STFE technology from the Serge Ferrari Group, available locally through Synchron Markings, is a structural and transparent composite membrane for building envelopes.

The benefits of STFE technology:

Transparency

The 50% light transmission offers a striking view through. This is a perfect solution when you want to avoid the feeling of being enclosed in public buildings such as shopping malls, atriums, and multimodal transport poles. The STFE also prevents glare sensation thanks to its integrated sun reinforcement.

Natural light for indoor and outdoor public areas

The natural light improves user’s comfort and enables plants and grass to grow better than UV light in places such as zoos, botanical gardens or stadiums.

Structural and lightweight

Large free spans are made possible by the structural strength of the polyarylate mesh. The light weight of the membrane, which is 10 times lighter than glass, minimises the need for secondary structures. For installation, the membrane does not require additional steel cables or air cushions, which means an easier installation as well as a reduced environmental impact.

Case study

The Serge Ferrari Group lent its expertise to the construction of the MPavilion, a cultural and artistic initiative launched by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation in Queen Victoria Gardens in Melbourne, Australia.

Every year since 2014, the Naomi Milgrom Foundation has commissioned an architect to design a summer pavilion in Queen Victoria Gardens, a wonderful sprawling tree-studded park in the heart of the Southbank arts precinct in Melbourne. The successive designs serve as a venue for a season of high-profile events featuring a range of cultural interventions, art performances, talks, as well as a variety of educational activities for children.

The MPavilion project is the product of an initiative first launched in 2014 by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, a non-profit organisation that promotes architecture, art and design for the public of Australia. The Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the presence and influence of creative culture in Australia and making the arts accessible to the largest audience possible through the active support of artists, designers and creative institutions.

Inaugurated on Thursday 8 December 2022, the latest design marks the ninth iteration of this philanthropic project. This year, the Foundation brought together a team of women to lead the project. Thai architect Rachaporn Choochuey and her architectural practice were commissioned to design the new MPavilion, with the support of a multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers, consultants and builders. Among its contributors, the project also received donated materials and expertise from Serge Ferrari Group. MPavilion is a vast experimental ground with unique shapes. It was designed to be an outstanding and inspiring space where visitors can feel comfortable engaging with activities held there. Beyond the mere exercise in style, the project also serves a broader cultural purpose of reconciliation, showcasing a unified Australian society that celebrates the long-overlooked diversity and wealth of aboriginal cultures.

Standing at the centre of the park, the new MPavilion’s roof structure looks like a colourful cloud floating a few feet above the ground. In reality, the structure is a complex combination of flexible materials manufactured to be assembled into three overlapping layers, each layer integrating the technical and aesthetic qualities of its constituent membrane.

• The outermost layer was built using fishing nets, giving the structure its distinctive sheer, almost ethereal look from afar.
• The middle layer consists of 250sqm of STFE 50 membrane to weatherproof the structure. This was the first time the membrane was used in Australia.
• The bottom layer incorporates almost 1 400sqm of Soltis Perform 86, manufactured using the Précontraint technology. Assembled into a waffle-like composition that moves with the wind and filters light, the fabric seeks to evoke the feeling of walking under the crown of a large tree. The three colours selected for this application further accentuate the play of light and create visible nuance to the pavilion seen from afar.

For more information on STFE membrane, as well as other materials from Serge Ferrari, please contact Synchron Markings on cs@synchron.co.za.

© Synchron Fabrics & Foils, April 2023