Futuristic glass windows for impossible architecture in Austria

03/03/2023 | Print view

The 43 Argos eyes of different sizes and orientated in different directions are distributed over five storeys. The whole is supported by a two-storey glazed plinth. - © Isolar — © Isolar

The 43 Argos eyes of different sizes and orientated in different directions are distributed over five storeys. The whole is supported by a two-storey glazed plinth.

The architect Zaha Hadid set new standards in design and form with her futuristic architecture. For a long time, her dynamic buildings were considered unfeasible in terms of construction technology, but then came the breakthrough. One of her last works is the Argos design house in Graz. Facade glass from Isolar is installed there.

The Argos design house in Graz enriches the Austrian city with an architectural highlight. A multitude of eyes looking in all directions, similar to those of the giant Argos from Greek mythology, characterise the appearance of the building in the historic city centre.

The sculptural appearance of the windows, which jut out of the facade like bubbles or eyes, means that the building has truly earned the name Argos. "We are very pleased that the star architect Zaha Hadid emerged as the winner of the international architectural competition in 2004 and that it was possible for us to realise this architectural beacon project," Theresa Rieger from the project developer WEGRAZ is pleased to say.

In order to achieve a pleasant living comfort despite the unusual shape, the focus was above all on sun and sound protection.

Many different types of glass from Isolar

"The challenging and at the same time interesting thing about this project was the many special shapes of glass," explains Michael Zippusch of Isolar Austria, who manufactured and supplied the glass, adding, "All the glass in the so-called bubbles has round corners at the insulating glass corners as well as an additional sash that was mounted in the fixed glazing."

In addition, the surface cut-out in the insulating glass and the glass for the sash also have four rounded corners: "The fact that this occurs in all elements is not an everyday occurrence," the glass expert knows.

Living comfortably with unusual design

In order to achieve pleasant living comfort in spite of the unusual shape, the main focus was on sun and sound protection: "The g-value should be around 30 per cent, the light transmission around 40 per cent," Zippusch recalls and continues: "That's why we installed Isolar Neutralux glass with a hard-coating sun protection coating in the outer pane as well as thermal insulation glass on the inside of the glass.

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All in all, according to Zippusch, around 485 m2 of glass divided into around panes of 70 solar control glass, 70 enamel parapet panels and around 50 thermal insulation glass elements were installed in the building.