A translucent skylight created with MakMax TensoSky ETFE system connects shoppers, commuters and residents of Rhodes Central, a mixed use development by Billbergia Constructions in Sydney, NSW.

The Brief

A stunning new high rise addition to Western Sydney’s skyline, Rhodes Central is located on the shores of the Parramatta River, opposite the Sydney Olympic Park. The residential towers sit atop a new lifestyle dining and shopping precinct, with everything connected to the Rhodes Central train station. Situated at the base of the two towers, the shopping centre and food court design called for a highly translucent architectural skylight to crown the retail zone while flooding the interiors with natural light.

The Concept

The 1300sqm open air skylight is created with the MakMax TensoSky ETFE System, and features 29 dual-layer ETFE cushions. The cushions are installed on a raised steel frame, allowing fresh air to enter the atrium below, but still providing protection from direct sunlight and rain. The unique shape of the frame required a range of ETFE cushions of different geometric shapes in varying lengths.

The Materials

Completed in July 2021, the Rhodes Central ETFE skylight is created with 29 dual-layer ETFE pillows – 250 micron layer top and bottom.

Printed with a high density H90X13 frit pattern, the ETFE achieves a high UV protection rating. The skylight appears silver when viewed from the towers above, but is highly translucent from the shopping and food court area below, providing the perfect combination of natural lighting and solar heat gain protection.

The pillows maintain internal air pressure via an Elnic air-blower unit, featuring two independent running fans for redundancy, adsorption dryers (dehumidifier), an air intake filtration system and a programmable control panel with continuous feedback to the shopping centre’s BMS.

The TensoSky ETFE system was used for the Rhodes Central skylight to avoid the need to change broken glass panels in the future, by using an easily repairable tensile membrane. One of the key benefits of using this system is a significant reduction in loading, with the dual-layer ETFE weighing in at less than 1kg per square metre, compared to a double-glazed glass roof, which can weigh up to 40kg per square metre. This also allowed the client and their architect to have a steel frame structure, significantly lighter and more elegant than would have been required for a glazed solution.

The Result

The project manager at Billbergia Constructions was over the moon with the final Rhodes Central ETFE skylight installation.

“The Rhodes Central Retail Stage 1 project by Billbergia has adopted one of the latest innovations to the Australian construction industry with the use of lightweight ETFE tensile structures. Well done, MakMax Australia team on the successful delivery! It was an absolute pleasure working with your team!”

Rhodes Central ETFE Skylight

Location: Sydney, NSW

Completion Date: July 2021

Size: 1300sqm

Fabric: ETFE - Dual-Layer AGC Fluon with H90X13 printed frit

Client: Billbergia Constructions

Photography: © Billbergia Constructions