Elevated and Lightweight ETFE Canopies for “Parqal” in Parañaque City
The Aseana Parqal complex is a mixed-use development area in Parañaque City, Manila, Philippines. The retail strip stretches over 900 meters in length and is covered with lightweight Texlon® ETFE canopies. The giant, elevated canopies protect the area from sun and rain, as well as stormy weather.
Transparent, Minimal and Elegant: A Canopy High Up in the Sky
The whole area was developed with Parañaque’s architectural typology in mind. It combines Spanish vernacular with traditional Chinese styles. In Parañaque’s streets, you can see a symbiosis of wood, concrete, and steel. The canopies’ design features sleek and slender steelwork and fits right into the areas typology. The elevated and transparent structure looks like it is floating above the alleyway and connects it with the infinite blue sky above. These enormous ETFE roofs high up in the sky offer the opportunity to create a rain-protected, but naturally ventilated and light-flooded environment.
The new development caters to commercial establishments, as well as offices. Bridges connect the two sides of the alleyway on the upper levels. Furthermore, the park between the buildings invites you to stay and enjoy the calm and inviting environment.
High Light Transmission for an Indoor-Outdoor-Feeling
For the Parqal retail strip, the client wanted to have a “floating” canopy that shelters the area underneath, but also lets natural light come through. This creates the need for artificial lighting in the daytime. Additionally, it is possible to have extensive green areas underneath the roofs. All wavelengths of visible light can pass through ETFE foil. This high light transmission promotes plant growth and makes Texlon® ETFE a great choice for planted areas. In fact, the elevated position of the canopies at Parqal even allows for really tall trees and plants.
Brace the Tropical Storm with a High-Performing ETFE Canopy
ETFE has proven to be a great material choice for various applications and weather scenarios. Because of the high thermal performance, our flexible Texlon® ETFE system can adapt to a range of climatic conditions. It’s the perfect choice to create climate-protected spaces, that still provide an outdoor feeling. The canopies at Parqal protect the space underneath from rain and wind, as well as solar radiation. The top layer of the 2-layered ETFE cushions is printed with a silver-colored pigment, that reflects solar radiation. This feature reduces the the heat gain underneath the canopy, as well as the transmission of UV rays.
Information
| Date | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location | Parañaque City, Manila, Philippines |
| Sector | Retail |
| Size | 8,250 m² |
| Structure | Steel |
| Type | Roof |
| Architects | AEDAS Singapore, Visionarch |
Photo Credit: Vector Foiltec
A Canopy Resistant to Seismic Activity
Vector Foiltec was awarded the design, fabrication, and installation of the Texlon® ETFE system and steelwork of this project. Additionally, we delivered the perimeter cladding. We worked closely with the architect and client to achieve the slender and modern look of the structure. The light weight of our system allows for an elegant and minimal steel structure, resulting in material savings and lower embodied energy.
Another big factor for developments in regions like the Philippine archipelago is the resistance of buildings against seismic activity. ETFE foil is flexible and can withstand high tension. Thus, in the case of an earthquake, the canopies are unlikely to collapse. However, if this did happen, the foil, unlike glass, would not shatter and rain down on the people below. Overall Texlon® ETFE is a very safe building material, that conforms to all applicable fire safety standards. It does not promote the spread of flames or generate any flaming droplets. Instead, it self-extinguishes. To sum up, ETFE is safe to use in all kinds of applications and makes the perfect choice for mixed-use developments, like Parqal.
Creating Success Around the Globe
At Vector Foiltec we strive to make each and every project a success . Our team works worldwide and consists of experts, covering all the steps from conception to installation and maintenance. We can help you with a variety of different projects and can make your ETFE dreams come true.
Contact your local contact here.