Renault distribution centre

case study

1. BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE RENAULT DISTRIBUTION CENTRE TENSILE STRUCTURE SUBMITED BY : VIPASHA DARUWALA – 4 VIBHA DUDHWALA – 5 HETVI PATEL – 15

2. COMPLETION 1982 AREA 25,000M² CAPACITY 250 CLIENTRENAULT UK LTD ENVIRONMENTAL FOSTER + PARTNERS ENGINEER BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE

3. THE CENTRE WAS COMMISSIONED AS THE FRENCH CAR MANUFACTURERS MAIN UK DISTRIBUTION FACILITY. THIS IS HOUSED WITHIN A SINGLE ENCLOSURE SUPPORTED BY BRIGHTLY COLOURED TUBULAR MASTS AND ARCHED STEEL BEAMS.  BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE

4. THIS EXPANSIVE HORIZONTAL SPAN IS COMBINED WITH AN INTERNAL CLEAR HEIGHT OF 7.5 METRES. STRUCTURAL SYSTEM THAT REPEATS ITSELF TO FORM THIS EXTERNAL OUTLINE IS BASED AROUND A 24 BY 24 METRE  BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE

5. THE STRENGTH OF THE DESIGN, SUPPORTIVE LOCAL PLANNERS INCREASED THEIR SITE DEVELOPMENT LIMIT FROM 50 TO 67 PER CENT, ALLOWING A FLOOR AREA OF 25,000 SQUARE METRES . ENVELOPED BY A CONTINUOUS PVC MEMBRANE ROOF, PIERCED BY GLASS PANELS AT EACH MAST BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE

6. CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY STEEL WAS USED AS THE MAIN PART OF THE STRUCTURE. THE STRUCTURE HAS SMOKE VENT ON THE TOP. THERE IS GLASS GLAZING TO THE ROOF FOR NATURAL LIGHTING. THERE IS A CLADDING OF INTERCHANGEABLE GLASS PANELS . THE ROOF OF EACH UNIT IS SUSPENDED FROM CABLES ATTACHED TO A CENTRAL 16-METRE-HIGH, PRE STRESSED, CIRCULAR MAST OF ROLLED, HOLLOW STEEL, WITH 8 RADIATING STEEL BEAMS. VERY MUCH ASM BUCKMINSTER FULLER'S 4D STRUCTURES OF THE 1920S. UNLIKE FULLER'S FREE-STANDING UNITS, HOWEVER, FOSTER'S 'SUSPENDED UMBRELLAS' ARE ASSEMBLED TO FORM A SYSTEM. BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE

7. BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE AS A RESULT, THE PARTLY CANTILEVERED, PARTLY HUNG BEAMS OF THE UNITS COME TOGETHER TO UNITE INTO ARCHES, WHICH IN TURN ARE STRENGTHENED BY A SYSTEM OF CABLES. IN THE CASE OF THE LONG SPAN OF THE RENAULT ARCHED ROOF, REINFORCEMENT IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE USE OF AN UNDER-SPANNING CABLE AND TWO STUDS IN COMBINATION WITH EXTERNAL CABLE STAYED STRENGTHENING. IT IS AN ELABORATE, HIGHLY RELIABLE STRUCTURE WHERE SUSPENSION AND SUPPORT ARE STRATEGICALLY COMBINED TO MAXIMIZE ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY. A ROOF-LIGHT UNIT MADE OUT OF DOUBLE-SKIN, TRANSLUCENT PVC LOUVRES IS POSITIONED IN THE CENTRE OF EACH MODULE.

8. BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE

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11. BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - 5 TENSILE STRUCTURE SUPPORTED BY BRIGHTLY COLORED TUBULAR MAST AND ARCHED STEEL BEAMS THE DESIGN OF COLLAR AND USE OF REINFORCING AROUND CUT OUTS TO THE CONNECTION OF TENSION RODS. PVC MEMBRANE ROOF

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