N° 14 May 2004

The architectural magazine

of Alcan Composites

Malaysia Ministry of Finance, Putrajaya

Polen Carrefour, Krakau

Brazil Ohtake Cultural, São Paulo

Portugal Estádio de Aveiro, Estádio de Coimbra

The Netherlands Aluminium Centrum, Houten

U.S.A. Hotel Westin Times Square, New York

Deutschland Porsche, Dortmund

international

Malaysia’s new Ministry of Finance (MOF) complex is one of the moststriking and arresting structure found within the Putrajaya precinct,the nation’s new Federal Government Administration Centre. It is asprawling landmark that marries contemporary architecture with di-stinct cultural motifs. According to GDP Architects Sdn Bhd, their win-ning design was “inspired from an initial idea rooted in cultural de-tails and realised through contemporary tropical architecture”. TheMOF building design is, thus, rich in layering of space and contrast ofsurfaces that are not only characteristic of tropical architecture but al-so a mark of Malaysia’s distinct Asian culture.The building comprises three main blocks, with the Central block faça-de showcasing an intricate geometrical pattern that reflects a subtleIslamic theme. ALUCOBOND® panels were utilised to fashion the gra-ceful arches and columns that shape the patterned frontage. In orderto create the precise shapes of this complex design, an accurate con-trol of dimensions is necessary and to this end, ALUCOBOND® is theperfect material. The aluminium panels are well known to be extre-mely versatile due to easy moulding and detailing. ALUCOBOND®,being lightweight and modular, was used to highlight the lightness ofthe front arches and sunscreens against the solid pre-cast concretewalls of the MOF complex.Apart from cladding the arches and sunscreens, ALUCOBOND® was al-so one of the façade elements used to form the outer walls of the buil-ding. ALUCOBOND® was used to produce an eye-catching trimmingof bronze-tinted glazed walls that brings out the contrast with thespray-painted pre-cast concrete panels of the main solid frontage.For their design of the MOF complex, GDP Architects Sdn Bhd wonthe Architectural Design Award in the Malaysian Construction Indu-stry Awards 2002.

Tradition und Zeitgenössisches Eines der atemberaubendsten GebäudeMalaysias, das neue Finanzministe-rium, besticht durch abwechslungsreicheVerbindung modernen Designs und traditioneller Motive. Strukturen undFreiräume kokettieren als Zeichen tropischer Architektur. ALUCOBOND®

umhüllt Bögen und Säulen und ver-stärkt die Unbeschwertheit der Arkaden.Es ist das ideale Material dank gerin-gem Gewicht und vielfältigen Verarbei-tungsmöglichkeiten. Es wurde auchweitgehend für Teile der Fassade einge-setzt. GDP Architects erhielten dafür den Preis der malaiischen Bauindustrie2002.

A modern design with a cultural fusionMinistry of Finance,Putrajaya, Malaysia

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ProjectMinistry of Finance BuildingPutrajaya, Malaysia

OwnerMinistry of Finance

ArchitectsGDP Architects Sdn Bhd

FabricatorNYC Engineering Sdn Bhd &Lucksoon Contracts Sdn Bhd

Year of CompletionJune 2002

Product19,000 m2 of ALUCOBOND®

Plus, 4 mm Bronze metallic

Un mariage de design contemporain etde culture traditionnelleUn des bâtiments les plus prestigieux deMalaisie, le nouveau Ministère des Finan-ces, séduit par la liaison du dessin mo-derne avec des motifs traditionnels. Lesstructures et les espaces libres repré-sentent une coquetterie et le signe de l’ar-chitecture tropicale. ALUCOBOND® fûtchoisi car il permettait de respecter l’élé-gance des colonnes composant la fa-çade. L’ALUCOBOND® est aussi le maté-rial idéal pour réaliser les formes com-plexes et précises. Les architectes de GDPont reçu le prix de l’industrie du bâti-ment Malaysien en 2002.

1 The contemporary tropical architectureis a fusion of distinct Asian culture.

2 The intricate geometrical pattern reflectsa subtle Islamic theme.

3 Horizontal section

4 Detail section

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In November 2001, the Dutch Minister of EconomicAffairs opened the Aluminium Centrum in Houten, theNetherlands, a unique aluminium building. The Alumi-nium Centrum is the umbrella organisation for the Dutchaluminium industry. The primary function of the infor-mation centre is to display aluminium products. Thebuilding is clad in one colour of material, symbolisingthe strength of aluminium as a high-tech, industrial,and an environmentally aware product. The remarkable architecture and innovative technolo-gy give the building an extraordinary character. The de-sign is from Micha de Haas, winner of the contest, inwhich 64 architects participated. Inspired by the typi-cal Dutch poplar-strewn landscape, the architect pla-ced the building on 368 aluminium columns to accen-tuate the lightness and strength of aluminium. He calls

it ‘the aluminium forest’. The lightweight treetops,which are raised 6 meters above the ground and formthe actual office building, resemble an aluminium cas-ting. The windows are placed irregularly as deep inci-sions in the aluminium casting. The architectural design of the office building originallyconsisted of 600 mm wide aluminium panels, all in onepiece with a good surface flatness, straightness and ri-gidity. Alcan Nederland worked with the architect rightfrom the beginning of the project. With over 30 yearsof experience with ALUCOBOND® systems, they pro-posed to use ALUCOBOND® tray panels suspended onaluminium bolts using aluminium U-profiles for thefaçade. Alcan Nederland engineered the detailing ofthe façade, and fabricated the ALUCOBOND® panelsand aluminium substructure profiles. Panel dimensions

The Aluminium ForestAluminium Centrum

Houten, Netherlands

ProjectAluminium Centrum, Houten,The Netherlands

OwnerAluminium Centrum

ArchitectArchitectenbureau Micha deHaas, Amsterdam

Year of construction2001

InstallerAlcan Service Centre Neder-land, Breda / HoogerwaardGevelbouw, Rotterdam

Type of constructionTraypanels, hooked on bolts inU-profiles

Product1700 m2 of ALUCOBOND®

Silvermetallic

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Der Aluminium-WaldIm November 2001 wurde das einzigar-tige Gebäude der Aluminiumzentralein Houten eröffnet. Diese Dachorganisa-tion der niederländischen Produktions-und Verarbeitungsindustrie stellt Alumini-umprodukte aus und verbreitet sie.Der Neubau wurde komplett in Alumi-nium erstellt, um einerseits die Stärkedes High-Tech-Produkts zu zeigen undandererseits Umweltbewusstsein zu dokumentieren. Das Design von Michade Haas, Gewinner des Wettbewerbs,

ist geprägt von der typischen Land-schaft mit verstreuten Pappeln. Er setztedas Gebäude auf 368 Aluminium-säulen, um so Leichtigkeit und Stärkevon Aluminium zu demonstrieren. Er nennt das Objekt: Aluminium-Wald.Die ‹Baumwipfel› befinden sich sechsMeter über dem Boden und bilden dasBürogebäude. Eine Besonderheit sind die in die Fensterbänke integriertenRegenrinnen mit U-Profilen in der Unterkonstruktion. Sie stellen die ästhe-tische und funktionelle Vielseitigkeit

von Aluminium unter Beweis. Ursprüng-lich sollte die Fassade mit 600 mm breiten Aluminiumblechen gestaltet wer-den. Die Zusammenarbeit mit AlcanNederland brachte dann ALUCOBOND®

ins Spiel. So konnten das Fassaden-raster und der Verschnitt optimiert wer-den. Die Platten in Silbermetallic verstärken die Erscheinung des Gebäu-des durch Leichtigkeit, Widerstands-fähigkeit und Eleganz. Jeder, der sich fürmoderne Architektur interessiert, sollte dieses Objekt besichtigen.

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La forêt d’aluminiumEn novembre 2001, s’ouvrait le Centre del’Aluminium à Houten en Hollande, unbâtiment unique en son genre. Ce centresert de support à l’industrie de l’alu-minium, sur le plan de l’information et del’application des produits en alumi-nium. Pour cette raison ce nouveau bâti-ment a été construit tout en alumi-nium et montre de l’un côté la force d’alu-minium comme produit high-tech et d’autre côté la conscience écologique. Ledesign de Micha de Haas, gagnant du

concours, est imprégné du paysage hollan-dais typique semé de peupliers. A partirde là, il a conçu un bâtiment basé sur 368colonnes pour démontrer la légèreté et la résistance de l’aluminium. Il nommed’ailleurs cette réalisation ‹ la forêt d’aluminium ›. La cime des arbres se trou-ve à 6 mètres au-dessus du sol, concer-nant actuellement le bâtiment de bureaux.Une spécialité de ce bâtiment sont les gouttières intégrés dans les appuis des fe-nêtres. L’eau est acheminée par les profilés en forme U dans la sous-construc-

tion et montrent ainsi les fonctions multi-ples et esthétiques de l’aluminium. A l’origine le design architectural se compo-sait de panneaux aluminium. La coopé-ration étroite avec l’architecte a permis deproposer l’ALUCOBOND® et d’optimiserau maximum la dimension des panneaux.L’ensemble de la réalisation: études, fourniture et usinage de l’ALUCOBOND®

fut réalisé par Alcan Nederland. Les panneaux en couleur argent métalliquerenforcent l’apparition du bâtiment avec rigidité, légèreté et élégance.

were optimised, and 1150 mm wide ALUCOBOND®

tray panels were applied. By increasing the width ofthe panels it reduced the number needed, thus redu-cing production costs, while enhancing the buildingwith a more robust look. The panels were partly fabri-cated onsite; after hanging flat unfinished tray panelson the U-profiles, the parapet return and the lowercladding end were folded into one piece, which resul-ted in reduced volume of material to be shipped, anda reduction in transportation costs. Special details were used for the window sill cover. Thedrainage runs through the aluminium profiles of thesupport system, which results in less pollution of thefaçade itself, reducing the total cost of construction.For the 225 mm deep window jamb, 25 mm wide pa-nels were applied. These panels were hooked on the

U-profile substructure and clamped on a specialALUCOBOND® profile mounted to the window styles.This guaranteed continuous drainage through the U-profiles, and did not disturb the vertical-lined archi-tectural design. The Silver metallic ALUCOBOND®

strengthens the aluminium appearance of this buildingand guarantees long-lasting quality. Everybody who isinterested in modern innovative architecture should vi-sit this remarkable project, for which the architect gotthe Dedalo-Minosse International Prize 2003/2004 (un-der -40s). Also the design has been awarded with theEuropean award for architecture and technology.

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1 The ‘Aluminium Forest’ with night illu-mination.

2 Patio, special attention to the windowsill detail.

3 Horizontal section

4 Vertical section of the window sill2

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ALUCOBOND® plays footballSport, performance, excitement, pas-sion. This year Portugal opens the heartto UEFA-EURO 2004. This event willshow a modern Portugal and vitalise thelife in the accommodating towns. The construction of 10 football stadiumsrepresents an unparalleled initiativein national sporting life. Six stadiumswere built by the roots and four as renovation of already existing spaces.ALUCOBOND® was used at the Está-dio Municipal de Aveiro and Estádio de

Coimbra. O Estádio Municipal de Aveirois completely new, located in a park of dense vegetation with a capacity for32.000 people. Its imperfect circular effect is resulting in a highly pronoun-ced, wavy design. The VIP area withALUCOBOND® in blackberry stands outlike a ‘pocket ’ – different in mate-rial and style to the rest of the stadium.In contrast to the exuberance of the stadium of Aveiro, the Estádio de Coim-bra is appearing with sobriety and elegance. The renovated space now has

a capacity for 30.000 people. The designwants to establish a new image withfaçades of glass and metallic parts butintegrated into the urban surroun-dings. – In the south and east façadesALUCOBOND® panels in Silver me-tallic are closing the semicircular. The-se projects are winners because of excellent surfaces and many possibili-ties of fabrication. We do not know who will win the competition, butALUCOBOND® will always be a cham-pion in UEFA-EURO 2004.

Futebol: Desporto, espectáculo, emoção, paixão é al-go que trazemos sempre no coração. Este ano Portugalabre o seu coração à UEFA-EURO 2004. No entanto esteevento a realizar-se no próximo mês de Junho, não ésó uma festa, mas uma forma de mostrar um Portugalmoderno e empreendedor e ainda serve para dinamizara vida das cidades que o acolhem.A visita de milhares de visitantes estrangeiros apoian-do a sua equipa nacional fará com que nessas oito ci-dades, seja criado um conjunto de infra-estruturas quereorganizam as acessibilidades e as malhas urbanas, re-spondendo adequadamente ás necessidades pontuaisque os grandes desafios de futebol geram. A construçãode dez estádios corresponde a uma iniciativa ímpar nocontexto desportivo nacional, fazendo ressaltar o carác-ter mediático do acontecimento.

Seis estádios foram construídos de raiz e 4 resultadode renovação de espaços já existentes. Curiosamenteo painel ALUCOBOND® está presente em cada um des-ses casos: ‹Estádio Municipal de Aveiro› e ‹Estádio deCoimbra›.Estádio Municipal de Aveiro totalmente novo está lo-calizado fora da cidade, num parque arborizado e temcapacidade para 32.000 espectadores.Este Estádio é desenhado segundo um círculo irregu-lar, o que conduz a que as bancadas tenham um de-senho ondulado e ‹dinossauríco›.A área VIP está assinalada em termos de arquitecturacomo uma bolsa, que se torna proeminente e tratadacom materiais e formas diferentes do resto do estádio.Aí aparece um corpo revestido a ALUCOBOND® numacôr viva, com um complexo sistema de construção para

ALUCOBOND® joga no UEFA-EURO 2004Estádio Municipal

de AveiroEstádio de Coimbra

Portugal

ProjectEstádio Municipal de Aveiro

OwnerCâmara Municipal de Aveiro

ArchitectsArch. Tomás Taveira, Lisboa

ContractorConsórcio Euroestádios, Aveiro

Realisation date September/October 2003

Fabricator and Installer Cociga (V.N.Gaia)

Product700 m2 of ALUCOBOND®

Blackberry, 4mm thickness

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1 The VIP area stands out in blackberry.

2 Colourful view of the new erected landmark.

3 Vertical section

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ALUCOBOND® spielt FussballFussball: Sport, Herausforderung, Ner-venkitzel, Leidenschaft. Dieses Jahr öffnet Portugal sein Herz für die UEFA-EURO2004. Dieses Ereignis wird ein modernesPortugal zeigen und das Leben der aus-richtenden Städte beleben. Der Bau vonzehn Stadien löste eine nie dageweseneInitiative in der nationalen Sportgeschichteaus. Sechs Stadien wurden von Grund auf neu gebaut, vier weitere wurden reno-viert. ALUCOBOND® wurde beim ‹Está-dio Municipal de Aveiro› und dem ‹Estádio

de Coimbra› eingesetzt. Das ‹Estádio Muni-cipal de Aveiro› mit einer Kapazität für 32 000 Menschen ist komplett neu und liegtinmitten eines Parkes mit dichter Vege-tation. Die nicht vollkommen runde Geome-trie ergibt ein stark wellenförmiges Design.Die VIP-Lounge mit einer Verkleidung ausbrombeerfarbenem ALUCOBOND® hebtsich durch das unterschiedliche Material undden Stil vom Rest des Gebäudes ab. Im Gegensatz zum formalen Überschwangdes Stadions von Aveiro, besticht das ‹Estádio de Coimbra› mit Schlichtheit und

Eleganz. Die renovierte Stätte hat nun eineKapazität für 30 000 Menschen. Das Design schafft mit Glas und Metall ein neu-es Image, das sich in die Umgebungintegriert. An den südlichen und östlichenFassaden schliessen ALUCOBOND®

Platten in Silbermetallic den Halbkreis. Wirwissen nicht, wer die Europameister-schaft gewinnen wird, aber ALUCOBOND®

wird bei der UEFA-EURO 2004 immer einMeister sein. Beide Projekte sind mit ihrenvielfältig gestalteten Oberflächen schonheute Gewinner.

as formas pretendidas, bem desenvolvido pelo nossoparceiro neste projecto. Este enorme ‹circo›, goste-seou não das cores bem ao estilo do arquitecto projec-tista, não deixa ficar ninguém indiferente. A contrastarcom a exuberância do Estádio de Aveiro, o Estádio deCoimbra é orientado para a sobriedade e elegância. Re-novado o espaço já existente há longos anos, tem ago-ra capacidade para 30.000 pessoas.É um estádio simples funcional pronto a receber nãosó jogos de futebol, como outras competições des-portivas ou eventos culturais. Complexo virado para acidade, disposto a servir os cidadãos, pretende projec-tar a imagem de Coimbra, atraindo turistas portugue-ses ou estrangeiros. O seu desenho pretende criar umaimagem moderna, com base em sistemas construtivosde grande qualidade, com fachada de vidro mesclada

com partes metálicas. A resolução da forma do estádioleva também em conta a sua integração no seio da ci-dade. Nas fachadas sul e nascente aparecem os painéisALUCOBOND® como revestimento dos corpos semi-circulares das escadas.A excelência da aplicação desses painéis ALUCOBOND®

Silvermetallic dá um toque de classe a este projecto.Estas duas importantes referências de ALUCOBOND®

demonstram bem dois dos argumentos de qualidadedeste painel: Excelente lacagem (mesmo em côres es-peciais) e possibilidade de manuseamento, atingindomesmo formas muito complicadas. A Alcan Composi-tes sente orgulho em participar com os seus painéis naconstrução destes estádios e independentemente daequipa que ganhe a competição, o ALUCOBOND® saisempre da UEFA-EURO 2004 como vencedor!

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ProjectEstádio de Coimbra

OwnerCâmara Municipal de Coimbra

Architect PLARQ, arq. AntónioMonteiro, Arq. Crespo Osório

ContractorSocometal, construções metá-licas SA, Vila Nova de Gaia

Realisation date Spring 2003

Fabricator and Installer MNL – Manuel das Neves Lou-reiro, Lda. (V.N.Gaia)

Product4000 m2 of ALUCOBOND®

Silvermetallic 4 mm thickness

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1 Elegant ‘Towers’ in silvermetallic areclosing the semicircular.

2 General view of the stadium

3 Horizontal section

Glitzernde ErscheinungDesign aus Glas und Metall lässt dasneue Hotel ‹Westin New York› am TimesSquare funkeln: 8000 Glasplatten inzehn verschiedenen Farben verhüllendas Gebäude mit seinen 45 Stockwer-ken. Im unteren Teil verstärken 4000 m2

ALUCOBOND® in sechs Sonderfarbendie prachtvolle Erscheinung. Zwei derFassadenseiten sind geneigt, daherkonnte die Verkleidung nur durch denEinsatz von CNC-Maschinen ver-wirklicht werden. Bei der Planung mus-

ste auch der begrenzte Platz berücksich-tigt werden. Markante Details prägendas Gesamtbild: Der Eingang in Edel-stahl, die Neonbeschriftung, das leuch-tende Logo und der rote Teppich. DasDesign wird von einigen überraschen-den Elementen bestimmt:• Die rechteckige Grundfläche in Formeines Prismas wird von einem ge-schwungenen Lichtstreifen geteilt, alswäre gerade ein Meteor auf der42. Strasse eingeschlagen.• Das östliche Gebäude ist mit horizon-

talen, bronzefarbenen Streifen aus Glasverkleidet.• Der westliche Teil hebt sich vom Bo-den ab, als wenn er fünf Stock-werke über der 43. Strasse und der8. Avenue schweben würde.• Auf der 42. Strasse scheint der Turmaus einem Felsen emporzuschiessen.Letztlich verbindet der untere Teil desHotels mit seinen zehn Stockwer-ken und seiner gezackten Form den be-eindruckenden Turm mit dem Rest des Gebäudes.

There’s plenty of sparkle in the new Westin New Yorkat Times Square hotel. There’s glass and metal that re-flects the bold, imaginative design of the structure it-self and the adjacent retail/entertainment complex.This new Westin hotel even illuminates the night witha beam of light that arches through the 45-story glassprism and beyond. The glittering façade on this $300-million project fea-tures 8,000 sheets of glass in ten colors. The shiningmetal on the low-rise portion of this magnificent struc-ture includes 40,000 sq. ft. of ALUCOBOND® in six cu-stom colors. Panels were fabricated to be rectangularand run at an angle across the building. A single, fa-bricated panel may consist of as many as four fabri-cated panels of different colors. Two of the four wallsof the low-rise portion are sloping. “The only way to

achieve this fabrication was to create a 3-D model anddo the plotting and cutting with CNC equipment,” saidVlad Sobot of Sobotec Ltd., the Canadian fabricatorand distributor. Panels were applied to the exteriorfrom level 5 (on two elevations) to level 17, and wereattached with a rout & return caulked system. The clad-ding installer was Permasteelisa, through its sub-con-tractor Tower Installation. A stainless-steel and red-ne-on marquee highlight the entrance, along with a car-pet of red light and illuminated Westin logos. Developed, built, owned and asset managed by affi-liates of Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc., andTishman Hotel Corporation, the 863-room hotel is lo-cated at 43rd Street and 8th Avenue. Design architectwas Arquitectonica; HKS the production architect. Ar-quitectonica principal Bernardo Fort-Brescia states,

Plenty of SparkleWestin Times Square

New York, U.S.A.

ProjectWestin at Times Square, NewYork

Architectural FirmsArquitectonica, Design Archi-tect; HKS, Production Archi-tect; D’Agostino Izzo & Quirk,Retail Podium

ALUCOBOND® DistributorSobotec Ltd.

Year of Completion2002

Product40,000 sq. ft. ofALUCOBOND® Plus MaterialSix custom colors, High glossfluoropolymer

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Em São Paulo o ALUCOBOND® se tornou um forte elemento de identi-dade em um projeto arquitetônico ousado que combina em seu espaçoarte, cultura, lazer e trabalho. As cores vivas e as formas curvas doALUCOBOND® expressam a vanguarda do complexo Ohtake Cultural,empreendimento desenvolvido pelo arquiteto Ruy Ohtake para o Gru-po Farmacêutico Aché. O projeto engloba uma torre de 22 andaresde escritórios, um edifício com seis pavimentos, além de um centrocultural, um centro de convenções e teatros. O espaço também é pal-co de uma homenagem a Tomie Ohtake, uma das mais renomadas ar-tistas plásticas contemporâneas do Brasil – e mãe de Ruy Ohtake. Olocal contará com o Instituto Tomie Ohtake, que tem a proposta deestabelecer um espaço cultural para abrigar manifestações artísticas,além de reunir obras da própria Tomie. Tal concepção revela o víncu-lo de amizade entre a família Ohtake e os proprietários do grupo Aché –o que já resultou em um conjunto de projetos assinados por Ruy Ohta-ke. Em meio ao universo futurista do complexo, o ALUCOBOND® ex-terna a modernidade e supera os desafios de aplicação diante as difi-culdades arquitetônicas do projeto. Os tons marcantes do revestimen-to em alumínio composto reforçam a independência de design entrea base e o corpo da torre. Por meio de faixas sinuosas dispostas emcamadas com ALUCOBOND®, a irregularidade proposital no desenhodas curvas revela saliências na base e lembram marquises estreitas. Aremissão à sensação de movimento é total – e se harmoniza com aproposta de contar com um espaço central planejado para intensa cir-culação de pessoas. O material cumpriu as exigências: grande apelovisual, durabilidade e resistência, uma vez que a área tem capacidadepara suportar 4,5 toneladas. Além da ampla flexibilidade em num pro-jeto pouco convencional, as chapas agregaram ao complexo perso-nalidade e exclusividade.

Colour and shape in BrasilIn São Paulo ALUCOBOND® stands outin a daring project combining art, culture, leisure and work. The lively cus-tom colors and curved forms showavant-garde on the ‘Ohtake Cultural’complex, covering an office buil-ding, a cultural and convention centerand theatres. ALUCOBOND® showsmodernity and exceeds challenges. Thematerial stresses the intentionally irregular arranged layers. It was usedat the heliport, creating visual ap-peal, durability and resistance and inthe elliptical sculptures working as pillars on the smaller tower’s lateralsides.

Farbe und Form in BrasilienIn São Paulo besticht ALUCOBOND®

in einem kühnen Projekt, das Kunst, Kultur,Arbeit und Freizeit verbindet. Die lebhaf-ten Farben und Formen zeigen sich avant-gardistisch am Ohtake Cultural Com-plex. Es beherbergt Bürogebäude, ein Kul-tur- und Kongresszentrum sowie Theater.ALUCOBOND® zeigt Modernität und betont die absichtlich unregelmässig an-geordneten Streifen am grossen Gebäude.Beim Heliport vermittelt das langlebige undwiderstandsfähige Material visuelle Reize.Die elliptischen Skulpturen bilden die seit-lichen Pfeiler des kleineren Gebäudes.

Cor e forma marcam projeto no BrasilOhtake Cultural

São Paulo, Brasil

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1 Horizontal section

2 Side view of the façade

3 Horizontal section of the corner

4 General view of the complex

ProjectOhtake Cultural, São Paulo,SP, Brasil

OwnerAché Laboratórios S.A.Serplan Desenvolvimento Imo-biliário e Comercial Ltda.

ArchitectRuy Ohtake Arquitetura e Urbanismo

General contractorMétodo Engenharia S.A.

Year of Construction2004

Fabricator/Installer:ALUCOBOND® Indústria eComércio Ltda.

Material3 500 m2 ALUCOBOND®

4 mm in five colors

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Plein de scintillementLe nouvel Hôtel Westin New York à TimesSquare scintille par son design dû à lacombinaison du verre et du métal.Ce bâti-ment de 45 étages se compose de 8000panneaux de verre de 10 couleurs différen-tes, et en partie basse de 4000 m2

d’ALUCOBOND® en six couleurs spéciales.Autre particularité, deux des quatre murs sont inclinés et purent être réalisésen 3D, grace au travail réalisé sur ma-chine CNC. Le design d’ensemble devaitprendre en compte l’espace réduit dis-

ponible, ainsi que la prise en considérationde l’évolution des gratte-ciel du secteur,afin de rentrer dans la nouvelle générationQuelques détails caractérisent cette ré-alisation: telle une grande tente en acierinox et son néon rouge met en valeur l’entrée de l’hôtel, ainsi que le logo illuminéde Westin.Concernant le design lui-même on peutnoter quelques points essentiels:• Le volume à l’est est recouvert de bande-aux horizontaux de couleur bronze.• Le prisme rectangulaire de base coupé en

deux par un rayon de lumière courbe, comme si un météore s’était posé au 42ème

étages.• Le volume à l’ouest s’élève au-dessus dusol, donnant une impression de lévitation 5 étages au-dessus de la 42ème Rue et la 8ème

Avenue.• Sur la 42ème Rue, le tout semble s’élevercomme un rocher.Enfin la partie basse de l’hôtel, de formedentelée et d’une hauteur de 10 étages,sert de lien entre la tour imposante et lereste du bâtiment.

“The challenge was designing a large structure with amultiple use program within the confines of the nar-row block in New York.” Arquitectonica studied theevolution of the New York skyscraper “to move forwardto a next generation”. Commenting on the design,Fort-Brescia states:• The basic rectangular prism is sliced in two by a cur-ving beam of light, as if a meteor had just landed on42nd Street.• The easterly volume is clad in horizontal bands ofearth-colored bronze glass. Bands of back-paintedglass add a painterly quality. The curve broadens thevolume as it reaches ground and stops short of theheight of the westerly volume that marks the corner. • The westerly volume rises above the ground appea-ring to levitate 5 stories above the corner of 43rd Stre-

et and 8th Avenue in defiance of gravity. The thin volu-me broadens as it reaches towards the sky. It is clad invertical bands of space-age steel and blue-grey glass.This 52-story volume rises above the 45-story side, revea-ling its lighted curved inner surface to Times Square. • On the 42nd Street side, the tower appears to rise froma “rock,” a reference to a solid foundation. One is re-minded of views of Central Park with towers rising froma foreground of giant rocks. The low-rise portion of the hotel, dubbed the “rock,”is approximately 10 stories “shaped in a jagged rock-like form,” that serves as “mediator between the giantscale of the tower and the familiar scale of the retailpodium”. This retail podium was designed by archi-tects D’Agostino Izzo & Quirk of Boston.Rob Hendricks

11

1 The Westin extends an especially brightwelcome at night.

2 The hotel is a striking landmark in color-ful Times square.

3 A beam of light arches through the 45-story glass prism and beyond.

4 Horizontal section

5 Vertical section

3

4

5

ALUCOBOND® agora produzido no Brasil

Em outubro de 2002, a Alcan Composi-tes Brasil S.A , empresa resultante dajoint venture entre a Alcan Alumínio doBrasil Ltda. e o Grupo NJK, inaugurou a primeira fábrica do país e da AméricaLatina a produzir o ALUCOBOND®.A planta está situada na cidade de Ca-maçari, no Estado da Bahia, Brasil. O evento de inauguração contou coma presença de autoridades locais e foi marcado pela exposição ‹OitoOrixás› do arquiteto Luiz Humberto deCarvalho, de esculturas feitas comALUCOBOND®.Com investimentos de mais de US$ 10milhões, a nova planta possui capacida-de de produção de 100.000 metrosquadrados ao mês. O foco primordialsão os mercados da região sul daAmérica do Sul – que possuem umgrande potencial de crescimento nosegmento de fachadas metálicas. No Brasil, as primeiras vendas doALUCOBOND® aconteceram no finaldos anos 80 via importação dos EUA. Em 1997, a forte demanda levouà abertura de um escritório em SãoPaulo para atender pedidos não apenasdo ALUCOBOND® como de outros produtos da Alcan Composites.

ALUCOBOND® nun auch in Brasilien

Im Oktober 2002 nahm Alcan Compo-sites Brasil – ein Joint Venture von Alcan Aluminio do Brasil und demNJK-Konzern – die erste Verbund-plattenlinie des Landes und Lateiname-rikas in Camaçari, im Staat Bahia, in Betrieb. Eröffnet wurde das Werk mitder Ausstellung ‹Oito Orixás› (achtafrikanische Götter) des ArchitektenLuiz Humberto de Carvalho, der für seine Skulpturen ALUCOBOND® ver-wendet. Bei der Eröffnungsfeier waren auch lokale Behörden vertreten.Die neue Anlage hat ein Investi-tionsvolumen von mehr als 10 Millio-nen Dollar ausgelöst. Das Werk hat eine Kapazität von 100 000 m2 pro Mo-nat. Zielmarkt ist ganz Südamerika, da hier ein grosses Wachstum progno-stiziert wird, insbesondere was me-tallische Fassaden angeht. Die ersten ALUCOBOND® Plattenwurden in Brasilien Ende der Achtziger-jahre verkauft. Damals handelte es sich noch um Importe aus den USA. Diestarke Nachfrage führte 1997 zur Eröffnung eines Verkaufsbüros in SãoPaulo, welches für ALUCOBOND®,aber auch für andere Produkte aus demHause ALCAN COMPOSITES zuständigist.

ALUCOBOND® now produced in Brazil

In October 2002, Alcan Composites Bra-sil S.A., a company that resulted from a joint venture between Alcan Al-umínio do Brasil Ltda. and the NJKGroup, inaugurated the first plant in thecountry and in Latin America to produce ALUCOBOND®. The plant is lo-cated in the city of Camaçari, State of Bahia, Brazil. The opening ceremonycounted on the presence of local authorities and was marked by the ‘Oi-to Orixás’ (Eight African Gods) ex-hibition, by architect Luiz Humberto deCarvalho, who used ALUCOBOND®

in the sculptures.With more than $10 million in invest-ments, the new plant is capable of pro-ducing 100,000 square meters of the product a month. The main focusare the markets located in southernSouth America – that have great growthpotential in the metallic facadesegment.In Brazil, the first ALUCOBOND® saleswere made at the end of the 1980’s,with material imported from the USA.In 1997, the strong demand led to the opening of an office in São Paulo tofill-in orders not only for ALUCOBOND®

but also for other Alcan Compositesproducts.

For more information please contact

Europe/Middle EastAlcan Singen GmbHComposites DivisionD-78221 Singen/GermanyPhone +49 7731/80 23 97Fax +49 7731/80 28 45composites@alcan.com

North/South AmericaAlcan Composites USA Inc.208 W. 5th StreetP.O. Box 507Benton, KY 42025-0507/USAPhone +1 502 527 4200Fax +1 502 527 1552info.usa@alcan.com

Asia/PacificAlcan Alucobond (Far East) Pte Ltd25 International Business Park #04-01 German CentreSingapore 609916Phone +65 6562 8686Fax +65 6562 8688sales@alucobond.com.sg

ChinaAlcan Composites Ltd Shanghai298 East Kangqiao RoadKangqiao Industrial Zone Pudong Area201319 Shanghai/ChinaPhone +86 21 58132792Fax +86 21 58135333acprc@alcan.com

BrasilAlcan Composites Brasil S/ARua Funchal, 411-5° andar. Vl. Olimpia04551-060-São Paulo/SP-BrasilPhone +55 11 3055-2100Fax +55 11 3055-2102 comercial.composites@alcan.com

Internet: www.alucobond.com

MastheadPublisher: Alcan Singen GmbH Composites DivisionEditing and coordination: Fredy Bolliger, Niederglatt ZHDesign and production: Hochparterre AG, ZurichLithography: Vision Digital, BalgachPrinted in GermanyCirculation: 30,000