Construction

Winner: 3B Fibreglass (Belgium)
Partners: P.C.R. SRL and architects King (Italy) and Roselli, Architetti of Rome (Italy)

The concept is based on a large folding skin wrapped around the modules containing the rooms. This outer skin is made of glass-fibre-reinforced composite material. The final solution uses a damp proof reinforced membrane finished in white for the flat roof, combined with a pultruded glass-reinforced plastic sheeting on a metal sub-structure for the curves and the down-stands of the skin.

The material was produced in 22 metre long, 1.40 metre wide strips that are extremely light and can easily be handled on a busy construction site. It was a great challenge to avoid showing joints for such a large surface, which must not “move” when subjected to extreme temperatures and weather changes. The surface was also shaped to form bidirectional curves on the top of the roof, against the front line of the hotel, which is 420 meters wide and 14 m high.

Though rarely used in building so far, this technology has the advantages of being light and precise, making it possible to manufacture sheeting lengths up to 22 meters with almost invisible joints. Reduced costs and construction times coupled with the inherent qualities and finish of the material were decisive in achieving the desired result. Overall, the cost of installed cladding is very competitive.

Other finalist in the Construction
_____________________________________________________

•  A single-piece house presented by Escola da Cidade (Brazil) with its partner Brazilian Composite Materials Association (ABMACO)