China

Serge Ferrari Group has contributed its expertise to the development of a new tourist train station on the banks of Lake Chaka with PTFE and Soltis 86 Color membranes.

A beloved tourist spot 

Located in Qinghai Province, central China, Chaka Lake is a crystal-clear, natural salt lake famous for its great beauty. Lying about 300 km from the provincial capital, Xining, the lake — commonly dubbed the ‘Mirror of the Sky’ — covers an area of roughly 105 sq km. It is a major tourist attraction along the ancient Silk Road, offering spectacular views and a host of activities for the site’s many visitors.

The concept behind the Chaka Train Station 

Designed to accommodate the flow of tourists flocking to the lake every day, Chaka Station is a brand-new development built just a few meters from the water’s edge. What makes this project unique is the speed of design and construction, as the now iconic project was completed in less than a year. Its architect, Song Yehao, was already familiar with Serge Ferrari Group’s membranes, as he had worked with TX30 and Frontside 381 membranes on previous project. As a firm believer in the technical and aesthetic qualities of architectural membranes, he naturally chose this solution instead of the aluminium panels planned in the original design.

The design of the project was inspired by the iconic red ribbon image of the Chaka Salt Lake tourists, and after several rounds of revisions, the realization of curved surfaces and flexible fabrics was determined. The continuous dialogue between the design team and Serge Ferrari, and the trust that eventually developed between them, have allowed the Group to better meet the needs of the architect in bringing this project to life.

A roof incorporating Serge Ferrari’s PTFE fabrics

The new Chaka train station is remarkable for its irregular roof structure with dominant curves, which is topped with two special red colour PTFE fabrics by Serge Ferrari Group — GFM-21-LT and GFM-21 — covering respectively 3,077 sqm and 3,171 sqm. These translucent membranes bring controlled natural light into the core of the station, while delivering high mechanical resistance and an ultra-long lifespan. The PTFE tensile covering in red is complemented by the addition of 4,125 sqm of brightly-coloured Soltis 86 Colour squares, intended to flap in the wind like the leaves on a tree, and tied around a series of large funnel-shaped support columns, where colour and shape come together to create a uniquely creative architecture.

Serge Ferrari Group’s membranes are not only functional, but also visually attractive, and have played an integral part in making Chaka tourist train station an iconic project and an architectural attraction in and of itself.

Project Participants

Architect: Pr. SONG Yehao, SUP Studio of THAD
Manufacturer/installer: Sanxin
Photographer: SUP Studio