MASS-PRODUCED ELEMENT IN STRUCTURAL GLASS: “ARTIFICIAL VINEYARD”

Abstract

The aim is to design an architectural element flexible and easily adaptable to different urban situations using a material such as glass that, for the last years, is being employed as a structural element. The mass-production is rarely applied to glass construction systems that instead are usually designed case by case. The paper reports the results of a research carried out by the Dipartmento di Architettura and Dipartimento DICAM (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali), of the University of Palermo, within the project "VESTRA" (POFESR 2007/2013 - Action Line 4.1.1.1), that aims to the experimentation of mass-produced elements in structural glass. The prototype was designed to satisfy different urban contexts (public transports, rest areas, pedestrian path, etc.) ensuring the protection performances (from solar radiation and rainfall) required in these cases. The main achievable benefits are: - The design flexibility: from the basic module of 4 sqm it is possible to compose different elements obtaining surfaces of about 25 sqm. - The possibility of taking advantage of the characteristics of materials that, thanks to modern technology, can provide superior performance to other materials commonly used. Furthermore, glass is a recyclable material almost 100% and, unlike many other materials used for serial production can be recycled indefinitely; - The easy and quick assembly, allowed by the die-cast aluminum joint systems that simplify the implementation. The prototype may provide suggestions to use materials and technologies not yet used in the industrialization field.