Gasworks Plaza Breezeway Roof
Project Details
Location: Newstead, QLD
Completion Date: 2013
Size: 1100 sqm
Fabric: PTFE - Saint Gobain Sheerfill V
Client: FKP Group
The Gasworks Plaza Breezeway Roof is a multi-plane flat PTFE roof that sits above the walkway between various retail outlets. The high-translucency PTFE roof fabric and varying structure heights create an open, light-filled passageway to protect shoppers from the elements.
The Brief
Opened in 2013, the upscale retail precinct includes restaurants, cafes, shops, a supermarket, and a public plaza inside the old gas holder of the heritage-listed Newstead Gasworks.
The high-end inner city shopping precinct, located in Brisbane’s riverside suburb of Newstead, wanted to create an atrium-like weather-proof breezeway between the retail buildings. Contrasting the historic iron gas ring with complementary modernity, the Gasworks Plaza breezeway roof, with it’s varying heights and angles was designed by Cox Rayner Architects.
The high-end approach to design was also incorporated into the construction of the PTFE roof – with a seamless integration approach for membrane to steel connections employed on the project.
The Concept
Each planar-style roof section is interleaved and connected back to the main buildings, with spans ranging from 8m to 15m in width.
The Materials
Key to the development of the roof was the need for natural light to fill the breezeway. MakMax Australia proposed the high-translucency PTFE coated glass fibre membrane – St Gobain’s Sheerfill V. Offering a visible light transmission of 16%, the architectural PTFE roof allows a lot of light into the atrium space, while also offering a solar reflectance of around 74%.
This means although the canopy lets in plenty of light, it also blocks a great deal of the Brisbane summer heat – making the breeze filled corridor between the shops cool and comfortable.
