502 GKD.

The Sony Centre, by Helmut Jahn, is part of the reconstruction of the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin. It consists of eight glass and steel buildings arranged around an inner courtyard -- the Forum -- which is the cultural heart of the scheme.

Following GKD's cladding at the Hanover EXPO of the Bertelsmann Pavilion, Jahn has covered many of the Centre's exterior and interior surfaces with the firm's stainless steel mesh. It is both a graceful and adaptable material. Depending on your perspective, and on density and pattern, the semi-transparent mesh --particularly when installed over glass -- seems to dematerialize mass. Lit from behind, the mesh becomes a translucent membrane; illuminated from outside, it looks like an opaque shining skin. The material can be adapted to practically any shape of building.

A type of mesh called Escale was used over exterior walls at the Centre. Its configuration -- a comparatively thick mesh with large holes - makes it highly reflective on the outside, and transparent when seen from within. It covers the northern face of offices and envelopes the exterior of the max cinema and face of the Filmhaus in a changing silvery mantle. Like a great screen, the mesh reflects lights colours and animation of the Forum. Escale's flexibility is due to the spiral structure. About 200 mesh elements of about 3.5x4.5m each were attached at the head and foot to the substructure using a stainless steel grid. Individual elements can be removed and reinstalled. Internally, a more densely woven mesh called Ocean was employed for cladding the atrium of the Filmhaus and entrance lobbies of office and apartment buildings. The mesh looks like a fine curtain but is dense enough to conceal technical equipment installed behind it. Finishing and installation of substructures and mesh were carried out by GKD and specialist fitters, Amelung & Ellmrich, Herzfelde.