Since 2006, SEFAR® Architecture’s TENARA® Fabric has been extended and retracted countless times in accordance with a wide range of open-air events and in response to weather conditions at the state-of-the-art Fortress Arena Kufstein in Kufstein, Austria. Despite its heavy use of regular folding and unfolding the TENARA Fabric remains in pristine condition.
With a historical ambience and a stunning natural landscape as its backdrop, the Fortress Arena Kufstein is a popular tourist attraction and a multimedia event centre that hosts everything from professional staged performances to weddings, presentations and
seminars.
The 4,500-seat arena boasts impressive sound and lighting systems, and a TENARA Fabric roof to complement them.
SEFAR Architecture’s TENARA Fabric was used to create a retractable circular shelter over a 21,000 square foot courtyard, protecting the area from unfavourable weather conditions and greatly extending the use of the outdoor space. In fact, since it’s installation in 2006, the roof has proven to be the main reason why the Fortress Arena Kufstein is hosting more events and visitors than ever before.
"The fabric roof is the most important part of our facility," says Emanuel Praauer, marketing and communications director for the Fortress Arena Kufstein. "Because of it, we can effectively use the facility year-round, allowing us to hold many more events. As a result, we have significantly increased our number of visitors since 2006. We haven’t had any problems with the TENARA Fabric – it has been perfect."
In addition to its primary function, the TENARA Fabric membrane maintains the acoustics of the space and elegantly displays projected dynamic multi-coloured lighting, producing a dramatic visual effect ideal for a spectacular concert experience.
"TENARA Fabric’s long age, paired with its aesthetic capabilities, make it a perfect material for this unique performance space," says Alfred Rein, project engineer for Kugel + Rein Architects and Engineers, the architect and engineer of the project.
The Fortress Arena Kufstein roof features TENARA Fabric’s 4T40HF, which offers 38% light transmission to retain the outdoor feel of the arena. The translucent white membrane is surrounded on its outside edge by a polygonal pressure ring made up of 15 equal segments. This design yields an efficient, highly pre-stressed structure, which not only absorbs the force of external wind, but also brings only vertical loads to bear on its foundations.
TENARA Fabric is woven from high-strength expanded ePTFE fluoropolymers, and is also fluoropolymer-coated, making PTFE inherent in the material. This provides the fabric with the ability to flex and fold without wear or losing strength. The material will
also not crack, crease or develop mold or mildew while stored.
"SEFAR Architecture’s TENARA Fabric is the best product of its kind," adds Alfred Rein. "Its foldability, light transmission and resistance to the elements keep it performing flawlessly to this day."
The Fortress Arena Kufstein project was completed in May 2006. Members of the project team include architect and engineer Kugel + Rein Architects and Engineers, Stuttgart, Germany and fabricator Hightex, Rimsting, Germany.