Expert: Nazim Nice - 11/24/2010

Question
I'm an architecture student and in my current project have a
large portion of glazed facade. It is 5m high and I don't
want to break it up horizontally, so I am aiming for panels
of 5mx 2m maximum. I have a precedent for panels of these
sizes - the Leonardo glass cube, which uses 6mx2m panels of
laminated safety glass, and doesn't even have enormous
mullions because of a system of steel cables, and disk
springs, as I understand. I was hoping you might be able to
help explain this system to me.. I am hoping to draw
something just similar in plan, but moreover to understand
the system better. Any enlightenment? Here is a thorough
description of the project:
http://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/project.cfm?id=532

Thank you!
Andrea

Answer
Hi Andrea,

Systems like this are quite complicated and I'm not certain I can add too much to what you've already learned online, but I will try to give you a few more bits of information. It looks like this system starts off with the concept of butt joint glazing system, which uses structural silicone to tie different pieces of glass together. This would likely work by itself if the glass panels were only a few meters tall, but in your case you are proposing very tall pieces of glass. While the glass doesn't hold up the actual building, it does need to support itself, and more importantly resist wind and seismic loads (seismic, will vary depending on where you are located).  So it looks like the Leonardo Cube designers wanted a very minimal look, so they investigated what looks to be quite a nice solution of steel cables, etc to help resist these loads. Previously the lightest systems I was aware of was the Pilkington system, which often will use a system of aluminum pieces and cables to create vertical trusses to help resist the movement of the glass. It's also possible to sometimes use a vertical glass fin, perpendicular to the glass for a minimalistic appearance.  But the system you are looking at looks like the most minimal except that the joint between the glass looks larger than a typical butt glazed joint, presumably so the cable fits in there.  I would be curious to look at a magazine like 'Detail' to see if they have featured this building. If they have, or a building like it, then you might be able to see the actual details and dimensions of the system for a better understanding. You might also look up the manufacturer of the system to see if they have information they can send you (or on their website).  

Good luck!

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
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