Dreamworld Steel Taipan

The Steel Taipan ride at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast is the theme parks newest attraction, due to open in late 2021! The AUD$32million roller coaster features a 1.2km track roller coaster and the Southern Hemisphere’s first triple launch system that launches the train forward, backwards, and then forwards again at a top speed of 105km/hr!

Fabritecture was contracted for the design & construction of a bespoke walkway canopy structure to shelter patrons as they wait in line for the Steel Taipan ride. The structure features custom printed Serge Ferrari PVC designed to match the architectural intent of the Gold rush County section of the theme park. 20115 

 

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The central spine of the structure was originally planned to be made from GRC, but the client wanted cheaper options, so they asked for value engineering. Fabritecture came up with a budget-friendly solution using custom-shaped aluminium panels. These panels were laser-printed with a pattern that mimics the vertebrae of the Taipan, perfectly meeting the client's design goals. The custom print on the aluminium panels blends seamlessly with the snake scale pattern on the fabric cladding above.

Fabritecture designed the canopy structure's frame to mirror the spine and vertebrae of the Taipan using intricate custom tapered portal beams. Below these frames, folded aluminium plates were added to replicate the Taipan's spinal vertebrae. The fabric cladding, which features scalloped edges between the ribs, wraps over this structure.

To achieve the desired look, Fabritecture sourced opaque white PVC-coated polyester from Serge Ferrari. They sent this fabric to a specialised printer in Europe where the scale design was custom-printed onto the uncoated side of the fabric. Afterwards, the fabric was sealed with an acrylic coating, guaranteeing the print's integrity for ten years.

During the fabrication process of the printed fabric, great care was taken to ensure the patterns aligned perfectly over the fabric seams. On close inspection, the printed design lines up seamlessly at the seams, with the seams themselves barely visible in most cases.

Location
Gold Coast,
Australia
Completion Date
2021
Size
500sqm (5,382sqft)
Materials
PVC
Sector
Events & Hospitality
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Awards
  • 2022 STA Special Commendation (Category 14): Dreamworld Steel Taipan
  • 2022 IFAI International Award of Excellence, Best in Category (Freestanding Structures, >92 square meters): Dreamworld Steel Taipan
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