For well over a century Manly Corso, near Sydney
Habour’s North Head, has been the undisputed hub of
Manly village life. Stretching from Manly Wharf to Main
Beach, the Corso remains the centre of commercial,
social and cultural activity.
In 2006 Manly Council commissioned a complete
upgrade of the Corso to improve infrastructure, practical
aspects such as cleaning and events management, and to
reinvigorate the commercial and recreational use of this
premier mall and public space. With a concept in mind,
the council approached Ronstan Architectural to assist
with the development and execution. The result –
a complex suspended catenary lighting system that opens
the space and creates a distinct and inviting atmosphere.
Manly Corso, an inviting space with a prime position on Sydney Harbour.
Ronstan Tensile Architecture designed a unique
canopy support system that now serves as the central
gathering area on campus at Del Mar College in Corpus
Christi, Texas. Ronstan’s rod systems, chosen for both
aesthetic and structural benefits, provide the necessary
support for the large canopy while offering long-term
corrosion resistance through the use of high yielding
2205 grade stainless steel.
Students gather beneath this unique canopy at Del Mar College, Texas.
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The Marmoset Monkey Enclosure at Halle Zoo in
Germany perfectly illustrates why Carl Stahl X-TEND
stainless steel cable mesh is so appealing for use in
zoological enclosures.
At Halle Zoo three lightweight pylons wrapped in
X-TEND mesh are all that’s needed to provide a habitat
for the marmoset monkeys. Consistent with other more
conventional forms of lightweight fabric architecture, the
mesh supports the steelwork and holds it in position.
In such a small enclosure the monkeys have space to
swing without fear of injury from contact with structural
clutter, and visitors appreciate the openness and the
ability to get close to the action.
Ronstan may be best known for its large-scale design
projects, but it also plays a role in residential work.
The balustrade solution at this renovated North
Fitzroy terrace house in Melbourne involved a number
of challenges. These included the requirement for an
aesthetically pleasing vertical balustrade that also
facilitated the structural suspension of the staircase
treads. The solution also had to be fall compliant. With
the terrace house being typically confined, space was
at a premium. The solution also allowed a high level
of transparency, minimising visual interruption and
extending vision lines within the limited space. n
What’s holding it up? Ronstan’s ingenious tair in a renovated Melbourne terrace.
Visitors and monkeys share the openness of the Halle Zoo Marmoset enclosure.
