Incorporating Atriums & Skylights into a building’s design enhances both its visual appeal and functionality by bringing in an abundance of natural light. The translucent properties of tensile membranes, combined with their lightweight structure, durability, and design flexibility, make them an outstanding choice for architects and designers seeking an alternative to glass.

Whether opting for a high-translucency PTFE atrium roof that softly diffuses daylight or a transparent ETFE skylight that maximises light transmission, MakMax Australia’s solutions offer architectural elegance, energy efficiency, and long-term performance.

PTFE membranes are widely used in atriums and skylights due to their exceptional strength, flexibility, and light-transmitting properties. The glass-fibre core of PTFE provides a unique combination of structural integrity and optical performance, allowing natural light to filter through without harsh glare.

Key Benefits of a PTFE Atrium Roof:

• Soft, diffused daylight – ideal for creating inviting and naturally lit indoor spaces.
• Durability & longevity – PTFE is resistant to UV rays, pollution, and weathering, ensuring decades of reliable performance.
• Design versatility – used as full-roof atriums, individual skylight panels, or integrated into existing structures.
• Cost-effective – Atriums and skylights are often in difficult-to-access areas of a building, making PTFE’s long lifespan a cost-saving advantage by reducing maintenance over the life of the structure.
• Fire resistance – PTFE has the highest fire resistance rating of any tensile membrane, making it ideal for installation over large public areas such as shopping centres, transport hubs, and entertainment venues.

MakMax Australia has delivered membrane atrium and skylight solutions in various applications, from dome skylights over shopping centres to barrel vault membrane roofs connecting residential buildings. These designs not only provide architectural interest but also enhance natural light penetration, reducing the need for artificial lighting.

For architects seeking a modern, high-performance alternative to traditional glass skylights, ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) offers a remarkable combination of transparency, energy efficiency, and weight savings.

Why Choose an ETFE Atrium or Skylight?

• Exceptional Light Transmission – ETFE film can be up to 95% transparent, maximising natural daylight.
• Thermal Insulation – Multi-layer ETFE cushion systems create an insulating air barrier, helping regulate indoor temperatures.
• Ultra-Lightweight Design – At just 1 kg/m², an ETFE skylight significantly reduces structural loads compared to glass roofs, which can weigh between 15–25 kg/m².

A MakMax ETFE atrium roof provides long-term durability with self-cleaning properties, minimising maintenance requirements. While a two- or three-layer ETFE cushion is ideal for the Australian climate, international applications such as Taiyo Europe’s four-layer ETFE atrium at Russia’s Lakhta Centre demonstrate its adaptability to extreme conditions.

For a deeper dive into the benefits of ETFE, read our article: 10 Benefits of Using ETFE Foil In Architecture.

MakMax Australia specialises in custom-designed tensile membrane atriums and skylights, working closely with architects and developers to create striking, energy-efficient structures.

Looking for a bespoke PTFE atrium roof or ETFE skylight solution? Contact our team today to discuss your project.