CASALGRANDE PADANA CEMENTO TILE at the Central Library Calgary, Alberta. casalgrandepadana.com
As the line between the structural and the decorative continues to blur, architectural products are called upon to fill rather demanding briefs. At the new Central Library in Calgary, completed at the end of 2018 by global firm Snøhetta with Canadian office DIALOG, this trend is clear.
Designing for a site that straddles two neighborhoods and a light-rail line in a city where over half the residents are regular library users, the architects focused on drawing in the surrounding community and making sure the space would always feel welcoming despite heavy use. Beyond the flashy facade of fritted glass and hexagonal aluminum patterns, a wide variety of rooms required specific surface treatments.
For spaces including reception areas, stacks, and the so-called Living Room, which overlooks the library’s surroundings, the architects specified rectangular tile from Italian company Casalgrande Padana that met standards for durability and suited the warm, organic palette of the interiors. It’s an expansive and generous project, but also proof that when it comes to architecture, God is in the details.
TRENDWAY VOLO WALL, Central Michigan University Research Corporation Saginaw, Michigan: To adapt the interiors of the historic Saginaw News Building for CMU’s small-business incubator, designer Becky Dallman needed a modular wall system that could accommodate the idiosyncrasies of the space while also presenting a clean aesthetic to attract start-ups and entrepreneurs. The Volo system was a turnkey solution: It’s easy to install and provides privacy and acoustic comfort. trendway.com
Courtesy the Designers and Manufacturers
TRENDWAY VOLO WALL, Central Michigan University Research Corporation Saginaw, Michigan: To adapt the interiors of the historic Saginaw News Building for CMU’s small-business incubator, designer Becky Dallman needed a modular wall system that could accommodate the idiosyncrasies of the space while also presenting a clean aesthetic to attract start-ups and entrepreneurs. The Volo system was a turnkey solution: It’s easy to install and provides privacy and acoustic comfort. trendway.com
WILSONART QUARTZ, SOLID SURFACE, AND LAMINATE, Stony Brook Medicine Advanced Specialty Care Center Commack, New York: This 120,000-square-foot facility brings together 30 medical specialties under one roof. Wilsonart Quartz and HPL products turned out to be ideal for a host of applications in this high-demand environment, and were used on countertops, casework, and windowsills. Even the stairway is made from the company’s Haida Quartz product. wilsonart.com
Courtesy the Designers and Manufacturers
WILSONART QUARTZ, SOLID SURFACE, AND LAMINATE, Stony Brook Medicine Advanced Specialty Care Center Commack, New York: This 120,000-square-foot facility brings together 30 medical specialties under one roof. Wilsonart Quartz and HPL products turned out to be ideal for a host of applications in this high-demand environment, and were used on countertops, casework, and windowsills. Even the stairway is made from the company’s Haida Quartz product. wilsonart.com
BANKER WIRE WOVEN STAINLESS STEEL MESH, Domaine Chandon Restaurant Coldstream, Australia: For a restaurant that highlights wine making, design firm Foolscap Studio sought out steel mesh as an industrial material that could convey refinement and craftsmanship. Three different Banker Wire products (S-15 is shown here) provided different levels of transparency, texture, and reflectivity, lending depth and dimension to walls and partitions. bankerwire.com
Courtesy the Designers and Manufacturers
BANKER WIRE WOVEN STAINLESS STEEL MESH, Domaine Chandon Restaurant Coldstream, Australia: For a restaurant that highlights wine making, design firm Foolscap Studio sought out steel mesh as an industrial material that could convey refinement and craftsmanship. Three different Banker Wire products (S-15 is shown here) provided different levels of transparency, texture, and reflectivity, lending depth and dimension to walls and partitions. bankerwire.com
AGC R42 GLASS, L’Avenue Montreal: Building in an erratic, wet climate requires careful attention to thermal comfort. These considerations prompted IBI Group to specify AGC glass to clad the L’Avenue tower in Montreal. The glass is energyefficient and tinted, creating a unique exterior appearance while reducing glare and providing unobstructed sight lines. agcglass.com
Courtesy the Designers and Manufacturers
AGC R42 GLASS, L’Avenue Montreal: Building in an erratic, wet climate requires careful attention to thermal comfort. These considerations prompted IBI Group to specify AGC glass to clad the L’Avenue tower in Montreal. The glass is energyefficient and tinted, creating a unique exterior appearance while reducing glare and providing unobstructed sight lines. agcglass.com
JAKOB WEBNET, Gurmels Gym Fribourg, Switzerland: To protect the ceiling and lighting systems of this gym in western Switzerland, the architectural team of Jean-Luc Grobéty, André Bächler, Alain Fidanza, and Jürg Winkelmann turned to Jakob Rope Systems’ signature product: the Webnet. A striking visible element, the stainless-steel mesh is tensioned above several rooms in the gym, which also serves as a venue for sporting and cultural events. jakob-usa.com
Courtesy the Designers and Manufacturers
JAKOB WEBNET, Gurmels Gym Fribourg, Switzerland: To protect the ceiling and lighting systems of this gym in western Switzerland, the architectural team of Jean-Luc Grobéty, André Bächler, Alain Fidanza, and Jürg Winkelmann turned to Jakob Rope Systems’ signature product: the Webnet. A striking visible element, the stainless-steel mesh is tensioned above several rooms in the gym, which also serves as a venue for sporting and cultural events. jakob-usa.com
EVENTSCAPE CUSTOM ELEMENTS, Capital One Headquarters Toronto: For the Canadian headquarters of Capital One, Eventscape collaborated with the design firm IBI Group to create specially fabricated interior elements on all five floors of the office, incorporating lighting, seating, branding, and architectural features. For example, the highlights of the top floor are the two fractal walls (shown here) with niche seating and upholstered panels. eventscape.com
Courtesy the Designers and Manufacturers
EVENTSCAPE CUSTOM ELEMENTS, Capital One Headquarters Toronto: For the Canadian headquarters of Capital One, Eventscape collaborated with the design firm IBI Group to create specially fabricated interior elements on all five floors of the office, incorporating lighting, seating, branding, and architectural features. For example, the highlights of the top floor are the two fractal walls (shown here) with niche seating and upholstered panels. eventscape.com
MARVIN CLAD ULTIMATE WINDOWS AND DOORS, Peconic Bay House Hampton Bays, New York: The energy performance and cost-effectiveness of Ultimate Windows and Doors enabled SPG Architects to connect the different spaces of this bayside home and open up the facade to views of the water. The mullion profiles provide articulation on the exterior while blending seamlessly into the minimalist interiors. marvin.com
Courtesy the Designers and Manufacturers
MARVIN CLAD ULTIMATE WINDOWS AND DOORS, Peconic Bay House Hampton Bays, New York: The energy performance and cost-effectiveness of Ultimate Windows and Doors enabled SPG Architects to connect the different spaces of this bayside home and open up the facade to views of the water. The mullion profiles provide articulation on the exterior while blending seamlessly into the minimalist interiors. marvin.com
