IGS Europe Special Issue | Winter 2020 by IGS Magazine

Intelligent Glass Solutions

L O N D O N A M S T E R D A M F R A N K F U R T B A R C E L O N A O S L O D U S S E L D O R F L E U S D E N Z U R I C H WA R S AW

THE SCALPEL A protagonist in London’s urban drama ONE ON ONE WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER “Never let a crisis go to waste”

Winter 2020

Winter 2020 www.igsmag.com

WORLDS COLLIDE BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, GLASS & ARCHITECTURE

An IPL magazine

European Special Edition “THE GLASS WORD” WITH BEN VAN BERKEL An exclusive interview with an architectural visionary

Pushing the limits of glass facades The possibilities are endless – that is what innovation is all about! dow.com/construction High Performance Building Solutions

INTELLIGENT GLASS SOLUTIONS

European Special Issue Winter 2020 A heartfelt thank you to ALL our wonderful contributors in this special edition Hardt Hyperloop, Europe Â©Plompmozes

intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

Ben Van Berkel

Founder / Principal Architect at UNStudio There has recently been a call for a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;New European Bauhausâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; movement, which is intended to be a bridge between the world of science and technology and the world of art and culture. It is about a new European Green Deal aesthetic combining good design with sustainability. Page 122

Inside th 2

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Astrid Piber

Partner / Senior Architect at UNStudio Glass is undoubtedly one of the most versatile building materials in use today. For architects, it is a longlasting material that provides opportunities for the development of innovative, energy efficient building envelopes for both new build and renovation projects. Page 8

Andrew Kitching

Managing Director at Guthrie Douglas The reward for a staying awake through talk of standards, robust specifications and early engagement is something rather more exciting: invisibility. Some of the most beautiful and inspiring uses of natural daylight in recent architecture are made possible by external blinds, engineered and integrated so that you would not notice them. Page 26

Andreas Hafner

Managing Director at seele GmbH and seele (UK) Ltd The impressive, 35-metre long pedestrian bridge looks like a glass diamond. The unusual shape of the bridge is created by the polygonal arrangement of trapezoidal and triangular insulating glass units and was realised by façades specialist seele. Page 50

Jürgen Wax

CEO at Josef Gartner GmbH The closed cavity façades of The Circle at Zurich Airport are both curved and inclined, harmoniously following the ring shape of the motorway and cantilevering up to 15 metres off the vertical dropline. The drives for the sun protection louvres, which were integrated in the closed double-skin façade units, are another unique feature of this architecturally striking complex. Page 57

Jean-Paul Hautekeer

Global Strategic Market Director for Dow High Performance Building Solutions As a Strategist, I like to refer to Churchill in many ways. As said in one of his famous remarks – ‘you should never let a crisis go to waste’. The bigger the crisis, the bigger the opportunity is for companies and businesses to implement changes (improvements!) that in normal times would have never been possible. The leading companies will be those who turn the pandemic into positive changes and grow. Page 86

his Issue intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

CONTENTS IGS WINTER EDITION 2020 EUROPE EX ECU T I V E BOA R DROOM C O M M E N TA RY F R O M E U R O P E 8 RETROFITTING WITH THE MAGICAL PROPERTIES OF GLASS Astrid Piber - Partner, UNStudio Astrid explores four remodeling projects carried out by UNStudio to illustrate the different roles that glass and the integration of technology have played in adaptively retrofitting existing buildings to prepare them for the future. 19 RENOVATION WAVE: A NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS MOVEMENT Andreas Bittis - International Marketing Manager, Saint-Gobain Glass, BU Facade Merging the divide between science and architecture lays the foundations for a new movement where innovation has become necessity in our fight against climate change. 26 A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN Andrew Kitching – Managing Director, Guthrie Douglas What if glass facades could change their transparency and thermal properties instantly in response to the world around them? The latest dynamic façade blinds and AI powered control systems mean that they can do exactly that. 36 ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES: INNOVATION BREEDS SUCCESS Markus Plettau – Global Façade Segment Leader, – Dow High Performance Building With seven decades of transforming city skylines with successful silicone durability in a range of façade applications, Markus shares exclusive insights into some of Dow’s latest material technologies for potential applications of the future. 42 LAMINATED GLASS FOR FREESTANDING BALUSTRADES WITH RESPECT TO NATIONAL STANDARDS IN EUROPE Hugues Lefèvre (Product Manager Laminated Glass) and Anna Šikyňová (Glass Application Engineer & Technical Advisory Service manager), AGC Glass Europe This paper presents an evaluation of the use of annealed laminated glass, incorporating stiffer PVB interlayers as a solution for replacing thermally toughened or heatstrengthened laminated glass in uniformly supported systems using continuous aluminium profiles.

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T R A N S PA R E N T ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES IN EUROPE 50 DIAMONDS ARE AN ARCHITECT’S BEST FRIEND Andreas Hafner - Managing Director at seele GmbH and seele (UK) Ltd Connecting the Renzo Piano designed FLOAT to the Capricorn building across the street is a spectacular steel-and-glass pedestrian bridge. Andreas reveals the engineering behind its dramatic diamond shape, defined by a polygonal arrangement of trapezoidal and triangular insulating glass units. 57 SQUARING THE CIRCLE: REDEFINING THE LIMITS OF FAÇADE TECHNOLOGY Jürgen Wax – CEO, Josef Gartner GmbH, Gundelfingen (Germany) An architecturally striking building of superlatives, the closed cavity façades of ‘The Circle’ at Zurich Airport are both curved and inclined, harmoniously following the ring shape of the motorway and cantilevering up to 15 metres off the vertical dropline. 66 ‘THE SCALPEL’: YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD SKYSCRAPER Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) Architects Kohn Pedersen Fox reveal clandestine information on 52 Lime Street, affectionately known as the Scalpel. From the design and form to unique glazing we unearth the details behind one of the latest participants in the urban drama that is London’s skyline - Featuring insightful commentary from founding partner William Pedersen. 78 A PERFECT FIT FOR A HIGH-TECH GLASS DOME Arjan Klem (Senior Engineer) and Joey Janssen (Structural Engineer), Octatube Walking into the giant glass dome of the AFAS Experience Center, it is hard not to be impressed. With a diameter of 42m and a height of over 24m the majestic structure features over 1000 glass panels.

CONTENTS IGS WINTER EDITION 2020 EUROPE IGS INTERVIEWS 86 ONE ON ONE WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER Jean-Paul Hautekeer - Strategic Marketing Director, Dow High Performance Building Solutions In this exclusive interview, JP gives readers unfiltered access into one of the most distinguished companies in the industry. Touching on the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, key trends and emerging technologies, JP delineates a blueprint for the past, present and future of high-performance architecture.

GLOBAL CASE STUDIES AND T RENDS GA INING T RACT ION 94 BREATHTAKING: INNOVATIVE BREATHING GLASS FAÇADES FOR UBER Jürgen Wax – CEO, Josef Gartner GmbH and Mike Kneeland Regional CEO, Permasteelisa North America A new office concept with highly transparent atria reflects the corporate culture of UBER in San Francisco. Breaking new ground in kinetic, ventilated, sustainable and transparent façade design, Jürgen and Mike discuss the bespoke and advanced technical solutions that were necessitated by this unique and demanding project. 102 GLASS IN MODERN ARCHITECTURE: AN ESSENTIAL BUILDING MATERIAL FOR MEGACITIES OF THE FUTURE glasstec Against the backdrop of climate protection and energy-saving construction in modern architecture, glass offers aesthetics and multiple technical functionalities. In this article, glasstec look at the ethereal qualities of glass and recent technological developments that will ensure its longevity as a material of choice for architects across the globe.

Intelligent Glass Solutions

L O N D O N A M S T E R D A M F R A N K F U R T B A R C E L O N A O S L O D U S S E L D O R F L E U S D E N Z U R I C H WA R S AW

THE SCALPEL A protagonist in London’s urban drama ONE ON ONE WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER “Never let a crisis go to waste”

Winter 2020

Winter 2020 www.igsmag.com

WORLDS COLLIDE

Image: The Scalpel, London Photographer: Antoine Buchet Intelligent Glass Solutions is Published by Intelligent Publications Limited (IPL) ISSN: 1742-2396 Publisher: Nick Beaumont Accounts: Jamie Quy Editor: Sean Peters Production Manager: Kath James

108 NEXT STEP IN STRUCTURAL GLASS - DIGITAL DESIGN AND FABRICATION Peter Lenk – Associate, ARUP and Dimitris Vitalis – Senior Engineer, WSP Evolution in design is now in the digital space, where a myriad of permutations can be processed in seconds and optimal options identified. In this paper, Peter and Dimitris focus on how to improve parametric design and generalize workflows, research possibilities in current digital fabrication techniques and identify possible methods applicable in structural glass and adhesives. 115 THERE’S A NATURAL MYSTIC FLOWING THROUGH THE AIR Vidresif CBD Arquitectura’s renovation for the EADA Business School adds color and dimension to what was originally a flat, gray stone exterior. The new façade is more than just a pretty face.

THE GLASS WORD 122 IGS INTERVIEWS BEN VAN BERKEL Ben Van Berkel - Founder / Principal Architect, UNStudio and Founder, UNSense IGS Magazine talks candidly with UNStudio founder Ben Van Berkel. We delve into the mind of one of the most acclaimed architects of our time as he imparts his words of wisdom and unfiltered thoughts on architecture, technology and glass.

APOLOGY We apologise for an error in a headline, regarding the glass cladding, of the article entitled ‘Steven Holl Architects’ project showcases a two-layer, u-plank façade’ (published 26/10/2020 on igsmag. com). Prior to this article, we published a feature on the Ian Ritchie Architects designed Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for neural circuits and behaviour at UCL. This was the first installation, in 2014, of an insulated light transmitting, low-iron, twin wall structural cast glass modular assembly that covered more than 2,500m2.

Director of International Business Network Development: Roland Philip Manager of International Business Network Development: Maria Jasiewicz Marketing Director: Lewis Wilson Page Design Advisor: Arima Regis Design and Layout in the UK: Simon Smith

Intelligent Glass Solutions is a quarterly publication. The annual subscription rates are £79 (UK) , £89 (Ireland & Mainland Europe), & £99 (Rest of the World) Email: nick@intelligentpublications.com Published by: Intelligent Publications Limited,

3rd Floor, Omnibus House, 39-41 North Road, London N7 9DP, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 7703 487744 Email: nick@intelligentpublications.com www.igsmag.com

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, GLASS & ARCHITECTURE

An IPL magazine

European Special Edition “THE GLASS WORD” WITH BEN VAN BERKEL An exclusive interview with an architectural visionary

The entire content of this publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. None of the content in this publication can be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, without permission, in writing, from the copyright owner. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, however the publisher does not accept any liability for ommissions or inaccuracies. Authors’ views are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher.

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EXECUTIVE BOARDROOM PUBLISHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WORD COMMENTARY

Resilient by Design 6

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EXECUTIVE BOARDROOM PUBLISHER’S COMMENTARY WORD

rom a deadly pandemic to a global movement for racial justice, the year 2020 has already experienced its fair share of world-shifting events. Industries are still facing unprecedented challenges as lock-downs, supply chain issues, travel bans and a planet-wide economic slowdown effects investment, growth and employment. Despite the adversity that COVID19 has thrust upon us, and much like the strong design ideal on which many of our architectural marvels are built - the glass industry, in particular, is proving its resilience. The industries steadfastness is epitomized in the pages of IGS Magazine throughout the 4 quarterly editions of 2020. We travelled around the globe, from the Middle-East to the US and Asia-Pacific to uncover exemplary projects that have utilized the tremendous complexities of glass, the technologies driving a new era of sustainable transparent design, and the ambitious people galvanizing the future of our built environment.

December, was no different. Glass Supper 2020…Virtually Speaking was designed to recreate popular facets from the physical event. With a virtual conference, exhibition hall and networking lounge, guests were transported into an alternate universe to engage in real discussions centered around real buildings, and of course the real number one topic this year, the powerful coronavirus that has forced us all to recalibrate our minds. Digital technology gave us the chance to transport our guests through the clouds and beyond the stars, bringing them closer to the celestial source for one of the most realistic and unforgettable experiences in virtual reality. After our trip around the globe and a safe landing from our moon base at The Glass Supper, we return home to Europe in this Winter edition of IGS Magazine. In this final encore from IGS in 2020, we focus on the astounding projects that demonstrate the adaptable nature of glass. From the curved, inclined façade of ‘The Circle’ to retrofitting historic buildings and a high-tech glass dome, you will bear witness to the mythical properties of this material. We publish exclusive interviews with two contemporary visionaries in their own right, Jean Paul Hautekeer and UNStudio

founder Ben Van Berkel, whose wisdom and knowledge are unrivaled, as they connect the worlds of science, technology and architecture. Our eternal gratitude goes to those who sacrificed much of their valuable time spending hours preparing articles exclusively for all the beautiful men and women who read IGS Thank you! Our next issue will be published in the Spring of 2021 with the focused intention of revealing the next generation of glass technologies that are being adopted around the globe. From developments in curved glass to fire-safety glazing and smart glass you will be privy to the innovative spirit of modernist glass industry vanguards. Should you wish to address the industry in this edition please feel free to contact us for a more personal and tailored discussion at your earliest convenience. This is IGS, the world’s most popular and beloved glass industry magazine. Nothing more, nothing less....nothing else! Lewis Wilson Marketing Director and Editor for IGS Magazine

From zoom calls to google meets and Microsoft teams, our social bonding and networking have been forced into the virtual realm. The glass industry, a ‘band of brothers’ (and sisters) has adapted to this new reality with many of our beloved events going digital – from glasstec to GlassBuild we have still found a way to connect and share the pioneering projects and technologies that the industry has to offer. COVID-19 herded everybody into the digital world and the Glass Supper, on the 3rd

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Retrofitting with the magical properties of glass

The Glass Pixelation, P.C. Hooftstraat 140-142, Amsterdam, 2017-2019 Â©Evabloem

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n the history of architecture a number of outstanding glass-designs have transformed the profession. The 1922 competition entry for a transparent high-rise in Friedrichsstrasse, Berlin by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is one such example. Although technically not feasible at the time, the design manifested a powerful vision for the future of high-rise buildings and the use of glass as a transparent building material. Since then, we have witnessed the development of a large variety of design applications, alongside very extensive industry developed facade systems and structural glass solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible with this magical material. There have also been significant advances in laminating and fritting techniques, alongside technical advances in insulating and applying heatreflective layers in order to prevent heat gain and energy loss in buildings. Visually combining transparent properties with physical properties (such as a gas layer, fritting, interlays etc.), has led to the performance improvement of buildings from which ultimately its users benefit. As such, glass is undoubtedly one of the most versatile building materials in use today. For architects, it is a long-lasting material that provides opportunities for the development of innovative, energy efficient building envelopes for both new build and renovation projects. The possibilities to recycle glass for various further uses makes it an extremely environmentally friendly and circular material. However, for the end-user, it is the most apparent property of the material, its transparency, which makes it essential for the quality of the spaces we live and work in. Renovating, Retrofitting and Remodelling Today, we are increasingly witnessing a new awareness of the benefits of retrofitting buildings, rather than demolishing and replacing them with new builds. This is especially true in Europe and in several large cities in Asia. Increasingly, developers are seeing both the environmental and the economic advantages of remodelling buildings, while integrating new sustainable strategies. In fact, for some clients, a retrofit-in-place is actually a more affordable and reliable option when a building is in need of renovation, while for designers, the goal of such projects is also to provide long-term value.

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If we retrofit and remodel existing buildings, we are doing so to expand the lifespan of these structures. However, one day these new retrofits will also become ‘old’. As such, when updating facades today, we also have to consider how adaptive these will be in the future and plan ahead from the outset of the design. In order to do this successfully, we need to devise

integrated solutions during the design phase. This includes the integration of technology beyond that already being developed by the glass industry. Technology can of course simply be approached as an add-on, but we do not believe that this approach is sufficient to truly exploit the magical properties that glass has to offer. In fact, one way or another, we consider

the integration of technology in our design approach essential for a project to succeed. In this article I will use four remodelling projects carried out by UNStudio to illustrate the different roles that glass and the integration of technology have played in adaptively retrofitting existing buildings to prepare them for the future.

Galleria Department Store, Seoul, South Korea, 2003-2004 ©Christian Richters

Galleria West Luxury Hall Department Store, Seoul While with every new build it is good practice to apply the most technically advanced facade systems, sometimes with a remodelling project the constraints encountered in the existing structure and building require a non-standard design approach. At UNStudio, we prefer to use glass that is consistent with the underlying concept of the project.

the department store; to ‘dress it up’ in a way that has never seen before. Design works on the project started in late 2003, while the opening of the ‘newly dressed’ building was set to take place in September 2004. This allowed only a two month window in the summer of 2004 for the construction of both the interior retrofit and the new facade.

For the remodeling of the Galleria West Luxury Hall Departments Store facade in Seoul, the client’s ambition was to completely transform

The existing pre-fabricated concrete structure, the structural grid, the measurements of the existing building and the budget proved to be

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further constraints, but the request to design a ‘new dress’ for the building inspired our design thinking. As a result, our team researched the possibilities of combining a new exoskeleton composed of large glass discs with iridescent foils. The objective was to create a mother-ofpearl effect once light hit the surface of each of the 4.330 glass discs that were custom designed to clad the existing concrete structure. Whilst this effect determined the daytime appearance of the building, the project was

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Galleria Department Store, Seoul, South Korea, 2003-2004 ©Christian Richters

located in an area of the city that is especially active during late afternoon and evening. Therefore the nighttime appearance had to be equally, if not more, spectacular than the shimmering effect of the facade during daytime. For this reason, we investigated – then new on the market – LED technology that could be programmed to change colour, and how this would interact with the laminated discs. In the end we opted for one individually controllable fixture to be mounted behind each of the glass discs. This form of lighting had the effect of dematerialising the glass shingles and wrapping the building in a fluid field of colours, allowing the facade to become - what was at that time the largest media facade in the world. The forecasted lifetime of this new department store facade was about 10 years, after which

the client expected that a new dress would be required. By designing a facade that could change its appearance in the evenings, the expectation that the ‘new dress’ would quickly become outdated could be managed, as with the integration of the programmable LED technology, it could in fact be updated daily. However, as it was conceived as a temporary add on to an existing building, the new facade was designed to make it possible to remove and replace it one day with minimal cost and effort. Due to the short time available for construction, the steel-structure that carries the glass discs was pre-fabricated offsite, then assembled on site by connecting it to the building’s existing structure. The base grid, together with a modular system of horizontal pins and steel-clamps, was custom designed

to hold each large disc at three points. As such, its parts are demountable and each individual glass disc can be lifted out, also for repair during its lifespan. The LED lighting system is mounted on to the back-wall independently of the back structure, making it easy to replace when updated lighting technology becomes available. While the remodelling of the Galleria department Store could perhaps be compared to a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, it is an outer facade remodel with limited requirements for waterproofing or insulation. Other, more complex contexts require a different approach to retrofitting. The following projects use glass in an unprecedented manner, but arguably had less radical freedom than the brief to ‘design a new dress’.

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Hanwha HQ, Seoul

Hanwha HQ, Seoul, South Korea, 2013-2019 ÂŠRohspace

For the renovation of the Hanwha HQ in Seoul, one of the main constraints for the design was determined by the typology of the building, which was office high-rise. Initially it was necessary to understand the existing building in order to connect the existing structure to the new design. It was essential to upgrade the building and develop a unique design that contrasted with its previous appearance, while simultaneously addressing a full technical upgrade of the building envelope, the building systems and the interior fit out. Our ambition was to bring an unconventional appearance to an administrative building, while creating a light and pleasant indoor environment for the people who work there. In this project, we also experimented with the use of BIPV panels. Glass has invaluable use in renewable solar energy technologies, and while we were simultaneously working on the design of energy generating glass panels (Solar Visuals), for the Hanwha HQ retrofit we integrated conventional photovoltaics modules in the building envelope. Displaying a non-standard application of conventional PV elements meant using the facade as a

Hanwha HQ, Seoul, South Korea, 2013-2019 ÂŠRohspace

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Hanwha HQ, Seoul, South Korea, 2013-2019 ÂŠRohspace

renewable energy generating surface, which enables the reduction of operating costs and of CO2 emissions. For this retrofit, it was essential to link the interior programmes with the outside urban context. For the inside-out approach, the requirements of the office workers for views, daylight, ventilation and shading were translated into parameters that would vary at different locations in the facade. For the outside-in approach, we took into account the surrounding buildings, the shadowing they create and the orientation of the facade surfaces. We divided the 3.60m grid of the existing structure into elements of 1.2m in width. The

height of the individual glazing elements and of the proportion of the sunshading panels varies depending on their function. The tallest glazed elements are located in the more public areas, while the elements with the larger integrated PV panels are located on the upper, non-shaded areas of the south facade. This family of facade elements was combined in a coordinated way with the intention of creating a visually continuous facade field. The elements on the north facade are slightly different, as they do not have as much depth as the ones on the other facades, where the frames also have an important shading effect. Fine-tuning was also necessary in relation to the framing of the glass panels, as we wanted to reduce the amount of material used while increasing the transparency of the facade.

For this remodelling project, the client elected to remain in the building during construction, with the benefit that the building did not have to close and the staff were not relocated during construction. To achieve this, the refurbishment started at the lowest level of the building and construction took place three floors at a time. The remaining floors were fully occupied and operational throughout. This meant that we had to devise a systematic approach to the retrofit that linked parametric design thinking with the construction sequencing. As such, the new facade is composed of a variety of repetitive elements that are based on a modular system. The glass panels and aluminum frames were produced in the factory and brought to the site for direct assembly. The total construction time, including the full interior renovation - which took place simultaneously - was an undertaking of 42 months. In the end, UNStudio developed a performative facade that is fully inclusive and energy producing and where the facade response is about both the urban context and the experience of the people that occupy the building.

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Hanwha HQ, Seoul, South Korea, 2013-2019 Â©UNStudio

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P.C. Hooftstraat, Amsterdam For the remodelling of two neighbouring projects on P.C. Hooftstraat in Amsterdam, the driving constraints came from the strict regulations concerning the preservation of the appearance of the historic buildings that line both sides of this famous shopping street. These design constraints required specific concepts that could balance the old with the new and had to be different for the both projects. ‘The Looking Glass’ (P.C. Hooftstraat 138) sets the stage for a unique and distinctive flagship store by reimagining the display of clothes. Crystal-clear glass was used for special showcases, while curved glass was used structurally in order to underline the exclusivity of the display windows. Three curving glass panels flow down from the upper floors in a design that mimics billowing transparent cloth. This play with glass creates opening spaces on a pedestrian eye-level that unveil the latest designs within. The contrast with the brickwork, that follows the historic three-windowed vertical division of an Amsterdam town house, makes the tailored glass vitrines unique attractions on this high-end shopping street.

The Looking Glass, P.C. Hooftstraat 138, Amsterdam, 2017-2019 ©Evabloem

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The Looking Glass, P.C. Hooftstraat 138, Amsterdam, 2017-2019 ©Evabloem

The design for ‘The Brick Pixilation’ next-door (P.C. Hooftstraat 140-142) lends the facade a more contemporary interpretation of a textile surface. Imagined as a veil of stainless steel bricks on the facade of this traditional Amsterdam townhouse, here the focus was on developing the design and the material effects of the smaller facade components. While the facade is made of custom cast stainless steel bricks with glass inlays at pedestrian level, it transitions across the second floor back to the anthracite brickwork of a traditional Dutch townhouse. The finer grain and the crafted details of the pixilation result in a facade that is transparent and textured, laced and translucent.

The Glass Pixelation, P.C. Hooftstraat 140-142, Amsterdam, 2017-2019 ©Evabloem

For both projects on P.C. Hooftstraat, the integration of technology is found in the production of the custom designed, digitally produced components. The way they have been manufactured manifests a combination of old and new technologies, both crafted and industrial. These two tailored facades also provide a technical upgrade for the traditional Dutch townhouse buildings by providing better 16

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9130+

8430+

5800+

5300+

142

5300+

01 Doorsnede 2-200

1:50

The Glass Pixelation, P.C. Hooftstraat 140-142, Amsterdam, 2017-2019 ©Evabloem

insulation, improved windows and physical properties that expand the lifetime of the buildings. At the same time, the new bespoke designs that remain anchored in the historic context of the street, have become more appealing to the new tenants and their customers, providing additional value to these retail properties.

The Glass Pixelation, P.C. Hooftstraat 140-142, Amsterdam, 2017-2019 ©Evabloem

Innovation fast forward The above examples demonstrate that as designers, we never consider the building envelope as an isolated element. For us, it is integrally connected to what is taking place inside and outside, both physically and conceptually.

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The Glass Pixelation, P.C. Hooftstraat 140-142, Amsterdam, 2017-2019 ©Evabloem

Functional interdependencies include daylight requirements for certain spaces (as per building regulations) being brought into balance with the heat gain or heat loss of the building’s facade: the energy performance. Lifecycle interdependency has to take circular principles into consideration, such as the durability of the different parts of the building and the varying lifespans of these. For instance, as a result of exposure to weather conditions and sunlight (UV, wind, rainwater etc.), the facade will typically require renewal before the structure does. So what if we were to consider the facade of the future as being similar to our skin? That it would be able to renew and repair itself? Such an approach could pave the way for new business models, in which facade systems could be leased and technically upgraded when required. The danger here is that generic facades could become a go-to option and constructed anywhere, regardless of context or concept. 18

Or should we instead see the facade as the face of the building, as reflecting identity, brand, uniqueness and relation to context? We believe that a combination of both approaches is necessary. However, in order to achieve this, architects not only need to combine the technical and creative knowledge that it takes to design and build, they also need to push the boundaries of their knowledge and the materials they use in order to create new combinations and effects. Innovations in glass technologies have come a long way in recent times and these are certainly advantageous to the comfort and energy performance of today’s buildings. However, it is the role of the designer to combine these advances with the face of the building: to understand the building as a communication device; to go beyond the pragmatic and experiment with the incorporation of further technologies in order to avoid generic solutions and devise context-based facades.

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Astrid Piber Partner / Senior Architect UNStudio Astrid Piber is a Partner at UNStudio and Senior Architect in charge of several design projects globally. Since joining UNStudio in 1998, she has worked on numerous projects, from the initial urban study and competition phases through to realisation. In projects such as the Arnhem Central Station masterplan and the Raffles City mixed-use development in Hangzhou, China, the interdependency of functional, economic and future-proofing criteria has led to building organisations that go beyond segregated typologies. Working with a trans-scalar approach from large-scale projects to their interiors - designing to add value through user experience has been key. The completed projects in China, Singapore, Taiwan, South-Korea, Germany and the Netherlands display this holistic approach to buildings and their envelope connect the scale of the environment with the scale of the user. In all cases, the projects are designed to be inherently contextual, while commanding their own unique presence.

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Renovation Wave: A New European Bauhaus Movement Andreas Bittis Dipl.-Ing. International Marketing Manager at Saint-Gobain Glass, BU Facade

Photo Â©Giorgio Galeotti

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art of the European Green Deal is addressed with a simple phrase: “Renovation Wave”. It aims “to double the renovation rate of our buildings to make them fit for a climate neutral future.” (1) At first glance, it appears to be just another, albeit lavishly funded program for energy efficiency in the construction sector – complemented by the now common call for decarbonization. After all, roughly 75% of the EU building stock is still energy inefficient. (2) But that point of view does not go far enough. Just as Green Building Certificates have shifted their focus in recent years from their core topic of the efficiency of buildings to the other two pillars in the sustainability discussion - namely sufficiency and consistency - the topic of “renovation” is not just a matter of energy efficiency (and/or decarbonization). This alone shows the diversity of the terms: Renovation, redevelopment, conversion, change of use, repair, retrofitting, addition, revitalization, ... and thus the requirements for specific tasks and jobs on a renovation project differ accordingly.

Photo ©Irina Lediaeva

Throughout the years (Saint-Gobain just turned 355 years this year), we have had the opportunity to be part of several life cycle stages of some iconic projects, which means, we were trusted by clients (old and new) to take care of projects again and again. That is less pathetic than it might seem: We simply knew the job because we had done it before, giving planning and cost security to these clients. In all these cases it was never as simple as replacing the glass.

Photo ©Valueyou, wikipedia commons

The technology of ‘glass making’ itself has changed dramatically. From true manufacturing to industrial floats and magnetron coating processes, developments have been significant over the years. Consequently, it turned out that in some renovated projects we simply could not provide the “old quality” anymore; but, of course, a better one. Especially for listed buildings, there were unique and complicated challenges that needed to be addressed. Consequently, these “new” challenges led eventually to new products and processes. The most prominent example to name is the Louvre Pyramid by I.M. Pei which formed part of the Grand Louvre Modernization. “The challenge was to modernize and expand the 20

Photo ©Petr1987, wikipedia commons

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building and better integrate it with the city, all without compromising the integrity of the historic structure … The pyramid’s distinctly modern articulation complements the historic Louvre in a dialogue of harmonious contrast.” (3) In light of this initial design philosophy, the existing greenish float glass in our arsenal of products was not an option. Saint-Gobain went back to the drawing board and their laboratories and re-worked the glass matrix, finally developing a brilliantly shimmering, less greenish low iron-glass and named it accordingly: DIAMANT. Aesthetics and the reorganization of a building were drivers for product development…innovation responds to demand!

Photo ©Cristian Bortes

Similar stories can also be told with Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye, Mies van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat and numerous other buildings of Modernism (Henri Sauvage, Robert Mallet-Stevens, Walter Gropius, Jean Prouve, Pier Luigi Nervi, Oscar Niemeyer to name a few) where we had the chance to contribute through knowledge, experience and product development. Modernity is part of the DNA of Saint-Gobain. The refurbishment of another iconic project led to a different approach: Lloyd’s of London. In 2010, Lloyd’s decided that it required more daylight and improved views from the iconic Richard Roger’s designed building (originally completed in 1987). Some of the patterned glass panes by Saint-Gobain were replaced with clear flat glass and 123 tons of the original glass was removed from the building. These were sent to our float in Eggborough for remelting back to float glass. Additionally, some of the patterned glass was reused. The panels were cut into the required new size and installed back or stored for any replacements required in the future. Some of the “off cuts” were also used

Photo ©Prof. Dr. Helmut Müller

Photo ©Klaus Wertz

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Photo ©Philippe Ruault

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in North Carolina, the “Center for Advanced Visual Studies” by Gyorgy Kepes at MIT in Boston and hfg in Ulm, founded by Otl Aicher and Max Bill. The New European Bauhaus movement is exemplified by these trailblazing architects. Embedded in western societies that shared the devastating demolition of World War II and Fascism was a desire, a want to design “a new society”. The 50’s and 60’s had an inspiring impulse of lightness that expanded the boundaries of what we thought possible - flying to the moon and diving deep into the oceans…while Dave Brubeck played “Take Five”. So, what comes next? How do we want to create our future? What have we not yet imagined?

Photo ©Philippe Ruault

And at the same time – the flip side of the coin: Where do we come from? What can we rely on? Where are our roots, our foundations that we want to keep growing for this future? We obviously need a new approach, as a society, to “bridge between” all disciplines of life. This is even more apparent in light of the COVID19 Pandemic. We should not wait for a “savior”. The vision is set. Now it’s up to all of us to contribute to it, step by step, from urban gardening to new mobility concepts, from shared spaces to participative neighborhoods, all resource efficient and sustainable for a new common wealth. “Good design can improve lives.” (6) Although it may seem premature, there are projects that are already moving in the right direction – especially when it comes to this new approach in the “renovation” sector.

Photo ©Philippe Ruault

in furniture designs for the building, such as the tops for coffee tables. The work on Lloyd’s demonstrates re-use and recycling of glass at the highest standard and with minimum environmental impact. The entire project was followed up by Arup. (4) Again here, aesthetics and the reorganization of a building were the drivers for a ‘new thinking’ of glass usage as its processes. “But our European Green Deal is bigger. It is a systemic change. To achieve this, we need broad engagement, wide support and lots of innovation and creativity. This is why we, are today, launching the New European Bauhaus.

The New European Bauhaus movement is intended to be a bridge between the world of science and technology and the world of art and culture.” (5) Ursula von der Leyen, President of European Commission, just recently announced this enhanced approach. A number of architects and projects have answered the call, educational “platforms” (as we like to call them today) adopting this concept and running with it. Mies’ and MoholyNagy’s “New Bauhaus” at the IIT in Chicago, Josef and Anni Albers’ “Black Mountain College”

Just recently, the French architectural teams Lacaton & Vassal architects, Frédéric Druot Architecture, and Christophe Hutin Architecture transformed social housings in Bordeaux and later on in Paris into something “unspectacularly new”. It was awarded with the Mies van der Rohe Award 2019 and can be seen right now in a touring exhibition in Cologne, Germany. (7) “The transformation gives to all dwellings new qualities of space and living, by inventorying very precisely the existing qualities that should be preserved, and what is missing that must be supplemented.” (8) It’s that “lightness” that is striking. We are proud that Saint-Gobain

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Photo ©Barbara Bühler

Photo ©John Kees

Photo ©Barbara Bühler

control coatings COOL-LITE XTREME 50/22 II (roof) and XTREME 60/28 (façade) by Saint-Gobain and produced by Eckelt Glas and Glassolutions Radeburg, this project is overwhelming – and not only for the students. A true heart space!

Glassolutions Coutras supplied the glass for the fully glazed external elevators and Glassolutions in Bordeaux delivered the glass for the balustrades and the isolations glass units. Or take another example from Basel, Switzerland: The sports and events complex Sankt Jakobshalle was designed in the late 1960s, in the name of brutalism, and inaugurated in 1976. At the core of its design is a central, large hall with a curved concrete roof. Over the years, the house was renovated by the architects Degelo and Berrel Berrel Kräutler and rebuilt to today’s standards. The cantilevered awning combined the 2018 24

reopened complex of halls and annexes to form a whole. A double-storey, glass foyer with solar protection overlength glass CLIMAPLUS COOLLITE XTREME 50/22 II, produced by Glas Thiele, opens it to the outside and re-integrates the house into the urban planning context. A last example shows the potential that a combined approach of science (engineering) and art (architecture) can have: The Heartspace St Georges Campus, University of Sheffield by Bond Bryan Architects. This parametric designed roof with its triangles, parallelograms, polygons and sharpening edges is spectacular proof of this mind set. Realised with solar

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(1) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/ presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_20_1902 (2) https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/focusenergy-efficiency-buildings-2020-feb-17_en (3) https://www.pcf-p.com/projects/grandlouvre-modernization/ (4) https://www.arup.com/perspectives/ publications/the-arup-journal/section/thearup-journal-2011-issue-2 (5) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/ presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_20_1902 (6) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/ presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_20_1902 (7) https://baukultur.nrw/artikel/coronapandemie-ausstellung-zum-mies-van-derrohe-award-im-lvr-landeshaus-koeln-ab-2.11geschlossen/ (8) https://miesarch.com/work/3889

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Photo ©John Kees

Andreas Bittis Educated as an architect and urban planner at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany, Andreas Bittis was editor for ARCH+ and a freelance journalist for various architectural magazines on and offline. Consequently he worked in several architectural practices; Rhinescheme (Beijing) ingenhoven architects, (Dusseldorf, Sydney, Singapore) and Eller + Eller Architekten (Dusseldorf, Berlin, Moscow) to name a few, as project manager in different domains. With this background he joined Saint-Gobain Building Glass in 2012 as Architectural Specification Manager working not only on advising architects and façade consultants but also on topics like Sustainability and BIM. In 2015 he joined the German marketing team as Product Manager for all coated glass and Market Manager for the glass façade projects. Most recently, Andreas joined the Business Unit Façade as Market Manager in Paris

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A Match Mad

Specification of external blinds is enabling designers to choose clearer glass and dramatically reduce carbon emissions, but how can we be sure they will stand the test of time?

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de in Heaven

Opera Terrace, Covent Garden. Architect: Eric Parry, Glass Spec: EOC, Faรงade Blinds: Guthrie Douglas.

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hat if glass facades could change their transparency and thermal properties instantly in response to the world around them? The latest dynamic façade blinds and AI powered control systems mean that they can do exactly that. Out with the fit-out contractor’s view of blinds as interior décor. Here come the façade engineers who understand how to deploy blinds not simply as an anti-glare measure, but as a game-changer for the façade performance specification itself.

“Using sunlight and daylight is like trying to drink from a fire hydrant: the challenge is CONTROL” Stephen Selkowitz, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory The biggest gains are won where the blinds are placed externally, intercepting sunlight before it even reaches the internal glass pane. Shading engineers and building physicists have been making this case for many years and for compelling reasons. External shading systems can reduce heat gain to almost zero and result in savings of more than 65% on air conditioning costs. That’s got to be good in a world where over the past 6 years alone global A/C usage has increased by 46%, the equivalent annual energy output of Hinkley Point. Convinced? So is the rest of Europe. Go for a sail along Copenhagen harbour and you will notice that almost every tall building has something in common: the blinds are on the outside.

Figure 1 - g value impact of a mid-range fabric blind with ‘Type C’ double glazing. Even in this simplified example, the benefits of external fabric are easy to see.

You will see the same phenomenon walking down Karlstraße in Dusseldorf, Kärntner Straße in Vienna, and every straße you will ever have the pleasure of wondering down in Brussels and Amsterdam. Not so in the UK, where three main obstacles are often cited: design culture, accessibility and maintenance, and the Great British Weather. The first two of these are worthy of separate articles in themselves, but can often be overcome through early integration of shading systems into the façade design. The weather, and if external blinds can withstand it for years of usage, is a more prominent concern and the winter issue of IGS Magazine seems like the right place to discuss it.

For external blinds to perform well, they must withstand precipitation, extreme temperatures and, most crucially, strong winds. The wind is a powerful force. Even modern wind turbines are designed to be switched off at 100 km/h. In fact, during high winds, wind farms are evacuated and nearby footpaths and roads are closed. If this is the effect the wind can have on structures designed to harness its force, imagine its potential effects on a sheet of fabric attached to the side of a building. Monty Python fans among us cannot help but picture the Crimson Permanent Assurance building, sailing down Fenchurch Street at the start of The Meaning of Life.

Shall we talk about the weather?

At this point it is a relief to find ourselves on the façade engineer’s desk because when it comes to wind, they really know their onions, and the regulations for external shading systems are multi-layered and sure to make you tear up. Mandatory CE marking under the Construction Related Products regulations was introduced in June 2013 along with plenty of European Norms specifying everything from how to print a label through to detailed test methodologies. So how do engineers go about using these standards to ensure successful project outcomes, and what other tools are in the belt?

Figure 2 Crimson Permanent Assurance - Monty Python 1983

How much longer can we carry on like this?

= fabric

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Good: Classification & Testing The plethora of interrelated standards that accompany these regulations do not exactly make for light bedtime reading, but one very digestible takeaway are the wind classifications which rate products according to the pressure they can withstand, and for some low risk or smaller projects, a simple classification together with manufacturer warranties may be sufficient.

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Afrika Museum, Brussels, Stephane Beel Architects

Pier Blankenburg, Belgium

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EVS HQ, Liege. Valentiny Architects.

Warsaw Business Garden, Poland. JSK Architects, Credit: Hunter Douglas

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products by carrying out in-house testing and maintaining a ‘technical file’ to document the results. Depending on the project and manufacturer, third party accreditation might be desirable.

Figure 3- EU Standards relevant to external shading

Class

Nominal wind pressure (N/M2)

110

170

270

400

Notional equivalent velocity (m/s)

Beaufort Scale

Figure 4- Classification of wind resistance for external blinds - EN13561

The Beaufort Scale, devised in 1805 by Rear Admiral Sir Frances Beaufort, while serving on HMS Woolwich, comes with descriptions which offer some welcome relief from all the numbers. For example, Beaufort Scale 6 is described as “Large tree branches are in motion, whistling is heard in telegraph wires, large waves begin to form”, and Scale 10 as “Seldom experienced inland, trees uprooted, considerable structural damage, the whole surface of the sea appears white”.

Figure 5- The Bar Test

Classification of wind resistance for fabric blinds can be tested in a number of ways. The ‘Bar Test’ is extremely harsh in that the notional pressure that would be exerted on an entire product is focussed on a single load line across the centre of the fabric. The ‘Mattress Test’ is perhaps closer to reality as the pressure is distributed evenly across most of the product. Wind tunnel and pneumatic air pressure testing are also used and work in a similar way to the mattress test. It is important to note that currently, manufacturers can ‘self-certify’ their

Better: Project Specific Testing The problem with generic testing to classify off the shelf products in line with the regulations is that the regulations themselves are by necessity ‘standardised’. Any umbrella carrying Brit will tell you that you do not need a degree in Anemology (windy stuff) to understand that the behaviour of a fabric in a stiff breeze or storm cannot be accurately predicted purely from a static test method. Wind is unpredictable and arrives with sudden changes in direction and volatile gusts. A range of project and location specific testing options can be considered, depending on the scale and risk level of the project, as an addition to the tests prescribed by the regulations. For a small project, a simple answer might be to install a test system in the most exposed location and monitor its behaviour over time. Where larger project budgets allow, full scale wind simulation for an entire district, combined with wind tunnel, portable fan, and mechanical endurance testing of proposed products might be required to verify manufacturer classifications and give clients the level of assurance required. Best: Seeing is believing Finally, there is no substitute for a proven track record of successful external shading

Figure 6 - The Mattress Test

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installations that have stood the test of time. It is often small details and tweaks made to products during manufacture or installation, learnt from experience, that make the difference between projects that will work well for years with no or low maintenance, rather than weeks or months. Ask to see long standing examples of the proposed product in use in a number of different environments, and the details of their maintenance regimes. Ideally, go and see some of these projects or talk to the building owner and see how the systems are holding up. “Tornado Proof” or just Hot Air? With the specification of external blinds increasing, and some crucial areas of the standards commonly misunderstood and open to interpretation, there have been some bold marketing claims made by product manufacturers especially in relation to wind speed. Products advertised as “tornado qualified” or “hurricane proof” often give no indication of the wind pressure performance of the product, and whether the blind will actually operate under such conditions. In some cases, if slogans are to be believed, blinds will remain operational even after much of the building has fallen down and the surrounding area devastated.

One Sydney Harbour, Australia Architect: Renzo Piano Developer: Lend Lease Façade Engineer: Arup Façade Contractor: Permasteelisa Shading Contractor: Climate Ready Engineering

an essential part of the thermal modelling, the design team have been able to specify a much clearer glass, improving the view for residents. Figure 7 - Portable wind testing of a ‘standard’ and a ‘zip’ blind. WindTech Australia/ CRE

Part of the masterplan for the Barangaroo area, the One Sydney Harbour residential development comprises three towers with the tallest rising to 250m. 5,000+ Guthrie Douglas tensioned blinds are integrated into the façade and play an important role in achieving many design objectives including natural ventilation, access to natural light, precise control of the internal environment and minimised energy consumption. A combined g-value of 0.37 for glazing making up the inner and outer skin of the façade is reduced to 0.11 with the blinds deployed, thanks to a bespoke metallised fabric. By including the contribution of the blinds as

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The ventilated, double skin façade incorporates a wintergarden arrangement where the residents can effectively open a window even

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Kenzo Building, Paris. ORY architecture

at high level, exposing the integrated façade blinds to the external elements including potentially very high wind speeds. Wind tunnel studies of the building and surrounding area determined that maximum annual mean pressures on the façade were +0.21 kPa and -0.33 kPa, and that the blind must be able to withstand at least 0.12kPa before retracting. In addition to standard product testing, wind testing was carried out by Windtech Consultants Pty Ltd to determine the suitability of different types of fabric blind, including: • A portable fan test for visual inspection of blind movement/ vibration and noise • A wind tunnel test to study the pressure levels that the different types of blind system could withstand without failure, including a standard blind, a zip blind, and a tensioned blind.

The results of the testing showed that a standard blind would exhibit excessive movement and vibration even at low pressure. A zip blind would remain intact but would not be operable above 0.080 kPa due to the friction between the zip and its channels. The Guthrie Douglas cable guided tensioned system proved fully operable even up to 0.500 kPa of pressure.

Figure 8- Cavity Airflow Test (Tension system)

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4 Steps to a Successful Specification

Engage early Talk to a specialist shading engineer or technical product manufacturer early in the design process. They will apply the relevant parts of the regulations and will help to narrow down the product selection to make sure that an effective product is specified, without ruling out innovative or bespoke products that may not fit neatly into the classifications listed in the standards. Early engagement also means more and better options for integration of the shading product into the façade, wider choice of control systems, a well thought through maintenance strategy, and opportunities to maximise the impact that an integrated blind can have on thermal modelling.

Use the standards Ask for a product that meets all the relevant parts of EN13561, such as reliability cycle testing, not just the mandatory criteria. Product manufacturers should be able to submit product specifications that set out which elements of the standard are met, to suit the project. Rather than stating a specific required wind classification, state an expected typical windspeed for the project location, and ask contractors to respond with a proposed wind class for the product, taking into account the size of the systems, along with a proposed wind speed at which the shading systems will be automatically retracted. Wind class 2 or 3 along with a retract limit of 11-14 meters per second is usually sufficient in the UK.

Don’t just use the standards Depending on the scale and risk profile of the project, consider performance-based specification wording relating to realistic, dynamic wind environments rather than simply the static pressure test levels set out in the standards. Special measures can often be taken to increase the wind resistance of products where necessary.

Consider a tensioned system Whilst tensioned blinds are inherently stronger than standard external systems, this is not necessarily reflected in the wind classification, because in many cases the test methods are not appropriate for specialist or bespoke systems. They have the additional benefit of flexibility, using engineered springs to dampen the effect of the wind, adapt to changing conditions, and prevent overloading in strong winds or gusty environments. They are often used to cover entire facades in exposed locations, where the client wants to minimise fabric movement in windy conditions, or for the upper floors of projects where standard systems are appropriate for the more protected floors below.

Opera Terrace, Covent Garden. Architect: Eric Parry, Glass Spec: EOC, Façade Blinds: Guthrie Douglas.

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Worth the hassle? The reward for a staying awake through talk of standards, robust specifications and early engagement is something rather more exciting: invisibility. Some of the most beautiful and inspiring uses of natural daylight in recent architecture are made possible by external blinds, engineered and integrated so that you would not notice them, instead feeling that sense of magic that precise control of light and shade can generate. Look up ‘Light and Space, the Broad Museum’ on YouTube and prepare to be astounded. If saving the planet is more your thing, consider this: even with the most efficient solar control glass, a properly controlled fabric blind can save a further 50% on primary energy costs. A recent PhD study at South Bank University looked at a high rise in Camden where the internal air temperature in summer reached 45°C, the same as a typical day in Death Valley. The study found that even medium performance blinds could make a difference of as much as 18°C, and that is with the blinds on the inside. Developments in glass technology have been

Andy Kitching Managing Director, Guthrie Douglas Guthrie Douglas are a team of specialist engineers with the sole focus of creating technical shading systems for extraordinary spaces. We collaborate with designers who share our love of inspirational and sustainable architecture. www.guthriedouglas.com

staggering over the past few years. Smart glass, curved glass, 18m long glass, and even energy harvesting glass are all here already. Perhaps one day a glass will arrive that can eliminate the choice between transparency, energy efficiency and comfort. Until then, dynamic fabric and glass are made for each other. intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

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Endless Possibilities Innovation breeds success Dow High Performance Building Solutions

DorinSTEFAN architect

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n order to design and execute in an innovative way, it is important to define what innovation really is. It is one thing to be different but quite another to be different and innovative. One must understand a material’s true product performance, its nuances, how to play to its strengths, minimise its weaknesses and how to incorporate a product into a system in the right way.

‘Technology is an important element in progress. See, we can always do something better. We can improve water technology or energy efficiency. There is always progress forward and that is where innovation starts’ Santiago Calatrava With seven decades of transforming city skylines with successful silicone durability in a range of façade applications, we at Dow continuously explore opportunities to bring innovation and adapt and leverage our expanding portfolio of sealant technologies to help enable and support designs for future living. In this article, we are delighted to share insights into some of our latest material technologies for potential applications of the future. The use of glass outside Due to its virtually unlimited range of design options and its aesthetic benefits, glass has become more widely used to produce contemporary designs for external building elements. Glass would probably have been a material of choice for the famous Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncusi (1876-1957). This artist (literally) changed the definition of sculpture and is called the patriarch of modern sculpture. The interaction of his work and the space around it was very important and he enjoyed using shiny surfaces to reflect the

surroundings on his work and bounce off light. In a permanent search to find the essence of things, he continuously simplified shapes. As a sign of gratitude and admiration for this great sculptor, native from a nearby

village, the Craiova Art Museum dedicated an underground wing to his work which is complemented on the surface by a glass pavilion, “Sign and Signal”. This work is a balance between architecture and sculptural “optical

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art” aiming to create a visual illusion between some of the shapes most often found in Brâncuși’s work: the cube, the ovoid and the fusiform volume. The concept of the architect, Stefan Dorin, was to bring to life a project which Brâncuși did not have the opportunity to realize: The Temple of Love and Peace, intended for the Maharajah of Indore. Brâncusi conceived the Temple as an outdoor structure without doors or windows, which would need to be entered through an underground passage. Three of his famous “Măiastra” bird sculptures would have been displayed on a small square pool inside the apple-shaped interior. The “glass pavilion” inside the Art Museum was born from the legend of this unrealized project and is composed of 12-meter-high and 3 meter wide ethereal glass walls, creating the external prismatic square volume. The interior, made of horizontal glass slats, defines an ovoid shape in which

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the silhouette of the “Măiastra” sculpture can be read. From the underground hall, a glass elevator climbs to the middle of the “glass pavilion” allowing a single person the opportunity, during a few seconds of ascent, to become immersed in Brâncuși’s world and experience his legacy: elevation, peace and enlightment of spirit. These pure glass walls were mounted securely and invisibly in the frame system designs using DOWSIL™ 375 Construction & Glass Embedding, a flowable and fast curing polyurethane technology, which has high strength and exceptional rigidity to minimize panel deflection and enhance durability. This project constitutes one of the highest embedded glass projects as of today. Balconies are for sure a more modest, but nevertheless aesthetically pleasing alternative application example of this material. Balconies are powerful elements, which bring individuality, elegance and even add a hint

of luxury, allowing natural and artificial light to flow freely and permit unobstructed views from both inside and outside buildings. Maximising the glazed area of a balcony to realise these benefits can be achieved with frameless glass balustrades. Designs incorporating flat, curved monolithic or laminated glass are all possible with DOWSIL™ 375 Construction & Glass Embedding - we are pleased to share that this material has passed recently pendulum tests for safety of glass barriers according to DIN 18008-4.

Maximising transparency from inside Investing in a better indoor environment has been shown to improve health, well-being and productivity and potentially lead to better returns for businesses. With this in mind, increasing the passage of daylight inside a building is now looking possible following the development of DOWSIL™ Crystal Clear Spacer; a new fully cured, durable and soft crystal clear silicone spacer. This exciting option can be applied to interior panels, glazed entrance doors and even commercial refrigerator doors, where product presentation and visibility in

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This crystal clear silicone has a highly purified composition for excellent light transmittance properties with more than 90% light transmission at 5mm thickness over the wavelength range of 450 to 760nm. Haze is also limited to 4-6% depending on the wavelength. Thanks to this high clarity, encapsulation of light in the laminate can also be considered. Being a silicone, it is resistant to weathering without yellowing upon heat and UV exposure, helping to ensure the needed durability to the bonded laminate according to EN12543. This silicone does not delaminate or bubble and is fully compatible with the DOWSILâ&#x201E;˘ range of silicone products, which avoids any issues when installing or sealing the bonded laminate. Redefining the passage of light Recent innovative building designs suggest that the shape of a building can be used to orientate light to where it is most needed. One such example suggests that reducing the footprint at the base of a high-rise building and creating curves in the wider, upper levels of a tower

a retail environment is highly desirable. With great instant adhesion to glass, it is easy to install and is flexible thus helping to reduce the incidence of glass breakage, as well as helping to enable creative designs including curved glasses. Benefiting from the inherent durability of silicone and its high clarity, this breakthrough technology offers the potential to be expanded into a variety of other glass designs in the future. Keeping in mind the specificities of this technology, allowing on demand bonding, new bonding concepts which could not be assembled using a wet applied sealants can be considered.

Glass encapsulation and lamination Another rising star takes the form of silicone for encapsulating glass. Different types of decorative substrates and inserts, thin or thick, porous or not, such as metal meshes or timber cuts, can be embedded using a self-levelling, two-component silicone technology, DOWSILâ&#x201E;˘ 9955 Glass Encapsulation and Lamination. The encapsulation process occurs at room temperature which helps to ensure temperature sensitive inserts will not be damaged. The whole process is quick and has limited energy consumption compared to conventional lamination interlayers, making it attractive in terms of sustainability.

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can minimize the amount of shade that is cast and maximise the amount of natural light on the ground. This would undoubtedly enhance public spaces, produce greener gardens and help enable plants to receive the much-needed illumination to grow. At this time, Dow’s SILASTIC™ MS-2002 is efficiently used in the lighting industry to help enable reflectors. But as a highly reflective material, it could be used to coat all kinds of surfaces and materials. In fact, its reflectance was measured to be higher than 98%. Thanks to the material’s high hardness, the potential for dirt pick-up will typically be limited and being a silicone, it also comes with all the durability, making it possible for use in outdoor environments. Besides coating outside, it could also be applied on architectural light shelves to bring light deeper into buildings. Not only do light shelves allow light to penetrate through the building, they can also be designed to shade near the windows, due to the overhang of the shelf, and help reduce window glare.

Working together Extensive collaboration and expertise are what makes it possible to achieve innovative design projects. As a partner to design and glass industry professionals around the world, we actively work together to help offer smart options that address the many complexities of high performing building facades. Dow’s Façade Engineering & Architectural Design Team (FEAT Team) is comprised of members from all four corners of the globe who bring a wealth of design experience in the use of sealant technologies which can help offer targeted system options aligned to new industry trends and developments. Their experience includes: • Finite element analysis for behavioural modelling • Experimental tests for cold bent durability • Fire tests in relation to joint designs and conditions • Blast and impact containment • Thermal model reviews • Understanding the bespoke properties of materials

The FEAT team welcomes opportunities to work with industry professionals to address product innovation, project or system design options. Creating tomorrow Dow has recently invested in a new inspirationstudio which is located in Belgium, with an intent to develop a new customercentric co-creation possibility. This space showcases Dow’s innovation capabilities and since ideas seldom materialise on their own, it helps enable discussions with industry associates to create new solutions and solve challenges. It regularly hosts the High Performance Building Technical Training Academy, a comprehensive learning centre dedicated to sealant technologies, performance and installation and supports high class training for members of Dow’s Quality Bond™ program for structural silicone bonding.

Markus Plettau Global Façade Segment Leader – Dow High Performance Building Markus Plettau is responsible for boosting the global growth and profile of the façade segment with innovation from the Dow portfolio. Based in Wiesbaden, Germany, he is tasked to provide product and system solutions for building envelopes, enabling energy efficient, sustainable, safe and durable façade designs with a strong focus on new technologies and innovations. Markus.plettau@dow.com dow.com/construction dow.com/contactus

Stefan Dorin is a graduate of The University of Architecture “Ion Mincu” Bucharest (1975). In 1990 he started his own architectural studio named ”D(orin) S(tefan) Birou de Arhitectura srl.” Project references include A10, no.13, Amsterdam Olanda , 2007; The World Architectural Atlas, Phaidon, New York US , 2004; Architectural Design, Profile N0. 119, London UK.

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Stiff PVB and annealed laminated glass for freestanding balustrades with respect to national standards in Europe Ir. Hugues Lefevre, AGC Glass Europe, Belgium Ing. Anna Šikyňová, AGC Glass Europe, Belgium

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aminated glass incorporating stiff PVB is being used increasingly in structural applications. This combination improves the load resistance of the laminated glass sheet, reduces deflection, helps to reduce the thickness and weight of the glass and, in some cases, renders it unnecessary to thermally treat the glass. The case of freestanding balustrades is studied in depth, with the thermally toughened laminated glass usually used replaced by annealed laminated glass. Experimental testing under static and dynamic impact loads is discussed with respect to load, glass thickness and type of linear fixation. The findings of experimental research are also evaluated in the light of national legislation. Aspects of post-breakage behaviour are investigated. Finally, it is shown that the use of a stiff PVB interlayer combined with annealed glass is acceptable and safe for balustrade applications.

The first generation of such balustrades appeared in the late nineties and used metal fixing points to fix the glass and metal profile through holes in the glass.

Recently, certain interlayer producers have introduced structural polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers that are markedly stiffer than conventional interlayers [1].

The second generation, which appeared around 2010, consists of uniformly supported systems comprising continuous aluminium profiles fixed to the ground and clamped to glass panels. Several firms developed innovative linear aluminium profiles to replace point fixing. This new generation of structural glass balustrades led to lower costs, easier and faster installation via standardised modules, and improved aesthetics (see picture 2).

This paper presents an evaluation of the use of annealed laminated glass incorporating these stiffer PVB interlayers as a solution for replacing thermally toughened or heat-strengthened laminated glass in uniformly supported systems using continuous aluminium profiles.

Introduction. The demand for structural glass balustrades fixed on one side only is growing significantly due to the high demand for contemporary design-oriented frameless constructions capable of delivering unobstructed views (see picture 1).

Thermally toughened or heat-strengthened laminated glass has multiple disadvantages: complicated to produce and expensive; long delivery times since it is not a stock product; imperfect aesthetics with optical distortions; potentially subject to NiS breakage; poor aesthetic of edge finishing and dubious breakage behaviour.

Typically, laminated glass thermally toughened or heat-strengthened was used in structural balustrades, but is thermal treated glass really useful or necessary in secondgeneration structural balustrades since stress concentrations have been eliminated?

Structural glass balustrades are subject to a complex and changing regulatory framework in Europe. The general principles and applicable loads can be derived from the structural Eurocodes [6], but a specific Eurocode for glass is not available and is still under development. In the particular case of structural balustrades and in the absence of European standards on glass dimensioning, the design of such structures is still regulated by countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; national standards, which are all different and which specify special requirements, such as static and/ or dynamic testing of complete systems (glass and fixation) as well as digital simulations. In the first part of this paper, we present the requirements set out in these national standards for a group of European countries. In the second part, we investigate and check by

Picture 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Freestanding balustrades (Aluminco, Belgium)

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Picture 2 – Linear aluminium profile (Faraone, Italy)

2. Design rules, legislation and standard by country. Glass balustrades are designed according to different national standards. They are simulated using finite element analysis or they are tested in laboratories. 2.1 An overview of imposed static loads generated by users applied on balustrades Picture 2 – Linear aluminium profile (Faraone, Italy)

physical testing if balustrades in annealed glass with stiff PVB can qualify according to national standards in Belgium (NBN B 03-004 [3]), Italy (UNI 11678 [14]), Spain (UNE 85-238-91 [13]) and Slovakia (STN 74 3305:2016 [17]). All physical testing was conducted by certified laboratories in each country using different aluminium rail systems for fixation and AGC Stratobel Strong [18] as the annealed laminated glass incorporating stiff structural PVB. Design rules, legislation and standard by country. Glass balustrades are designed according to different national standards. They are simulated using finite element analysis or they are tested in laboratories. An overview of imposed static loads generated by users applied on balustrades Some countries have specific loading and design rules for glass balustrades. In countries without specific rules, table 6.12 in Eurocode 1 is used to identify design loads. The tables 1, 2 and 3 show loads on balustrades in different countries and per categories of use (cat. A Residential, cat. B Offices, cat. C Areas where people may congregate, cat. D shopping areas).

Some countries have specific loading and design rules for glass balustrades. In countries without specific rules, table 6.12 in Eurocode 1 is used to identify design loads. The tables 1, 2 and 3 show loads on balustrades in different countries and per categories of use (cat. A Residential, cat. B Offices, cat. C Areas where people may congregate, cat. D shopping areas).

Line load [kN/m]

UK Belgium Germany France

0.74 0.5 0.5 0.6

Spain Italy

0.8 1.0 (2.0 in balconies and public spaces) 0.5 0.5

Sweden Czech Republic

Line load

UK Belgium Germany France

0.74 1.0 1.0 0.6

Spain Italy

0.8 1.0 (2.0 in balconies and public spaces) 0.5 1.0

Sweden Czech Republic

Line load

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3.0

Reference document

max. 1200 max. 1200

BS 6180:2011 NBN B 03/004:2017 DIN EN 1991-1-1/NA 2010-12 NFP06-111-2 (NA of EN 19911-1) Cahier CSTB 3034 v.2:2018 UNE 85-238-91 [12] and UNI 11678

1100 900 - 1200

[10], [11] CSN EN 1991-1

Table 2 – Office buildings (category B) Height of the Concentrated Uniformly application of load distributed the line load load 750 – 1100 0.5 1.0 1000 1.0 1100 1000 -1100 -

Country

Table 1 – Residential buildings (category A) Height of the Concentrated Uniformly application of load [kN] distributed the line load load [mm] [kN/m²] 800 - 1100 0.5 1.0 1000 0.5 1100 1000 - 1100

Country

Reference document

max. 1200 max. 1200

BS 6180:2011 NBN B 03/004:2017 DIN EN 1991-1-1/NA 2010-12 NFP06-111-2 (NA of EN 19911-1) Cahier CSTB 3034 v.2:2018 UNE 85-238-91 [12] and UNI 11678

1100 900 - 1200

[10], [11] CSN EN 1991-1

Table 3 – Department stores (category D2) Height of the Concentrated Uniformly Reference document application of load distributed the line load load 750 – 1100 1.5 1.5 BS 6180:2011

Italy Sweden Czech Republic

1.0 (2.0 in balconies and public spaces) 0.5 1.0

max. 1200

[12] and UNI 11678

1100 900 - 1200

[10], [11] EXECUTIVE CSN EN 1991-1

Country

Line load

UK Belgium Germany France

3.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Table 3 – Department stores (category D2) Height of the Concentrated Uniformly application of load distributed the line load load 750 – 1100 1.5 1.5 1000 1.0 1100 1000 -1100 -

Spain Italy Sweden Czech Republic

0.8 2.0 1.0 1.0

max. 1200 max. 1200 1100 900 - 1200

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Reference document BS 6180:2011 NBN B 03/004:2017 DIN EN 1991-1-1/NA 2010-12 NFP06-111-2 (NA of EN 1991-1-1) Cahier CSTB 3034 v.2:2018 UNE 85-238-91 [12] and UNI 11678 [10], [11] CSN EN 1991-1

2.2 Wind load

Table 4 – Dynamic loads applied on glass barriers – Soft impact Wind load are exposed to wind, but wind load is sometimes forgotten in the validation All buildings process for Country Impactor or Energy Reference document Allbalustrades. buildings Moreover, are exposed to wind, but wind balustrades behave as free-standing walls and are exposed to stronger thanloads appliedHeight Table 4 –winds Dynamic on glass barriers – Soft impact UK BS 6180 refers to EN 12600 facades. In taller buildings, the wind load may exceed the load applied by users. load is sometimes forgotten in the validation Country Impactor Height or Energy Reference document UK -Cylinder + 2 tyres -300 mm (cat. A) BS 6180 refers to EN 12600 process for balustrades. Moreover, balustrades Belgium NBN B 03/004:2017 Some balustrade systems and their fixation to the main structure are designed to resist loads only in one 450 mm (cat. B) behave as free-standing walls and are exposed direction. The fact that wind may act in both directions is often Belgium forgotten. Cylinder + 2 tyres 300 NBN B 03/004:2017 700 mm mm (cat. (cat. A) D) to stronger winds than facades. In taller 450 Germany Cylinder + 2 tyres 700 mm mm (cat. B) DIN 18008-4 Only Belgium France load in testing process. 700 (cat. D) buildings, theand wind loadhave maya defined exceedprocedure the load to include wind France Cylinder + 2 tyres or 700 mm J Cahier CSTB 3034 v.2:2018 Germany Cylinder 2 tyres 700 DIN 18008-4 50 kg bag+with glass balls 900 mm J applied users. impacts on balustrades 2.3 by Dynamic France Cylinder + 2 with tyresglass or balls Ø3 mm Spain A 50 kg bag 50 kg glass balls Balustrades as protective barriers should protect individuals from various hazards or bag should restrict their Italy Cylinder +with 2 tyres Some balustrade systems to to prevent Spain A 50 kgsituations. bag with glass balls Ø3 mm movements. Different impactand teststheir havefixation been designed certain accidental The soft Italy Cylinder + 2 tyres - weighting the maintest, structure are designed towith resist loads impact represented by a cylinder two pneumatic tyresSweden or by a bag, both 50 kg, simulates Cylinder 2 tyres the impact a person. The The impact of awind steel ball accidental throwing of a+tool (hard impact). only in oneofdirection. fact that maysimulates the Czech Sweden Republic Dynamic impacts are tested on the original setup (glass configuration, dimensions, supporting system and act in both directions is often forgotten. Czech Cylinder + 2 tyres anchoring to the main structure). German and Czech standards Republic allow simulation of a soft impact using finite element analysis. The tables 4 and 5 describe impact tests in selected countries.

Only Belgium and France have a defined procedure to include wind load in testing process.

Dynamic impacts on balustrades Balustrades as protective barriers should protect individuals from various hazards or should restrict their movements. Different impact tests have been designed to prevent certain accidental situations. The soft impact test, represented by a cylinder with two pneumatic tyres or by a bag, both weighting 50 kg, simulates the impact of a person. The impact of a steel ball simulates the accidental throwing of a tool (hard impact). Dynamic impacts are tested on the original setup (glass configuration, dimensions, supporting system and anchoring to the main structure). German and Czech standards allow simulation of a soft impact using finite element analysis. The tables 4 and 5 describe impact tests in selected countries.

700 600 JJ 900 700 Jmm 600 cat. J A, B and D) (for -700 mm (for B and 450 cat. mm A, (cat. A) D) -450 mm (cat. B) 950 450 mm mm (cat.(cat. D2) A) 450 950 200 mm mm (cat. (stairsB)and mm (cat. D2) ramps) 200 mm (stairs and ramps)

Cahier CSTB 3034 v.2:2018 UNE 85-238-91 UNI 11678 UNE 85-238-91 UNI 11678 [11] refers to EN 12600 CSN 74 3305:2017 [11] refers to EN 12600 CSN 74 3305:2017

Table 5 – Dynamic loads applied on glass barriers – Hard impact Impactor Height/ Energy Reference document Table 5 – Dynamic loads applied on glass barriers – Hard impact BS 6180 Impactor Height/ Energy Reference document NBN B 03/004:2017 --BS DIN6180 18008-4 -Steel ball 500 g -3 J NBN B CSTB 03/004:2017 Cahier 3034 v.2:2018 -Steel ball 1000 g -10 J DIN 18008-4 NF DTU 39 P5:2017 Steel 3 J J Cahier CSTB 3034 v.2:2018 Steel ball ball 500 500 gg 3.75 UNE 85-238-91 Steel 10 NF 39 P5:2017 Italy Steel ball ball 1000 1000 gg 10 JJ UNIDTU 11678 Spain Steel ball 500 g 3.75 J UNE Sweden [11] 85-238-91 Italy UNI 11678 Czech -Steel ball 1000 g -10 J CSN 74 3305:2017 Sweden [11] Republic Czech1: This test-is mandatory only for curved glass, - new interlayers, new glass types CSN 74etc. 3305:2017 NOTE Republic NOTE 1: This test is mandatory only for curved glass, new interlayers, new glass types etc. Country UK Country Belgium UK Germany Belgium France1 Germany France1 Spain

Serviceability criteria 2.4 Serviceability criteria Admissible deflection depends on national Admissible deflection depends on national 2.4 Serviceability criteria allow standards. Some countries highstandards. Some countries allow high deflection (Italy), while others maintain very strict serviceability criteria (Belgium). deflection (Italy), while others maintain very Some countries allow high deflection (Italy), while others Admissible deflection depends on national standards. maintain very strict serviceability criteriaTable (Belgium). strict serviceability criteria (Belgium). 6 – Admissible deflection Country UK Country Belgium UK Belgium Germany France Germany Spain France Italy Spain Sweden Italy Czech Sweden Republic Czech Republic

Admissible deflection (L = height of the balustrade) Table 6 – Admissible deflection L/65 or 25 mm Admissible deflection (L = height of the balustrade) 15 mm for calculations L/65 or 25 mm For 2-sided L/200 or 15 mm 15 mm for calculations Testing 25 mm For 2-sided L/200 or 15 mm L/100 Testing 35 mm 25 mm L/100 5L/1000 35 100mm mm 5L/1000 100 mm 20 mm 20 mm

Reference document BS 6180:2011 Reference document NBN B 03/004:2017 BS 6180:2011 NBN B 03/004:2017 DIN 18008-2 Cahier CSTB 3034 v.2:2018 DIN UNE18008-2 85-238-91 Cahier CSTB 3034 v.2:2018 UNI 11678 UNE 85-238-91 UNI CSN 11678 74 3305:2017 CSN 74 3305:2017

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Temperature during testing The temperature during test is not always mentioned in the national codes. If mentioned, the temperature mentioned is in the range 15°C to 25°C.

France is always conducted without a handrail and for the minimum width of the glass. It is known that wider free-standing balustrades resist soft impact better than narrow balustrades.

For France, The findings of the tests cannot be used when a higher surface temperature is expected (e.g. balustrades exposed to solar radiation).

Static and dynamic physical test and result, discussion We had many tests conducted in approved certified laboratories in each country.

In the EU, only one standard requires glass balustrades to be tested at specific temperature : Slovak standard STN 74 3305:2016. Balustrades made with brittle materials must resist an impact by cylinder and two tyres at -15°C. Depending on the category of use, the tyres will be dropped from a height 1000 or 1400 mm.

The findings presented in this paper are the results of tests complying with the protocol described in detail in each country’s national standard, as presented above. The details of each result are available in an official certified Test versus Belgian standard The rail and glass are This installed and fixed the laboratory the standard supplier installation laboratory report. means that in if the report in compliance NBN B with 03-004:2017 manual. is positive, the complete system – rail fixation These tests were conducted in the following system and annealed laminated glass withwas used, cutlaboratory: Centre Scientifique et In all cases, laminated annealed Stratobel Strong from jumboWTC-CSTC panels and edge ground/polished. stiff PVB– can be used in the country for real Technique de la Construction, 1342 Limelette, We tested multiple glass thicknesses: 88.2, 1010.2 and 1212.2. In all case, we test 100 cm wide balustrade with height between 100 and 120 cm function of local regulation. Belgium. projects.

Post-breakage behaviour Glass is a brittle material. Its behaviour during and after accidental breakage is difficult to predict and may vary depending on the application, dimensions, supporting system, composition, type of glass, type of interlayer, environmental conditions, etc. When designing protective barriers, post-breakage behaviour must be analysed. Only Belgium, Italy and Germany mention testing procedure for post breakage situation. Protection of edges In Germany, the unprotected upper edge of free standing balustrades is not allowed. In the UK, the handrail is mandatory for all balustrades except of those, where toughened laminated glass remains stable after failure is used. In Sweden and in Czech Republic, the handrail is mandatory for balustrades in staircases and ramps. Unprotected edges are allowed in Belgium, Italy, Spain and France. Other specificities of balustrade design in Europe As can be seen, the requirements for verifying balustrades vary from country to country. In fact, for some characteristics, national standards might even contradict each other. In France and Italy balustrade must be tested. Numerical simulation are not allowed. According to French standard DTU 39 P5, the use of balustrades clamped at the bottom requires official technical approval. Testing in 46

and Ninfa 5; Comeza SV top and side; Q-railing Easy Eco top. The rail and glass are installed and fixed in the laboratory in compliance with the standard supplier installation manual. In all cases, laminated annealed Stratobel Strong was used, cut from jumbo panels and edge ground/polished. We tested multiple glass thicknesses: 88.2, 1010.2 and 1212.2. In all case, we test 100 cm wide balustrade with height between 100 and 120 cm function of local regulation.

3.1 Test versus Belgian standard NBN B 03-004:2017

We tested 15 types of aluminium fixation rails As defined by the Belgian standard, the wind These tests were conducted in the following laboratory: WTC-CSTC Centre Scientifique et Technique de la provided by largest suppliers: Onlevel 60 (side load was taken into account as per NBN EN Construction, 1342 Limelette, Belgium. and top); Aluminco Crystal line, A20 and L line; 1991-1-4 ANB. As defined Logli by theDefender Belgian standard, the wind Ninfa load was Massimo 450; Faraone 4 taken into account as per NBN EN 1991-1-4 ANB. Table 7: Result for test in Belgium Fixation Rail System

Laminated Glass Type and Thickness

Fixation 1 Fixation 1 Fixation 1 Fixation 1 Fixation 2 Fixation 2 Fixation 3 Fixation 4 Fixation 5 Fixation 6 Fixation 6 Fixation 6 Fixation 7 Fixation 8 Fixation 8 Fixation 9

88.2 Strong Annealed 88.2 Strong Annealed 1010.2 Strong Annealed 1010.2 Strong Annealed 88.2 Strong Annealed 1010.2 Strong Annealed 1212.2 Strong Annealed 88.2 Strong Annealed 88.2 Strong Annealed 1010.2 Strong Annealed 1010.2 Strong Annealed 1212.2 Strong Annealed 88.2 Strong Annealed 88.2 Strong Annealed 1010.2 Strong Annealed 1010.2 Strong Annealed

Approval Test for Balustrade : Belgium NBN B 03–004 Static Load (SLS) + Max. Static Load Dynamic Soft Approved Application Deflection (ULS) 50 kg 0,5 kN/m + W cl. 1 15,6 mm 0,6 kN/m OK Residential A + wind cl. 1 1 kN/m 28,8 mm Not approved 1 kN/m + W cl. 4 15,2 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Office B + wind cl.4 1 kN/m + W cl. 5 27,3 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Not approved 0,5 kN/m + W cl. 3 20,0 mm 0,6 kN/m OK Residential A + wind cl. 3 1 kN/m + W cl. 5 16,8 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Office B + wind cl.5 1 kN/m + W cl. 7 12,7 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Office B + wind cl. 7 0,5 kN/m + W cl. 2 10,3 mm 0,6 kN/m OK Residential A + wind cl. 2 0,5 kN/m + W cl. 2 Breakage Breakage Not approved 0,5 kN/m + W cl. 3 22,4 mm 0,6 kN/m OK Residential A + wind cl. 3 1 kN/m + W cl. 1 23,2 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Office B + wind cl.1 1 kN/m + W cl. 5 21,9 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Office B + wind cl.5 0,5 kN/m 19,6 mm 0,6 kN/m OK Residential A no wind 0,5 kN/m + W cl. 1 26,4 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Not approved 1 kN/m + W cl. 3 23,2 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Office B + C4 wind cl. 3 1 kN/m + W cl. 2 25 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Office B + wind cl. 2

Several findings are positive with annealed laminated glass and stiff PVB, meaning that these complete systems can be used in Belgium in the tested configuration. These findings are in line with known results [1]. It is clear that the same test conducted with a different type of rail will not yield the same result due to different torsion, For Belgian legislation, we can see that the Several findings are positive with annealed rigidity and rail dimension. This means that each fixation system must be tested and approved with respect to maximum deflection criterion is the most laminated glass and stiff PVB, meaning that national legislation.

restrictive. For this point, the use of stiff PVB these complete systems can be used in For Belgianinlegislation, weconfiguration. can see that the These maximum deflection criterionfor is the most restrictive. For thisunder point, line is crucial reducing deformation Belgium the tested the use of stiff PVB is crucial for reducing deformation under line load [1]. load [1]. findings are in line with known results [1]. It is clear the same test conducted with a 3.2 that Test versus Italian standard UNI 11678 Test versus Italian standard UNI 11678 different type of rail will not yield the same These tests were conducted in a laboratory operated by rail suppliers. We had the findings confirmed via a final were conducted in a20133 laboratory result due to different torsion, rigidity and test conducted in an official certified laboratory: Politecnico diThese Milano,tests Laboratorio Prove Materiali, Milan, Italy. operated by rail suppliers. We had the findings rail dimension. This means that each fixation confirmed via a final test conducted in an system must be tested and approved with official certified laboratory: Politecnico di respect to national legislation. Milano, Laboratorio Prove Materiali, 20133 Milan, Italy.

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Table 8: Result for test in Italy Approval Test for Balustrade : Italy UNI 11678 Laminated Glass Type Static Load (SLS) + Max. Static Load Dynamic Dynamic and Thickness Approved Application Deflection (ULS) Soft 50 kg Hard Fixation 10 - 4 clamps 88.2 Strong Annealed 1 kN/m Breakage Breakage Not approved Fixation 10 - 4 clamps 1010.2 Strong Annealed 2 kN/m Breakage Breakage Not approved Fixation 10 - 6 clamps 88.2 Strong Annealed 1 kN/m 18 mm 1,5 kN/m OK OK Residential A Fixation 10 - 6 clamps 1010.2 Strong Annealed 2 kN/m 29 mm 3 kN/m OK OK Res. + Off. A - B- C1-C2-C4 Fixation 11 1010.2 Strong Annealed 46,0 mmin Italy 3 kN/m Breakage Not approved Table 8:2 kN/m Result for test Fixation 12 (specific design) 1010.2 Strong Annealed 2 kN/m 74,1 mm 3 kN/m OK OKUNI 11678 Res. + Off. A - B- C1-C2-C4 Approval Test for Balustrade : Italy Laminated Glass Type Fixation Rail System Static Load (SLS) + Max. Static Load Dynamic Dynamic and Thickness Approved Application Several findings are positive with annealed laminated glass and stiff PVB, that Deflection (ULS) meaning Soft 50 kg these Hardcomplete systems Fixation 10 4 clamps 88.2 Strong Annealed 1 kN/m Breakage Breakage approved Several findings are positive with annealed linear blocking systems should beNot tested, can be used in Italy in the tested configuration. It is clear that the same test conducted with a different type of but - 4 clamps 1010.2 Strong Annealed 2 kN/m Breakage Breakage Not approved rail Fixation will not10yield the same result, especially forthat deformation, due tohas its own fixation rigidity. laminated glass and stiff PVB, meaning this not yet been done. Fixation 10 - 6 clamps 88.2 Strong Annealed 1 kN/m 18 mm 1,5 kN/m OK OK Residential A Fixation 10 - 6 clamps 1010.2can Strong Annealed 2 kN/m 29 mm 3 kN/m OK OK Res. + Off. A - B- C1-C2-C4 these systems beload, used infailed Italy Fixationcomplete 11 complied with the static but with a dynamic soft impact of 50 kg. Fixation 11 1010.2 Strong Annealed 2 kN/m 46,0 mm 3 kN/m Breakage Not approved inFixation the tested configuration. It isAnnealed clear that 2the One supplier alsoOKmodified rail+system and 12 (specific design) 1010.2 Strong kN/m 74,1 mm 3 kN/m OK itsRes. Off. A - B- C1-C2-C4 Fixation Rail System

In addition, tested thewith samearail but withtype 4-block polymer afixation perrail meter. The resultslaminated were same test we conducted different ofand 6-block designed special for annealed better positive the 6-block configuration. Theglass number fixation block clamps also had an effect on Severaland arewith positive with annealed laminated and of stiff PVB, meaning that these systems rail will findings not yield the same result, especially glass. This approach yieldedcomplete excellent results performance results to better uniform stress distribution along test the glass fixation. This result suggests can be used inand Italy in thedue tested configuration. It is clear that the same conducted with a different type of for deformation, due to its own fixation (see table 8, fixation 12). that a real linear systems shouldfor bedeformation, tested, but this yet been done. rail will notfull yield the blocking same result, especially duehas to not its own fixation rigidity. rigidity. One supplier also modified its rail system designed railsoft for annealed glass. This Fixation 11 complied with the static load, and but failed witha aspecial dynamic impact Spanish oflaminated 50 kg. standard Test versus approach yielded excellent results (see table 8, fixation 12). Fixation 11 complied with the static load, but UNE 85-238-91 In addition, we tested the same rail but with 4-block and 6-block polymer fixation per meter. The results were 3.3with Test Spanish standard UNE 85-238-91 failed aversus dynamic soft impact of 50 kg. The number These testsblock wereclamps conducted laboratory better and positive with the 6-block configuration. of fixation also hadinanaeffect on performance and results due to better uniform stress distribution along the glass fixation. This result operated by rail suppliers. We had thea final These tests were conducted in a laboratory operated by rail suppliers. We had the findings confirmedsuggests via that a real fullwe linear blocking systems should tested, this has not08193 yet been done. In addition, tested the samelaboratory: rail butbe with findings confirmed via aSpain. final test conducted test conducted in an official certified Applus+but Laboratories, Barcelona, 4-block and 6-block polymer fixation per in an official certified laboratory: Applus+ One alsocase, modified rail system a special rail for annealed laminated glass. This In thissupplier particular a harditsimpact mustand alsodesigned be considered in addition to a soft impact, as required by meter. The results were better and positive Laboratories, 08193 Barcelona, Spain. approach yielded excellent results (see table 8, fixation 12). Spanish standards. with the 6-block configuration. TheTable number 9: Result for test in Spain 3.3 Test versus Spanish standard UNE 85-238-91 Approval Test for Balustrade :case, Spain UNE 85-238-91 of fixation block clamps also had an effect In this particular a hard impact must also Fixation Rail Laminated Glass Type Static Load (SLS) by + Max. Static LoadWe Dynamic Softfindings Dynamicconfirmed via a final TheseSystem tests were conducted in a laboratory operated rail suppliers. had the and results Thickness Application on performance and due to better be considered in addition to aApproved soft impact, as Deflection (ULS) 50 kg Hard test conducted in an official certified laboratory: Applus+ Laboratories, 08193 Barcelona, Spain. Fixationstress 13 88.2 Strong Annealed kN/m 71 mm required Breakage by Spanish standards. Not approved uniform distribution along the0,8glass Fixation 13 1010.2 Strong Annealed 1,6 kN/m 153 mm Breakage OK OK Not approved In this particular case, a hard impact alsofull be considered in addition to a OK soft impact, as required by fixation. This result suggests thatmust a real Fixation 14 88.2 Strong Annealed 0,8 kN/m 32,3 mm 1,2 kN/m Ok Residential A Spanish standards. Fixation 14 1010.2 Strong Annealed Fixation 15 Fixation 15 Fixation Rail System

88.2 Strong Annealed 1010.2 Strong Annealed Laminated Glass Type and Thickness

1,6 kN/m

42,7 mm

2,4 kN/m

OK Ok Office B and Public C1-C2-C3 OK Ok Residential A 53 mm 2,4Test kN/m OK : Spain UNE Ok 85-238-91 Office B and Public C1-C2-C3 Approval for Balustrade

0,8 kN/m mm kN/m Table 9: Result37for test 1,2 in Spain 1,6 kN/m

Static Load (SLS) + Max. Static Load Dynamic Soft Dynamic Approved Application Several findings are positive with annealed laminated PVB, meaning these complete systems Deflectionglass and stiff (ULS) 50 kg thatHard Fixation 88.2in Strong 0,8 kN/mThese 71 mm Breakage NotBelgian approved can be used13in Spain the Annealed tested configuration. findings fully confirm the results obtained with Fixation 13 1010.2 Strong Annealed 1,6 kN/m 153 mm Breakage OK OK Not approved and Italian standards. Fixation 14 88.2 Strong Annealed 0,8 kN/m 32,3 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Ok Residential A Fixation 14 1010.2 Strong Annealed 1,6 kN/m 42,7 mm 2,4 kN/m OK Ok Office B and Public C1-C2-C3 Fixation 13 is not rigid enough and cannot support the ULS static load. After every test it has to be readjusted Fixation 15 88.2 Strong Annealed 0,8 kN/m 37 mm 1,2 kN/m OK Ok Residential A because it is15not stable. This confirms each fixation53system be tested with to C1-C2-C3 Fixation 1010.2 Strong Annealed that 1,6 kN/m mm must 2,4 kN/m OKand approved Ok Officerespect B and Public

relevant national legislation. Several findings are positive with annealed laminated glass and stiff PVB, meaning that these complete systems All system withinannealed glass and stiff PVB passed the hard test. cantested be used in Spain the tested configuration. These findings fullyimpact confirm the results obtained with Belgian and Italian standards. It is interesting to note breakage behaviour with annealed laminated glass with stiff PVB (see picture 3 & 4). Breakage appeared near the railand in acannot multitude of aligned fragments. Thisit ishas completely different Fixation 13 is not rigid enough support the ULSmedium-sized static load. After every test to be readjusted Allmust tested system with annealed glass Several findings areglass positive with annealed from thermal treated and also different monolithic glass breakage. typeand of stiff because it is not stable. Thisbreakage confirms that each fixationfrom system beannealed tested and approved withThis respect to

PVB passed the hard impact test. laminated glasslegislation. and stiff PVB, meaning that relevant national these complete systems can be used in Spain All tested system with annealed glass and stiff PVB passed the hard impact test. It is interesting to note breakage behaviour in the tested configuration. These findings fully It is interesting to noteobtained breakage behaviour with annealed laminated glass withlaminated stiff PVB (see picture 3 &stiff 4). PVB with annealed glass with confirm the results with Belgian and Breakage appeared near the rail in a multitude of aligned medium-sized fragments. This is completely different (see picture 3 & 4). Breakage appeared near Italian standards. from thermal treated glass breakage and also different from monolithic annealed glass breakage. This type of the rail in a multitude of aligned mediumsized fragments. This is completely different Fixation 13 is not rigid enough and cannot from thermal treated glass breakage and also support the ULS static load. After every test it different from monolithic annealed glass has to be readjusted because it is not stable. breakage. This type of breakage is safe, since This confirms that each fixation system must be the glass remains in a vertical position and tested and approved with respect to relevant continues to prevent individuals from falling. national legislation. Similar breakage behaviour was observed for dynamic and static load.

Picture 3 & 4: Post breakage behaviour annealed laminated stiff PVB .

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Picture 3 & 4: Post breakage behaviour annealed laminated stiff PVB .

Test versus Slovak standard prescribe testing at a different temperature, i.e. 3.4 Test versus Slovak standard STN 74 3305:2016. STN 74 3305:2016. -15°C. All previous findings were obtained at standard temperature in the range 20°C ±5°C as defined in national All previous findings were obtained at standard standards. temperature in the range 20°C ±5°C as defined The tests were conducted in an official We conducted the test per Slovak standard STN 74 3305:2016, as it is the only country to prescribe testing at a in national standards. certified laboratory: Technicy a Skusobny different temperature, i.e. -15°C. Ustav Stavebny, Skusobne laboratorium, 82104 We the test in per standard Bratislava, Slovakia.Ustav Stavebny, Skusobne Theconducted tests were conducted anSlovak official certified laboratory: Technicy a Skusobny STN 74 3305:2016, as it is the only country to laboratorium, 82104 Bratislava, Slovakia. Table 9: Result for test in Slovakia Approval Test for Balustrade : Slovak STN 74 3305 Static Load (SLS) + Max. Static Load Dynamic Soft 50 kg Approved Application (ULS) Deflection Fixation 12 - 6 clamps 1010.2 Strong Annealed OK, 824 Joules Approved Fixation 12 - 4 clamps 1010.2 Strong Annealed OK, 903 Joules Approved Fixation Rail System

Laminated Glass Type and Thickness

The tested system comprising annealed glass 1010.2 with stiff PVB passed the soft impact test (most critical) at low temperature.

Conclusions Due to the absence of European standards on glass dimensioning, structural glass balustrade are subject to complex regulations by countries’ national standards, which are all different and which specify special requirement for static and/or dynamic testing of complete systems. We presented these varying requirements under different national standards and showed how they can be completely different and sometimes even contradictory. For example they can be more stringent in some countries, such as Italy with respect to static load, or in Belgium with respect to maximum deflection. Using several different national standards for physical testing, we showed that using the combination of a stiff PVB interlayer with annealed glass can be acceptable and safe for balustrade applications using a continuous aluminium profile fixation system. Annealed laminated glass can be a solution for replacing thermally toughened or heat-strengthened laminated glass in modern linear fixation systems.

acceptable only after testing the complete system (glass + fixation) with respect to national standards. Finally, we recommend always using tested and approved systems with respect to the relevant load, glass thickness and type of linear fixation. Digital simulation can be used to pre-determine and evaluate potential designs, but physical testing is always needed to validate aspects not covered by digital simulation, mainly anchoring to the main structure and rigidity of the profile. The use of annealed laminated glass with stiff PVB offers many advantages: less complex and costly to produce, short delivery times since stock products are used, perfectly flat and transparent aesthetics without any optical distortion, no risk of NiS breakage, excellent edge polishing and lower risk of delamination. Future is to test more fixation system in relation with each country standard. System continuous with no punctual clamps seem to be particularly interesting and have to be investigated.

Post-breakage behaviour with annealed laminated glass and a stiff PVB interlayer is safe, since the glass remains in a vertical position and continues to prevent individuals from falling.

Introduction of a European code for glass design and especially European standard for balustrade testing will support development of this promising new technology.

Unfortunately, not all tested rail systems yielded positive results and requirements vary from country to country. Accordingly, the use of annealed laminated glass with stiff PVB is

This paper was first presented at Glass Performance Days (GPD) 2019 Conference www.gpd.fi

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References

[1] W. Stevel: Design and testing of annealed glass balustrade panels using structural PVB interlayer, Proceeding Glass Performance Days (Tampere Finland), pp. 169-171, 2015. [2] BS 6180:2011, British standard, Barriers in and about buildings – Code of practice, 2011. [3] NBN B 03-004:2017, Belgische norm, Borstweringen van gebouwen, NBN, 2017. [4] DIN 18008-4:2013-07, Glas im Bauwesen — Bemessungsund Konstruktionsregeln — Teil 4: Zusatzanforderungen an absturzsichernde Verglasungen, DIN, 2013. [5] DIN EN 1991-1-1/NA:2010-12, National Annex - Nationally determined parameters - Eurocode 1: Actions on structures - Part 1-1: General actions - Densities, self-weight, imposed loads for buildings, DIN, 2010. [6] NF EN 1991-1-1 March 2003, P06-111-1, Eurocode 1 - Actions on structures - Part 1-1 : general actions - Densities, self weight, imposed loads for buildings, AFNOR, 2003. [7] FD DTU 39 P5 July 2017, P78-201-5, DTU 39 - Building works - Glass selection depending on the exposure to risk of injury - Part 5 : memorandum for supervisor - DTU 39 - Travaux de bâtiment - Choix des vitrages en fonction de l’exposition aux risques de blessures Partie 5 : mémento pour les maîtres d’oeuvre, AFNOR, 2017. [8] Cahier 3034_V2 – Octobre 2018, DTU 39 - Building works - Glass selection depending on the exposure to risk of injury - Part 5 : memorandum for supervisor - DTU 39 - Travaux de bâtiment - Choix des vitrages en fonction de l’exposition aux risques de blessures Partie 5 : mémento pour les maîtres d’œuvre, CSTB, 2018. [9] CTE DB-SE-AE abril 2009, Documento Básico - Seguridad Estructural - Acciones en la edificación, Ministerio de Fomento, 2009. [10] Boverket mandatory provisions amending the board’s mandatory provisions and general recommendations (2011:10) on the application of European design standards (Eurocodes), EKS Consolidated Version – as last amended by BFS 2013:10 EKS 9, 2013. [11] Boverket´s mandatory provisions and general recommendations, BBR, Boverket, 2019. [12] Istruzioni per la Progettazione, l’Esecuzione ed il Controllo di Costruzioni con Elementi Strutturali di Vetro, CNR-DT 210/2013, ROMA – CNR, 2013. [13] UNE 85-238-91, Norma española, Barandillas – Métodos de ensayo, AENOR, 1991. [14] UNI 11678:2017, Vetro per edilizia - Elementi di tamponamento in vetro aventi funzione anticaduta - Resistenza al carico statico lineare ed al carico dinamico - Metodi di Prova, UNI, 2017. [15] ČSN EN 1991-1-1 (730035), Eurokód 1: Zatížení konstrukcí - Část 1-1: Obecná zatížení –Objemové tíhy, vlastní tíha a užitná zatížení pozemních staveb, ÚNMZ, 2004. [16] ČSN 74 3305 (743305), Ochranná zábradlí. Základní ustanovení, ÚNMZ, 2017. [17] STN 74 3305, Slovenská technická norma, Ochranné zábradlia, ÚNMS SR, 2014. [18] AGC Stratobel Strong https://www.agc-yourglass.com/be/en/ products/stratobel/strong

Hugues Lefèvre Product Manager Laminated Glass Hugues Lefèvre is a laminated glass product manager at AGC Glass Europe. He has more than 25 years of experience in the glass industry in a wide range of fields, including research and development, sales and marketing of glass products. He is a member of several technical glass committees and international associations. Hugues Lefevre holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium), an MBA from the EPM school and a Certificate in Legal Expertise from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium).

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The greatest writing is clear and concise, consequently getting your message across effectively is sometimes easier said than done. Our experienced team of in-house journalists and editors raise your profile with thoughtful and intelligent copy that trumpets your story, hitting the right note every time: 1. Whitepapers 2. Case studies 3. Project write-ups 4. Editorials + Advertorials 5. Blogs 6. Press releases

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Diamonds are an Architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Friend Glass Bridge Connects Iconic Buildings

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The Capricorn Bridge consists of a closed tubular grid shell with ribs and transversals, its glass shell is made of 60 individual glass elements in sizes of up to 8.1m x 3m. Photo Credit: Â©HG Esch

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LOAT, an office building designed by architect Renzo Piano, was built at the southern end of Dusseldorf’s so-called “Medienhafen” (media harbour) in Germany. This building has now been connected to the “Capricorn” building across the street by a spectacular steel-and-glass pedestrian bridge designed by Gatermann + Schossig Architects. The impressive, 35-metre long pedestrian bridge looks like a glass diamond. The unusual shape of the bridge is created by the polygonal arrangement of trapezoidal and triangular insulating glass units. The construction was realised by façades specialist seele. One Bridge With Different Angles The bridge structure, with a total length of 35m, consists of a closed, tubular grid shell with glazing made of circa. 60 trapezoidal and triangular insulated glass units (up to 8.1m x 3.0m). The kink in the bridge, evident

in the horizontal section, ensures an exact connection to both buildings. The loads of the bridge are absorbed solely by means of the steel structure in the glazed middle column. Since the two cantilevered bridge arms to the left and right of the column have different lengths and angles, the structural design is correspondingly complex. In terms of structural design, the Capricorn bridge is demanding: One main challenge is that the bridge structure is not supported by the connected buildings. The supporting structure consists of a central pylon and two bridge arms. The load is transferred to the central pylon at the point of the bridges ascent, with the concrete base plate itself, resting on three drilled piles. The central pylon consists of 13 round columns. The base of the pylon, the so-called base unit, was delivered to the construction site in one 8m x 3m piece and was encased in concrete. This is why the column footings were already in their fixed

A new diamond bridge: the 35m long steel-and-glass Capricorn Bridge in Dusseldorf, Germany Photo Credit: ©HG Esch

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position in the factory. Absolute precision was required, because every millimetre was decisive for assembly on the construction site. Complex Steelwork And Structural Engineering The bridge body consists of a closed tubular grid shell with ribs and transversals. Even the support structure of the bridge is built from a grid shell. Eight steel polygons, longitudinal ribs and diagonals form the steel structure for the precision fitted insulating glass units. The dead load of the structure was included in the static analysis as well as the wind load, snow load and the deformations from the payload on the cantilever arms and the vibration behaviour. The loads of the bridge are transferred exclusively by the steel structure within the central support, which is also glazed. The shape-forming steel construction of the Capricorn Bridge was manufactured by seele pilsen in the Czech Republic.

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Semi-transparent Glass Shell The glass shell of the Capricorn bridge consists of circa. 60 individual glass elements in sizes of up to 8.1m x 3m. In detail: 35 insulating glass panels, 17 opaque laminated safety glass panels and 5 glass panels. In particular, the trapezoidal glass panels with acute angles of up to 34.9°, partly with recesses for the supporting structure, are very striking. The insulating glass consists of two laminated safety glass panes, each consisting of 2 x 10 mm heat-strengthened glass. A dot-matrix of white print on face 2 fades to the viewing height and later forms the reflecting surface for the bridge lighting. Challenging Installation One particular challenge of this project was the demanding installation procedure of the steel structure. Due to the bespoke design of the bridge, the 7t steel structure had to be adjusted and aligned with the greatest precision. After the successful positioning, 10 tons of reinforcing

The shape-forming steel construction of the Capricorn Bridge was manufactured by seele pilsen in the Czech Republic. Photo Credit: ©HG Esch

Thanks to a perfectly coordinated logistics and assembly oncept, the two cantilevers weighing 26 and 12 tons respectively, were lifted and fixed in just one weekend. Photo credit: ©HG Esch

steel were braided at the base and encased in concrete. The central pylon now forms the connection for the steel construction. Thanks to a perfectly coordinated logistics and assembly concept, the two cantilevers weighing 26 and 12 tons respectively, were lifted and fixed in just one weekend. The cantilevers of the bridge each consist of two half-shells, which were pre-assembled on site. The lifting into the final position was carried out as a whole, with the installation of the steel frame being followed by the glazing of the bridge body. Following completion of the work, the bridge protrudes freely from the central pylon 12m to the Capricorn building and 20m to the Float building.

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Bodycopy The loads of the bridge are absorbed solely by means of the steel structure in the glazed middle column. Photo credit: © seele

Other Examples of Bridge Constructions: The CF TEC Bridge, Toronto/CAN With a total length of 35m, a complex shape and sophisticated supporting structure as well as special glass sizes and geometries, seele once again proved its expertise in bridge construction. Three years ago, seele was commissioned to design, construct and install the CF Toronto Eaton Centre Bridge, a circa. 35m long pedestrian bridge, weighing approx. 200t. Located at third-floor level, it spans over Queen Street West between the Hudson’s Bay building and the CF Toronto Eaton Centre Bridge, a circa. 35m long pedestrian bridge, spans over Queen Street West between the Hudson’s Bay building and the CF Toronto Eaton Centre in the heart of the Canadian metropolis of Toronto. Photo credit: ©Sight on Site Inc

Credits Main Contractor Pirol Holzstraße GmbH & Co. KG Architect Gatermann + Schossig Architekten GmbH Engineer osd – office for structural design; Wilhelm & Partner

Andreas Hafner, Managing Director at seele GmbH and seele (UK) Ltd Andreas Hafner is Managing Director at façades specialist seele, one of the world’s top companies specialising in the design and construction of façades and complex building envelopes made from glass, steel, aluminium, membranes and other high-tech materials. With over 25 years of experience in the field of façade engineering, Andreas Hafner has already been involved in numerous projects all over the world. In his role as Managing Director, Andreas Hafner is responsible for general management including strategic development of business, sales and new technical approaches within the seele group. Together with his team he realised well-known façade projects in Europe and North-America, such as the Strasbourg Railway Station (France), King´s Cross Station (UK), the TEC Bridge (Canada) and the Museum of Westward Expansion at Gateway Arch (USA).

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CF Toronto Eaton Centre (CF TEC) in the heart of the Canadian metropolis of Toronto. seele handled the demanding installation procedure on Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important shopping street with a sophisticated design and logistics concept. The old bridge between the two buildings had to be removed and the new bridge installed within an exactly defined time-slot. The CF TEC Bridge was completely preassembled just around the corner on James Street. This included delivering the primary and secondary steel structure, glass, commercial

bronze plates and all further components to James Street for assembly there on temporary staging. Following this, the bridge was raised hydraulically with the help of a modular vehicle and transported to its final position on Queen Street West, ready for lifting into position. The scope of seeleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work covered the design, fabrication and erection of various panes of laminated glass, commercial bronze plates, handrails, stainless steel open-grid flooring and structural steelwork. Given the challenging shape of the steel-and-glass design, every commercial bronze plate is a one-off in terms of its geometry and the milling work required.

For both projects, seele demonstrated its expertise in the field of filigree steel-andglass structures along with the requisite time sensitive erection procedures for bridge constructions. In order to construct free architectural forms with glass, designs are created as detailed, complex 3D models. During the planning process, multiple structural and performance calculations must be factored and considered and this high level of engineering competence facilitates the reduced visibility of supporting structure, thus enabling glass to take centre stage, as the dominant faĂ§ade material.

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Retrofitting with the magical properties of glass

Since then, we have witnessed the development of a large variety of design applications, alongside very extensive industry developed facade systems and structural glass solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible with this magical material. There have also been significant advances in laminating and fritting techniques, alongside technical advances in insulating and applying heatreflective layers in order to prevent heat gain and energy loss in buildings. Visually combining transparent properties with physical properties (such as a gas layer, fritting, interlays etc.), has led to the performance improvement of buildings from which ultimately its users benefit. As such, glass is undoubtedly one of the most versatile building materials in use today. For architects, it is a long-lasting material that provides opportunities for the development of innovative, energy efficient building envelopes for both new build and renovation projects. The possibilities to recycle glass for various further uses makes it an extremely environmentally friendly and circular material. However, for the end-user, it is the most apparent property of the material, its transparency, which makes it essential for the quality of the spaces we live and work in.

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The Glass Pixelation, P.C. Hooftstraat 140-142, Amsterdam, 2017-2019 ©Evabloem

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‘The Scalpel’: Your Friendly Neighbourhood Skyscraper

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Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates’ office tower for W.R. Berkley joins the conversation in the City of London.

2 Lime Street, known as ‘The Scalpel’, is a striking 190-metre office tower in the heart of the City of London, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) for W.R. Berkley as the location of its UK headquarters and to let to tenants. A considered addition to the skyline, the building works in conversation with its neighbours to complement the overall composition of the ‘City Cluster’ whilst improving the public realm at the base with the introduction of a new public plaza. The simple geometric form of the 35-storey tower is reinforced by partially reflective glass and bright metallic fold lines.

The Scalpel in context. © Hufton + Crow

GLOBAL CASE STUDIES AND TRENDS GAINING TRACTION

Breathtaking 64

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Innovative breathing glass façades for UBER A new office concept with highly transparent atria

Jürgen Wax (CEO, Josef Gartner GmbH) Mike Kneeland (Regional CEO, Permasteelisa North America) (c) David Eichler

intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

Renovating, Retrofitting and Remodelling Today, we are increasingly witnessing a new awareness of the benefits of retrofitting buildings, rather than demolishing and replacing them with new builds. This is especially true in Europe and in several large cities in Asia. Increasingly, developers are seeing both the environmental and the economic advantages of remodelling buildings, while integrating new sustainable strategies. In fact, for some clients, a retrofit-in-place is actually a more affordable and reliable option when a building is in need of renovation, while for designers, the goal of such projects is also to provide long-term value.

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Switzerland’s largest construction project in recent years is redefining the limits of façade technology Jürgen Wax; CEO Josef Gartner GmbH

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n 5 November 2020, after a construction period of over five years, The Circle was opened at Zurich Airport by the co-owners, Flughafen Zürich AG and Swiss Life, and presented to the media.

The Circle is a service centre of superlatives, with numerous new stores, restaurants & bars inviting visitors to shop and linger. The new University Hospital Airport offers a wide range of medical services. Congresses for up to 2,500 guests can be held in the new Convention Center, and two Hyatt hotels offer overnight accommodation. Other services such as coworking spaces, a fitness centre or a day care centre will round off the wide range of facilities from 2021. The Circle at Zurich Airport is clad with inclined & curved closed cavity façades The closed cavity façades of The Circle at Zurich Airport are both curved and inclined, harmoniously following the ring shape of the motorway and cantilevering up to 15 metres off the vertical dropline. The drives for the sun protection louvres, which were integrated in the closed double-skin façade units, are another unique feature of this architecturally striking complex. The energy-efficient and highly sound-insulating closed cavity façade, with more than 1,600 different façade units measuring up to 2.7 x 5.6 metres, covers a total area of 83,000 square metres. It has been manufactured by Josef Gartner GmbH in Gundelfingen, Bavaria, using narrow profiles and providing a flush view without corners and edges. Furthermore, the BMU – guiderails were integrated into the vertical profiles of the inclined facades, thus not requiring BMU restraints. The mixed-use complex The Circle at Zurich Airport, which offers 180,000 square metres of usable floor space, is divided into individual buildings, 9 to 11 storeys high. Large-format buildings adjacent to the Butzenbühlring motorway merge into smaller buildings with partly covered lanes and squares towards the hill side. This structure also partitions the closed cavity façades (CCF) with their different unit sizes and design variants. The ring façade at the motorway covers 23,000 sqm, the hill façade 52,200 sqm, the courtyard façade 7,900 sqm and the pedestrian bridges 800 sqm. Parts of these 58

façades meet high fire protection requirements according to E30 and EI30. CCF façades were tested for the first time in this context. Other parts of the façades serve as exhaust ducts, which are used by the fire brigade to open and keep the façade smoke-free. For this purpose, two chain motor-driven rotary wings were integrated into the façade units. Closed cavity façades with a Ucw value of up to 0.77 and sound insulation of up to 47 dB In order to meet the ambitious sustainability goals, the building owners had opted for a CCF, as this closed double-skin façade improves thermal insulation in summer and winter as well as sound insulation and allows for more daylight inside the building. The Circle ring façade achieves a U-value of 0.82 W/sqm K, the hill façade 0.77 - 1.08 W/sqm K and the courtyard façade 0.90 W/sqm K. The g-values for the ring façade without sun shading are 20 %, values for the hill and courtyard façades with closed sun shading are 8 % and with open sun shading 41 %. The highly transparent glasses, whose light transmission does not need to be restricted, except for the ring façade, by sun control coatings for thermal protection, achieve a light transmission of 63 % for the hill and courtyard façades with open sun shading. A further criterion for the clients to opt for a CCF system was the high level of noise

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insulation in order to reduce traffic noise at the airport. The ring façade achieves 47 dB and the hill façade dB is between 41 and 44. As the façade cavity is protected from dirt, unlike with ventilated double-skin facades, there is no need for cleaning. This reduces maintenance and operating costs and increases the service life of the integrated sun shading devices. The Circle façade was also the first CCF that was produced on a new assembly line with

special washing system at Gartner’s main plant in Gundelfingen by the Danube (Germany). This system is very close to clean room production standards and prevents dust particles and other impurities to enter into the space between the inner and outer façade, which could impair the function. Inclined ring façades with cold-bent impact panes Sizes of the standard units of the ring façade at

the motorway are 2.7 x 3.7 m with a weight of 1,160 kg, with the largest unit measuring 2.7 x 5.5 m. The attic of this façade cantileveres up to 15 m above the base point and, with the coldformed impact panes, forms a homogeneously curved outer skin along the ring road. This required 1,578 different unit size configurations with different angles of inclination between 10.5 and 18.4 degrees to the outside and cold deformation of the impact pane at one corner by up to 50 mm. For such a variety of intricate

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TRANSPARENT ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES IN EUROPE

variants with loxogonal (oblique) glass panes, Gartner specialists engaged in an extensive 3D design process. For cold bending, the impact panes were forced at one corner into the curved aluminium frame. This was done at the construction site itself. Lined up in a row, the CCF units thus follow the ring shape of the motorway, without corners nor edges. At the occasion of a visual mock-up meeting to discuss hot and cold bent glass, the building owners had decided against hot bending for visual reasons. Both the inclination and the curvature of the CCF made it difficult to install sun protection systems inside the units of the ring façade. For this reason, the highly transparent impact

panes, made of laminated safety glass, were coated with double sun protection and, unlike the other façades, have a darker appearance from the outside. The inner façade skin consists of highly transparent triple insulation glazing. Hill and courtyard façades with integrated drive system for sun protection louvres and passerelles The standard units (950 kg each) of the hill façade measure 2.7 x 3.6 m, the largest unit is 2.7 x 5.6 m. The courtyard façades consist of standard units with 510 kg and standard sizes of 1.35 x 3.6 m, with a maximum size of 2.7 x 5.6 m. For the passageways (“passerelles”), the standard units are 950 kg, with a standard size of 2.7 x 3.6 m and a maximum size of 2.7 x 4.1 m. The reinforced concrete structures of the three

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connecting bridges between buildings are fully clad with CCF, with a length of 18, 16 and 15 m, resp. These façades are glazed with highly transparent impact panes, made of laminated safety glass, and highly transparent triple insulating glazing. Their decorative exterior sheets featuring natural colour have a special radiant effect due to high-gloss. For the hill and courtyard façades, the drive system for the 60 mm wide, white-coloured sun protection louvres was also integrated in the closed façade cavity for the first time. Therefore, the drive system is no longer visible and the ensuing noises can no longer be heard. The terraced landscape has been particularly challenging in the area of the hill façade, with

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TRANSPARENT ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES IN EUROPE

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swing door drives, door control systems and exhaust ducts to keep staircases and other areas smoke-free. Special control modules had to be developed for these doors. Two warm roofs (243 sqm and 153 sqm) provide additional usable spaces on two floors in building no. 14. Start of production in November 2017, completion of façade installation in November 2019 In November 2017, the first Circle façade units had been produced in Gundelfingen. Before the start of installation, around 5,600 CCF units were temporarily stored in four covered outdoor storage facilities with an area of around 1.5 football pitches and provided with dry – air – supply in order to prevent condensation inside the units. The last façade units were manufactured in September 2019. Installation took place from August 2018 to November 2019 As only few façade units could be stored on site and up to 200 units were installed at different buildings per week, a 3,800 sqm hall was rented near Zurich serving as a “buffer”. From there, the façade units were delivered to the construction site virtually around the clock. The new normality a chance for innovative façade solutions 2020 has been a particularly eventful and challenging year. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the entire world was confronted with unprecedented challenges, uncertainties and restrictions. “Construction sites had been on hold, we have faced challenges in logistics and project management we never even imagined” confirms Gartner CEO Jürgen Wax.

44 differently-sized metal terraces. These open spaces are up to 392 sqm in size, featuring different geometric ground plans. The large number of sealing points required precise design solutions for the profiles, which were installed at different angles and heights, to ensure that the terraces in the areas of offices, clinic and hotel will be watertight. Brands façades, smoke-pressure system doors and warm roofs In addition to the approx. 83,000 sqm of CCF, Gartner also produced 6,900 sqm of branded 62

façades for the shops in the hill area. This singleskin façade visually resembles the hill façade and was designed by the tenants themselves. The so-called Brands façades were executed with a newly developed 2,400 sqm of textile fabric with fire protection classification RF 1 (A1/A2). On the construction site, it was then stretched onto the metal frames measuring up to 2.7 x 5.5 m. In addition, Gartner manufactured 200 external doors for smoke-pressure systems (RDA) with

intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

Nonetheless, this past year has seen an acceleration in some of the developments that have already become apparent in recent times. Above all, the way people will work in the future is likely to change significantly. The crisis has challenged the organization of workplaces, remote and flexible working arrangements have become the new normal. Sustainability and user comfort at the center of attention A trend that was anticipated by many architects, developers and project partners. Several of Gartner’s recent office building projects emphasize on designs fostering communication and collaboration. Hereby innovative façade solutions support architects’ intentions to create light-flooded working spaces, allowing for natural ventilation while at

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Google KGX1, London (Great Britain) the world’s largest wooden facade

MIZAL Dusseldorf (Germany) - the largest CCF in Germany to date

percentage of recycled materials for the overall construction, which was respected also in façade construction using primarily recycled aluminium. Individual façade solutions that push the boundaries of what is technically feasible play a key role in realizing architect’s and project partner’s ambitious ideas with sustainability and wellbeing of tenants at the center of attention.

Jürgen Wax, CEO Josef Gartner GmbH, Gundelfingen (Germany) CEO Jürgen Wax joined Gartner in 2014 as COO and became CEO in 2016. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim, Germany and looks back on 20 years of experience in the facade industry.

the same time reaching ambitious sustainability standards. Innovative Office buildings require innovative facades Constant refinement and innovation are key factors in actively shaping the future of sustainable and welcoming office buildings. A key trend is the use of re-growing materials such as wood. Prominent current example is the Google’s new London headquarters at Kings Cross. It includes numerous “green” features and was designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studio. Josef

Gartner GmbH has collaborated with project partners to produce what will be the world’s largest wooden façade at 23,300m². Active and passive design strategies will be included to make the building as energy-efficient as possible. For MIZAL in Dusseldorf Gartner is designing, manufacturing and installing the largest CCF in Germany to date. The CCF contributes to the overall ambitious sustainability requirements of the building, high transparency reducing need for artificial light, integrated sun protection and openable wings allowing for natural ventilation. The aspiring developers further request a high intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

New experience is here. Visit us at www.permasteelisagroup.com

In the second chapter of this historic edition you will gain insight into the striking façade of KPF’s Scalpel, a strong personality in the melodrama that is London’s skyline. Hear from JeanArjan Klem and Joey Janssen Paul Hautekeer in an Discover the engineering behind the majestic exclusive interview dome of the AFAS Experience Center, featuring where he reflects on over 1000 glass panels this year’s pandemic Page 78 and looks to the future of the industry. glasstec Innovation and technological developments in Last, but by no means glass have cemented its position as the building least: In this edition’s material of choice in modern architecture ‘Glass Word’, we are Page 102 honored to feature founder of UNStudio, Ben Van Berkel Ben Van Berkel, who “Glass will play an essential role in the highimparts the wisdom performance buildings of the future” and experience of an architectural visionary. Page 122

PLENTY MORE TO COME

From a glass diamond bridge to the refurbishment of historic buildings and the curved, inclined façade of ‘The Circle’ in Zurich, you have borne witness to the burning passion architects have for glass. The adaptable and diverse nature of this building material has allowed us to expand the boundaries of our imaginations. Technology, engineering and glass, the holy trinity of modern construction, is pathing the way forward for the sustainable, high-performance buildings of tomorrow. The preceding authors, foremost experts involved with glass, architectural design and façade engineering projects in Europe have immortalized the future of the built environment by penning their knowledge onto the pages of IGS Magazine.

This is IGS – Nothing more, nothing less…NOTHING ELSE

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The Scalpel in context. Â© Hufton + Crow

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‘The Scalpel’: Your Friendly Neighbourhood Skyscraper Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates’ office tower for W.R. Berkley joins the conversation in the City of London.

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William Pedersen, one of the Founding Partners of KPF, led the early conceptual design stages explains the thinking behind the design: “At KPF our aspiration, from the earliest days, was to find a way for tall buildings to create a more ‘social’ interaction with the cities that they inhabit. The role of the building within the city is much like the role of an individual at a cocktail party. To have a good party, the individuals can’t stand isolated from each other – they need to generate some form of conversation. Similarly, tall buildings need to find a way to be able to respond and gesture to their context. “The introduction of tall buildings into the historic centre of the City of London always generates controversy. Yet they are necessary

in a modern, progressive, urban environment. London’s town planners recognised this dilemma. Here they elected to cluster the tall buildings together, making a type of pyramidal massing of their collective form. Their intention was to have buildings, each with a strong personality, build to an architectural crescendo. Each is a strong personality. Each speaks to the other with energy and respect. “What has been created, in effect, is a type of urban drama. Each participant in the dramatic action has been shaped by the necessity of respecting view corridors to St. Pauls Cathedral. Each does it uniquely, but collectively they make an architectural conversation. 52 Lime Street responds by leaning back to respect the view corridor, creating a paired, but mirrored

A considered addition to the skyline, the building works in conversation with its neighbours to complement the overall composition of the ‘City Cluster’ ©Hufton + Crow

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gesture to the Leadenhall Building, which makes for an exceptional urban conversational, one which is theatrical in its nature. “Giving our building a folded, origami like quality, was the impetus for its form. Affectionately, it has been dubbed ‘the Scalpel.’ As it rises it folds back to mount to a point on the sky. Identified as a unique participant in the group it also joins enthusiastically with its neighbours. On the ground the urban space it forms with the Willis building creates exceptional urban intimacy. As always, we intend for our tall buildings to be social participants in their contexts. Never have we had the opportunity to add one of our tall buildings to a context of such richness and drama.”

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Design and form At the outset of the project, the City Cluster was in its infancy. The City planners were keen maintain the street edge and limit the height on Leadenhall Street, where the existing buildings were all about five storeys tall, to around 10 storeys. Working with the planning authorities, KPF demonstrated the potential for a tall building on the site that would maintain the street edge, preserve protected views of St Paul’s Cathedral and enhance the public realm.

52 Lime Street, City of London, the simple geometric form of the 35-storey tower is reinforced by partially reflective glass and bright metallic fold lines ©Hufton + Crow

The kinetic views along Fleet Street played an important role. To protect the view of St Paul’s Cathedral, the building needed either to be stepped or inclined behind the dome. The inclined façade offered a calm silhouette among the existing frenetic array of buildings

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while providing a wider variety of floor plate types and greater efficiencies. The taut, sculptural form reinforces the more formal urban planning interventions at the ground floor which shape the external space adjacent to the neighbouring building while holding the building line along Leadenhall Street. The massing also provides a counterpoint to the surrounding historic buildings including the Grade I listed St Andrew’s Undershaft and the Lloyd’s building which obtained Grade I listing during the design process. Reflections on glazing “Given the highly textural structures adjacent to ours, we have chosen to act as a foil to their presence. They are rough, we are smooth. Not only smooth but also reflective. These surrounding structures represent different eras in history. The most venerable being the Grade l-listed St. Andrews Undershaft, directly across from us on Leadenhall. The facade of our structure mirrors its presence. Lloyd’s of London, also an immediate neighbour, is clad in a textured surface of a more aggressive order. The coolness of our response is a perfect foil.” William Pedersen “At 52 Lime Street the glazing is an integral part of the architecture, it is both what creates the strong form and what controls the building’s performance. The detailing and specification was crucial to delivering the design intent. The entire mechanical system, internal comfort and energy used are predicated by the glazed façade. The simple form and alignment of panels across the building are underlined by a hidden complexity in geometry, each inclined pane is slightly trapezoidal to ensure verticality of mullions and to align internal planning grids with the angled facade.” Charles Olsen, Senior Associate Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox. Glass was specified to achieve crisp geometry and ensure sharp reflections. The glazing works with the stainless steel edges to define the building’s strong identity from near and far. The entrance lobby provides a highly-transparent corner, visually linking Lime Street and Leadenhall Street. Jet Mist granite flooring inside the lobby continues, with a different finish, into the external space providing continuity. This space is activated by a constant flow of building occupants and visitors and contains a range of spaces for waiting and informal breakout at both ground 70

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52 Lime Street leans back to respect the view corridor for St Paul’s Cathedral, creating a paired, but mirrored, gesture with the Leadenhall Building which makes for a theatrical urban conversation. ©Hufton + Crow

From Leadenhall Street © Timothy Soar

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Interior spaces feature timeless modern design and detailing, using a palette of high quality natural materials. An illuminated ceiling to the triple-height atrium above the escalators, emulates natural daylight. ÂŠ Hufton + Crow

A sculptural limestone staircase from the entrance lobby was developed in close collaboration with stone masons. ÂŠ Hufton + Crow

and mezzanine levels. An independent coffee shop at ground floor level, overlooking the new public space, will activate and enliven the immediate area. The office floors The offset core provides large uninterrupted and virtually column-free floor plates that are efficient to plan for a variety of tenants, with floor-to-ceiling glass optimising daylighting of the office floors and supplying spectacular views across London. Located on the south 72

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Reception ÂŠ Timothy Soar

of the building, the core shades the building to reduce solar gain and provides higher levels of thermal insulation to the building. The faĂ§ade is specifically designed to suit the internal planning grid for the building. The grid and interior arrangements of floors and ceilings are aligned with the core which the facades intersect at varying angles and inclines. Mullions are rotated to align with the grid and notional partitions, resolving the complex geometry and ensuring floorplates suit a variety of workspace typologies.

Interior spaces, such as the double-height entrance lobby, lift lobbies, lift interiors and washrooms, feature timeless modern design and detailing, using a palette of high-quality natural materials. An illuminated ceiling to the triple-height atrium above the escalators, emulates natural daylight. A sculptural limestone staircase from the entrance lobby was developed in close collaboration with a stone mason.

Sustainability Creating an energy-efficient glazed building that performs well environmentally required a holistic design approach, from passive design principals to renewables and an economic structure that minimised material used to reduce the emission of CO2 in construction. The core is located on the south of the building, against the facade. This provides shading to the interior and allowed the project team to insulate the faĂ§ade most directly affected by solar gain

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Detail: the large, virtually column free floor plates are easy to plan.

Four allegorical stone relief panels – the Woodford Stones – representing the classical elements of earth, air, fire and water have been incorporated in the façade of 52 Lime Street. © Hufton + Crow

Lift lobby © Timothy Soar

- minimising the demand for air conditioning and significantly reducing energy use. The building achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating under BREEAM 2014 due to this energy-efficient layout paired with careful detailing and specification of the façade, lighting, and mechanical systems. Energy modelling calculated regulated carbon dioxide emissions in operation 25% lower than required by building regulations. Computational design of floor beams saved 700t of steel, reducing CO2 emissions from construction by 1,300t and vertical core prestressing allowed core walls to be thinner, saving 1,800m3 of concrete and reducing CO2 emissions from construction by 1,000t. Bike parking and showers encourage sustainable commuting and healthy habits. 74

The Woodford Stones Four allegorical stone relief panels – the Woodford Stones – representing the classical elements of earth, air, fire and water have been incorporated in the façade of 52 Lime Street. Commissioned from the renowned sculptor James Woodford for the previous Lloyd’s

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building, which opened in 1957, the stones were moved to the party wall of 52-54 Lime Street as a part of the planning conditions for the Willis Building, which completed in 2008, and relocated to 52 Lime Street as part of the new development.

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Restaurant / Fitness Boutique

The partially reflective façade acts as a foil to the highly-textural neighbouring structures © Hufton + Crow

Retail

Office Reception

Service Yard Service Entrance

Coffee Shop

Cycle Entrance

Ground floor

52 Lime Street Ground Floor

About Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates KPF is one of the world’s preeminent architecture firms, providing architecture, interior, programming and master planning services for clients that include some of the most forward-thinking developers, corporations, entrepreneurs, and institutions around the world. As a global practice with a far-reaching impact, KPF endeavours to design lasting architectural solutions that mitigate their lifecycle impact on environmental resources and that protect and enhance the wellbeing of the communities they serve. For that reason, the firm has joined AIA, RIBA, and many of its peers in a joint effort to develop the capabilities to design and deliver carbon-neutral buildings by 2030.

Level 4 (low-rise)

52 Lime Street Level 4 (low-rise)

20.4m

TEAM Client: WRBC Development UK Ltd Contractor: Skanska Structural Engineer: Arup M&E: Arup Planning: DP9

Level 19 (mid-rise)

52 Lime Street

Level 19 (mid-rise) 13.7m

www.kpf.com Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @ kohnpedersenfox

Level 30 (high-rise)

52 Lime Street

Level 30 (high-rise)

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Bodycopy

Coming in March…

IGS SPRING 2021

T EC H N O L TA L K S In the opening issue of 2021, readers will gain foresight into intelligent technologies and cutting-edge glass products that are expanding the possibilities of architecture and façade design. From developments in curved glass to fire safety glazing and smart glass you will be privy to the innovative spirit of modernist glass industry vanguards. Through project case studies, we explore the diversity of design applications, alongside industry developed facade systems and structural glass solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible with this magical material. Exclusive Interviews and project case studies from glass protagonists championing innovation for a sustainable high-performance future…

“Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation.” - Dean Kamen 76

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LO G Y

This is IGS – Nothing more, nothing less…NOTHING ELSE intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

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A Perfect Fit for a High-Tech Glass Dome This is a revised translation of an article previously published in Bouwwereld Nederland. Author: DaniĂŤl van Capelleveen

alking into the giant glass dome of the AFAS Experience Center, it is hard not to be impressed. With a diameter of 42m and a height of over 24m the majestic structure covers a theatre that can house up to 850 people. Between the theatre hall and the glass dome enough space is left to fit in a foyer with a capacity of over 625 people. If you count the two floors around the theatre, the capacity increases to over 1000 people. And to think that the theatre is part of a much bigger complex that includes an office building, a two-story underground parking garage, conference rooms, studioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, a gym, an atrium, auditorium and a restaurant. The AFAS Experience Center is, just as the dome, impressively big. Octatube was contracted by Just Architects and client AFAS Software to engineer and build the dome with horizontal lines and triangular glass panels, taking up the full technical development of the design. An interesting challenge.

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Photo Fred Oosterhuis

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TRANSPARENT ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES IN EUROPE

Glass division Several studies showed that a system using hollow steel tubes was the best way to construct the dome. But how to design a structure in which the glass panels are neatly divided over the dome, without disturbing deviations in the pattern? “This was the most important question in the design phase,” says Arjan Klem, senior engineer at Octatube and responsible for the 3D-modeling and engineering. Joey Janssen, structural engineer at Octatube involved in the project, adds: “We started with the largest possible shape: a triangular glass panel of 3.2 meter at the base of the structure. Due to limits in glass productions we could not go any larger. Progressing to the top the panels gradually become smaller, building up the dome with 11 horizontal rings in total.” The steel rings are connected with tubes that follow the division of the glass panels, creating a steel structure with a consistent pattern of triangles. Between ring 9 and 10, the number of glass panels used per ring goes from 48 to 24, preventing the triangular panels becoming too sharp and therefore much more difficult to produce. The dome is covered with more than 1000 glass panels, built up out of an inner laminated pane of 2x8 mm, a 16 mm argon-filled spacer and an outer pane of approximately 10 mm thick single safety glass. The first ring is positioned below ground level and stops right above the water surrounding the dome. The glass in this bottom ring has a perforated blue screen print to reduce reflections from the water. From the seventh ring onwards, the glass is provided with a dense screen print in the same blue color. This print serves as sun shading. On the inside, these glass panels are covered with acoustic panels. Assembling an giant dome of tubes and glass with just three people A lot of time and energy is invested in the preparation phase of the project, in which all the major decisions were taken. Special attention was paid to devising an assembly method and the logistics behind it. “The choice was: are we going to work with separate tubes and nodes and assemble these on-site or are we going to prefabricate large frames in the factory? We went for the first option,” says Klem. “Even though the assembly itself is not necessarily easy, the concept is relatively simple. There is lots of repetition, every node per ring is the same and besides, working with smaller elements provides easier handling and creates 80

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Photo: Octatube

Photo: AFAS Software

flexibility. A large component needs to be planned: multiple people have to collaborate, a larger crane is required, transportation is more difficult. In short, smaller elements on site means less effort.” As a result the full assembly on site could take place with just three people: one person operating the crane, lifting the 50-100 kg elements in place and the other two mounting the elements in place. In this way the full dome was built up like a kind of igloo, in 5 days per ring. Nodes and tubes come together perfectly Another essential part of the design was the engineering of the nodes. At each node, six tubes come together. “It is very tricky to cut six tubes at such a precise angle that they come together in a node perfectly,” Janssen says. The centerpiece is a short circular tube perpendicular to the node to which the six tubes are connected. But even with this beautifully designed node, there is no certainty that it all will fit together. That is why Octatube made mock-ups, performed tests and had samples made of the cutting. “This way we could test the tolerances of the 3D lasercutting of the tubes. Normally, tubes are never perfectly round but always slightly oval. And the cutting introduces heat which may result in deformations. A deviation of 5 mm can easily occur, which makes it much harder to weld

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Photo: Daniël van Capelleveen - Bouwwereld

properly. Restoring these deviations would take up a lot of extra time. We therefore paid extra attention to the cutting.” Octatube carried out a number of tests in collaboration with the steel cutter to determine the correct settings of the cutting machine, up to a maximum tolerance of 1 mm. There is a 6 mm tolerance between the node and each tube for finetuning during assembly and for thermal expansion. “But the beauty of a dome is that it expands equally in all directions. The structure does not interfere with itself,” says Janssen. Integrated in the centerpiece is a light spot that can be rotated individually in every direction, giving the dome a striking appearance in the evening. All the wiring and controllers are placed within the tubes. A damper, hidden from view, in each connection point of the tubes allows an installer to access the wiring if necessary. The dampers were also used during assembly to connect the tubes to the nodes. Little dark blue feet Custom elements were designed to mount the glass onto the steel structure. The cast steel, dark blue, powder coated supports visually disconnect the glass skin from the main steel structure. A special connection, as there are no standard solutions for this. Janssen explains: “Usually you see a continuous profile, or a welded connection on the structure to support the glass. But because this element was architecturally essential, we decided to go for bespoke cast elements. These can be both 82

Photo Fred Oosterhuis

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Photo: Octatube

Photo: Daniël van Capelleveen - Bouwwereld

Photo: AFAS Software

structurally optimized and visually designed. This connections make it seem as the glass is loosely folded over the steel structure.” A space of 24 mm is required between the glass panels in order to attach them blindly to the blue supports. De sealing gaskets and spacers closely match the color of the supports. “A deliberate choice,” Klem explains. “The feet flow over into the sealing gaskets and because everything has the same color it will visually ‘disappear’. From the outside the glass connection is not visible, creating a visually clean dome.” In addition to the supports, the sealing gaskets have also been custom made for an optimal closure of the glass panels. “And with over 3500 identical supporting points and 3,5 km of gasket in total, it quickly pays off to have such customized solutions specifically for this purpose,” Klem explains.

Challenging bite out of the dome Although the dome appears to be completely spherical from the outside, it has been partially cut off where it connects to the adjacent theatre tower: there is a bite out of the dome. This presented the greatest structural challenge. Janssen: “A sphere is by nature a strong structural shape, but if you take a bite out of it, the structure drastically loses stiffness.” Therefore Octatube designed a 500 mm diameter edge beam around the connection to the theatre tower (compared to the 170mm diameter of standard tubes), in order to redirect the forces from the dome to the floors. The redistribution of those forces to the floor is necessary because the theatre tower was not calculated for such forces. In other words, the dome was not allowed to pull or push against the surrounding structure. The edge beam and therefore the rest of the dome is structurally disconnected from the adjacent building. The 1m wide dilatation created at the connection is filled with an insulated zinc gutter.

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Photo: Octatube

Nevertheless, the dome is connected to the theatre tower at three points of support. Normally the structure is strong enough to sustain itself, but this point of the structure could theoretically be covered with a lot of snow. The supportive points are necessary and provide a vertical force transfer. For this reason the wall thickness of the steel structure around the edge beam is increased as well, from 6 to 12 mm. Spherical plain bearings The three support points are designed as spherical plain bearings, similar to the ones used at viaducts. The two outer supports can move freely horizontally. The middle support, on the other hand, is horizontally restricted in the plane of the tower. It is the fixed point from which the dome can deform due to loads, thermal expansion and shrinkage. Like the two outer spherical plain bearings, all supports of the steel structure on ground floor level can move perpendicular to the dome center. “If we had made a restricted connection here, the floor would not be able to deal with this outward load. Especially because the floor is cantilevering out of the building,” Janssen explains. To prevent damage from the expansion forces on the floor, the dome is structurally disconnected from the floor. An exception forms the large edge beam, which is firmly anchored to the floor and, together with the middle support, creates a fixed framework for the dome.

Photo: Erik Bouw @bouwkraan

By far most of the time was spent engineering the edge connections. “I estimate about 80% of our time.” Klem says. “That is because the edge has many unique components that all had to be designed individually. Not only the diameter and thickness of the steel tubes, but the specific forces in the individual connections are different as well. The rest of the dome is actually a matter of repetition.” 84

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A literal crown on the work The time and effort put into the preparation, logistics, tolerances and dimensions paid off during the realization of this grand piece of challenging architecture. It all resulted in an incredibly smooth building process on site, everything fitted together perfectly. Main contractor Dura Vermeer was highly impressed. “Chief executor Gert Nummerdor called us ‘the watchmakers among steel contractors’”, Janssen says. Closing the dome at the top was an exciting moment for all involved. As a final keystone, the final ring, including six mounted tubes, was placed as one piece into the dome. There was no certainty that the 3 by 3m prefabricated element would fit. Janssen: “A dome only works well structurally once its finished. When there is still a gap at the top, the dome could start leaning inwards as a result of its own weight. We were quite anxious that it would not fit. But fortunately the element fitted perfectly!” Additional note from the architect Steef van der Veldt: “First of all, I would like to compliment the people of Octatube on the pleasant and professional collaboration we had with them. It may sound logical, but they understand the language of an architect and how to solve something technically and aesthetically in a responsible manner. For example, the acoustic grid ceilings in the dome and the slender steel structure with integrated lighting. As a result, the experience inside the dome has become pleasant and particularly attractive. Seen from the outside, it really is a glass “sphere” in which the closed top - we called it the “keppeltje” (kipah) – is indistinguishable. All in all it is high class performance where the end result fully meets our expectations.”

Photo Fred Oosterhuis

Arjan Klem is a senior engineer at Octatube, a Dutch based Design and Build company specializing in bespoke building structures with an emphasis on advanced applications of glass and steel. As a kid he always wanted to become an inventor. Where other kids were aspiring to become an astronaut or a fireman, he spent most of his time playing with Lego or other technical toys. As a grown up, graduated in 2010 from the Technical University in Delft in Architectural Engineering, he can say that he followed his childhood dream and actually became an inventor, working on beautiful and unique architectural projects. Arjan started working in Octatube at the start of 2012 as a junior engineer where his first project was a full glass elevator of the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague. After that he has done many projects for Octatube, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Some examples are the Victoria&Albert Museum Exhibition road entrance London, The Sammy Ofer Center in London many other projects, including the glass dome for the AFAS Experience Center.

Joey Janssen is structural engineer at Octatube, he graduated from the chair of Innovative Structural Design at the University of Technology in Eindhoven in 2016. Working at Octatube with its motto ‘Realizing Challenging Architecture’ is a very good fit. The bespoke and complex designs Octatube works on, demand a high level of innovative and solution-oriented thinking. Being part of a Design and Build company means being involved from the architectural design until the last finishing touch on-site. This makes the puzzle of the building process more complex, but also every part of the process equally important. As a structural engineer, Joey applies parametric design and digital innovation to keep control over structural verification. Focus and expertise on structural analysis of both the global structural and connection detail therefore is required. The AFAS Experience Center Dome is a fine example where this all came together nicely.

Project details Location: Inspiratielaan, Leusden Client: Afas Software Architect: Just Architects, Steef van der Veldt Main contractor: Dura Vermeer Hengelo BV Engineering dome: Octatube Main structural engineer: Pieters Bouwtechniek Installation technician: Homij Building period: start mounting anchors + first edge beam April 2019 – Completed March 2020

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IGS TALKS WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER

Jean-P

intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

IGS TALKS WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER

One on One with

Paul Hautekeer IGS Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lewis Wilson sat down with Jean-Paul, Global Marketing Director for High Performance Building at Dow. In this exclusive interview, JP gives readers unfiltered insight into one of the most distinguished companies in the industry. Touching on the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, key trends and emerging technologies, JP delineates a blueprint for the past, present and future of high performance architecture.

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IGS TALKS WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER

Lewis: COVID-19 has, to say the least, been highly disruptive to the world and architecture industry as a whole in 2020. In your view, what effects has the pandemic had on the industry? Jean-Paul: As a Strategist, I like to refer to Churchill in many ways. As said in one of his famous remarks – ‘you should never let a crisis go to waste’. The bigger the crisis, the bigger the opportunity is for companies and businesses to implement changes (improvements!) that in normal times would have never been possible. The leading companies will be those who turn the pandemic into positive changes and grow. As our industry is traditionally quite conservative and perhaps slow moving compared to others, I believe that this is where the biggest opportunity lies. As we are forced to work from home, I anticipate that the digitalization of our industry will finally reach a higher level and offer productivity improvements in the way we do business as well as increase market outreach.

1971 – The “granddaddy” of structural glazing: The world’s first four-sided silicone structural glazing project was designed by architects Smith, Hinchman and Grylls. 455 W. Fort Street in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Image courtesy of SmithGroup JJR

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IGS TALKS WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER

In terms of architectural trends, I believe that most of the trends will be sustained, especially with regard to the continued drive to lowering the environmental footprint of our built environment. I would underline two trends that will be accelerated, one is building modularity, whether this concerns office space that will need to cope with variation in the density of employees, or even at home where people will have to better organize their workspace and provide an opportunity to take teleconferences without a bed in the background! The other trend that I see accelerating is circularity. In some ways, the pandemic is probably alerting the consciousness of the public that buildings in the future will indeed need to be deconstructed and recycled, such as what is already being done in Japan. Lewis: In such a competitive market, how does Dow maintain its top position in the industry and differentiate itself from the competition? Jean-Paul: We try not to deviate from our “true north” and provide our customers and our employees with simple, realistic messages about our role in the industry and what our customers can expect from us. When hit by such disruption, you may decide to postpone or put on hold some planned investments or innovation, but not change the nature of your value proposition and

your strategy. This is the reason why customers maintain their trust. A rigorous portfolio management and a few tough decisions, but always carried out with clear and candid communication to the market. So, what is our “true north”? To deliver weatherproofing and bonding solutions to this architecture industry, with reliable products, backed-up by science and people that passionately care about what they do. Next year, we will celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the first 4-sided silicone structural glazing project, a building in Detroit that is still present and functioning well. Since then, we have helped architects and builders to dress the most beautiful and high performing façades on the most iconic buildings, reliably. And since being welcomed into the Dow family, 4 years ago, we are now constantly expanding our portfolio of products with non-silicone technologies whilst keeping our technical sales assistance in action. I can mention for example, the recent launch of a two-part polyurethane adhesive for balcony glass wall embedding applications which is a great one stop shopping solution. Lewis: Over the past decade we have seen a heightened sense of urgency surrounding climate change and sustainability in architectural and facade

design. How has/does Dow contribute to this more sustainable future? Jean-Paul: Indeed, and that is welcome. I am particularly optimistic when I read the proposed European Green Deal, a lot will be about leapfrogging changes to make our industry really move toward low carbon and circularity. Now at Dow, we have very ambitious targets on sustainability but let me mention one thing that many people ignore. While silicone is quite energy intensive to produce, the usage on facades is low when compared to the benefits it provides, for example, ensuring efficient weatherproofing and leak free systems for decades. Therefore, the carbon ratio between the emission to produce silicone and the savings it provides in the application is very very interesting, sometimes with a 1/20 to 1/60 favorable ratio. And that is not enough! We are currently working on our raw material sourcing to significantly decarbonize our silicone polymer, and we also recently made very serious progress in our ability to recycle our silicone elastomers. Yes, carbon neutrality and circular silicone is no longer out of reach! Lewis: The high-performance building market is in constant flux with innovations that have transformed the construction

intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

IGS TALKS WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER

Olympic House, Lausanne, Switzerland

industry over the past 50 years. What are the current emerging technologies and applications that are set to disrupt the status quo and revolutionize the way we can design and construct the buildings of tomorrow? Jean-Paul: The need for increased transparency while offering privacy, will make dynamic glass systems a sustained trend. So is the need for increased safety and security. Active glass surfaces and even silicones that release biocide and are able to kill viral and bactericide species are things that are possible; similar technologies will also be probably implemented in wall and coating. On the security side, the data security issue brought by 5G and future connected objects will require adaptation of many products. In the electronic appliances and automotive industries, we already provide EMI shielding silicone that can shield electromagnetic interference. Those may be required in buildings too, to avoid unwelcome interference coming from the glass or the window sealing system. 90

Lewis: Could you give our readers a couple of examples of stand-out buildings in Europe where your high-performance building silicones have been used and the benefits they imparted on the projects?

Toggle-glazed SSG IFT Rosenheim, Germany

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Jean-Paul: Sure, let me give you a few examples that exemplify the performance and versatility of our silicones. One project we are particularly proud of is the International Olympic Headquarters in Lausanne, designed by 3XN; the best rated LEED Platinum building so far, with a score of 94. The International Olympic Committee placed the bar very high concerning their approach to sustainability and I particularly liked the fact that their key focus of the building was the health and well-being of the building occupants. Another recent project that I like is the GOOGLE Headquarters in London (with BIG, EOC and Heatherwick Architects), where our silicones were used on a wood/aluminium structure, which demonstrates how versatile this technology can be. In Frankfurt, SEDAK realized the tallest (17 meters!) curved insulating glass

IGS TALKS WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER

Prime Tower, Zurich, Switzerland. Image courtesy of Ralph Bensburg

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IGS TALKS WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER

for the Messe Turm, with our silicone designed to bond the huge curved lamination-bent insulating glass units. The Prime Tower in Zurich is another modern example of a very high thermally performing façade and we recently helped Merck and their liquid crystal window modules on the Oscar Niemeyer building in Leipzig. And last but not least, let me mention two much older projects, one is the current European Parliament building in Brussels, one of my first projects in 1992 when I was a young technical service engineer in Dow Corning. 28 years have passed, and it is there and withstanding time and the age, much better than me. On the subject of durability, I would also like to mention the Ift building in Rosenheim, built 25 years ago with Dow silicone, in a four-sided system so without device to retain dead load. A part of the modules from this 25-year-old façade was deconstructed, samples were made and tested from the existing silicone/glass structure, according to the latest European standard. Results were fantastic, after 25 years in real life applications, our silicone is still over performing the accelerated test. This is another proof that silicones are not a weak point when we talk about glass structures. They are there to last, 50, 75 years, who knows?

Lewis: The holy grail of glass facades for many architects is 100% transparency, unfiltered clear views that blur the lines between the internal and external environments. Dow’s crystal-clear silicone sealant has made this vision a possibility. IGS asked architects and engineers their thoughts on the product and the response was overwhelmingly positive (here comes the BUT). But… there were also concerns as to its ease-of-installation and cost. Are there any plans in the works to develop the product further in response to these concerns? Jean-Paul: Yes, this is our latest development. We have invented a resin that can offer the structural strength of our products while perfectly matching their refractive index, resulting in water clear and stable adhesives. And yes, as always, we cannot deny the barrier of entry that innovation typically brings such as the necessity to pay more to cover R&D costs as well as adopting modified production or application methods. Think about the need to switch from black to a crystal-clear adhesive. Dow is an innovative company, we are trying to minimize those barriers of entry by working closely with our customers, but we must accept that innovation will always come with some

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difficulties to overcome. In that context, our reputation to be science based, to stand behind our products and collaboratively work with our customers has proven to be efficient. Lewis: DOW has had success all over the world, from Asia to Europe and the US, your products are visible (and sometimes invisible) in projects dotted around the globe. What do you attribute this global success and expansion to? Jean-Paul: Our people; the colleagues that manufacture our products, our engineers that assist our customers and architects – in fact, everyone at Dow. We are passionate about what we do, responsible and engaged. What also differentiates Dow from others is our true globality. This does not mean that we seek one solution that fits all, to the contrary, in fact, that we have a globally consistent approach

IGS TALKS WITH JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER

to doing business (what we call our project management services) that provides the same level of security but with local products when needed and taking account local specifications. Lewis: There have been murmurs about the difficulty in recruiting and retaining young people into the construction industry. What does Dow do differently to encourage more young people, more women and more diverse ethnicities to come to work and stay with the company long term? Jean-Paul: Dow is a 40-billion-dollar company with more than 35 000 employees. It has a strong company culture relating to material science and customer experience. Inspired by our current CEO, Jim Fitterling, we are also truly transforming Dow into a best-in-class inclusive company. This is really COOL and has proven to attract many young talents.

Jean-Paul: That is an interesting question. Do you know that the first man made material that touched the moon with a human back in 1969 was a Dow made silicone boot? The temperature differential on the moon between the sun exposed part of an astronaut and his back can be as high as 70 degrees, and silicone is the only material that permits flexibility at high and low temperatures. Yes, definitively, the refocus on the space exploration is a great opportunity for a company like Dow to develop new technologies. A bit like how Formula 1 technologies help progress innovation for standard cars, special habitat requirements will have numerous and immediate effects on what we do on planet Earth, such as the need to be fully circular and self-sufficient.

Lewis: What are your views on the acceleration of virtual events we have witnessed this year? Is virtual here to stay or is it just a forced temporary alternative that can never replace meeting clients face to face? Jean-Paul: We believe hybrid will be the solution, a mix of both. We should definitely not forget the improvement in efficiency that digital has enabled, but we should absolutely re-engage in face-to-face interactions. It will be a good compromise, less human interaction but deeper and richer.

Come to Dow, our size will give you plenty of opportunities and you will not be bored in our truly inclusive environment. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pretty powerful value proposition, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it? Lewis: The main theme for the Glass Supper 2020 virtually speaking was about designing and building habitats for humans on the moon. At the moment, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a trickle but it could become an avalanche. Is Dow looking towards providing materials that glue the glazing for buildings in outer space? Jean-Paul Hautekeer is Global Strategic Market Director for Dow High Performance Building Solutions. As the global head of marketing strategy for the teams that develop silicon(e) based solutions which increase energy efficiency, sustainability and design performance of buildings, Jean-Paul is responsible for market strategy development and implementation, innovation and marketing excellence for the global market.

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Breathta Innovative breathing glass façades for UBER A new office concept with highly transparent atria

Jürgen Wax (CEO, Josef Gartner GmbH) Mike Kneeland (Regional CEO, Permasteelisa North America)

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BER is building its new corporate headquarters in a centrally located district of San Francisco. The two buildings, 55 and 33 meters high, will be clad with highly transparent exterior and interior faรงades. They are connected by two two-story high glass and steel bridges. The numerous atria in front of the offices are naturally ventilated via innovative bi-folding windows which have been developed specifically for this project. Computers control the opening and closing of the 4.4 m high and 3 m wide windows in the glass facade. UBER has built a 12-story and a 7-story glass building on a 39,300 square meter site in Mission Bay. A number of uniquely glazed atria facing Third Street can be ventilated via motorized double-folding windows that blend harmoniously into the facade grid, thereby significantly reducing the need for mechanical ventilation. Upon completion, around 3,000 employees will move into the building complex. The installation of the faรงade will be completed by the end of 2020.

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Highly transparent façades make the movements inside visible ShoP Architects in New York designed two highly transparent and open buildings that aim to reflect the corporate culture of UBER. “There is a transparency we have internally where anybody can talk to anybody about what is going on,” says Adony Beniares, manager at UBER Technologies Inc. While many technology companies are building their campuses far away from the city center, UBER wants to use the new building complex to revitalize the central district near the basketball stadium. The buildings will feature retail spaces at ground level. Furthermore, a new office concept aims to foster communication. In contrast to completely open office spaces, the architects have arranged the offices in a series of smaller neighborhoods. From these offices, employees have access to shared space zones with functional and meeting areas in the atria facing the street, the so-called “commons”. These atria extend over several floors and connect the offices with urban life. Together with the two angled, earthquake-proof glass and steel bridges, they are designed to link up with the history of the quarter as a center for shipping and trade.

The highly transparent façade, which allows views of the movements taking place inside the buildings of the mobility service provider, is divided into standard façade units of 4.4 x 3 meters (h x w), 162 of which are units with motorized opening wings. Thanks to natural ventilation and a high degree of daylight utilization, the energy-efficient building envelope makes a significant contribution to the sustainability of the buildings, which are expected to meet LEED Platinum requirements when complete.

Naturally ventilated atria via innovative bi-folding windows Computers control the opening and closing of the 4.4 m high and 3 m wide windows in the glass facade. The two-piece windows, which were designed, engineered and built by Gartner, fold outwards to form a triangle which is open to the inside, with air flowing in from above and below. These 162 bi-folding windows make up approx. 20 percent of the highly transparent building envelope. They blend harmoniously into the breathing façade,

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as the size of their operable frames corresponds to the dimensions of the fixed façade units. Each window consists of two sashes, each 1.5 m wide, connected by folding hinges, with ultraclear low-iron laminated safety glass.

To ensure that the large two-piece windows open and close reliably, Gartner had to develop a new sustainable and efficient mechanism. Originally, one of the first ideas discussed with the architects was a linear actuator so that the windows open perpendicular to the surface. Since this solution would have required large forces for the opening mechanism, additional motors would have had to be installed. However, this was contradictory to the requirements of the customer, who was primarily focusing on appearance and performance.

New kinematic concept with a sustainable and efficient opening mechanism Load-bearing components had to be designed with sharp edges and be reduced to minimum dimensions. Instead of the intended aluminium frame, Gartner therefore suggested to use steel. Thus, cantilevered scissors and levers could be avoided. In addition, drives and actuators were to be concealed in the base frame to create homogenous views of the façade. In addition to these aesthetic requirements, the foldable windows primarily had to meet criteria of building physics such as air and water tightness,

but also be able to bear wind and earthquake loads as well as provide proper thermal insulation. Further criteria for the operable windows included mobility, durability, reliability and safety. Kinematic solutions had to take into account a rectangular frame with a central intermediate mullion and an opening area of 3 square meters. The two-piece windows were to be designed top-hung, guided by the lower crossbar. Obtrusive fittings of linear drives, for example, contradicted the required extra

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slim design. Chain drives, as used for sidehung windows, were also to be avoided for architectural reasons, just as extra-long connecting rods of scissors drives which were rejected for esthetical reasons. Top-hung hinged windows with double hybrid rollers and controls integrated in the mullions Since none of these options could fully meet the design requirements, Gartner chose to use top-hung hinged windows which are supported on newly developed double hybrid rollers. These rollers support the dead weight and enable smooth movement. Cantilevers, which bridge the distance between the rails and the hinged windows, improve the tightness through their movement path. In this way, both lateral stability and minimal material requirements of the structure could be guaranteed. A chain drive with a traction and chain pressure direction of up to 1.5 kN maximum force is concealed in the intermediate mullion. With a stroke of 900 mm, the window can be opened in a controlled manner over an area of 3 square meters.

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All control units that allow mechanical synchronization are integrated in the mullion. After the closing movement of the window is finished, it is locked subsequently. Circumferential safety bars are fitted and combined in the frame to allow for emergency shutdown. Various tests, including crash tests and long-term performance tests, have proven the air and water tightness of this 750 kg structure. With regular maintenance, the motors, chains, drive systems and rollers maintained their function over a period of up to 20,000 cycles without failure. A Group dedicated to delivering bespoke and advanced technical solutions This project perfectly represents the philosophy of our group to use a mix of local, regional and international resources. For our worldwide activities we can rely on the capabilities and capacity of our strong network sharing the same processes and passion for the design, engineering and manufacturing of bespoke facade solutions. Of the 29,700 square meters of façades built by the Permasteelisa Group, the German façade specialist Gartner has

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produced 8,720 square meters, including the outer skin of the atria made of ultra-clear low-iron laminated safety glass with newly developed double-folding windows, as well as 25 operable aluminum-glass skylights with a standard size of 6 square meters and one skylight of 245 square meters. The irregularly offset façade units of the double skin façade are attached to numerous load-bearing steel columns spanning several levels. Permasteelisa’s interior façade with thermal insulation features multi-pane insulating glass with horizontal

wood louvers, screens of heat-modified wood. The randomized chromatic variation derived from this treatment contributes to enriching the pattern of the panels, which are also installed on the two connecting bridge elements between the buildings. YouTube video of the UBER façade Watch the YouTube video to learn more about the highly transparent UBER façades with double-folding windows:

Mike Kneeland, Regional CEO, Permasteelisa North America Mike Kneeland joined Permasteelisa North America in 2001 and was promoted to Regional CEO in October of 2018. Mike has been in the curtainwall industry for 30 years.

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Glass in Modern Architecture

An essential building material for megacities of the future 102

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lobal population is growing alongside increasing urbanisation and construction activities. Even today, modern architecture could not do without the material that is glass and its many innovative properties. Held in Düsseldorf from 15 to 18 June 2021 glasstec will pick up on the latest glass trends related to shapes, formats and structures. Glass in Modern Architecture Cities are growing worldwide. Even today, the earth is populated by just under 8 billion people. By 2050 this figure will have risen to some 9.7 billion people, according to various projections. Most of this population will live in parts of the world that are generally referred to as growth regions, i.e. in Asia, Latin America as well as the African continent; and most people will be living in cities and megacities, according to these estimates. Over the coming years there will be some 600 cities with over a million inhabitants*, many of these in Asia. This not only presents architects with enormous challenges. In this connection glass will be of major importance as a construction material; but glass must be multi-functional. When cities grow they not only expand in terms of area because land and space are limited – houses also skyrocket. In times of globalisation buildings often have to comply with international standards, regardless of whether they are erected in Frankfurt or Singapore; a case in point being sustainability requirements – with the buzzword Green Building.

With a 90° cylindrical curve The Twist has caused a stir in the Norwegian town of Jevnaker near Oslo. The glass was supplied by Saint-Gobain Glassolutions. The glass façade was realised as a “structural glazing” façade. Photo: Laurian Ghinitoiu

Despite high standards, construction costs must not get out of hand however. Here glass panes used over large expanses or glass façades provide enormous possibilities because glass combined with steel allows sometimes very filigree shapes to be realised for building skins. In general, glass is considered a dominant construction material in modern architecture these days as it makes a visual statement while offering multiple technical functionalities at the same time. Be it for thermal and solar protection or sound insulation, as a design feature, as tempered safety glass or as part of solar energy systems – the industry offers matching glass types with individually configurable technical values for just about every application. Especially against the backdrop of climate protection energy-saving construction takes very high priority in architecture today. Here, too, glass can score points as a filler element or a structural or enveloping component.

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The unbeatable argument in favour of glass, time and again, is its transparency because natural daylight decisively contributes to people’s well-being. Glass is also getting smarter because by incorporating glass in building networks’ interactive façades can be realised that produce both indoor and outdoor effects. Or by connecting it to control technology systems glass becomes the “media and control centre” that can regulate a variety of functions in the building. Alongside the actual primary benefit of windows, architects and building owners increasingly call for differentiated add-on 104

functions. In most cases these include applications-related and construction physics solutions. As a consequence, people increasingly speak of functional windows or façades. Examples for Innovative Glass Development Energy efficiency is an essential theme for glass in architecture. The “cube berlin” project, for example, shows how innovative architecture and energy efficiency can be perfectly coupled with each other. Energy consumption in this building is lower than in conventional office blocks thanks to a ventilated twin-skin façade.

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The twin-skin façade not only permits natural daylight to enter but also provides effective protection against (solar) heat gains and natural ventilation for those living in and using the building. To avoid excessive heat build-up in the void between the two façade skins the outer skin was fitted with solar protection coatings and a solar-absorbing PVB film. The structural requirements made on the glass here proved another challenge. They called for an additional structurally active film interlayer that had to be compatible with the solar-absorbing PVB film. This solution is a new development. By adding the extra film layer the edge stability was increased while

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Image courtesy of AGC Glass Europe. Photographer : Jean-Michel Byl

The “cube berlin” is a striking, 11-storey office building at Washington Square with 19,000 sqm of usable floorspace. The various glass types for this building were supplied by Guardian Glass. Photos: Adam Mørk

reducing the risk of delamination as well as the yellowness index. But glass in modern architecture can deliver so much more. When low weights are called for, vacuum insulated units will in future come into play more often. Modern vacuum insulation glass consists of two at least three-millimetre panes with a high-insulation coating each and separated by a vacuum layer of 0.1 millimetre. Boasting Ug-values of 0.4 to 0.7 W/(m²K), the double-glazed unit insulates as well as a tripleglazed insulation unit but weighs a third less in terms of the glass component alone. This permits significantly slimmer profiles.

Photo: Laurian Ghinitoiu

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Photo: Adam Mørk

Especially for high-rise buildings windows and façade cleaning plays a pivotal role. Selfcleaning glass helps save costs here in the long run because a pyrolytic special coating makes the glazing extremely durable and uses UV radiation to decompose organic dirt in five to seven days. The next rainfall then simply rinses the residues. In terms of solar protection on large-surface façades highly selective glazing is in particular demand since it allows as much daylight into the building as possible while minimising the climate burden through effective solar shading. Multiple silver-coated glass sheets transmit plenty of visible daylight into the room despite strong solar shading. Boasting a Ug-value of 1.0 W/(m2K) for double glazing or 0.5 W/(m2K) for triple glazing, this glass protects the rooms from cooling down at low temperatures. Load-bearing capacity and shatter proofing are the aspects of primary importance for laminated safety glass which is up to 100 times more resilient due to a special PVB film compared with conventional PVB films. At the same time, the intrinsic colour of the laminated glass is not even changed by thicker 106

laminates. Under load this product features comparatively lower bending, which increases its load-bearing capacity overall. Under specific circumstances even the tempering process can be dispensed with – this ensures shorter delivery periods. Another topic is the translucence or opaqueness of glass. With this type of glass users can choose between transparent or non-transparent – regardless of whether the glass is installed indoors or out. This effect can be repeated any number of times because it is caused by liquid crystals embedded in a conductive layer. As soon as electric power is applied the glass changes from being opaque to transparent. After switching off the power supply, the crystals re-arrange and the glass sheet turns opaque again. * Note on Megacities The term megacity is often used with reference to urban development. By megacities we generally mean metropolitan areas with over 10 million inhabitants – as many people as the current population of such countries as Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Portugal.

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In 1970 there were only two megacities in the world, Tokyo and New York. 2011 already saw 23 megacities and in 2030 numbers are estimated to reach 43. As a rule, megacities grow at an enormous pace although there are, of course, regional differences. Tokyo today occupies the top rank with over 38 million inhabitants but will shrink due to demographic change. By 2050 the Japanese capital is estimated to be down to “only” just under 32.6 million people. The Indian state capital of New Delhi is currently home to some 28.5 million people. By 2030 another 10 million will live there. Article courtesy of glasstec

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glasstec, 15 – 18 June 2021 in Düsseldorf International Trade Fair for glass – Production, Processing, Products A high number of international exhibitors and top tier decision-makers among trade visitors have been hallmarks of glasstec for years now. It is the platform for launching innovations at all levels of the value chain, from production and processing through to finishing and final applications. The right instinct for trends and tomorrow’s themes is

also reflected in the extensive line-up of side events. 15 – 18 October will see the world’s No. 1 trade fair for glass, glasstec, held at Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre. In 2018 the trade fair registered 1,276 exhibitors from 50 countries who presented their latest products, machines, developments and visions to 42,306 visitors from 126 countries

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Next Step in Structural Glass - Digital Design and Fabrication Lenk, P., Vitalis, D.,

volution in the design is now in the digital space, where a myriad of permutations can be processed in seconds and optimal options identified. Digital workflows, hand in hand with digital fabrication, are certainly on the minds of many engineers in the construction industry. In this paper, we will expand on our current research looking into composite glass

structures. We will focus on how to improve the parametric design and generalize workflows. We will research possibilities in current digital fabrication techniques and identify possible methods applicable in structural glass and adhesives. Investigating the possibilities and limitations of digital fabrication in the construction industry could lead to an increase in fabrication tolerances, safety, and productivity as currently, labour-intensive techniques are dictating the cost of many

innovative solutions. A case study of a glass/ glass hybrid panel, developed with TU Delft for the Glasstec fair 2018 in Dusseldorf, will be discussed in the context of other past and current Arup projects to demonstrate current digital design advances. The glass/ glass composite panel can enable us to design bigger spans while preserving natural resources which is another increasingly pressing parameter influencing our current designs.

Figure 1 Organic forms, a.) bone structure, Pearson Education b.) leave structure ÂŠ Peter Nijenhuis, c.) glass molecules â&#x20AC;&#x201C; computer-generated image

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Introduction Organic forms have been an inspiration for designers since the beginning of times. However, due to the geometrical complexity of the natural forms, simple rules of thumb and grids were introduced in architecture to increase its efficiency and feasibility. However, such constraints may hinder design evolution and be detrimental to architectural creativity. Similarly, our engineering principles are based on simplified assumptions due to the low variability of components and the high repetition of the structural systems. We are now on the brink of the new digital era. Our technologies and understanding of systems allow us to experiment with forms and shapes more effectively than ever. It is therefore clear that there is room for improvement in trying to achieve the free form structures we envisage. The authors strongly hold that new technologies can help us design efficient

"our technologies and understanding of systems allow us to experiment with forms and shapes more effectively then ever"

real-time. Parametric software has allowed us to efficiently and effectively incorporate the extra step of structural engineering into the design process. With software such as Karamba, we can automatically carry out a preliminary assessment of the structural behaviour of a certain permutation. However, in the construction industry, the flow of information is not smooth. The design tools are usually not centralised and therefore cannot be used by all collaborators and certainly not throughout all stages. Hence, design workflows need to be carefully planned and a central platform to exchange information should be defined. Only then will the process be automated to such an extent that it will positively influence the design process. The main difference between the way we design today and the way we used to design is that new tools are incorporated into the design process transforming an otherwise static procedure into a dynamic workflow. Twenty

years ago, the designer would sketch an idea, CAD it up, carry out the structural analysis, check the design against other requirements such as movements, tolerances etc in a very linear workflow. If validation could not be achieved in one of those steps, the process would have to go back to initial sketching. Nowadays, we are given the chance to design a workflow that can instantly check the design against performance requirements or even optimise the design based on those parameters. Glass design can easily fit into this trend and the authors cannot see any major reasons why current trends could not be fully deployed in our industry. Many scripts helping with the design of geometrically complex glass envelopes have been employed in the past and will continue to be employed e.g. checking glass warping and sub-sequential stress in glass and other components, analysing climatic loads in curved panels were presented by [Marinov, V, Griffith, J, 2015] and the near-future possibility to use AI by [Griffith, J, 2017]. However, while

and optimised structures to reduce material consumption, fabrication time and costs, and finally explore new architectural expressions. This paper investigates the state-of-theart methods of digital design and digital fabrication with glass and aims to propose ways of seamlessly combining the two to achieve a desirable result. Digital Design [Bejan A, 2000] considers the design and optimization of engineered systems and presents a relationship to the generation of geometric form in natural systems. He argues that the objective and constraints principles in engineering are the same mechanisms underlying the geometry in natural systems. Evolutionary and randomized statistical algorithms like Galapagos and Monte Carlo were successfully deployed to optimize solutions in many engineering problems. Current engineering practise is presented with the challenge of having to go through multiple permutations and assess their feasibility in

Figure 2 a.) Digital design project application â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Coal Drops Yard, London, b.) design workflow

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parametric tools have been continuously introduced in the design process, generative design with glass as the main structural material poses significant challenges. Glass is different from other materials due to its brittle nature. Peak stresses can therefore be detrimental to the behaviour of the structure and support conditions must be carefully modelled on a case by case process. This makes the use of universal scripts more difficult. Finally, glass as a material is normally used in planar elements the structural calculation of which typically requires an FEA. This is normally expected to slow down the design process making the use of generative scripts more challenging. Digital Fabrication If we were to simplify the architectural manifestos of the 20th, the concept of fluidity has always been a divisive term. There were movements which embraced fluid shapes and other movements which alienated themselves from organic forms. It is well established that new architectural movements derive from a need to contrast the past, and to explore the undiscovered. The movements of Arts & Crafts and Art Deco introduced the concept of seamless architecture. This architectural expression would require highly skilled

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There always seemed to be a contrast between the massproduced and bespoke. But what if something could be bespoke and mass-produced at the same time?â&#x20AC;?

workmanship and a significant amount of manual work. This came as a reaction to the industrial revolution and the need for mass production. This was later challenged by modern architecture which in turn was challenged by the post-modernists. There always seemed to be a contrast between the mass-produced and the bespoke. But what if something could be bespoke and mass-produced at the same time? Fabrication techniques are divided into three main categories: a) forming, b) cutting, and c) joining. Each of these has opportunities for glass which are briefly explored below. Forming Additive manufacturing 3D printing is available from a limited number of sources worldwide. At present, it is costly but has the potential to open the door to unlimited design options. Research resources are dedicated to investigating the molecular behaviour of 3D printed glass and therefore its mechanical properties. Subtractive manufacturing 3D milling of glass is a relatively new process which is commonly used to give the glass some texture. The fact that milled glass may lock in residual stresses makes it challenging to link this process with generative design as an intermediate step of detailed FEA should be introduced. Shaping 3D shaping glass is the oldest known way of forming glass. Glass can be kiln-formed or cast in 3D shapes. However, methods of 3D shaping require the use of a mould. Hence, repetitiveness and manual work are still required and therefore the method is inherently non-digital.

Cutting Glass can be easily manipulated if heated up. The authors do not see any technical reason why the glass industry cannot embrace cutting technics such as die, punch or shear cutting etc. Joining Adhesives Adhesives are commonly used in structural glass applications and range from stiff and brittle acrylate-based to flexible and ductile silicone-based. This is where the authors see the maximum potential of digital fabrication. The industry is currently exploring ways of 3D printing adhesives which is expected to provide a fertile ground for glass fluid shapes to grow. Mechanical and Fusion/Welding At present, the process of fusing glass is completely manual and consumed in artistic applications or glass blowing laboratories. There is high potential in bringing this method into the digital era as its labour-intensive nature is currently keeping it away from the digital transformation. In conclusion, the glass industry has been exploring the digital world and, in some areas, is well advanced: automation of manufacturing processes is relatively well evolved, automated glass production and processing lines do exist, and DGU assembly lines form part of most advanced glass manufacturing facilities. However bespoke project-specific glass processing, as well as site installation, are still heavily dependent on manual handling. Not all fabrication processes are available in glass manufacturing and certainly not all of those listed can be considered to be digital.

Figure 3 left) traditional glass crafting, middle) MIT cast glass example photo: James Griffith, right) AI Built, robotic arm printing PLA

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Case Study Digital design and fabrication are expected to enhance the efficiency of our work. Arup, in collaboration with Delft University of Technology and SCHOTT, designed and built an all-glass sandwich panel. The panel was exhibited at Glasstec 2018 as a floor, to demonstrate the potential of composite glass structures in structurally demanding applications. The aim was to design a panel that would have high bending stiffness while minimising material consumption. To achieve this, parametric design methods were employed. Composite structures typically consist of three main elements: a) two skins, b) a structural core and c) an adhesive layer between. The thickness, the type, the geometry, and the mechanical properties of these constitute design variables. Hence, the design of a composite panel involves several quantifiable parameters that feed into a composite mathematical function. To contain and rationalise the problem, early design decisions were made based on aesthetical constraints. The properties of the skins were defined by means of homogenisation of the section (EI=Eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;); a double glass laminate with 10mm HS glass was used for each skin. Borosilicate glass tubes were used as spacers to provide support to the skins. This spacer was deemed ideal for exhibition purposes as it gives the maximum design potential. Then acrylate adhesive was used to bond the core elements to the skins. In general, to optimise material usage the best balance can be found between the remaining variables: core thickness and distribution of spacers within the core. The final pattern was defined using Karamba/ Grasshopper/Rhino. The pattern was optimised in such a way that shear forces on the beam elements (spacers) are constant across the whole length of the panel. To achieve this, the pattern of the flow of the shear stresses in the plates was printed and spacer elements were placed in the intersection between this pattern and the pattern of the global shear forces. The approach was similar to the distribution of shear studs in steel-concrete composite beams. The digital workflow was completed by a detailed FEA using Strand7. The adhesive connection between one glass spacer and the glass skin was modelled with brick elements.

Figure 4 Parametric workflow

The resulting connection stiffness fed back onto the parametric model in the form of nodal rotational stiffnesses to further refine the pattern. In short, the above-described process yields an optimised and therefore efficient result which achieves the maximum stiffness to

weight ratio. The real benefit of this application is that once those constraints are set, the design script is available to instantly churn out numerous structurally validated results based on changing loads and boundary conditions. The downside is that the resulting pattern

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Figure 5 Finite element verification models

comes out of an intricate computational process and therefore is not orthogonal and as such it poses fabrication/assembly challenges. For the construction of each panel, 150 spacers were required and those had to be manually placed and glued. This process was timeconsuming, labour-intensive and required rationalisation of the pattern leading to an increase in the number of spacers by 30%. This suggests the barrier between digital design and fabrication is sometimes prohibitive when it comes to real innovation and optimisation. In other industries e.g. automotive, furniture etc. robotic fabrication is fully embraced. One could argue that the difference between those industries and the construction industry is that in the built environment, most endeavours are bespoke and therefore any economies of scale are applicable only within the strict boundaries of a particular project. Contemporary

architecture is leaning towards organic and intricate shapes with minimum repetitiveness. This new architectural language suggests that structural glass applications could certainly benefit from a seamless transition between digital design and digital fabrication.

While the built environment is shifting towards solutions that promote sustainability, together digital design and fabrication can guarantee more efficient use of available resources without putting architectural innovation in jeopardy.

In this case, the positioning of the spacers at the right location within the core could have been achieved with a robotic arm and the appropriate end-effector. Parameters related to the precision of a robot movement e.g. spatial resolution, accuracy, and repeatability are well within the range of tolerances typically provided in the construction industry and are therefore covered by relevant safety factors. Furthermore, a digitally controlled application of adhesives would also be beneficial for this application. However, the precision required for acrylate adhesives cannot be achieved with existing means without post-processing of the joint.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;the build environment is shifting towards solutions that promote sustainability, digital design and fabrication can guarantee more efficient use of available resources without putting architectural innovation in jeopardyâ&#x20AC;?

Fig 6 final product, a) detail view b.) view of the assembly

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Conclusion The trend towards complex engineering systems, especially in geometry, is noticeable. Architecture has moved to digital space where manipulating complex geometrical forms is as easy as it was defining rectilinear orthogonal building structures on the drawing board in the past. When heat-changed to fluid, glass allows us to manipulate its shape relatively effortlessly. This mechanical property is a great advantage and could be used in digital fabrication. Even though the high level of complexity of structural glass applications does not provide a fertile ground for generative design, digital design is essential in glass design as it significantly assists in accommodating intricate

geometries, exploring different support conditions, and generally going through multiple design iterations. Other industries make good use of digital tools. A very good example of the effective use of a digital design to fabrication workflow comes from the furniture and industrial design industry. The Breeding Tables designed by [Kraam, Weishaar, 2005] constitute the perfect example of how mass customisation can be achieved using genetic algorithms. What if we could use the same tools and principles to design and fabricate glass structures with the click of a button? This paper was first presented at Glass Performance Days (GPD) 2019 Conference www.gpd.fi

Peter Lenk Peter is an Associate in the Façade Engineering team at Arup in London. He is a highly qualified and creative designer and chartered structural engineer, with a broad knowledge of innovative approaches for structural glass, façade systems, long-span roofs, as well as more typical building frames using traditional and innovative materials and construction methods. Peter is an enthusiastic and creative individual who brings strong engineering instinct, lateral thinking, an analytical approach and a bit of fun aspect to all his projects. He delivers solutions to complex, technically demanding designs by applying leading-edge analysis and design techniques. Peter developed his engineering and management skills on a wide range of challenging and architecturally driven projects worldwide. He has worked on a variety of awardwinning projects in all design stages, from competitions and concepts to construction.

Acknowledgement TU Delft Glass & Transparency group, Prof. Rob Nijsse, Dr. Fred Veer, Faidra Oikonomopoulou, Graham Dodd at Arup for his support and comments & James Griffith for photographs 2a.) and 3b.)

References [1] Bejan, A., 2000, Shape and structure from engineering to nature, Cambridge University Press 344 pages (ISBN 0-521-79049-2) [2] Marinov, V., Griffith, J 2015, Optimisation of curved insulated glass In GPD 2015, Finland 2015 [3] Griffith, J., 2017 Applied machine learning in structural glass design In GPD 2017, Finland 2017 [4] Kraam, R., Weisshaar, C., 2005, http://www. kramweisshaar.com [5] Thompson, R., 2007, Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals [6] Kolarevic, B., 2003, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing [7] Lefteri, C., 2007 Making it: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design

Dimitris Vitalis Dimitris Vitalis is a Senior Engineer in the Façade Engineering team at WSP in London. He is a Chartered Architect in the UK, he has diverse experience and has previously worked as an Architect and Façade Engineer delivering successfully a plethora of demanding projects. Dimitris’ background as both architect and structural engineer allows him to bridge the two disciplines with the aim to deliver an integrated result. He has gained experience in the design and construction of building envelopes and developed a particular interest in structural glass applications and site-based inspection work. Dimitris is a creative individual, passionate about research and innovation and aims to include both aspects in his design.

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Louvre Museum, Paris, France. Photo by Patrick Langwallner on Unsplash

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There’s a Natural Mystic Flowing through the Air

Renovating the EADA Business School Façade intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

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hen the EADA Business School in Barcelona was ready for a major renovation, glass was the natural building choice for the project. The school was founded in 1957 and has been in its Aragó Street building since 1990. It was time for a facelift that reflected the school’s high-quality image, as well as provide improved accessibility to classrooms. The three-phase renovation began in 2016 with a functional reorganization inside the building. The second phase focused on sustainability and energy savings by installing high energyefficient systems for water heating, thermal insulation, sanitation, and lighting. The third and final phase wrapped up in 2019 with the completion of the new glass facade. Taking Advantage of Natural Resources CBD Arquitectura’s renovation for the EADA Business School adds color and dimension to what was originally a flat, gray stone exterior. The new façade would be more than a pretty face. It would be resourceful, using natural resources for light and ventilation. The building’s north / south orientation was ideal for taking advantage of the sun’s passage with a new glass façade. The design by CDB Arquitectura called for 10+10 vertical laminated glass panels that would allow natural lighting and ventilation directly into classrooms, as well as administrative and services areas. Colors found in nature were the inspiration for the Vanceva® PVB interlayers in Sahara Sun and Sapphire that were chosen for the façade. The façade was facilitated by the removal of windowsills and lintels and the addition of passive sun-control devices to maintain a comfortable interior environment. The façade’s first skin is a natural stone perimeter similar to the original with interior spaces open to a modular glass façade. The second skin provides protection from the sun. Vidresif fabricated the vertical laminated glass panels to be maneuvered to prevent solar heat gain and take advantage of natural light.

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Beckoning Nature All of the classrooms and study areas have access to the new glass façade, creating a warm and inviting learning environment. The school’s ecological and technological offices mimic the beauty of nature indoors with wood-toned workstations and thriving, vertical gardens, which also help to clear the air. Transitional carpeting and interior glass partitions designate specific areas such as meeting rooms. The glass partitions are made of a selection of laminated, temperedlaminated, and curved-laminated glass with Vanceva® PVB interlayers in shades of green. In areas where more privacy was required, an additional interlayer of Vanceva Arctic Snow was added to the panes. This allows glass to remain green in color but be opaque rather than transparent. EADA Business School’s renovation not only highlights the beauty of colored glass but showcases its versatility when combined with other processes such as tempering, screen printing, daylighting, security, thermal, and more. With plastic laminate colored interlayers, design possibilities are opened up — inside and out! The Power of PVB Credit for the strength and versatility of glass can be attributed to the use of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers, which provides builtin performance features. Laminated glass is created when two panes of glass are bonded together by a thin, flexible plastic interlayer under heat and pressure. Most interlayers can be used with annealed, heat-strengthened, or fully tempered glass. The end result is a traditional-looking piece of glass with no optical distortion, but much stronger capabilities. It should be noted that heat processing to strengthen glass does induce a minor amount of softly undulating waves in the glass. However, this characteristic can be controlled to some degree. PVB interlayers can provide a whole host of features to glass, making it more desirable for use as a building material. Besides strength for structural support, PVB interlayers can give laminated glass the abilities to control light, dampen sound, provide solar protection, reflect heat gain, ensure safety and security, and improve aesthetics. intelligent glass solutions | winter 2020

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Colorful Opportunities Beyond performance attributes, laminated glass offers an aesthetic value to architecture. From no color to subtle whites, trendy earth tones to powerful brights, Vanceva colored interlayers for glass have the ability to transform ordinary buildings and interiors into the extraordinary. With a palette of more than 17,000 color combinations and the ability to combine up to four colored interlayers together, it is possible to achieve more than 3,000 transparent or translucent glass colors. Even two different colors can be used simultaneously for a different effect on either side of one pane. Incorporating PBV interlayers in glass allows architects and designers to let their imaginations run wild with creative uses for both interiors and exteriors.

Project name: EADA Business School Location: Barcelona, Spain Architects: CDB arquitectura | www.cdbarquitectura.com Glass Laminator: Vidresif | www.vidresif.com Architectural PVB Interlayers: VancevaÂŽ Colors, www.vanceva.com Featured Product: VancevaÂŽ Colors combinations: 0183, 1387, 08EH and 0018 Completion Date: 2019 Photo credits: Jose Masterton

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The World’s Most Colorful Competition EADA joined an exclusive club in 2020, receiving an honorable mention from the Vanceva® World of Color Awards™, a bi-annual global competition. The competition honors architects, interior designers, and other industry professionals who have demonstrated innovative use of Vanceva color interlayers for laminated glass in their work. Chosen from a worldwide portfolio of submissions, these projects are recognized for their creative use of glass with laminated color interlayers, superior aesthetics, and degree of attention paid to the overall benefits and technology of laminated glass. Once the competition opens, Eastman receives entries from all across the world. The next World of Color Awards competition is scheduled to open in 2022. For more information, and to see the 2020 winners, visit Vanceva.com

VIDRESIF A leading company in the transformation of technical and high-performance glass since 1994. Our service covers the maximum thermal, acoustic and total protection requirements for both large facilities, exterior facades of offices, industries, shopping centre or hospitals, as well as windows for homes and other solutions in interior design. HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND CONTINUING RESEARCH The high technology of the machinery, the material movement systems, the technical knowledge and the continuous training of Vidresif human team, make our company a solid and long-lasting partner to develop any glass construction project. We transform the glass so that it adapts to any construction requirement.

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THE GLASS WORD

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Glass will play an essential role in the high-performance buildings of the futureâ&#x20AC;?

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A true visionary, in his own words

IGS Interviews

In this edition of the Glass Word, IGS Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lewis Wilson talks candidly with UNStudio founder Ben Van Berkel. We delve into the mind of one of the most acclaimed architects of our time as he imparts his words of wisdom and unfiltered thoughts on architecture, technology, glass and its place in the sustainable, highperformance buildings of the future. ÂŠMethanoia

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Lewis: The socio-economic context of architecture is in constant flux – from the Industrial Revolution that propelled Neoclassical Architecture to Modernism spurred on by wartime innovation and postwar reconstruction – architecture is, and will always be, a reflection of our society. So begs the question, what is architecture reflecting today? And, aside from the clichéd ‘contemporary architecture’ answer – what name would you give to the era of architecture we currently preside in? Ben: I wouldn’t presume to give it a name, as such, but there has recently been a call for a ‘New European Bauhaus’ movement, which is intended to be a bridge between the world of science and technology and the world of art and culture. It is about a new European Green Deal aesthetic combining good design with sustainability. This is a very interesting initiative that we are currently looking into, however we also believe that formal decisions, material choices and styles should be optimised without applying a preconceived ‘green’ style. But this movement has come about because we have recently emerged from a period when iconic architecture was very much in demand, and it is clear that a shift has occurred with respect to the true urgency attached to the environment and the role architecture and construction play in this. In recent years this has led to the introduction of innovative active and passive design strategies, as well as the more recent focus on circular strategies that will also directly affect the construction industry. At the same time, a renewed understanding that architecture is ultimately designed for the end-user has lead in recent years to much more people-centric design. This focus includes the importance of health, which is something I have been working on intensely for the last few years: how the built environment can positively influence our physical, psychological and social health. The recent Corona virus pandemic has brought this concern sharply into focus, also on an urban planning level, and has in fact clearly demonstrated the importance of understanding our built environments as both people and planet-centric. We often refer to this as Human/ Nature, referencing coupled human and natural systems that we can no longer isolate from one another.

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©Evabloem

Möbius House, Het Gooi, NL, 1993-1998

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The Looking Glass, P.C. Hooftstraat 138, Amsterdam, (NL) 2017-2019

©Evabloem

La Defense Offices, Almere (NL), 1999-2004

©Evabloem

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ÂŠEvabloem

Another key factor today is the integration of emerging technologies in our buildings and, of course, Smart City models. However, we have to guard against all of these performative concerns overshadowing the cultural effects of architecture. Designing buildings of course requires a great deal of pragmatic know-how and problem solving capabilities; we always have to juggle and find the best solutions for a broad range of parameters. This should never mean however that we only take a quantitative approach to design. We should always design

ÂŠNorm Li

18 Septemberplein, Eindhoven, (NL), 2014-2020 126

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with the unquantifiable in mind; with the more subtle tweaks that ultimately determine how we psychologically experience buildings, often subconsciously. Lewis: If you could paint a broad picture of the ‘city of the future’ in 100 years, what would be its defining features? Ben: Beyond all of the predicted changes brought about by new, green mobility technologies (autonomous vehicles, Hyperloop, drones, flying cars etc.), I wouldn’t be at

all surprised to see our future cities adopt polycentric models, where they will no longer operate around one centre, but where the ‘15 minute city’ model that is now being widely promoted, becomes a reality. With densification continually on the rise and people most probably living for longer in the future, we can also expect continued vertical expansion, but with the increased incorporation of public and green space in tall buildings. Tall buildings will also more commonly host mixed-use programmes, also providing

Southbank, Melbourne, Australia, 2018 – present

amenities and essential services that cater to the polycentric model. Urban farming will also become much more common as the technology involved develops, and we will possibly see the development of underground logistics systems as the cities’ multiple centres become greener and pedestrianised. I think we can also safely expect another cultural revolution, like that brought about by the internet. With the use of AI I also believe that how we live with the environment will be more intelligent, but also more complex. Lewis: In a previous interview with Material District, you were quoted in saying that glass is your favorite building material – What aspects of this material appeal to you as an architect? Ben: Glass is fascinating because, while you can use it in so many different ways, its transparency makes it appear almost as a non-material, because it enables a connection between the internal qualities and the external forces of a space or a building. It can of course be used structurally, enable daylight and heat penetration etc., but with new technologies, we are also now using it to harvest energy. We are doing this with ‘Solar Visuals’, a startup founded by UNSense with partners ECN part of TNO and printing specialist TS Visuals. Together we have co-developed this revolutionary new glass cladding material that combines a high production of solar energy with visual design aesthetics. The application of the Solar Visuals PV panels in the facades and surfaces of buildings creates opportunities for energy production on a large scale. Glass is also becoming a more versatile material. It’s now possible to produce glass with double curves, for instance, and you increasingly see glass being used in stairs, walls and even for structural elements, like columns. And then of course there’s Gorilla Glass, which is used in smartphone screens, but its thinness and lightness coupled with its damage resistance makes it very interesting for potential use in design too.

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Lewis: Could you give us a couple of examples from your exemplary portfolio of projects where glass was an integral component of the design and was used in unique and interesting ways? Ben: Two early projects that spring to mind are the Möbius House and the La Defense offices, both in the Netherlands. In the Möbious house, glass and concrete were used not only in the external facade, but to create internal facades and furnishings also. For La Defense, we developed and patented a special dichroic film that changes colour depending on the viewing angle. In two more recent projects we have been experimenting

with the versatility of glass for creating cultural effects. One is the P.C. Hooftstraat 138 in Amsterdam, a high-end clothing shop where we used glass to mimic billowing transparent cloth. The other is 18 Septemberplein, a renovation project where we attached four large, illuminated glass structures to the facade of the building. These ‘boxes’, as we call them, are 5.5 meters wide, 7 meters high and weigh 3000kg each, yet they appear to float on the facade of the building. This type and scale of glass facade construction has never before been realised in the Netherlands before.

©UNSense-Plomp

©Plomp

Brainport Smart District, Helmond, (NL), 2018 – present 128

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Lewis: Over the past decade we have seen a heightened sense of urgency surrounding climate change and sustainability in architectural design. Do you believe glass has a place in the sustainable, high-performance buildings of tomorrow? Ben: Very definitely. Especially with regard to PV integration. (See Solar Visuals information in Q3.) Recent innovations in numerous kinds of glass applications and treatments also mean that we can control the heat loads of buildings much better. Glass will play an essential role in the high-performance buildings of the future. But on another level, in terms of human health

THE GLASS WORD

©Plompmozes

FOUR, Frankfurt, (DE) 2015 – present

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©UNStudio

Neo: Baumkirchen Mitte, Munich, (DE), 2013 –2020 and comfort, daylight and good ventilation are essential, and glazing or windows of course play a large role in bringing both of these qualities to buildings. Lewis: Are there any functions that glass currently does not perform that you would like to see developed in the future? Ben: I’m very interested to see if the use of Gorilla Glass can be expanded upon, but also in where ideas surrounding smart glass and glass coatings will take us, alongside its possible use as a substrate for OLED lighting, touch screens, audiovisual displays etc. And of course improvements in the strength of glass and improved insulation properties. I would also like to see developments in glass that lets controlled amounts of UV-A light into the interior of buildings, as this is also very healthy for the occupants. Moderate amounts of UV-A are known to aid in the production of vitamin D, improve mood and increase energy. 130

©UNStudio

Booking.com HQ, Amsterdam, (NL), 2015-present

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©Solar Visuals

Solar Visuals by UNSense Lewis: “It’s time for architecture to catch up with technology” – In your opinion, what technologies need to be adopted and how will these digital design tools improve architecture? How does UNSense fit into this picture? Ben: UNSense aims to make a difference in the intersection between technology and the built environment. It promotes a straightforward and clear vison for everything that deals with the urgency of today’s world in a positive way: sustainability, circularity, energy neutrality, health, community buildings, mobility, food production. We see tech as a tool for correcting, readjusting and reshaping. So the most important thing is what you want to achieve with these tools, not the technology or tools themselves.

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Lewis: There are undoubtedly numerous advantages to the digital revolution From BIM to Artificial Intelligence and BIG Data, we can now design more complex, efficient and responsive buildings. But do you think anything has been lost because of it? Ben: Not necessarily in the profession, but certainly in our lives. I often feel that we pay too much attention to digital communications, as if we have almost become addicted to them. The danger is that we will miss real human contact and interactive human experiences. There is already a counter movement against the control that we allow digital information exchange to take of our daily lives, but I think the recent lockdowns have also highlighted just how important real human interaction is. It sounds counterintuitive perhaps, but I think that tech itself should actually help us from becoming fully dependent on it. It should nudge us towards better habits and signal to us when we need to switch our devices off. Lewis: We are in the era of the ‘iconic building’ and the ‘starchitect’. However facile this might be, the designs of public institutions are often offered to the biggest names, and the most ‘iconic’ architects. How do you feel about this trend, and how do you work in a system like this and continue to create thoughtful, meaningful architecture, when so many developers are looking for ‘the next Bilbao’? Ben: The idea of the Starchitect may still persist to some extent, but I think this has been changing in recent years. Many of today’s clients are seeking practices based more on their expertise and knowledge, than because of their focus on the ‘image’ of architecture. Today people want buildings that perform on multiple levels and an icon is simply not enough. We are also heading into a new era, with a new generation of architects who are looking for more collaborative models of practice. For me the most important thing is to build a good relationship with my clients so that I can design the most fitting building for them. That is 10 times more important to me than any concept of a ‘Starchitect’.

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©UNStudio

Ijbaan Cable Car, Amsterdam, (NL), 2018-present

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a really interesting response to micro-living. Housing shortages are such a problem in most cities, that looking at solutions and new models for residential projects is something I’m very interested in right now. We also have a number of mobility projects in progress, such as cable cars and the work we are doing with Hardt Hyperloop, and our urban unit is also involved in some really interesting masterplans, such as the Gyeongdo Island in South Korea.

Lewis: Lastly, can you introduce us to some of the projects that you are currently working on, and perhaps give us a heads up on some projects in the pipeline that look set to gain traction and change the game in 2021 and beyond? Ben: We are of course busy with a number of exciting projects that I can’t mention yet, but some that I can and that I am really excited about are the mixed-use projects in Melbourne (SouthbanK) and Frankfurt (FOUR), and the wasl Tower in Dubai. Also the Booking.com HQ in the centre of Amsterdam and the Lyric Theatre in Hong Kong are going to be spectacular complexes when they complete. New models for housing developments are also coming up, with the development of the Brainport Smart District in Helmond (NL) continuing and two further residential projects in Munich, one of which is

Ben van Berkel Professor, AA Dipl. (Hons), (F)RIBA, Hon. FAIA Founder / Principal Architect UNStudio Founder UNSense Ben van Berkel studied architecture at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and at the Architectural Association in London, receiving the AA Diploma with Honours in 1987. In 1988 he and Caroline Bos set up UNStudio, an architectural practice in Amsterdam. Current projects include the Southbank mixed-use development in Melbourne, ‘Four’ a large-scale mixed-use project in Frankfurt and the wasl Tower in Dubai. With UNStudio he realised amongst others the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Arnhem central Station in the Netherlands, the Raffles City mixed-use development in Hangzhou, the Canaletto Tower in London, a private villa up-state New York and the Singapore University of Technology and Design. In 2018 Ben van Berkel founded UNSense, an Arch Tech company that designs and integrates human-centric tech solutions for the built environment. Ben van Berkel has lectured and taught at many architectural schools around the world. From 2011 to 2018 he held the Kenzo Tange Visiting Professor’s Chair at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where he led a studio on health and architecture. In 2017, Ben van Berkel also gave a TEDx presentation about health and architecture. In addition, he is a member of the Taskforce Team / Advisory Board Construction Industry for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

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AUTHORS DETAILS WINTER 2020 ASTRID PIBER UNStudio Partner Stadhouderskade 113, 1073 AX Amsterdam, Netherlands info@unstudio.com +31 20 570 20 40 www.unstudio.com ANDREAS BITTIS Saint-Gobain Glass, BU Facade International Marketing Manager Viktoriaallee 3-5 52066 Aachen Germany andreas.bittis@saint-gobain.com +49 240 21 21 881 www.saint-gobain-glass.com ANDREW KITCHING Guthrie Douglas Managing Director 12 Heathcote Way Heathcote Industrial Estate Warwick, CV34 6TE United Kingdom andrew.kitching@guthriedouglas. com +44(0)1926 310850 www.guthriedouglas.com MARKUS PLETTAU Dow High Performance Building Global Façade Segment Leader 2211 H.H. Dow Way Midland, MI 48674 USA + 31 11567 2626 www.dow.com/building

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HUGUES LEFÈVRE & ANNA ŠIKYŇOVÁ AGC Glass Europe Product Manager Laminated Glass and Glass Application Engineer & Technical Advisory Service manager Avenue Jean Monnet 4 1348 Louvain-La-Neuve Belgium +32 2 409 30 00 www.agc-glass.eu ANDREAS HAFNER seele GmbH and seele (UK) Ltd Managing Director Unit A44 Jack’s Place 6 Corbet Place London E1 6NN United Kingdom andreas.hafner@seele.com +44 20 7426 0798 www.seele.com JÜRGEN WAX Josef Gartner GmbH, Gundelfingen (Germany) CEO Gartnerstraße 20, 89423 Gundelfingen an der Donau, Germany gartner@permasteelisagroup.com +49 9073 840 www.josef-gartner. permasteelisagroup.com

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KOHN PEDERSEN FOX (KPF) 7a Langley St, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JA, United Kingdom info@kpf.com +44 20 7354 5402 www.kpf.com ARJAN KLEM & JOEY JANSSEN Octatube Senior Engineer and Structural Engineer Rotterdamseweg 200 2628 AS Delft Nederland info@octatube.nl +31 (0)15-7890000 www.octatube.nl JEAN-PAUL HAUTEKEER Dow High Performance Building Strategic Marketing Director 2211 H.H. Dow Way Midland, MI 48674 USA + 31 11567 2626 www.dow.com/building MIKE KNEELAND Permasteelisa North America Regional CEO 123 Day Hill Rd, Windsor, CT 06095, United States pna-info@permasteelisagroup. com +1 860 298 2000 www.permasteelisagroup.com

DANIEL KRAUSS glasstec KraussD@messe-duesseldorf.de +49 211 4560 929 www.glasstec-online.com PETER LENK ARUP Associate / structural engineer 8-13 Fitzroy St, Bloomsbury, London W1T 4BQ, United Kingdom london@arup.com +44 20 7636 1531 www.arup.com DIMITRIS VITALIS WSP Senior Engineer 70 Chancery Ln, Holborn, London WC2A 1AF, United Kingdom +44 (0)20 7314 5000 www.wsp.com VIDRESIF Carrer del Treball, 7-13 17846 PORQUERES Girona 972 580 721 www.vidresif.com BEN VAN BERKEL UNStudio and UNSense Founder / Principal Architect Stadhouderskade 113, 1073 AX Amsterdam, Netherlands info@unstudio.com +31 20 570 20 40 www.unstudio.com

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BUILDING GLASS

122 LEADENHALL STREET, LONDON ARCHITECT: ROGERS STIRK HARBOUR + PARTNERS FACADE: YUANDA (CN)

GLASS BONDING IS OUR PASSION Sika offers full range sealing and bonding solutions for insulated glass manufactruing, structural glazing and weathering sealing thereby ensuring system compatibility. With its profound competence in opaque and glass facades alike, Sika is the ideal partner for planners and applicators of all kind on building envelopes. Contact us now.

Sika Services AG FFI Facade · Fenestration · Insulating Glass Tueffenwies 16 · CH-8048 Zurich · Switzerland Tel. +41 (0)58 436 40 40 · Fax +41 (0)58 436 55 30 www.sika.com/facade