Sandy Brown Associates

Nick Croker and Paul Thomas, Site Supervisors, Base

Project highlights Stunning and theatrical interior fabric installation designed by Zaha Hadid Architects

Bases innovative fabric and framing system achieved the dramatic forms visualised by the architects while

enhancing acoustics

Swift and smooth installation 3 days with 2 teams of 4 riggers working day and night shifts

Praised by arts critic

Structure has since been installed at the Amsterdam Festival in 2010 and is due to visit Abu Dhabi in March 2011 as

part o an ongoing worldwide tour.

Base helps Zaha Hadid create architectural masterpiece

for the Manchester International Festival.

Call us for honest, professional advice on +44 (0) 117 971 2229

or email us at [email protected]

www. basestructures.com Base Structures Limited


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The backgroundManchester International Festival (MIF) is an artist-led, commissioning estival which presents new works rom

the performing arts, visual arts and popular culture. It was launched in 2007 and takes place every two years. Aspart of the 2009 festival, Zaha Hadid Architects was commissioned to design a contemporary salon to house solo

performances of Johann Sebastian Bachs music.

The installation was to be housed in a 25m x 17m black box in the Manchester Art Gallery. Zaha Hadid Architects

responded with a stunning design consisting of a 110m long white ribbon which would wrap itself around both the

stage and the audience, creating a dynamic yet intimate perormance space.

The briefThe architects explored a number of materials to realise the designs form and had to reject a rigid skin on cost

grounds. Having already successfully collaborated on the Serpentine Gallery project, Zaha Hadid Architects

approached Base to gain the teams technical expertise on the designs buildability with the performance of the

ribbon being pivotal to its function. Transportability was another consideration for Base, as the installation would

also be reinstalled in other venues.

The solutionKicking o with a design meeting, all parties contributed their experience to the project, ensuring any anomalies

were designed out as early as possible. Bases recommendation was to combine a light aluminium frame with a

stretch Lycra abric skin. With preliminary costs coming within budget, Zaha Hadid Architects commissioned Base to

develop the design through to cost certainty.





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Ensuring buildabilityThe rst challenge for Base was to transform the architects complex 3D model into a buildable structure that

retained all the uidity of the original design. With the help of experienced tensile engineers Tony Hogg Design,

Base constructed a framework that replicated the model exactly. And to be certain of the fabrics suitability, Base

abricated and wrapped a prototype section o the rame to test abric compensations.

Expert engineeringFor the ribbon to perform as intended, it was imperative that a smooth change of curvature was maintained

throughout the structure. So Bases solution featured a series of eye shaped rib frames, connected with a top and

bottom rail each rolled to a specifc radius. Speed o installation was essential too, so turned nylon spigots were

employed to connect the rames with a push ft connection. Likewise the abric was designed to be applied rapidly

by only having nine elds which were zipped together with a discrete plastic closure, utilising Bases expertise from

the banner fnishing side o its business.

Swift installationThe frame was hung by 2.5mm stainless steel cables from suspension points in the gallery ceiling, incorporating an

easy to adjust fastener. Base also supplied the stage platform and tted rigid acoustic reector panels inside parts of

the ribbon, directed by acoustic engineers, Sandy Brown Associates. The structure was installed in three days with

two teams o our riggers, working day and night shits.




Image by Zaha Hadid Architects


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Base solution at a glance Fire rated cotton Lycra delivered the ribbon look while a specially designed plastic closure detail made junctions

virtually invisible Aluminium frame with innovative spigot and fabric zip details helped achieve desired oating eect and speedy

installation/dismantling

Acrylic acoustic reectors hidden in strategic areas within the depth of the frame to tune sound quality

Hung by 2.5mm stainless steel cables from suspension points in the ceiling with an easy to adjust fastener

Installed in three days with two teams of 4 riggers

The resultsThe result was a single continuous ribbon which swirled around one o the main rooms in the Manchester Art

Gallery, creating layered spaces cocooning both performers and the audience. Bases successful realisation of Zaha

Hadid Architects design was largely due to the combined experience of the team, ranging from engineering; detail

design; fabrication of the frame; assembly of the fabric; and the professional site crew. The projects triumph was

also recognised by one arts critic in particular, stating that the structure not only worked as a sculptural object but

acoustically as a chamber music venue. The structure has since visited the Amsterdam Festival in 2010 and is due to

continue its tour, scheduled for a visit to Abu Dhabi in March 2011.

It has been a pleasure to work with Base Structures on the J.S. Bach Chamber Music Hall. They have a positive

attitude and exible approach towards challenging proposals. Their creativity, breadth of experience, and attention

to detail were invaluable to the success of the project.

Melodie Leung and Gerhild Orthacker, Zaha Hadid Architects




Image by Zaha Hadid Architects

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