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| Sino-Italian Ecological Energy Efficient Building in China  A few months ago, Beijing's Tsinghua University became home to the futuristic Sino-Italian Ecological Energy Efficient Building (SIEEB). This 40 m tall structure (total surface area: 20,000 m²) shows that it is possible to perfectly combine contemporary architecture and environmental sustainability in Beijing. AGC Flat Glass Europe provided technical support for the project and supplying glass for use in its construction. The SIEEB project, the brainchild of famous Italian architect Mario Cucinella, has an incredibly light and transparent architectural profile. Cucinella created this effect using a complex system of façades in single and double-skin glass, depending on their exposure.Throughout the development stage, he focused on designing the façade systems. Several different glass solutions were devised with a view to optimising light and energy transmission. The south façade features a single-skin glass system that capitalises on the transparency of AGC's Stopray Elite glass, a high-quality ‘magnetron-coated’ glass (LT = 66%). The low solar factor of Stopray Elite (40%) ensures that the building's users are protected from the sun, while photovoltaic panels and tile overhangs provide shade. A different system was implemented for the inner façade, which does not have any terraces. It uses a dynamic system of transparent blinds made with Stopsol reflective pyrolytic glass. The east and west façades, however, feature a double-skin system. The internal cladding was also made with Stopray glass, while silk-screen printed float glass was used for the external cladding. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Construction News :: home page |