Form and beauty expertly processed

The Park Hotel Imperial, situated in Limone del Garda, on the Brescia coast side of the Lake, showcases extensive use of glass elements, mainly through the processing of two types of glass: Pilkington Optiwhite™ extra clear glass and Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome Plus toughenable mirror.

Pilkington Optiwhite™ 10 mm thick toughened and laminated glass* was used for the hotel’s external parapets, which were subsequently digitally screen-printed to create a soft white colour effect. 

The same product was also used in some of the suites’ bathroom wall partitions, which were painted white to provide privacy. Thanks to its production process and the careful selection of raw materials, Pilkington Optiwhite™ is extremely neutral in colour, making it ideal for painting or leaving clear unframed edges. 

Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome Plus, 10 mm thick and toughened, is especially made for mirror parts. Here, processing and installation company, Vetraria Bergamasca Tecnovetro, has used it to maximum effect – creating light and reflections that dance around the rooms. Its highly reflective coating was expertly etched and enhanced by a white panel background to create motifs of branches and leaves. 

In addition, thanks to the versatility of Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome Plus T, the fastening elements - the metal hinges and the handles - were fixed to the doors directly onto the glass, adding an attractive decorative element.

While boasting a humidity-resistant coating, which makes it the ideal product for bathrooms, Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome Plus can be tempered or laminated to suit numerous requirements – qualities that also make it the safest choice for applications in public places. The mirrors above the sinks, for example, have been made with the same product making it the obvious alternative to traditional mirrors.

Bonesi Tecnovetro Group management member, Ulisse Bonesi, said: "We chose Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome Plus because the requirement was for large mirrors that rely on maintenance-free coating rather than reflective backing that can deteriorate over time. The client also required a simple, light, frameless, opaque glass door. This product fully meets both expectations.”

Compared to the glass in the same category, why use Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome Plus?

"The reality is that, with regard to mirror glass, Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome Plus, is peerless. To my knowledge there are no equally-performing product alternatives on the market that can be processed (laminated or toughened). 

And what about the decision to use Pilkington Optiwhite™ extra-clear glass?

"It is a great extra-clear, low-iron glass with very high light transmission and neutrality. We use it a lot, especially over the last year, since production started at the Porto Marghera plant in Italy. It is of particularly use in the case of painted glass, such as the ones we used for the parapets, where it was essential to use extra-clear glass - traditional glass would make the white colour of the paint less bright. So, not only is Pilkington Optiwhite™ in a class of its own when it comes to laminating, it also enhances the brightness of the colours, providing rooms with an extraordinary lightness and transparency.”

In conclusion, Mr. Bonesi, how do you judge your company's collaboration with Pilkington Italia?

"There has been a close collaboration between the two companies for several years. As well as unrivalled product quality, we also receive an excellent consulting service from Pilkington Italia. Our company provides a highly-skilled technical service, but for us to also be able to rely on the glass manufacturer allows us to offer our customers the most precise and efficient choice in the infinite range of existing possibilities."

* Pilkington Optiwhite™ 10 mm thick toughened and laminated glass (10+10, with rigid pvb interlayer 1.52 mm).

Architect: ArtekStudio, Ing. Arch. Sergio Murgia

Glass processor company and installer: Vetraria Bergamasca Tecnovetro s.r.l.

Photography: Arnaldo Dal Bosco