Pou Manawa

Fabric Structure Systems

Pou Manawa takes the form of a sculptural tree, crafted from SEFAR Architecture fabric and tensioned into place, creating a continuous light translucent surface which is rear-projected to bring the tree to life, with various natural and traditional Maori themes. The tree foot print is 28 metres by 21.6 metres. The tree is nine meters high and the tree fabric surface area is 577 square metres. The tree fabric is Sefar - EL-65-T0 PTFE, the projectors are Martin SmartMac (x24), the color wash is LED RGB Stage Bars (x9) and the tree trunk is Marine Grade Meranti Ply.

This project was to design and build a bespoke fabric sculptural structure to form the focal point of Auckland International Airport’s new retail departure area. We were approached with a brief to develop a significant sculptural piece for this area. The Pou Manawa project required a broad range of disciplines and collaboration. We were engaged as a design and build contractor and were responsible for assembling the right team of people, experts in their respective fields, to ensure the project’s success.

Initial discussions explored the use of various fabrics and structural forms to achieve the desired shape. While Ignite Architects developed the design for the sculptural timber-paneled trunk and the tiled base, we developed the design and methodology of the fabric canopy. Once the concept was settled on, the challenge was finding a solution to support and tension the fabric between ground level and the roof, which had little structural capacity. We engaged Wade Design Engineers to develop the structural solution for the tree - a massive truss ring suspended from the roof, which the canopy fabric hangs from and gives its shape in the top section. The sculptural trunk base then provides a fixed point which the fabric is tensioned down to give the fabric a clear projection surface. After much testing, a special architectural fabric from Sefar in Switzerland was selected for its structural strength and projection qualities. Logan Brewer and Kenderdine Electrical developed a projection solution using 24 gobo projectors and LED lights to create a continuous 360-degree image on the complex patterned internal surface of the tree. Red Steel in Napier was engaged to fabricate the complex steel forms that support the tree fabric and the sculptural trunk. The Sefar fabric was imported and fabricated into the tree membrane in our workshop. We completed the installation over six months, progressing the installation along with all other building trades working in the terminal.

Auckland Airport has been extremely pleased with the completion of Pou Manawa and has received rave reviews for the retail area in terms of interior design. Auckland International Airport was recently rated in the top 10 airports in the world.

Project details

Location: Auckland International Airport, New Zealand
Fabrics: Sefar EL-65-TO by Sefar AG Architecture, Switzerland from Sefar AG Architecture, Switzerland
Engineer: Wade Design Engineers
Architect: Ignite Architects