Praterstern 3

Atrium covered with ETFE

In the city of Vienna, there is an office building lies on the edge of bustling Praterstern square. This is one of the the most attractive open spaces in the city. Covering an area of about 5,000 m², the new 8-floor office building consists of two almost parallel structures with a central atrium. Although eight different facades types were used, the most interesting design aspect of the office building is the Texlon^® ETFE technology. The innovative and lightweight material perfectly combines exposure, thermal protection, durability and ease of installation.

Light Supporting Structure

With a span of 26 meters, the construction covers an area of about 1,000 m² and is supported by 13 steel trusses. Thanks to the foil cushion roof, the supporting structure is considerably lighter than would be necessary for a glass roof. Another advantage is the double layered Texlon^® ETFE foil, which exhibits a self-cleaning effect due to the chemical surface properties. It also provides solar shading and thermal insulation.

Maximum Light Transmission

With its curved contours and delicate steel frame, the roofing envelope design is simple and modest. It allows for maximum light transmission in the central atrium, while stylishly complimenting the existing building structures. Thanks to the high degree of prefabrication of the Texlon^® ETFE system, the 1,040 m² roof of the Praterstern building was completed in a very short time.

Contact us for more information about ETFE in architecture.