SPOTLIGHT: THE GLASSWALL COMPANY
Triumphant transformation Villaggio Vista is a luxury high-rise housing development setting newstandards of design in the up and coming capital of Ghana
Stretching along the Ghanaian Atlantic coast, and oncemerely a colonial residential suburb – Accra - the capital of Ghana, has now transformed into a modernmetropolis. Playing its part in this transformation is a new residential complex, Villaggio Vista, built by luxury brand developers Trasacco Estates Development Company Ltd.
Villaggio Vista is to provide a new style of luxury high-rise housing. In developing the architectural language of Villaggio Vista, the focuswas on the adoption of some local cultural references, with the pattern of the ‘Kente’ strip-woven fabric providing the inspiration for the exterior cladding on two of the buildings, the Azure and Aria. These blocks blend flame red
M
with purple red and traffic orange to achieve the vibrant cloth appearance. The challenge for Chromaticswas to carry this strong colour theme through to the lobby and reception area. Invisibly fixed digitally printed Chromatics
uch of the property in Accra is lowrise, but the rationale behind
safety glass panels have been used on thewalls and as cladding for the columns throughout. Critically, unlikemany
conventional pigmentation processes, the colour used in Chromatics is both lead and cadmiumfree, even for traditionally problematic colours such as the reds and oranges used here. There is absolutely no show-through on the opaque panels and should it ever become necessary to replace a panel the colourmatchingwill be absolutely precise. The 'invisible fix' system used at Villaggio Vista consists of panels structurally bonded to supports in amodified formof rainscreen cladding. The exceptional performance
of Chromatics is due to its unique composition as a laminate of glass, colour interlayer and aluminium, which are chemically bonded at a molecular level using low-energy green technology, resulting in a product that is durable, elegant, cuttable and safe. In addition the glass surface, unlike toughened glass, is completely flat and gives a true reflection. The deep rich colour or digital image is encapsulated between the glass and aluminium layers, so will not fade, discolour or degrade, even
in conditions of high humidity and dampness. Also, Chromatics is shatterproof and retains its integrity even if damaged by sharp or soft body impact. Chromatics is a versatile
product, suitable for a range of interior and exterior applications, and is ideal for both refurbishment and new build in applications such as airports, railway stations, shopping malls, hotels and sports centres. It offers designers a smooth blank wall on which to work, and the shatterproof panels can be precisely matched to any corporate colours, branding, or signage requirements.
Although digitally printed
Chromatics has been available for some while, it relied on large- format printers that were designed for poster print. Now, a high-resolution 360dpi printer will accurately print type, even down to 2pt, with the colour and detail replication likened to quality gloss-printed magazines. As well as client-supplied
graphics, it is possible to reproduce images that allow limitless effects such as marble, stone, moss, clouds or water, so architects and interior designers can incorporate 'texture' images as well as art, signs, corporate identity or messages within the panelling or cladding system. Processing in the UK is carried
out at the Chromatics plant near Haydock. However,with the internationalmarket inmind, the company has been collaborating with KlöpperMaschinentechnik GmbH&Co. KG and an impressive new‘model’ plant – almost 100mlong – has been completed in Dortmund, Germany. As a result, the opportunity nowexists for glass manufacturers, glass processors, cladding companies and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the extendedmarket offered by Chromatics and consider either distributing ormanufacturing Chromatics under licence
anywhere in theworld.
Formore information visit
www.theglasswallcompany.com
40 | Architects Choice |
ArchitectNews.co.uk
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