Overgrip Complex Building, Zoppè di San Vendemiano, Italy

Communication through architecture which is innovative in its appearance and its use of advanced technologies were the reasons for developing the new Sossai Group complex. The objective was to achieve a more functional and synergistic whole and to boost the Group’s manufacturing potential by bringing together a number of the company’s structures into one large headquarters.

The complex covers an area of 35,000 m2, half of which is taken up by three buildings containing manufacturing and executive units. In the entire complex, new solutions and innovations have been introduced to act as experimental samples for future applications on an industrial scale.

The new Overgrip Complex building contains a sophisticated system of vertical closures. A double skin façade system with an 800 mm air space results in an air ventilation system created between the two skins. Internal air is circulated and directed through the wide air space, regenerating previously used energy,
to heat or air condition the interior. The external skin of the façade utilises the Pilkington Planar™ system, comprising of 12 mm Pilkington Optiwhite™ toughened glass. The internal skin is an insulated glass unit, comprising of toughened 10 mm Pilkington Optiwhite™, with a 20 mm air space and laminated low E glass 66.2.

The Pilkington Planar™ bolt-fixed system produces a continuous curtain wall of glazing, and was used to maximum effect with the two stylish curved façades that screen the hall and the executive sales offices. The double skin façade system was constructed using Pilkington Optiwhite™ glass, which has low iron content, therefore ensuring excellent light and energy transmission.