The new paläon research and experience center in Schöningen, Lower Saxony is an eye-catcher: Designed by Holzer Kobler Architekturen, it has a reflecting facade that mirrors the surrounding countryside. ThyssenKrupp Plastics supplied around 4,500 square meters of ALUCOBOND® panels with a special mirror finish for the building, which was opened in June 2013. The panels were installed using a special adhesive and rivet technique.
The ALUCOBOND® panels make the skin of the paläon appear like an oversize mirror, their slanting arrangement presenting sweeping views of the countryside. “The building is a camouflage – a hyperrealistic abstraction of the landscape,” explains architect Tristan Kobler. “The shape of the structure and the tapering facade panels are defined by references to the landscape. The facade as mirror enables the building to absorb, reflect and refract the colors of nature around it.”
Winner of German Facade Award 2013
The unusual design of the paläon won it the 2013 German Facade Award for rainscreen cladding. Announcing the award on November 7, 2013, the jury highlighted the intelligent and precise construction of the facade and its mirror surface.
Versatile aluminum composite panels
The use of ALUCOBOND® in facade construction is just one way to utilize the versatility of aluminum composite panels: the material is also suitable for balconies, floors and ceilings, roofs, pillars, escalator and bridge cladding and interior fittings.
ALUCOBOND® is a strong yet flexible material consisting of two aluminum face sheets and a polymer core. Extremely weatherproof, impact-resistant, break-proof and vibration-damping, it meets all the major requirements.
From “Metallics” to “Anodized Look”, from “naturAL” to “Spectra” and “Uni” colors, ALUCOBOND® is available in a wide range of sizes and colors, giving customers great design freedom.
About ThyssenKrupp
ThyssenKrupp is a diversified technology and materials group based in Essen, Germany. It currently has around 150,000 employees in some 80 countries developing ideas and innovations into solutions for sustainable progress. In fiscal year 2012/2013 ThyssenKrupp generated sales of more than € 39 billion.
ThyssenKrupp Plastics GmbH based in Essen, Germany offers a nationwide service focused on product and application advice, fabrication, sourcing and delivery. It has a portfolio of over 40,000 plastics products and brands stemming exclusively from renowned international producers who are among the technology and market leaders in their respective product areas. The range is tailored to the requirements of customers in the DIY/builders’ merchants, building, industrial piping, engineering plastics and visual communication sectors.