GKD - Glittering façade for the Torre Europa
The Torre Europa skyscraper shines resplendently on the Plaza Europa very close to the heart of Barcelona. The building is located in an extensive park area with office, shopping and residential areas and offers a unique view over this major Spanish city.
Its shimmering metallic facade allows an uninterrupted view from the inside of the building. The semitransparent design mesh of type Omega from the internationally leading technical weaving mill GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG covers the supporting structures of the Torre Europa. The Spanish construction company Martinsa Fadesa commissioned the prize-winning architects Alonso Balaguer y Arquitectos Asociados for a visually appealing integration into the structure of the Plaza Europa.
The architects selected stainless steel mesh from GKD with zones woven with different degrees of density. The panels that are approx. 11 by 4 metres in size and have varying degrees of transparency alternate over an area of 10,000 m² and thus form a shimmering outer skin whose appearance changes according to how the Spanish sun falls on it. However, it was not just the appearance but also the functional advantages of the GKD fabric that convinced the builders regarding the choice of material.
As a form of protection against the sun, the woven membrane ensures a pleasant climate within the rooms inside during the hot Catalonian summer and provides further convincing arguments because it requires low maintenance and non-flammability. As an example of a successful piece of architecture the metal façade contributes added value to the Torre Europa and integrates it appealingly into the surrounding park landscape.