Glass at Expo

After focusing on the single pavilions, we shall now examine Expo 2015 as an architectural test bed, experimenting with materials in new solutions.

Glass deserves a chapter of its own and the Azerbaijan Pavilion has greatly exploited the potential of this material in three spheres, representing the biodiversity and culture of a country where very different elements exist alongside each other. The core idea of the Pavilion is, indeed, the biosphere, a system open to external flows but able to protect and favour the development of life on its inside. Conceived, designed and built by Simmetrico in collaboration with Arassociati, iDeas and AG&P, the Pavilion draws on traditional Azerbaijan materials such as wood, here used innovatively and coupled with the universal glass and metal.

The structure is in Planibel Linea Azzurra glass by AGC Glass Europe, employed for the spheres, the flat areas on the facade and the internal parapets. Manufactured exclusively in Italy, this special clear glass features a slightly bluish tint and works particularly well on large glazed surfaces. The considerable ease with which it can be cut, ground, tempered, curved and stratified means it is also suited to complex projects. The floor of the Pavilion is in Planibel Clearvision, a low-iron glass with a neutral aesthetic, high light transmission and exceptional colour rendering. Glass is also a protagonist in the Belgian Pavilion, where two BIPV glasses by AGC Glass Europe, incorporating photovoltaic cells (SunEwat XL) and an organic film, cover the southern part of the geodetic dome and the Pavilion roof – symbolizing the ideal urban-planning model of the future, comprising a central zone surrounded by suburbs, and the traditional Belgian farm respectively. Spread over a total area of 315 square metres, the photovoltaic cells supply electricity to the Pavilion and generate approximately 130 kWh of energy per day.

The glass/energy-saving pairing also works for the Padiglione Italia, in which the stratification of a facade made of low-emission glass and a second external skin in fibre cement ensures a constant and measured energy delta in the building. This, along with the texture of the panels, means that the elevations most exposed to the sun and with large glazed surfaces are screened against excess solar energy. Unlike many other countries, the United States did not adopt a green roof for its pavilion, opting instead for a “digital” glass one that turns dark blue or transparent on command. As well as acting as a shading system, its 300 panels can be individually regulated, as if giant pixels in a screen. Finally, the transparent glass cube of the Moldavian Pavilion, with its play of reflecting sun’s rays, invites visitors to focus on social global issues such as the environmental heritage, openness and equality.