Temporary architecture
Whatever the occasion, POS, trade fair, or event: a special environment should always be provided, individually designed and adapted to the corporate design. Mobile textile structures have all the advantages.
They can be deployed and designed individually and there is a wide choice. From the small promotion tent, to the trade fair pavilion, to a roof for large-scale events: Everything is possible with tents and lightweight structure halls. With the World Cup due to be held in Germany, the event industry has full order books this year. Preparations are in full swing and the tent hire companies have a few attractive new items to offer.
At its in-house exhibition last autumn, Losberger Intertent, Bad Rappenau, showed its current range to over one thousand visitors. In addition to the tents in their system series, this includes the new ClipTex Wall, the new Steel Weight Plate and the new multiflex Domicile from the P7 series, as well as the "Revolution" temporary hall system, a product of the French subsidiary Walter, which will also be available to Losberger customers this year.
The new ClipTex wall complements the Losberger system wall elements with a simple-to-install wall segment that can be individually adjusted thanks to its patented technology. A variety of coloured or transparent materials, which can also be printed on, can be used within its durable yet decorative aluminium frame. The frame can be covered on one side or on both. Insulating material can be incorporated. One special advantage is that panels can be quickly and easily replaced, making ClipTex Wall especially suitable for changing advertising and other variable uses.
The Steel Weight Plate from Losberger is an easy-to-handle and quick solution for weighing down tents where anchoring is impractical. The required number of weights is applied "invisibly" to the prescribed points to ensure structural strength. Unsightly weights that get in the way, such as sandbags or concrete blocks, are no longer required. There is no more awkward transporting and installation of heavy load plates. The new Steel Weight Plate is simply laid just like any other floor plates in the Losberger system. Afterwards, metal rods are hand-positioned in the bays of the new plate to create the required weight. The weight plates are available with all Losberger finishes, so that it is indistinguishable from a laid floor.
The new multiflex Domicile P7 complements the building blocks for multiflex tents of up to 15 m span width by a further module, thereby increasing the design options of the latest Losberger modular system.Röder Zelt- und Veranstaltungsservice GmbH, Büdingen, recently presented its latest product in the storage tent range, the innovative H-LINE tent structure. It can be supplied in span widths of 10 to 30 m with side heights of 4, 5 and 6 m. The special structure can take snow loads of up to 130 kg/m2 and is available with sheet-metal or heat-insulating sandwich panel wall cladding.
Röder H-LINE storage tents are characterized by an especially long-life and very economical thermal roof system. The roof structure has an inner lining and the chamber this forms is filled with air. The roof and gable parts are interconnected by tubing and kept at constant pressure by a compressor unit. Due to the air contained in the roof sections, the thermal roofing has a heat transmission coefficient of down to 1.6 W/m2K.
The high-quality roof sheets complying with DIN 4102 B1 (fire-retardant) are pulled into a special sectional rail system and thus connected completely air-tightly with the underlying structure. No condensation forms on the underside of the interior sheet. A further big advantage over conventional roofing is the very light high transmission factor. This lowers power costs and ensures a safe and bright and friendly working environment.
Even the small tents are "high-tech" these days. Quickuptent, Euskirchen, is the European importer and sole supplier of fast-erection tents with a V2A stainless steel frame. Within 15 seconds the user of a Quickuptent has a technically and visually convincing alternative to heavy and expensive trade fair and sale stands. The advantages of the V2A frame are that it is much lighter than conventional steel and is known for its "indestructibility". The tents are offered in various sizes up to 32 m2 and in many colour variations - individual printing is possible.
According to the manufacturer, HBS, Domburg-Frickhofen, their a.tent.o Maximal tent system is currently the model with the strongest design rating on the market. Further improvements were shown at Drinktec 2005 in Munich. The possibility of digitally printing complete tents with a very high resolution (near photo quality) including the roof and side walls in the in-house printing house was well received. This opens up whole new design options. For this HBS uses a B1-certified material it developed itself, which means that a.tent.o tents can also be used indoors.
Easyroof, sold by Entdecker GmbH, Bad Nauheim, completely dispenses with poles. The new tent made of high-strength polyester only has to be pumped up once to withstand gales of up to 60 km/h, and is suitable as roofing for catering or promotion purposes. It could not be simpler to use: It needs neither electricity nor a compressor, and can therefore be deployed even in very inaccessible locations. With a weight of only 17 kg and small packing dimensions, it will fit into any car boot. One person can erect it in just 15 minutes. So there are no extra costs for logistics and additional erection personnel. Easyroof is particularly appealing because there are no limits to its uses. Easyroof will stand firm on any base: lawn, glacier, or sandy beach.
The desire for individual solutions is a universal trend in the trade fair and event industry. The sector thrives on fresh ideas and innovative product solutions. A new highlight has emerged from the creative powerhouse De Boer, Recklinghausen: The Panorama Dome is an impressive sight that really does do justice to its name. The mobile pavilion impresses with its glazed front, its innovative design and high-quality fittings. With these features, it provides the ideal environment for a whole range of purposes, such as trade fairs, exhibitions, product presentations, and events. It can even be used as a conference centre, mobile shop or a unique office solution. The Panorama Dome covered with opaque silver roof sheets has already proved a crowd-puller. Its first deployments have already borne fruit because participation of this latest De Boer innovation at the Olympics in Turin is already a done deal.
The Panorama Dome has a diameter of 20 m, an area of 314 m2, a side height of 4 m, and a ridge height of 6 m. By inserting centre modules (5 x 20 m each), it can be expanded to any size in steps of five metres.
By the way, De Boer has responded to the heavy demand for the Panorama by developing the TWIN-Panorama. The high-tech structure interlinks two Panorama Dome tents - with an open hearth in the centre.
After the Opel Tubes in 2002, the ITR Taxi Tent in 2003 and the Dunlop Mono-Pitch in 2004, InSumma KG has for the fourth time given Tartler Zelte AG, Lützelbach, the order to develop and manufacture a "customised structure" in the shape of the Maserati Pavilion. As with previous orders, both development and production had to be completed within a very short time, because a decision on this project was only reached very shortly before the start of the FIA GT racing series.
The requirements were clearly defined by the customer: The structure was to have the smallest possible aluminium sections and be unanchored but still structurally sound. Moreover, fastest erection and tear-down times had to be ensured because the available time window at the racing track is known to be very tight. The large Maserati bus had to be able to drive in and out, fitting exactly into the "nave" of the structure. The two side structures, which can stand separately, should provide an appropriate seating capacity. Enclosed on all sides with glass windows and a completely black cladding, this pavilion is now on tour throughout Europe.
Moreover Tartler Zelte AG expanded its range in January with a 32 m free-standing structure specially for large trade fairs and exhibitions with a 4 m ridge height. Their completely reworked web site also went online at the beginning of the year at www.tartler-zelte.com.
The design aspect is becoming more and more important in the tent segment, too. The smart Hospitality Pavilion by Braun Wagner Design, Aachen, was developed explicitly as a temporary location for events, parties and co-operations. Equipment and lighting control integrated into the floor and support structure provides an emotional complete light choreography, converting the cocoon into a pulsating "light sculpture" that is visible from afar. The modular room structure is flexible in length and width. By dispensing with weight plates and ground anchors, the body of the structure can be levelled horizontally and freely positioned. The transparent membrane structure creates insights and outlooks, the reflectiveness of the foil generates an aura. Climate control is achieved via outlets in the floor structure. This architecture premiered during IAA 2005 in Frankfurt where it fitted into the overall staging of the Festhalle by the Mercedes Car Group. The pavilion was awarded the iF Award 2006 for Public Design.
Aesthetics is also in demand for large events: A far cry from conventional tent structures, the structures of CompeTents not only have special visual appeal, they demand considerable expertise and experience from erection personnel. An outstanding event of the past year included the Canon Expo 2005 in Paris. In the La Défense business district, Spann-Bau CompeTents GmbH, Barsinghausen, covered around 3,000 m2 of event space. Being right in front of the "Nouveau Arche" with a direct view of the distant Arc de Triomphe provided a special backdrop. About 15,000 international guests invited by Canon visited this event over three days. But in Germany, too, Spann-Bau erected a 1,500 m2 business centre for Canon at IFA 2005 in Berlin. In Wentworth near London, 700 m2 of hall space were provided for the presentation of new BMW models at the BMW International Open golf tournament.
Spann-Bau CompeTents provided one of its futuristic structures for another beautiful event, in keeping with the theme of the show: 150 years of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. It opened with a public celebration entitled Visions and Prospects of Technologies to Come. And when the "Marlboro Red Racing Grand Prix" was staged in Belgrade, Spann-Bau provided one of its structures as the main tent.
In early February, Allianz AG held its annual general meeting on the Messe Düsseldorf site. Neptunus, Düsseldorf, built a tent structure for this covering a total of 5,080 m2. The main tent was an aluminium tent measuring 32 x 140 m, connected to two aluminium tent halls measuring 12 x 25 m each. One of the halls was used as a VIP tent; the other, as a catering tent for the staff.
The unusual aspect of this project was the venue: The site is on a slope. The tent had to be raised 77 cm on the long side and 50 cm on the short side. Moreover, the site contained a fence that had to be removed. The foundation, consisting of a total of 44 concrete supports, was integrated into the structure. The site also contains six trees taller than 8 m and four roughly 10 m high lampposts, all of which had to be incorporated into the tent structure. These natural obstacles presented a challenge for erection and tear-down, but also gave rise to new creative possibilities. For example, the trees were used for suspending plasma screens.
MCR, Oberhausen, has in the past erected structures that are 45 m wide and 210 m long. Areas of more than 9,000 m2 can be covered in this fashion. To meet market demands, the idea arose in 2003 of developing a membrane structure with a span width of 60 m. This structure can currently cover a maximum area of more than 7,000 m2 with a width of 60 m and a length of up to 120 m. The enormous width of 60 m creates a hitherto unknown feeling of spaciousness. These new room dimensions are now available as a flexible room concept for any application in any location.
The company leads the market for transparent structures. Using modern materials, whole tent cities can be implemented with both roofs and walls transparent. In 2004 a completely new transparent roof system was developed that is now available for all pagodas measuring 3 x 3 m to 10 x 10 m. That ensures that attractive locations remain visible even if they are inside a tent.
m+a report Nr.1 / 2006 vom 13.02.2006
m+a report vom 13. Februar 2006