3D design drawings

shade study

All of our designs are made to measure, not a single one is standard. For every project, we begin by measuring the project site. We design to meet your expectations. First of all we create beautiful shapes which feel balanced and natural. We find our inspiration in natural laws that also shape soap bubbles and soap films.

By positioning anchor points of the sculpture, we establish shapes which either provide shade, protect against rain or offer privacy, or, in fact, do all of three. We present the prototype as a 3D-model, and adjust if required.

The most appealing designs are those which still allow some rays of sun to come through. These rays of sun will move over your terrace during the day, enhancing the feeling of living outside.

Before determining the final shape, we check the shade on your terrace. In a short video, we show the exact movement of the shade throughout a summer day, on one or two chosen dates. If required, we will adjust the design.

membraan

stability check

When choosing an anchor point, we take both the structure of the house and all existing foundations in the garden into account. Gusts of wind will generate high forces in the membrane ends. Therefore we select the strongest nodes in the building structure for anchoring. Our membranes are calculated for a wind speed of about 90 km/h, in accordance with Eurocode. During storms the sculptures will visibly move, but they'll always stay tense.

assembly

installation

Once the final shape is determined, the anchor points are mounted. Once installed, we make an precise survey, so the membrane itself can be assembled with a precision of 1 centimeter. We detail patterns for the membrane patches. Stitching these patches together, we create the curved surface of the membrane. The membrane is never flat. We insert steel cables in the seams, and attach steel plates, cables and shackles at the end points.

For dividing the membrane in patches, we consider rain water flow and esthetic appeal. The seams will often accentuate the curves in the membrane, and become part of its abundant architecture.

We developed our own system to anchor the end points of the membrane to the building. These points are often loaded with high slanted forces; this may lead to problems if the building's outer shell is thin or if the layer of isolation is thick. Our anchors are resistant to these forces and still look elegant. Our anchoring system can be used for all types of façades (plaster, facing bricks, tiles, sidings, …).

When installing foundations in your garden we try to avoid large quantities of concrete.

After the first installation which is executed by us, you can easily disassemble and reassemble the membrane yourself, with the help of our manual.