The construction of Dos Hermanas cycle track, Sevilla (Spain)

Abstract

Designing and building Dos Hermanas cycle track Roof was considered a fi rst magnitude achievement for several reasons: fi rst for their many great dimensions in plan, second for avoiding any contact with the existent old building, and third because the interest in make a simple piece not surprising for its spectacularity. In fact it is a building that surprise for the wide inner space more than for the external form. Another important goal was that the entire roof must be supported by only four legs, as a table. Never mind if the dimension of these legs were great because we could convert them in sculptural pieces. And the lat question was that for us it was very important not to exhibit triangulated girders but only a surface hanging from height to the top of columns, bringing forces in a natural way.
When the roof was finished was planed to introduce a lateral wall. This fact not was considered during the previous design. The solution proposed was a fabric hanging from the roof border and selfprestressed without touch the old building. This paper show constructive processes and material details that at the end made possible our ambitions.