Experimenta – Heilbronn

In the atrium of Science Centre Experimenta in Heilbronn (Germany), a unique spiral glass structure spans four stories and hovers in the atrium. Cleaning and inspecting this narrow-spaced structure require rope access, a technique where Octatube Services brings its expertise into play.

Floating

Upon entering Experimenta’s foyer, you immediately have view of the 25-metre-high structure designed by Sauerbruch Hutton. The constraint space surrounding it posed significant challenges during build.  Maneuvering and installing huge glass panels, each 6 by 3 meters and weighing more than 1,000 kilograms, into a tight and limited area was a complex task.

Rope-acces technique

Within the same limited area, Octatube Services conducts yearly cleaning of glass and inspection of sealant joints on the buoyant structure. We created the maintenance setup used for these tasks together with a German supplier. It is placed above the construction, enabling exterior cleaning. However, the parts beneath the structure’s access bridges are inaccessible by this method. For those difficult-to-reach façade sections, Octatube Services employs rope-access techniques.

Want to know more about the realisation of Experimenta’s atrium construction? Read more on Octatube’s website.