Pilkington at the center of Italian retail

'Palazzo Tendenza', the shopping wing of NET Center in Padova, Italy, now boasts the country's tallest fin-supported glazing system, thanks to latest glass technology from Pilkington.

Architect Aurelio Galfetti used more than 730m2 of Pilkington Planar with Pilkington Optiwhite in two adjoining 18m tall facades, allowing natural light to flood through the building, and providing a clear and uninterrupted striking glass frontage.

The glazing system seamlessly connects the interior of the 'Palazzo Tendenza' with the outside world, creating an uplifting environment for shoppers to enjoy.

In addition, the crystal clarity of the glass ensures that cars in the Mercedes showroom in Palazzo Tendenza are shown off to their full potential.

Pilkington Planara glazing systems are always sold as a complete structural solution, a deciding factor in its specification for this project.

SOMEC engineer Antonio Altoe who was responsible for the construction of the envelopes of the project, commented: "SOMEC is dedicated to the design, delivery and installation of complete building envelopes".

"The Pilkington Planara glazing system came highly recommended as a single glass system with glass fins that would enhance transparency".

The world's leading structural glass system, Pilkington Planar opens up vast possibilities for architects, allowing them to create a complete glass envelope for buildings with frameless facades on any plane.

The fabrication and design of the product is carried out in the company's IS0 9000 certified manufacturing facility in St.Helens, a further guarantee of the products quality assurance.

The NET Center, designed by the Swiss Architect Aurelio Galfetti for Edilbasso Group, has taken 18 months to complete and has grown into a modern and multifunctional complex that features accommodation, offices and retail stores.

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