Above Image: European Patent Office, Netherlands 2018 ©Ossip Van Duivenbode Ateliers Jean Nouvel + Dam & Partners
Architects and investors remain attentive to the concept of building façade reflectivity, and have become highly savvy in defining façade elements in order to provoke awe, make a bold statement, and have a building perform visual dances with nature and the urban context.
The amount of light a building reflects is determined by materials selected, the geographic context and orientation. Solar reflectivity and exterior glare can sometimes create a nuisance and may contribute to intense solar radiation to the exterior context and neighbouring buildings. Highly reflective glazing efficiently blocks solar heat gain into interior spaces, but can exhibit undesirable reflectance on the outdoor environment. Therefore, the right choice of glazing and careful design is crucial while establishing the initial architectural criteria, not just to combat these issues, but to determine how best to optimize and showcase the desired aesthetic qualities and splendour of a building façade without undesirable visual effects.
The design community has expressed a desire and appreciation for reflective facades with a neutral silver aesthetic. Celebrity architects Renzo Piano, Valode & Pistre, and Jean-Nouvel, have adopted SaintGobain’s glazing solutions for some iconic projects like the new Paris Courthouse (TGI), the Saint-Gobain Tower HQ in Paris- La Defense, and the European Patent Office (EPO) in The Hague, as well as for a portion of the reflective façade on the Lakhta Tower in St. Petersburg, Europe’s tallest skyscraper.
Paris Courthouse, France 2017 © Laurent Zylberman- Graphix-Images Renzo Piano Building Workshop
In line with Saint-Gobain’s pioneering spirit and innovative processes to offer the most performant materials, our new COOL-LITE XTREME Silver II is a 2-in-1 coated glass combining the reflective silver aspect of COOL-LITE ST Bright Silver with advanced solar protection and reinforced thermal insulating qualities for comfort and energy savings. The glazing solution makes stunning, single skin, lighter and less costly facades attainable, eliminating the need to have a double skin façade system, and bringing a sense of openness and transparency to the building.
Saint-Gobain GlassPro App Comparison between reflective COOL-LITE XTREME Silver II glazing and COOL-LITE Xtreme 73-33 © Saint-Gobain Glass
Visit Saint-Gobain’s Glass for Façade for more details
