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May 3rd, 2012
Impeccably designed by Michel Penneman and Oliver Hannaert, the Pant one Hotel, Brussels showcases the color of emotion with a distinctive hue on each colorous guest floor. From vivid to subdued, for business or leisure, the unique boutique hotel perfectly suits your savvy palette and colorful imagination.
Welcome to the center of the color universe.
Read more…
April 23rd, 2012
In the Reflection Room of the Owatonna Hospital, patients find a quiet refuge amid the hustle and bustle of a busy hospital. The architect states that “the colored glass, combined with other calming features, makes this an ideal place to celebrate a birth, pray with family members, contemplate next steps, make some of life’s biggest decisions, find a moment of tranquility or grieve a loss.” The tinted windows offer beautiful views of the Healing Garden and the rolling hills beyond, but also provide a private place for visitors to connect more fully with their spiritual self, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to “treating the whole person-mind, body, and spirit.”
Project Category: Interior
Project Name: Owatonna Hospital Reflection Center
Location: Owatonna, Minnesota
Glass Laminator: Viracon
Photographer Credit: Courtesy Owatonna Hospital
Architect: HGA Architects
Address: 701 Washington Avenue North Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 55401
Phone: (612) 758-4000
April 2nd, 2012
In March 2010 a group of researchers from Quebec, Canada tested the visual quality and comfort of different types of window glazing in a typical office space. What they discovered may change the way architects think about window glazing in office buildings.
Based on an oral questionnaire, a written questionnaire, and ratings from the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), the researchers compared the visual comfort, naturality, pleasantness, precision, and light level of blue, bronze and neutral glass experienced by each of the thirty-six participants. The results from each survey were combined and given an average score so that researchers could compare the three colors of window glazing.
They discovered that blue glazing actually increased the participants’ sleepiness, while bronze and neutral glazing had almost no effect on sleepiness level.
In terms of visual comfort, pleasantness, and light level, bronze glazing was preferred over both the blue and the neutral tinted glass. Participants also stated that the appearance and texture of objects in the room looked the most natural when viewed with bronze window glazing.
The participants’ tendency to switch on electric lighting did not show any significant results from one type of glazing to the other.
Overall, the bronze tint was collectively preferred by the participants and they found that it had the highest level of pleasantness and naturality. Based on this study, the architects and designers of future office buildings may want to consider bronze window glazing to increase the comfort and success of office employees.
March 28th, 2012
Mixing glass and steel with natural fibers, Architect Brunete Fraccaroli created an unusual Japanese restaurant in the heart of São Paulo. The main concern of the client was to not loose the orient al style, while achieving a unique and original space.
While Brunete Fraccaroli makes use of many materials in her projects, her favorite material is Vanceva® colored laminated glass. “Right now Solutia’s products represent a great solution,” said Fraccaroli. “Glass is a material with many functions. We can use to separate the environments, without losing the interactivity and gaining in space. It is a lightweight material, noble and has characteristics of modernity.”
All of the windows in the project were made using Vanceva color interlayer for laminated glass, as well as the partitions and balcony railing. The lighting fixtures were custom designed for the project by the architect. To create a cosmopolitan atmosphere, the use of pink and orange in translucent glass, produced an unusual effect of dynamic illumination.
Entry #: 1061
Architect
Brunete Fraccaroli Arquitetura e Interiores
Rua Batataes, 460 – 4º andar – Jardim Paulista
São Paulo 01423-010
Brazil
P 55 11 3885-8309
Project Information
Name of Project: Yabany
Location: São Paulo
Glass Supplier: Santa Marina Vitrage
Glass Processor: Penha Vidros
Photographer Credit: Tuca Reines
March 27th, 2012
Article and image courtesy of the New York Times
In 2002, after buying and tearing down an “architecturally uninteresting” 100-year-old structure for 600,000 euros, Luis Alonso, founding partner of the Catalan architecture company Alonso Balaguer, had a vision: to build a town house inspired by glass, air and concrete. His dream h as now become a reality.
March 21st, 2012
Courtesy of jury member Andrew Moor
Glass forms a major part of the external skin and interior dividing walls of contemporary buildings. It is also used for balustrades, elevators, desks, and almost anything else that can be thought of.
It is not difficult to add colour to glass, as well as patterns, textures, gradations of tones, and other qualities, all of which add to the enormous versatility of the medium. This is a language that is available at a reasonable cost, and that can transform the character of a building – yet one that, surprisingly is not widely exploited.
Glass and colour are a powerful combination. The use of colour as part of a building’s exterior has a powerful impact on the immediate surroundings. And when the glass is experienced from the interior, the internal space can be transformed.
March 8th, 2012
For more information on Vanceva color interlayer, contact us.
Vanceva® color interlayers offer certain high-performance safety characteristics, useful in demanding applications such as vertical, sloped and overhead glazing. The tough plastic interlayer resists penetration from accidental impact and, unlike ordinary glass, won’t shatter into dangerous fragments if broken. Vanceva color PVB interlayer is sold at a minimum of 15 gauge (0.38 mm, 0.015 in). Laminated glazing made with Vanceva interlayer, when used in the proper thickness can meet the federally mandates safety glass requirements of CPSC and is also able to meet the various requirements outlined in ANSI and ASTM standards related to laminated glass. Below are some common applications where Vanceva color interlayer is commonly used.
Security Glazing: Vanceva color PVB interlayer can effectively help protect people and property without compromising design aesthetics. The resilient interlayer resists forced entry even from repeated blows from hand-held implements such as hammers, crowbars and bricks. Laminated glass made with Vanceva® color interlayers cannot be cut from one side, denying burglars the use of glass cutters for quiet entry. For specialized high-security applications, laminated glass of varying configurations can provide ballistic and blast resistance.
Laminated architectural glass made with Vanceva color interlayer offers greater protection for people and property than other glass products. Standard industry constructions are proven to provide protection when subjected to attack by burglary, forced entry, bombs and even ballistics. Security glazing refers to the almost limitless family of products constructed from laminated glass which is designed to withstand the complex dynamic impact loads resulting from intentional assault. Threats to facilities which can be countered with specific security glazing constructions include:
Burglaries frequently are not directed at a specific facility but toward targets of easy opportunity and low perceived risk. The most critical step in a burglary is entry. Standard two-ply laminated architectural glass provides a significant improvement over monolithic glass and standard insulating glass products in resistance to forced entry, and is capable of passing Underwriters Laboratory Test UL 972 and ASTM F 1233 Class 1 body passage.
March 7th, 2012
Created within the Siksika Nation, the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park commemorates the signing of Treaty No. 7 between the Crown and Blackfoot nations in 1877. The canopy of the main entrance was created using Vanceva® Color by Saflex®, and is meant to resemble a native headdress. In the midday sun, the unique glass canopy casts a bold and very colorful shadow.
Project Category: Exterior
Project Name: Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park
Location: Canadian Bad Lands
Glass Laminator: Lami Glass
Architect: Ron Goodfellow
Address: 1433 24 St Sw Calgary, AB T3C 1H9, Canada
Phone: (403) 233-0179
March 6th, 2012
View Churrasqueira Gourmet Project Profile
Purple is undoubtedly the central element of the Churrasqueira Gourmet, and the fun color serves to brighten the mood of the space. The multi-functional building houses several different types of recreational activities as well as a unique fine-dining experience. A backdrop of 750 purple bottles adds to the dynamic qualities of the building as the bottles, illuminated by the natural light of the sun, change in color intensity as the day progresses. The purple flavor is also repeated in the steel support beams, which were covered with stainless steel mirrors and laminated with purple film to add a bright pop of color.
Besides purple, one of the main features of the Churrasqueira Gourmet is the harmonious integration of nature into the design. The use of anti-glare glass provides all the comforts of the indoors, while allowing maximum interaction with the outdoor environment. And although the design of the building’s exterior is decidedly modern, organic touches smoothly integrate the space into the existing natural landscape. Contrasting modern laminated glass technology and steel beams with raw wood furniture and ceramic tile flooring also adds texture to the space. Architect Brunete Fraccaroli noted that, “The mix is certainly the strong point of the project.”
Project Category: Exterior
Project Name: Churrasquiera Gourmet
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Glass Fabricator: Penha Vidros
Photographer Credit: Romulo Fialdini
Architect: Brunete Fraccaroli
Brunete Fraccaroli Arquitetura e Interiores
Address: Rua Batataes, 460 – 4º andar – Jardim Paulista
São Paulo São Paulo 01423-010
Phone: 55 11 3885-8309
March 1st, 2012
Red and orange glass dominates the sliding doors and dividing walls in this interior space. A key feature of the Kustermann Park München is its multi-functional ability; the glass dividers allow for the creation of small, separate spaces, while still uniting the interior as a whole. The warm colors and natural lighting create a harmonious and comfortable atmosphere that appeals to anyone seeking a place to relax or socialize with friends.
Project Category: Interior
Project Name: Kustermann Park München
Location: Rosenheimer Straße 116 a München
Glass Fabricator: Glas Trösch
Photographer Credit: Glas Trösch Beratungs
Architect: Thomas Sutor Sonnenstrasse
Phone: +49 (0)89 200 198 02
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