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city of arts and science,valencia,spain-arc santiago calatrava




























'City of Arts and Sciences' in Valencia, Spain, features planetarium and science museum that make extensive use of laminated glass

Valencia's planetarium (left) and science museum opened in 2000.
A newly opened 'City of Arts and Sciences' in Valencia, Spain features a planetarium and science museum that both make extensive use of laminated glass to achieve "a challenging and audacious architectural assembly", in the words of architect Santiago Calatrava, also of Valencia.
The planetarium globe, which houses a viewing theatre, is roofed over by an elliptical shell structure of laminated glass and aluminum with longitudinal sections that can open to the sky. The globe is cradled like the pupil of an eye in a concrete socket, which is sheltered by the laminated glass pod.
Jose' Magrans of laminator St Gobain Cristaleria S.A. told LGN: "The 1,500 m2 roof is composed of 372 irregularly-shaped lites of laminated tempered glass. We recommended this specification to architect Calatrava for optimal safety and strength. The challenge was to produce glass of such large dimensions (3.1 m x 1.8 m) with a four-point assembly."
"The planetarium's extensive glass floors are a four-ply laminated glass construction consisting of one layer of anti-slip, acid-etched, 6 mm tempered glass on top, followed by three 10 mm layers of glass. If the floor gets cracked, the PVB ensures that it will stay in place until repair can be effected. There is also 500 m2 of 20.76 mm laminated glass used in balustrades throughout the building. This was the strongest, safest and best-looking solution. .The Science Park development also features a science museum by Calatrava and Cristaleria Espanola. A white supporting concrete framework facing south-east is filled in with laminated glass panels.

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