Aerium Hangar - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 08:28, 18 July 2022

2022-07-18T08:28:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:28, 18 July 2022
Line 37:		Line 37:
	Although the hangar was originally designed to create the greatest possible free floor area and volume, today the floor area and volume have been repurposed for other uses. Tropical islands is an indoor swimming pool themed area, with significant planting as well as overnight accommodation.		Although the hangar was originally designed to create the greatest possible free floor area and volume, today the floor area and volume have been repurposed for other uses. Tropical islands is an indoor swimming pool themed area, with significant planting as well as overnight accommodation.

−	The main physical changes to the hangar since being opened as Tropical Islands are that the doors are kept shut, the base of the hangar was excavated to build various swimming pools ~~and~~ as well as foundations for internal structures~~, significant building~~ building services have been installed to support the internal temperature and water conditions. The fabric textile material on the south side of the central arch has been replaced 20,000m2 of UV protecting ETFE cushions. The cushions provide the daylight that was missing from the industrial space, not only for the comfort of guests but also for the range of tropical plants that are, after 15 years, relatively mature~~, the~~ cushions have two layers ~~pumped~~ with air ~~between~~ to improve thermal performance.	+	The main physical changes to the hangar since being opened as Tropical Islands are that the doors are kept shut, the base of the hangar was excavated to build various swimming pools as well as foundations for internal structures. Significant building services have been installed to support the internal temperature and water conditions. The fabric textile material on the south side of the central arch has been replaced with 20,000m2 of UV protecting ETFE cushions. The cushions provide the daylight that was missing from the industrial space, not only for the comfort of guests but also for the range of tropical plants that are, after 15 years, relatively mature. The cushions have two layers inflated with air to improve thermal performance.

−	The interior space is divided up into different ~~Tropical~~ areas and now contains a number of different buildings based on traditional ~~buildings~~ from Thailand, Borneo, Bali and Samoa built by traditional craftsmen from these regions brought to Berlin. The internal space somewhat resembles a biodome or biosphere ~~where combined with entertainment tourism~~ with over 50,000 plants, bushes and ground cover, made up of over 600 different species of plants found in tropical regions, these include palms, ferns, mangroves, bananas, papayas, star fruit and jackfruit.	+	The interior space is divided up into different tropical areas and now contains a number of different buildings based on traditional designs from Thailand, Borneo, Bali and Samoa built by traditional craftsmen from these regions brought to Berlin. The internal space somewhat resembles a biodome or biosphere with over 50,000 plants, bushes and ground cover, made up of over 600 different species of plants found in tropical regions, these include palms, ferns, mangroves, bananas, papayas, star fruit and jackfruit.

−	The landscaped tropical area of the park also includes a swamp ~~area~~ with various fish species including broodingcichlids, red tail and shark catfish, black pacus, asian aro-wanas and archer fish. This are also contains red and yellow-eared turtles and flamingoes, whilst the park also houses parakeets, chineseblue-breasted quail, golden and silver pheasants, canaries, zebra finches and a macaw.	+	The landscaped tropical area of the park also includes a swamp with various fish species including broodingcichlids, red tail and shark catfish, black pacus, asian aro-wanas and archer fish. This are also contains red and yellow-eared turtles and flamingoes, whilst the park also houses parakeets, chineseblue-breasted quail, golden and silver pheasants, canaries, zebra finches and a macaw.

−	The Tropical Islands are divided into ~~different~~ areas with different functions:	+	The Tropical Islands are divided into areas with different functions:

	* The Tropical Village with the traditional buildings as overnight accommodation.		* The Tropical Village with the traditional buildings as overnight accommodation.
Line 53:		Line 53:
	= External Links =		= External Links =

−	[https://www.atlasofplaces.com/architecture/cargolifter/ https://www.atlasofplaces.com/architecture/cargolifter/]	+	* [https://www.atlasofplaces.com/architecture/cargolifter/ https://www.atlasofplaces.com/architecture/cargolifter/]
−		+	* [https://www.tropical-islands.de https://www.tropical-islands.de]
−	[https://www.tropical-islands.de https://www.tropical-islands.de]	+

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

Designing Buildings at 08:24, 18 July 2022

2022-07-18T08:24:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:24, 18 July 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[File:Aerium_Tropical_Islands_mix.jpg\|link=File:Aerium_Tropical_Islands_mix.jpg]]		[[File:Aerium_Tropical_Islands_mix.jpg\|link=File:Aerium_Tropical_Islands_mix.jpg]]

−	= ~~Also known as~~ =	+	= Introduction =

	The Aerium hangar is also known as the CargoLifter AG hangar and more recently as Tropical Islands, the theme park it now houses.		The Aerium hangar is also known as the CargoLifter AG hangar and more recently as Tropical Islands, the theme park it now houses.
Line 9:		Line 9:
	The Hangar is located to the South of Berlin on what was originally the Brand-Briesen Airfield built for the Luftwaffe. After WWII the Red Army occupied and then expanded the sites facilities. After reunification of Germany the site was returned to the federal Government and later bought by the company Cargolifter AG.		The Hangar is located to the South of Berlin on what was originally the Brand-Briesen Airfield built for the Luftwaffe. After WWII the Red Army occupied and then expanded the sites facilities. After reunification of Germany the site was returned to the federal Government and later bought by the company Cargolifter AG.

−	This German company was founded by a group of engineers and scientists in 1996, driven by an awareness of the global market and ecological need for new forms of transportation. Their ~~the~~ goal was to promote and develop airships for the transportation of heavy and outsized goods, ~~their~~ first being CargoLifter CL-160, a carbon fibre helium filled 260 metre long airship able to carry 160t up to 10’000 km at a speed of 80-120 km/h.	+	This German company was founded by a group of engineers and scientists in 1996, driven by an awareness of the global market and ecological need for new forms of transportation. Their goal was to promote and develop airships for the transportation of heavy and outsized goods, the first being CargoLifter CL-160, a carbon fibre helium filled 260 metre long airship able to carry 160t up to 10’000 km at a speed of 80-120 km/h.

−	In 1997 the firm SIAT GmbH was commissioned to build the Aerium which was to be the birth place and home of these new breed of airships, 60 years after the infamous Hindenburg disaster, all but stopped the, at the time, booming airship industry. After costs of some €78 million the Hangar was ready and open for use by the end of 2000, yet by mid 2002 the company Cargolifter AG laid off 200 of its 450 workers and soon filled for bankruptcy after the government refused ~~the~~ request for credit or loan guarantees worth 40 million euros. The German Finance Ministry stated at the time that CargoLifter failed "to correct the mistakes made by the earlier leadership and to win over potential users of the technology for further engagement with CargoLifter".	+	In 1997 the firm SIAT GmbH was commissioned to build the Aerium which was to be the birth place and home to these new breed of airships, 60 years after the infamous Hindenburg disaster had all but stopped the, at the time, booming airship industry. After costs of some €78 million the Hangar was ready and open for use by the end of 2000, yet by mid 2002 the company Cargolifter AG laid off 200 of its 450 workers and soon filled for bankruptcy after the government refused a request for credit or loan guarantees worth 40 million euros. The German Finance Ministry stated at the time that CargoLifter failed "to correct the mistakes made by the earlier leadership and to win over potential users of the technology for further engagement with CargoLifter".

−	After one year the site and buildings were purchased by a Malaysian corporation called Tanjong for €17.5 million, which included a €10 million subsidy from the state of Brandenburg. Planning permissions and buildings permits were approved in early ~~2004 and Tropical Islands theme park constructing the theme park inside the hall was granted on 2 February~~ 2004 and Tropical Islands theme park officially at the end of the same year. In 2005, the southern cladding of the central arch was replaced with transparent insulated UV ETFE cushions, but it is said that it was not until 2008 that the park turned a profit. Through continuous development with new pools, facilities and improved transport today the park attracts around 400,000 overnight guests and 700,000 day visitors ~~each~~ year.	+	After one year the site and buildings were purchased by a Malaysian corporation called Tanjong for €17.5 million, which included a €10 million subsidy from the state of Brandenburg. Planning permissions and buildings permits were approved in early 2004 and Tropical Islands theme park officially opened at the end of the same year. In 2005, the southern cladding of the central arch was replaced with transparent insulated UV ETFE cushions, but it is said that it was not until 2008 that the park turned a profit. Through continuous development with new pools, facilities and improved transport today the park attracts around 400,000 overnight guests and 700,000 day visitors a year.

	{\|		{\|
Line 21:		Line 21:
	\|}		\|}

−	= Hangar ~~Design~~ =	+	= Hangar design =

−	Design specifications of the original hangar were an impressive 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high, with a volume 5.5 million m³ and remains one of the largest buildings in the world by volume, and the largest as a single hall without supporting pillars. It also represented a new type of hybrid hangar with steel clad fan doors at either end and a central dome area clad in stretched fabric (now replaced on one side with transparent ETFE cushion cladding) .	+	Design specifications for the original hangar were an impressive 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high, with a volume 5.5 million m³ and remains one of the largest buildings in the world by volume, and the largest as a single hall without supporting pillars. It also represented a new type of hybrid hangar with steel clad fan doors at either end and a central dome area clad in stretched fabric (now replaced on one side with transparent ETFE cushion cladding) .

	The structural concept distinguished the building into two parts: A cylindrical central shape with five steel arches at 35 m centres with bays between covered with a textile fabric. On each side the elevationally quarter-segment circular doors in a semi-circlular plan had two fixed and six moving parts to allow clearance for two airships. The central truss-arches are brace-connected to each other by diagonals and posts with the two bottom-chords connected by straight members to form a Vierendeel-system with structural height of 8 m and a span of over 225 m.		The structural concept distinguished the building into two parts: A cylindrical central shape with five steel arches at 35 m centres with bays between covered with a textile fabric. On each side the elevationally quarter-segment circular doors in a semi-circlular plan had two fixed and six moving parts to allow clearance for two airships. The central truss-arches are brace-connected to each other by diagonals and posts with the two bottom-chords connected by straight members to form a Vierendeel-system with structural height of 8 m and a span of over 225 m.

Editor at 11:14, 13 July 2022

2022-07-13T11:14:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:14, 13 July 2022
Line 62:		Line 62:
	* Barrel vault.		* Barrel vault.
	* Biosphere.		* Biosphere.
−	* Biopark.
	* Biodome.		* Biodome.
	* Braced frame.		* Braced frame.

Editor at 11:13, 13 July 2022

2022-07-13T11:13:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:13, 13 July 2022
Line 16:		Line 16:

	{\|		{\|
−	\| [[File:~~Aerium historical mix~~.jpg]]	+	\| [[File:Aerium_historical_mix.jpg\|link=File:Aerium_historical_mix.jpg]]
	\|-		\|-
	\| Photographs from the 15 year anniversary exhibition boards at Tropical Islands taken by the author during a visit.		\| Photographs from the 15 year anniversary exhibition boards at Tropical Islands taken by the author during a visit.
Line 28:		Line 28:

	{\|		{\|
−	\| [[File:~~Tropical Islands making mix~~.jpg]]	+	\| [[File:Tropical_Islands_making_mix.jpg\|link=File:Tropical_Islands_making_mix.jpg]]
	\|-		\|-
	\| Photographs from the 15 year anniversary exhibition boards at Tropical Islands taken by the author during a visit.		\| Photographs from the 15 year anniversary exhibition boards at Tropical Islands taken by the author during a visit.
Line 42:		Line 42:

	The landscaped tropical area of the park also includes a swamp area with various fish species including broodingcichlids, red tail and shark catfish, black pacus, asian aro-wanas and archer fish. This are also contains red and yellow-eared turtles and flamingoes, whilst the park also houses parakeets, chineseblue-breasted quail, golden and silver pheasants, canaries, zebra finches and a macaw.		The landscaped tropical area of the park also includes a swamp area with various fish species including broodingcichlids, red tail and shark catfish, black pacus, asian aro-wanas and archer fish. This are also contains red and yellow-eared turtles and flamingoes, whilst the park also houses parakeets, chineseblue-breasted quail, golden and silver pheasants, canaries, zebra finches and a macaw.
		+
		+	The Tropical Islands are divided into different areas with different functions:
		+
		+	* The Tropical Village with the traditional buildings as overnight accommodation.
		+	* The Rainforest with the swamps and various species described above.
		+	* The Tropical Sea, (140 metre pool and 200 metre sandy beach),
		+	* The Bali Lagoon, 1,200 m2 with fountains, a current canal, whirlpools and water slides.
		+	* The Amazonia, an outdoor area with two pools and sports areas.

	= External Links =		= External Links =

Editor at 11:03, 13 July 2022

2022-07-13T11:03:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:03, 13 July 2022
Line 14:		Line 14:

	After one year the site and buildings were purchased by a Malaysian corporation called Tanjong for €17.5 million, which included a €10 million subsidy from the state of Brandenburg. Planning permissions and buildings permits were approved in early 2004 and Tropical Islands theme park constructing the theme park inside the hall was granted on 2 February 2004 and Tropical Islands theme park officially at the end of the same year. In 2005, the southern cladding of the central arch was replaced with transparent insulated UV ETFE cushions, but it is said that it was not until 2008 that the park turned a profit. Through continuous development with new pools, facilities and improved transport today the park attracts around 400,000 overnight guests and 700,000 day visitors each year.		After one year the site and buildings were purchased by a Malaysian corporation called Tanjong for €17.5 million, which included a €10 million subsidy from the state of Brandenburg. Planning permissions and buildings permits were approved in early 2004 and Tropical Islands theme park constructing the theme park inside the hall was granted on 2 February 2004 and Tropical Islands theme park officially at the end of the same year. In 2005, the southern cladding of the central arch was replaced with transparent insulated UV ETFE cushions, but it is said that it was not until 2008 that the park turned a profit. Through continuous development with new pools, facilities and improved transport today the park attracts around 400,000 overnight guests and 700,000 day visitors each year.
		+
		+	{\|
		+	\| [[File:Aerium historical mix.jpg]]
		+	\|-
		+	\| Photographs from the 15 year anniversary exhibition boards at Tropical Islands taken by the author during a visit.
		+	\|}

	= Hangar Design =		= Hangar Design =
Line 20:		Line 26:

	The structural concept distinguished the building into two parts: A cylindrical central shape with five steel arches at 35 m centres with bays between covered with a textile fabric. On each side the elevationally quarter-segment circular doors in a semi-circlular plan had two fixed and six moving parts to allow clearance for two airships. The central truss-arches are brace-connected to each other by diagonals and posts with the two bottom-chords connected by straight members to form a Vierendeel-system with structural height of 8 m and a span of over 225 m.		The structural concept distinguished the building into two parts: A cylindrical central shape with five steel arches at 35 m centres with bays between covered with a textile fabric. On each side the elevationally quarter-segment circular doors in a semi-circlular plan had two fixed and six moving parts to allow clearance for two airships. The central truss-arches are brace-connected to each other by diagonals and posts with the two bottom-chords connected by straight members to form a Vierendeel-system with structural height of 8 m and a span of over 225 m.
		+
		+	{\|
		+	\| [[File:Tropical Islands making mix.jpg]]
		+	\|-
		+	\| Photographs from the 15 year anniversary exhibition boards at Tropical Islands taken by the author during a visit.
		+	\|}

	= Interior space =		= Interior space =
Line 27:		Line 39:
	The main physical changes to the hangar since being opened as Tropical Islands are that the doors are kept shut, the base of the hangar was excavated to build various swimming pools and as well as foundations for internal structures, significant building building services have been installed to support the internal temperature and water conditions. The fabric textile material on the south side of the central arch has been replaced 20,000m2 of UV protecting ETFE cushions. The cushions provide the daylight that was missing from the industrial space, not only for the comfort of guests but also for the range of tropical plants that are, after 15 years, relatively mature, the cushions have two layers pumped with air between to improve thermal performance.		The main physical changes to the hangar since being opened as Tropical Islands are that the doors are kept shut, the base of the hangar was excavated to build various swimming pools and as well as foundations for internal structures, significant building building services have been installed to support the internal temperature and water conditions. The fabric textile material on the south side of the central arch has been replaced 20,000m2 of UV protecting ETFE cushions. The cushions provide the daylight that was missing from the industrial space, not only for the comfort of guests but also for the range of tropical plants that are, after 15 years, relatively mature, the cushions have two layers pumped with air between to improve thermal performance.

−	The interior space is divided up into different Tropical areas and now contains a number of different buildings based on traditional buildings from Thailand, Borneo, Bali and Samoa built by traditional craftsmen from these regions brought to Berlin. The internal space somewhat resembles a biodome or biosphere where combined with entertainment tourism with over 50,000 plants, bushes and ground cover, made up of over 600 different species of plants found in tropical regions, these include palms, ferns, mangroves, bananas, papayas, star fruit and jackfruit. The landscaped tropical ~~are~~ of the park also includes a swamp area with various fish species including broodingcichlids, red tail and shark catfish, black pacus, asian aro-wanas and archer fish. This are also contains red and yellow-eared turtles and flamingoes, whilst the park also houses parakeets, chineseblue-breasted quail, golden and silver pheasants, canaries, zebra finches and a macaw.	+	The interior space is divided up into different Tropical areas and now contains a number of different buildings based on traditional buildings from Thailand, Borneo, Bali and Samoa built by traditional craftsmen from these regions brought to Berlin. The internal space somewhat resembles a biodome or biosphere where combined with entertainment tourism with over 50,000 plants, bushes and ground cover, made up of over 600 different species of plants found in tropical regions, these include palms, ferns, mangroves, bananas, papayas, star fruit and jackfruit.
		+
		+	The landscaped tropical area of the park also includes a swamp area with various fish species including broodingcichlids, red tail and shark catfish, black pacus, asian aro-wanas and archer fish. This are also contains red and yellow-eared turtles and flamingoes, whilst the park also houses parakeets, chineseblue-breasted quail, golden and silver pheasants, canaries, zebra finches and a macaw.
		+
		+	= External Links =
		+
		+	[https://www.atlasofplaces.com/architecture/cargolifter/ https://www.atlasofplaces.com/architecture/cargolifter/]
		+
		+	[https://www.tropical-islands.de https://www.tropical-islands.de]

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

Editor at 10:37, 13 July 2022

2022-07-13T10:37:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:37, 13 July 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	[[File:~~Aerium Tropical Islands mix~~.jpg]]	+	[[File:Aerium_Tropical_Islands_mix.jpg\|link=File:Aerium_Tropical_Islands_mix.jpg]]

	= Also known as =		= Also known as =
Line 20:		Line 20:

	The structural concept distinguished the building into two parts: A cylindrical central shape with five steel arches at 35 m centres with bays between covered with a textile fabric. On each side the elevationally quarter-segment circular doors in a semi-circlular plan had two fixed and six moving parts to allow clearance for two airships. The central truss-arches are brace-connected to each other by diagonals and posts with the two bottom-chords connected by straight members to form a Vierendeel-system with structural height of 8 m and a span of over 225 m.		The structural concept distinguished the building into two parts: A cylindrical central shape with five steel arches at 35 m centres with bays between covered with a textile fabric. On each side the elevationally quarter-segment circular doors in a semi-circlular plan had two fixed and six moving parts to allow clearance for two airships. The central truss-arches are brace-connected to each other by diagonals and posts with the two bottom-chords connected by straight members to form a Vierendeel-system with structural height of 8 m and a span of over 225 m.
		+
		+	= Interior space =
		+
		+	Although the hangar was originally designed to create the greatest possible free floor area and volume, today the floor area and volume have been repurposed for other uses. Tropical islands is an indoor swimming pool themed area, with significant planting as well as overnight accommodation.
		+
		+	The main physical changes to the hangar since being opened as Tropical Islands are that the doors are kept shut, the base of the hangar was excavated to build various swimming pools and as well as foundations for internal structures, significant building building services have been installed to support the internal temperature and water conditions. The fabric textile material on the south side of the central arch has been replaced 20,000m2 of UV protecting ETFE cushions. The cushions provide the daylight that was missing from the industrial space, not only for the comfort of guests but also for the range of tropical plants that are, after 15 years, relatively mature, the cushions have two layers pumped with air between to improve thermal performance.
		+
		+	The interior space is divided up into different Tropical areas and now contains a number of different buildings based on traditional buildings from Thailand, Borneo, Bali and Samoa built by traditional craftsmen from these regions brought to Berlin. The internal space somewhat resembles a biodome or biosphere where combined with entertainment tourism with over 50,000 plants, bushes and ground cover, made up of over 600 different species of plants found in tropical regions, these include palms, ferns, mangroves, bananas, papayas, star fruit and jackfruit. The landscaped tropical are of the park also includes a swamp area with various fish species including broodingcichlids, red tail and shark catfish, black pacus, asian aro-wanas and archer fish. This are also contains red and yellow-eared turtles and flamingoes, whilst the park also houses parakeets, chineseblue-breasted quail, golden and silver pheasants, canaries, zebra finches and a macaw.

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =
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	* Arches.		* Arches.
	* Barrel vault.		* Barrel vault.
−	* ~~Biospere~~.	+	* Biosphere.
−	* ~~Bioparks~~.	+	* Biopark.
	* Biodome.		* Biodome.
	* Braced frame.		* Braced frame.

Editor at 17:14, 11 July 2022

2022-07-11T17:14:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:14, 11 July 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	[[File:Aerium Tropical Islands mix.jpg]]
		+
	= Also known as =		= Also known as =

Line 63:		Line 65:
	* Types of frame.		* Types of frame.
	* Types of roof.		* Types of roof.
−	*

	[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Project_Knowledge]] [[Category:DCN_Research,_Development_and_Innovation]] [[Category:International]] [[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Property_development]]		[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Project_Knowledge]] [[Category:DCN_Research,_Development_and_Innovation]] [[Category:International]] [[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Property_development]]

Editor at 15:48, 11 July 2022

2022-07-11T15:48:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:48, 11 July 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	= ~~otherwise~~ known as =	+	= Also known as =

	The Aerium hangar is also known as the CargoLifter AG hangar and more recently as Tropical Islands, the theme park it now houses.		The Aerium hangar is also known as the CargoLifter AG hangar and more recently as Tropical Islands, the theme park it now houses.

−	= ~~History~~ =	+	= Brief history =

	The Hangar is located to the South of Berlin on what was originally the Brand-Briesen Airfield built for the Luftwaffe. After WWII the Red Army occupied and then expanded the sites facilities. After reunification of Germany the site was returned to the federal Government and later bought by the company Cargolifter AG.		The Hangar is located to the South of Berlin on what was originally the Brand-Briesen Airfield built for the Luftwaffe. After WWII the Red Army occupied and then expanded the sites facilities. After reunification of Germany the site was returned to the federal Government and later bought by the company Cargolifter AG.

Editor: Created page with "= otherwise known as = The Aerium hangar is also known as the CargoLifter AG hangar and more recently as Tropical Islands, the theme park it now houses. = History = The Hangar..."

2022-07-11T15:47:58Z

Created page with "= otherwise known as = The Aerium hangar is also known as the CargoLifter AG hangar and more recently as Tropical Islands, the theme park it now houses. = History = The Hangar..."

New page

= otherwise known as =

The Aerium hangar is also known as the CargoLifter AG hangar and more recently as Tropical Islands, the theme park it now houses.

= History =

The Hangar is located to the South of Berlin on what was originally the Brand-Briesen Airfield built for the Luftwaffe. After WWII the Red Army occupied and then expanded the sites facilities. After reunification of Germany the site was returned to the federal Government and later bought by the company Cargolifter AG.

This German company was founded by a group of engineers and scientists in 1996, driven by an awareness of the global market and ecological need for new forms of transportation. Their the goal was to promote and develop airships for the transportation of heavy and outsized goods, their first being CargoLifter CL-160, a carbon fibre helium filled 260 metre long airship able to carry 160t up to 10’000 km at a speed of 80-120 km/h.

In 1997 the firm SIAT GmbH was commissioned to build the Aerium which was to be the birth place and home of these new breed of airships, 60 years after the infamous Hindenburg disaster, all but stopped the, at the time, booming airship industry. After costs of some €78 million the Hangar was ready and open for use by the end of 2000, yet by mid 2002 the company Cargolifter AG laid off 200 of its 450 workers and soon filled for bankruptcy after the government refused the request for credit or loan guarantees worth 40 million euros. The German Finance Ministry stated at the time that CargoLifter failed "to correct the mistakes made by the earlier leadership and to win over potential users of the technology for further engagement with CargoLifter".

After one year the site and buildings were purchased by a Malaysian corporation called Tanjong for €17.5 million, which included a €10 million subsidy from the state of Brandenburg. Planning permissions and buildings permits were approved in early 2004 and Tropical Islands theme park constructing the theme park inside the hall was granted on 2 February 2004 and Tropical Islands theme park officially at the end of the same year. In 2005, the southern cladding of the central arch was replaced with transparent insulated UV ETFE cushions, but it is said that it was not until 2008 that the park turned a profit. Through continuous development with new pools, facilities and improved transport today the park attracts around 400,000 overnight guests and 700,000 day visitors each year.

= Hangar Design =

Design specifications of the original hangar were an impressive 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high, with a volume 5.5 million m³ and remains one of the largest buildings in the world by volume, and the largest as a single hall without supporting pillars. It also represented a new type of hybrid hangar with steel clad fan doors at either end and a central dome area clad in stretched fabric (now replaced on one side with transparent ETFE cushion cladding) .

The structural concept distinguished the building into two parts: A cylindrical central shape with five steel arches at 35 m centres with bays between covered with a textile fabric. On each side the elevationally quarter-segment circular doors in a semi-circlular plan had two fixed and six moving parts to allow clearance for two airships. The central truss-arches are brace-connected to each other by diagonals and posts with the two bottom-chords connected by straight members to form a Vierendeel-system with structural height of 8 m and a span of over 225 m.

= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

* Arches.
* Barrel vault.
* Biospere.
* Bioparks.
* Biodome.
* Braced frame.
* Conoid shell.
* Concrete-steel composite structures.
* Cool roofs.
* Domestic roofs.
* Dormer window.
* Failure of cast iron beams.
* Flat roof.
* Flat roof defects.
* Geoparks.
* Geodesic dome.
* Green roofs.
* Guidance for construction quality management professionals: Structural Steelwork.
* Hangar.
* Hammerbeam roof.
* Hydrosphere.
* Hyperbolic paraboloid.
* Long span roof
* Lunar architecture.
* Lithosphere.
* Major cast metal components.
* Megastructure.
* Metal roofing.
* Pitched roof.
* Portal frame.
* Prestressed concrete.
* Shell roof.
* Structural steelwork.
* Rafter.
* Roofing defects.
* Tensile structures.
* Tension cable and rod connectors.
* The development of structural membranes.
* The history of fabric structures.
* Truss.
* Types of frame.
* Types of roof.
*

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