Exterior envelope: in search of variety, colour, and flamboyant new textures, Rob Gregory looks at some recent innovations in facade design.

501 GKD 

GKD mesh has been used on the facade of the world's largest Louis Vuitton flagship stores. Designed by Jun Aoki, the store's facade responds to its Tokyo streetscape with vitality, versatility, and optical trickery. Integrating four different weaves, the stainless-steel mesh is combined with a special illumination system that produces constantly shifting patterns, as the physical substance of the building dissolves and reconstitutes itself, and as overlapping panels create a third visual structure through the moire effect.

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Enquiry 501 www.arplus.com/enq.html

502 KME 

TECU[R] Brass is one of three copper alloys produced by KME--the leading manufacturer of Copper sheet products for roofs and facades. Chosen by Holler & Klotzner for their design at the Chiesa di S. Giacomo, in Laives, Italy, TECU[R] Brass will respond to changing weathering processes to give the facade a lively and unique character; from green, to grey/brown, before reaching a dark brown-anthracite colour. Sloping surfaces produce even more variety. TECU[R] Bronze and TECU[R] Gold are also available.

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Enquiry 502 www.arplus.com/enq.html

503 SOLUTIA

Solutia Inc is one of the world's leading providers of glass interlayers for laminated glass installations. With a wide range of colours, and varying specifications of solar control. Vanceva[TM] gives architects, designers and engineers freedom to create stunning visual compositions. Two recent examples include an office building facade by b720 for Layetana on Maestro Nicalou St, Barcelona, and Palais des Congres convention centre (AR October 2004) in Montreal. Solutia will be exhibiting Vanceva[TM] at Glasstec 2004, the 18th international tradefair to be held at the Dusseldorf Exhibition Grounds 9-13 November.

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Enquiry 503 www.arplus.com/enq.html

504 TREVIRA CS

As one of the main attractions at the Universal Forum of Culture in Barcelona, the Sky of Hope--situated in the Plaza of the Talismans--incorporated 5000[m.sup.2] of multicoloured, flame retardant Trevira CS. Representing the oceans and continents of the world, the project was created by Indian artist Tajeev Sethi, and comprised 80 coloured nets. Hoisted 10m above the ground, the canopies provided shade for visitors and created a peaceful place of rest, and from beneath were adorned by hundreds of suspended talismans.

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Enquiry 504 www.arplus.com/enq.html

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