...China catapults itself into the 21st Century…to proclaim their commitment to a bright new future.
As China catapults itself into the 21st Century, the powers that be are using trophy architecture to proclaim their commitment to a bright new future. One such trophy building is the new Chinese National Theater in Beijing, designed by renowned French architect Paul Andreu, one of a number of new projects Andreu is currently working on in China. The hope is that the radical form of the new opera house will set tongues wagging and get tourists flocking to this ancient city.
With not a square corner in sight, Andreu’s national theater bears both a physical and structural resemblance to George Nelson’s ubiquitous Saucer Lamp. Where the Nelson lamp has a supporting steel skeleton and a self-webbing soft plastic exterior skin, the national theater has a custom, anodized aluminum, woven skeleton especially fabricated for Andreu by GKD and wrapped in glass skin.
GKD offers many custom options and are pleased to work with you to produce a fabric that meets the needs of your project.
Above: The Chinese National Theater, Beijing
Knowledge of how to attach GKD’s woven metal fabrics to another structure and/or material is now as easy as one, two, three. Simply order a GKD spec book or download the requisite PDF files from the website. Whichever you choose, you’ll find ten different methods of attaching GKD fabrics to your structure. Each attachment method is shown in front and side views with a detailed explanation. Each method is determined by both the product style and the construction of the structure onto which it will be attached. Cross-reference information is provided to help you determine which product and method are best suited to your project.
Of course, when you specify GKD’s woven metal fabrics our engineering department will work closely with you, your engineers, and your contractors at no extra cost to insure that proper attachment methods are designed, specified, and employed.
Above: Flats with Flat Eye
Capella
6" x 6" Sample
Ellipse 14
6" x 6" Sample
Futura 240 PC
6" x 6" Sample
Futura 3110 PC
6" x 6" Sample
