The National Gymnastics Arena in Baku is a key part of Azerbaijan´s bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and Broadway Malyan, an international architectural firm, has been selected to design the competition level center for rhythmic and artistic gymnastics. IF-Group, a well known German engineering company whose roots lie in the design and calculation of tensile surface structures, participated from the beginning in the elaboration of workshop drawings and the structural calculation of the inclined curtain wall of the new center. In a second phase, for the approved final design, IF-Group designed the supporting steel ladder of the textile ribbon structure and the bracketry fixed to the inclined concrete pillars behind the glazed façade. Its contribution to the new building also included formfinding of the textile membrane, cutting pattern generation and the method statement of the complete structure. The first design of the Textile Ribbon Façade consisted of three horizontal ribbons in the colour of the Azerbaijan flag. As well as the functional task of controlling solar radiation gains, the idea was inspired by the ribbons used in rhythmic gymnastics exercises. However, the chosen coloured bands would have been nearly opaque because of the reduced translucency of coloured PVC coated polyester. In order to achieve a powerfull nocturnal lighting together with a diffused solar radiation, therefore it was decided to use a plain white membrane Type II with a relatively high translucency of about 10%.

1. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
National Gymnastics Arena BakuNational Gymnastics Arena Baku
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 1

2. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Heyder Aliyev Highway
Baku
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 2

3. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
165m
121m
Ground plan and lateral east‐ and west‐façade by Broadway Malyan Ltd.
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 3

4. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Concrete structure and curtain wall façadeConcrete structure and curtain wall façade
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 4

5. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Section of rendered model and interior view of the competition spaceSection of rendered model and interior view of the competition space
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 5

6. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Broadway Malyan Ltd.
k
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 6
Baku 24.03.14

7. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
The Olympic discipline of rhythmic gymnastic
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 7

8. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Ribbon shading façade system
The first title of the Ribbon Façade pointed out the original purpose of the continuous textile
elements that should act as an “architectural sun shading ribbon system”. Shading should be
achieved with three horizontal ribbons in the colour of the Azerbaijan flag.
Broadway Malyan Ltd.
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 8

9. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Temporary or permanent gigantic billboards are the most common use of textile fabrics in modern architecture
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013
Temporary or permanent gigantic billboards are the most common use of textile fabrics in modern architecture.
9

10. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
History of textile ribbons starts with the long tradition of textile
canopies and awnings as independent elements that offer shade and
rain protection.rain protection.
„High Tech Canopy“ NGA Baku
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 10

11. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
The result is a High tech canopy
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 11

12. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Wind tunnel testing done in 2011 by Building Research Establishment Group, U.K.
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 12

13. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
NURBS (non‐uniform rational B‐Splines) Rhino/Grasshopper
If_group
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 13

14. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
If_group
Anchoring of the ribbon structure on the roof top
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 14

15. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
How to perforate a curtain wall:p
Fin plates penetrating approx. every six meters
the curtain wall façade
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 15

16. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Tritthardt+Richter
Brackets and fin plates penetrating the curtain wall façade
Tritthardt+Richter
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 16

17. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
The precision of bending and the planing of the joints:
Steel ladder: bended circular hollow sections with bracing strutsSteel ladder: bended circular hollow sections with bracing struts
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 17

18. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Division lines for
The cleats
End of tubes: change of
curvature or torsion
Generating surface
and curvature line
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 18
and curvature line

19. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 19

20. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Zeman çelik, Turkey
Provisional scaffolding for the steel ladder at the Turkish manufacturer
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 20

21. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 21

22. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Joint between two ladder sections without cover plates
If_group p
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 22

23. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
If_group
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 23

24. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Drop down part of the ribbons
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 24

25. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
How to tension the continuous waving ribbons
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 25

26. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
If_group
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 26

27. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Stiffness: EKxA=ESxA=14kN/0,017=823kN/m
d % dK ~ 2% Stress strain diagram
dK ~ ‐0.5%
1.7%
dK 2%
1 7%
Stress‐strain diagram
Ferrari PVC/PES 1002
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 27
1.7% 1.7%

28. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 28

29. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Pounding analysis
Emergency
DrainageDrainage
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 29

30. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
E d i
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 30
Emergency drainage

31. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
S l di ti t l
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 31
Solar radiation control

32. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Lighting concept by the architects of Broadway Malyan
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 32

33. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 33

34. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Shade and translucency: Textile shading systems need precise degrees of translucency Little translucency isShade and translucency: Textile shading systems need precise degrees of translucency. Little translucency is
required in exterior shading and higher rates are necessary for textile diffusers of natural and artificial light:
Lighting concept by Francis Krahe & Associates
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013
Lighting concept by Francis Krahe & Associates
34

35. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Francis Krahe
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 35

36. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Longitudinal LED lighting system mounted on the verticalLongitudinal LED lighting system mounted on the vertical
mullions of the inclined facade.
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 36

37. IF - Ingenieure für Flächentragwerke GmbH
Am Dachsberg 3
78479 Reichenau-Waldsiedlung
Tel: 0049 (0) 7531 927080
Thank you for your attention
Ribbon Façade National Gymnastics Arena, Baku 2013 37