21.12.2004

Brief
The design and production of two 7x7 metre glass walls for high visual impact in company reception area.

In designing a new work space for its staff in Hertfordshire, the client commissioned Michael Aukett Architects to create a centre to reflect its field, that of exploiting science and engineering in the development of new products.

The resulting building includes two giant glass walls which form the key visual features in the impressive glazed reception. These walls provide a stunning impact and feature images of the good and great from the world of science and technology.

Full details of these glass walls are as follows:

Each glass wall is an overall size of 6.6 metres x 7.2 metres, weighing approximately a tonne. They both feature nine individual 10mm thick toughened glass panels, each of 2.2 x 2.4 metres in size. They are suspended from the ceiling and anchored to the floor, using bespoke manufactured steel brackets and are tensioned using six, 6mm steel cables, giving the effect of the displays floating in mid air. Each glass panel displays a full colour photo montage printed on clear film which is applied to the reverse of the glass creating a translucent architectural feature.

The complex computer generated design has been created to work on two levels: close and far range. It is made up of a mosaic pattern comprising a wide light and and dark colour palette, text and faces of famous inventors from the last two centuries.

Concerning the far range view each panel diaplys a highly abstracted portrait of two of the most infuential poineers to the success of the clients business, inventors Andrew Viterbi and Tim Berners-Lee. These faces are only readable from the main site entrance.

A wide selection of smaller portraits overlay the far range background images and can be read at close quarters.