Glass wall for a sports complex in Madrid, Spain

Abstract

This is an analysis of a glass wall realized in a sports centre in Madrid, in which sport takes place above ground level, in a building of five storeys. The façade of one storey is designed to be totally transparent, so that the building from the outside gives the impression of being «in sections». The window-wall, with a surface area of approximately 47.11 m by 20.24 m, Is achieved by using large sheets of laminated glass, approximately 2.20 m by 3.00 m, tield in place by six suction devices in a metal frame suspended without other support from the roof. From the exterior this material appears with no visible carpentry, with open joints which act as drainage channels. With recent developments in building and technology we can consider using wall materials adaptable to all external conditions, and which allow more possibilities than traditional construction materials. This is especially important for public amenity buildings which, like this one, must present an original and stimulating image, at times, as in this case, displaying to the outside word the activity within.