Deputy chief architect of China architectural design institute, Li xinggang studio host

China's national stadium ("bird nest"), China's chief architect

Senior architect, national level 1 registered architect

Member of the international architects association (UIA) sports and leisure building working group, special allowance specialist of the state council

For me, whether it's membrane structure as a material or as a structure; Whether it is the materials and technologies that make the buildings fit, or the specific materials and technologies that make the building work to some extent; Both architect's original intention is persistent, and constantly inspired by technical discussion and a new transformation, it is important to the architect for building quality and status of the grasp and convey to the user experience and imagination.

A brief understanding of the structure of the membrane structure:

1.The membrane structure does not serve as a structure.

Judgment and choice of materials is an important operation in architect design work, because the material to a certain extent determines the form of buildings, temperament and quality, and to give the feelings of people, and the architect is always hope that through some materials to convey his imagination of proper construction condition. Different material characteristics and attributes make the architect may have a variety of options, both at the same time, whether in the test for the architect to have sufficient understanding of the characteristics of the materials to the appropriate material used in the right place in right way. Membrane as materials, and concrete, steel, stone, brick, glass and other different attributes and performance, the main features are: 1. The transparency of choice space is larger, can be either replace the glass transparent membrane material (ETFE), also can be pervious to light do not perspective of translucent membrane material (such as PTFE, PVC or opaque plating point of ETFE, light transmittance almost are free to choose). 2. Although it is flexible material, it can rely on the steel skeleton to form a straight surface through the tensioning structure. As a result, the architect can use film build all kinds of geometric form of building surface, simple or complicated, performance in the external form and internal space to surround close at the same time, the special effect of light (in sunshine during the day, night lights) and spatial atmosphere, and other materials it is hard to do; Of course, it is also a great benefit to replace artificial light sources during the day.

Examples of this are: the double membrane structure of the "bird's nest" roof of the national stadium, the upper transparent ETFE membrane structure, which is transparent and rainwater proof. Lower translucent PTFE membrane structure or called acoustic condole top, action is pervious to light but fuzzy steel structure form, sound absorption, cover the shadow of the roof inside the equipment, and field performances as a large projection screen background day; National aquatics center -- water cube roof and facade, all of which are transparent ETFE air pillow membrane structure with opaque plating points as the perimeter wall of integrity; The roof and facade of the Munich allianz stadium use the ETFE gas pillow film structure. Recently designed by OMA Seoul PRADA deformation polyhedron exhibition hall is to use translucent PTFE membrane covered by the cross-shaped, rectangle, round, hexagonal and formed by the originally not closed on the steel skeleton, constitute a other kind of wrapping material can't complete the form. The above several instances, is arguably the membrane structure as a kind of special material to use, because their main structure depend on the independent film outside of steel structure and steel reinforced concrete structure, if you have any supporting membrane material of the steel skeleton (e.g., the "bird's nest"), is by tectonic structure below. In addition, translucent membrane material (like PVC) can also be used for indoor special lamps and lanterns and glow condole top, the former should be used, such as the "bird's nest" international VIP reception hall, the latter applications such as Li Xinggang studio porch, seam less, easy to shape, lighting effect is good.

2. Membrane structure as a building structure.

Structure is one of the nature of the building, the new idea can often bring to the construction of structures is retaining the building materials are hard to get the results, such as in the "water cube" and the design of the new CCTV building, its specific structure in direct expression of architecture become prominent features, the importance of the "bird's nest" design concept is "structure as appearance". Tents and bubble formation of the "soap film" inspired, human invented the membrane material to build a new type of structure, membrane structure, membrane material by make full use of the material tension properties, and with a specific steel members, such as wire, poles, etc.) combined, together form the main structure of building, i.e. membrane material is an integral part of structure function (such as cable membrane structure, tensioned membrane structure, etc.), it is really as the structure of membrane structure. The main characteristic of this structure is: 1. Is a kind of flexible structure rather than the rigid structure, in the face of outside force such as gravity, wind, earthquake force, is soft, just, rather than to just, just, is Chinese style tai chi, not western-style boxing. I think this characteristic of membrane structure may make it different from all the architectural types in ancient and modern times, and its potential in architecture is yet to be studied and explored. 2. Because the structure needs to utilize the tensile property of the membrane material, it forms a distinctive building/structure surface.

Examples of this are the London millennium dome, the Marsyas installation at Tate modern in London, the west second flag station of changping line in Beijing, and so on. Actually mentioned deformation of OMA's Seoul PRADA polyhedral exhibition hall of the membrane surface, because it is using the forming characteristic of the membrane material characteristic, make its coverage on the steel skeleton was not closed, constitute a other kind of wrapping material can't complete the form, so also can saying is the force characteristics of membrane was used and partially become a part of the building structure.

3. Cooperation with film structure designers and technicians.

The architect must be able to make the correct judgment and choice on the basis of sufficient understanding and understanding of certain materials and structures, especially the membrane structure; And the architect's better and membrane structure designers and technical staff of extensive and in-depth cooperation discussion keenly capture valuable new clues, make design finally in a controlled state already have unexpected harvest.

4. For me

For me, whether it's membrane structure as a material or as a structure; Whether it is the materials and technologies that make the buildings fit, or the specific materials and technologies that make the building work to some extent; Both architect's original intention is persistent, and constantly inspired by technical discussion and a new transformation, it is important to the architect for building quality and status of the grasp and convey to the user experience and imagination.