The ‘Palazzo Tendenza’, the shopping wing of the NET Center in Padova,
Italy, now boasts the country’s tallest fin-supported glazing system, thanks
to the installation of the latest glass technology from Pilkington.
Architect Aurelio Galfetti used more than 730m2 of Pilkington Planar with Pilkington
Optiwhite in two adjoining 18m tall façades, allowing natural light to
flood through the building, and providing a clear and uninterrupted striking
glass frontage.
The glazing system seamlessly connects the interior of the ‘Palazzo Tendenza’
with the outside world, creating an uplifting environment for shoppers to enjoy.
In addition, the crystal clarity of the glass ensures that cars in the Mercedes
showroom in Palazzo Tendenza are shown off to their full potential.
Pilkington Planarä glazing systems are always sold as a complete structural
solution, a deciding factor in its specification for this project. SOMEC engineer
Antonio Altoe who was responsible for the construction of the envelopes of the
project, commented: “SOMEC is dedicated to the design, delivery and installation
of complete building envelopes. The Pilkington Planarä glazing system came
highly recommended as a single glass system with glass fins that would enhance
transparency.”
The world's leading structural glass system, Pilkington Planar opens up vast
possibilities for architects, allowing them to create a complete glass envelope
for buildings with frameless façades on any plane. The fabrication and
design of the product is carried out in the company’s IS0 9000 certified
manufacturing facility in St. Helens, a further guarantee of the products quality
assurance.
The NET Center, designed by the Swiss Architect Aurelio Galfetti for Edilbasso
Group, has taken 18 months to complete and has grown into a modern and multifunctional
complex that features accommodation, offices and retail stores.