Metal profiles assembly

Inverse Unitized (C.005)

The modular and low density character of the mat building typology in which the project is based gives as a result a large number of façades, but of similar characteristics. Due to this premise, it was chosen an unitized panel system of double height that respond to the big and regular dimensions of the building, with the aim of systematizing its construction.

Unitized panels with enhanced thermal and acoustic performance (C.001)

PROJECT'S CONTEXT This project tries to rethink the role of the Gran Via and the relationship between the different urban areas approaching El Prat to l'Hospitalet. A series of structural modules are proposed as a base to which trusses can be added.The module could be implemented in other places as a roof that’s able to collect water and produce energy. Responding to the changing needs of the infrastructure, the new building, which is going to host the new Technology Park, is a flexible space where the facilities and construction solutions are based on the Plug&Play system.

Light facade prefabrication origin (080)

There is little to say here, it is just a masterpiece!

Jean Prouvé was probably the first architect working as a façade specialist.

He was probably the first to opt firmly for façade prefabrication.

More information at filt3rs.net

Gabion latticework (075)

This façade is not watertight and it is not airtight. Depending on the density and size of the stones, it protects against direct sun radiation but without managing the visual relationship with the outside. It considerably blocks the entry of light, gives privacy and protects from intrusion. If it is true that, together with a drained cavity, it would constitute a watertight envelope, but it seems that this is not the case here.

An amazing facade with an amazing performance (068)

Energy-efficient architecture does not have to have a certain image. This is clear in the work of Sauerbruch & Hutton, which has a sober but colourful image.

Blurring the slab limits (065)

This is an interesting resource to hide the blind area associated with the edge of the slab, the facilities’ cavity and the elevated floor without having to delimit this area with two transoms visible in the elevation. The only apparent cutting is that of the unitized panel, with greater or lesser density in the pattern of the serigraphy that opalizes or simply veils the transparency of the glass.

Blurring the window limits (053)

This use of the double skin facade where the outer glass is patterned with a white serigraphy that gradually dilutes as one gets closer to the areas of vision may disappear as rapidly as it has spread. It is an easy way to blur the openings limits. In the case of this hotel in London, the opening is perfectly well defined on the wall in the interior skin. This technique harks back to the effect of traditional interior thin white curtains, except for the important difference that the curtain can be used to cover the openings with a very efficient light diffuser.

Double skin at two different scales: the user and the city (033)

This emblematic building in the London financial district maintains its formal unity beyond the differences in the design of the façades depending on their orientation. The case "Devoid of the human scale (034)" describes the southwest façade of the same building. The southeast and northwest façades attract our attention due to the sobriety conferred by the enormous glazed surface, which is only interrupted every three floors by horizontal bands of stainless steel.

Playing with the stick curtain wall design flexibility (037)

On this occasion, Batlle and Roig resort to a curtain wall in which partial structures are assembled at each slab front without physical continuity between them. Glass panes are then supported over the partial structures to close the façade (have a look at the "Cadireta" curtain wall structure). Each two glass panes are framed with an aluminium frame made of unitized panels profiles. So, is this a unitized façade or a curtain wall one? Maybe it is a mixture of the two?

Partially prefabricated rain screen in ZFC (030)

If the inner layer of the rainscreen façade at the Hotel AC was innovative, the proposal for the neighbouring office tower for the Zona Franca Consortium was even more so. Again, the exterior image is a sober stone skin anchored over aluminium profiles. However, on this occasion the inner layer made of boards over steel framing was prefabricated and arrived at the site as panels.