FRONT COVER SPOTLIGHT 9
As the building is just 200 metres from the Atlantic Ocean, the architects chose to use 1.0mm thick salt-water resistant stainless steel cladding, incorporating a series of complex domed, indented and perforated patterns to represent waves and sea-spray. A similar approach was adopted on the centre’s ceiling panels, where the 1.5mm thick aluminium includes a marine map produced from thousands of small perforations, which were produced using tooling specially developed by RMIG for the project.
Claude Morel, RMIG France’s Project Manager on the Ruban Bleu scheme, explained: “The Ruban Bleu centre is one of the most visible structures within the huge
St.Nazaire regeneration project and the decorative cladding is seen by thousands of people every day. This was not the first time we have developed innovative tooling but was certainly one of the most complex solutions we have engineered to date which has also given us a new level of technical expertise and knowledge, which is unique to RMIG.”
A similar series of technical challenges were overcome by RMIG in developing the unique aluminium cladding for The Oslo Opera House in Norway, which not only won the culture category of the 2008 World Architecture Festival, but also scooped the prestigious Mies van der Rohe award for contemporary European architecture in May 2009.
Aluminium was chosen primarily due to its aesthetics, longevity, malleability and the possibility of making very flat, stress-free panels. The RMIG team also assisted in developing a suitable fixing method on site,
Maison du Portugal, Paris
which involved the installation of a strong, but low profile framework onto which each individual panel was located and secured.
Designed by architects Snøhetta, their vision was to involve a range of work and input from Scandinavian artists and sculptors to reflect Norway’s culture and heritage within the fabric of the building. As part of this approach, artists Astrid Løvaas and Kirsten Wagle created a unique design for the building’s cladding, which uses a complex array of convex domes and conical indentations to represent a particular pattern used in traditional Norwegian weaving techniques.
Henrik Salée, Group Operations Director with RMIG Denmark, explained: “As designers are constantly seeking new and adaptable methods of expressing their creativity in building design, we’re finding that architects are keen for us to work alongside them in developing the best solutions. Working with the artists and the architects from the very start has meant that we not only had to stay true to their design integrity, but also turn it into a reality that will be on public display for decades to come.”
Beyond cladding, RMIG has also been heavily involved in a number of projects where perforated metal has formed and innovative and aesthetic solution for solar shading, to help reduce the need for air conditioning and the associated energy costs. Two of these projects are located in Lyon, France
Ruban Bleu Centre, St Nazaire
The massive La Part Dieu commercial centre houses 260 shops and uses curved perforated aluminium ‘sails’ inside the glass dome to reduce glare and provide shade, while the vaulted glass covered malls also
includes curved solar shading using the same material and perforation pattern to let in light but help reflect heat.
Architects Garbit & Blondeau also turned to RMIG’s perforated metal technology to provide a versatile solar shading solution at Lyon’s Catholic University. Almost 500 perforated stainless steel panels are electronically controlled and motorised to provide flexible shading to help manage the building’s internal temperature as the position of the sun changes during the day.
Lyon’s Catholic University
“Whether in steel, stainless steel or aluminium, perforated metal solutions, enable an infinite combination of designs, patterns and shapes to be achieved,” added RIMG’s Paul Quigley. “Durability, flexibility of design, aesthetics and practicality are all fundamental parts of the RMIG solution. In our view, it’s where form meets function.”
Further information on the RMIG Group, its product groups, markets served and the manufacturing solutions it provides can be obtained by visiting
www.rmig.com
RMIG Click here to request literature
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100