Heritage
A bespoke 40 × 80 m stretch tent structure, designed, engineered and delivered in just six weeks.
The briefing
The call came in with a brief that carried weight.
A heritage site where the foundation of a nation and Bedouin culture are closely intertwined set the stage for an ambitious challenge: to design and build the biggest Bedouin-inspired large-scale stretch structure to date. We said yes before it made sense.
Scale within constraints
Scaling this structure was not just a matter of size, but of aligning membrane behaviour. The tent structure had to integrate into a 50 × 100 m scaffolding deck with a stepped tribune running the full length, directly impacting heights and spatial continuity. Open spans had to be maintained relying on substructure.
Under pressure
The project unfolded under extreme time pressure, with just six weeks from concept to delivery and a continuously evolving brief. Materials were flown in due to limited local availability. Ground anchoring was not permitted, forcing a complete rethink of stability resulting in a structure holding everything in place without touching the ground.
Seamless alignment of design, engineering and execution under extreme time pressure.
The project required a large scale structure to be realised within a tight timeframe and under complex site conditions.
One coordinated parallel system
The stretch membrane structure was developed as one integrated whole. Geometry, substructure and ballast were aligned from the start, allowing the system to perform in balance and read as a single form. Design, engineering and production progressed simultaneously, requiring constant coordination across teams, bridging language gaps while maintaining speed and control.
Adaptive execution
Installation followed a controlled and responsive process. By adjusting to site conditions in real time, the membrane structure was realised efficiently within the constraints of both location and timing.
Flashback
A glimpse into the moments that shaped the experience.