Teamwork is key to double skin facade that meets complex aesthetic and technical performance requirements of cube berlin
cube berlin is an eye-catching, 11-storey office building located at Washington Platz in the Europacity urban district of Berlin. This 19,000 square-metre structure, developed by CA Immo, is an excellent example of how innovative architectural design can be successfully combined with the complex technical (structural and energy performance) requirements of an ‘intelligent’ commercial building.
Designed by 3XN Architects of Copenhagen, cube berlin stands out due to its fully glazed, double skin ventilated façade that integrates the building into the surrounding environment. The unique, custom-designed façade not only meets the aesthetics required by the architect, but also meets the high structural and energy performance requirements.
Due to the combination of glass used in the fully glazed façade, the aesthetics are visually appealing, reflecting the building’s surroundings on all sides and dynamically changing its appearance depending on the viewing angle, the weather and time of day. The dynamic façade uses a stepped thermal façade beneath an outer glass skin, which wraps the building in a triangular pattern. Access points are introduced through a set of articulated openings in the outer skin on all four sides and on multiple floors.
Torben Østergaard, partner at 3XN and architect on the project comments: “Our initial idea was to sculpt the building so that it would enter a dialogue with the urban space, the surrounding buildings and life at Washington Platz… In order to make the building work as a sculpture on the square we were looking for reflective glass that emphasises the surface while also visually reflecting the surroundings… cube berlin also allows for a more awarding and subjective reading of the context and life at Washington Platz. Our hope is that the design will prompt the question at by-passers ‘What’s actually going on here?’ and maybe even evoke a sense that the building is actually flirting a little bit with you.”
Another important design element was to maximise natural daylight for the building’s occupants. As Torben Østergaard states: “As the floor plates are rather deep, we were aiming at a fully glazed façade, not only to produce the best possible daylight conditions but also to allow for the particular feel of floor-to-ceiling windows that offer great outside views.”
Energy efficient
As well as its stunning architecture, the project also stands out due to its high level of commitment to environmental sustainability, with reduced energy consumption
compared to traditional office buildings. The ventilated double skin façade was a crucial factor here. As well as being a natural daylight provider, the façade also offers effective protection against (solar) heat gain, while allowing the occupants to benefit from natural ventilation. As Joachim Fauth of Drees & Sommer, façade consultant on the project states: “To prevent overheating of the cavity, we put solar control coatings and solar absorbing PVB layers in the outer skin.”
Matthias Schmidt, Head of Development at Investor CA Immo states: “We are aiming for DGNB Gold certification on this project. The design of the façade is actually very energy efficient and together with a clever technical concept that, among other things, includes regaining energy from heat, adds up in total to an effective energy solution that will negate the common idea that glass buildings are severe energy spenders.”
Guardian Glass:
Guardian SunGuard® HD Diamond 66 Ultra and SuperNeutral SN 62/34 solar control glass.
Guardian ClimaGuard® Premium2 thermal insulating glass.
Guardian UltraClear® low-iron float glass.
Investor/Project Developer:
CA Immo Deutschland GmbH
Architect:
3XN
Consultant in façade engineering, energy design and green building certification:
DREES & SOMMER
Cladder:
GIG
Glass Processors:
BGT Bischoff Glastechnik AG
PVB Supplier:
Eastman Chemical Company
Photography:
©3XN and Guardian Glass, LLC
Another challenge was the structural make-up of the glass. This meant adding another structural interlayer, which had to be compatible with the solar absorbing PVB interlayer. This solution was developed from scratch and national approval had to be sought during the design and construction phase. By adding this extra structural interlayer, edge stability was increased, and the risk of delamination lowered, while reducing the yellowness index.
Joachim Fauth says: “To design such a complex product, you need real teamwork, which is exactly what happened during the design phase, with the glass supplier, the PVB supplier, the architect and the façade consultant all working closely together.”
Torben Østergaard concludes: “Façade designs of this character often meet technical issues that tend to challenge the initial design intent. However, in this case, it’s been a win-win because the technical performance of the façade in terms of energy control goes hand-in-hand with the architectural aspirations.”
Expert advice and technical support
In addition to supplying coated glass products, the Guardian Glass team involved in the project also provided technical expertise and commercial support during the design phase, drawing on its vast experience and knowledge base.
As Olivier Beier Costa, Architectural Sales Manager at Guardian Glass states: “The biggest challenge was to combine two things: first of all, the design and aesthetic concept of the architect and secondly, the technical requirements of the building, so we had to identify the right products that could be used for such an application. That involved the performance of various tests and calculations, as well as the production of many samples.”
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About Guardian Glass
Guardian Glass, a major business unit of Guardian Industries, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of float, coated and fabricated glass products. At its 25 float plants around the globe, Guardian Glass produces high performance glass for use in exterior (both commercial and residential) and interior architectural applications, as well as transportation and technical products. Guardian glass can be found in homes, offices, cars and some of the world’s most iconic architectural landmarks. The Guardian Glass Science & Technology Center continuously works to create new glass products and solutions using the most advanced technology to help customers see what’s possible®. Visit guardianglass.com.
About Guardian Industries
Guardian Industries, a global company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, employs more than 16,000 people and operates facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Guardian companies manufacture high-performance float, coated and fabricated glass products for architectural, residential, interior, transportation and technical glass applications, and high-quality chrome-plated and painted plastic components for the automotive and commercial truck industries. Guardian’s vision is to create value for its customers and society through constant innovation using fewer resources. Guardian is a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc. Visit guardian.com.
