LAB #4(43) 2008

object into an indivisible whole. Graphic elements of the fa ç ade are repeated in the interior and continue in the landscape design. Eventually, the building seems to grow out of the ground. Many companies are striving to make their employ- ees’ workspaces as environmentally- and health- friendly as possible, so architectural projects are aimed at making the office space more humane. Light, water and plants play a huge role in bringing this concept to reality. Trying to use the natural light- ing as much as possible, the architects preferred glass. This solution allowed to fill all rooms with day- light and increase heat input without letting the sun radiation in. The fact that this material was preferred, can be explained by another fact as well: Leonardo is a well-known brand of high-quality glass. To turn the fa ç ade into an almost non-material membrane it was necessary to hide the load-carrying elements behind the glass surface and not to use classical profiles which would spoil the graphical image of the building. The solution was found together with Schlaich, Bergermann und Partner design com- pany: thin steel cables between the floor and the ceiling are drawn in the junctures, between the six- meter glass panels. Disk springs are also installed. They hold the panels in the necessary position and balance the entire structure, not allowing for defor- mations under the pressure of the wind.

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