Wood, through metal, explores new design expressions that address the theme of the reflection of light: this is the approach behind Silver Rail, the latest proposal from ALPI, the first company in the world to industrialize the process of reconstituted wood, and now an unchallenged technological reference point in the wood sector. Silver Rail is the result of intensive R&D activity – a true characteristic of the company’s DNA – that has allowed ALPI to develop materials conceived to interact with light, confirming its role as a professional partner and its outstanding ability to interpret and foresee market trends with solutions that are increasingly sophisticated in both aesthetic and technological terms, capable of giving concrete form to any idea from its spheres of reference: large luxury brands, giants in the automotive and nautical sectors, prestigious furniture makers, and the fields of product design, interior architecture and contract. Decorative wooden surfaces crossed by metal lines that reflect light: Silver Rail is a material with a modern design - applicable to finished products or horizontal and vertical surfaces - combining the softness and warmth of wood with the glow and rigor of metal. An innovative offering, the result of sophisticated technology and the careful, tailor-made workmanship typical of ALPI; a synthesis of two apparently antithetical materials, conceived to respond to the emerging trend towards luminosity in interior decorating, in the year UNESCO has proclaimed as that of light and light-based technologies.   Silver Rail lends itself to infinite possibilities of personalization: from the choice of color and design from the vast range of ALPI woods to the indication of the number and the spaces between the metal lines, which can be governed by regular, precise geometric patterns or designed with more sinuous shapes. With proper lighting, the material offers intriguing luminous effects that add character to rooms and enhance the design of objects and furnishings. Silver Rail is available in the ALPIlignum and ALPIkord versions:   ALPIlignum This product is the company’s cornerstone: the true symbol of the ALPI universe, the finest expression of its R&D activities and the perfect blend of technological innovation and artisan know-how. A line of woods that offers unlimited aesthetic variety and personalization: reproducing the colors and grain of natural materials (over 120 types in the catalogue) or creating Design Wood with unusual chromatic effects, allowing for maximum creativity. ALPIlignum is a sliced wood that can be applied to any surface and produced in different thicknesses depending on the application. It is therefore an extremely versatile product, capable of responding to all project needs in functional and aesthetic terms. Its particular production process involves peeling logs (of Poplar, Lime Wood or Ayous), always of certified origin, to make sheets that are immersion dyed and "reassembled" by stacking the layers of dyed wood to make a “new log”. The absence of the typical defects of traditional wood, the uniformity and reproducibility of colors and sizes make it ideal for rapid implementation of single production runs or series. ALPIkord The line of prefinished woods treated with state-of-the-art products and varnishes to bring out the natural beauty of the entire ALPIlignum range, applied on a surface and then varnished. The result is a large wooden panel ready for application to any surface, to reduce the time needed for working, varnishing and installation. The practicality of ALPIkord finishes is joined by high levels of quality, unique design and customization, as well as the environmental certifications pertaining to ALPIlignum. By request, FSC certification, the most important international guarantee of its kind of the sustainable origin of our wood, is also available for ALPIkord. ALPI, wood&more: Italian roots for international excellence An absolute leader in the production of decorative surfaces in multilaminar wood, ALPI was the first company in the world to industrialize the manufacturing process for reconstituted wood, setting new qualitative standards. The perfect balance between manual skills and high technology make the firm unique. On the one hand, ALPI is pure innovation, ahead of the demands of the market; on the other, it represents painstaking craftsmanship. An example of excellence that thanks to the depth of its collections – applicable to finished products and horizontal or vertical surfaces – combined with the ability to design bespoke solutions, is an unchallenged technological reference point for the wood sector. A professional partner of leading luxury brands and major manufacturers of automobiles and yachts, as well as prestigious names in furniture, product design, interior architecture and 360° contract, ranging from hôtellerie to multi-apartment developments, retailing to offices to public spaces. What sets ALPI apart on the worldwide scene is its direct control of the entire process, from the log to the finished product, starting with forest management using chain-of-custody certification to guarantee the legal and sustainable sourcing of the wood and total product traceability. ALPI is therefore a guarantee of an eco-responsible, versatile design product, made possible by major investments in R&D, raw materials of the highest quality, avant-garde technology and the finest tailor-made craftsmanship. Other important features of the firm are its vast range of offerings and great ability to respond to the specific requirements of a highly diversified client base, also through the design and development of custom lines and one-off collections. Today ALPI – helmed by Vittorio Alpi, the founder’s grandson – has industrial facilities of 180,000 sq. meters (52,000 indoors) in Italy, and 346,500 sq. meters (over 67,000 indoors) in Africa, for a production capacity of over 30 million square meters per year, with capillary distribution networks in over 60 countries. The firm stands out for reliability and solidity, based on sales growth that surpassed the level of 130 million euros in 2014.     www.alpi.it

 

25 March 2019

The San Francisco Federal Building offers a contemporary response to its context, but more importantly it establishes a benchmark for sustainable design in its use of natural energy sources. The building physically democratizes the workplace as it enhances health and comfort and empowers its users with a sense of control over their surroundings. The project has developed around three primary objectives: the establishment of a benchmark for sustainable building design through the efficient use of natural energy sources; the redefinition of the culture of the workplace through office environments that boost workers’ health, productivity, and creativity; and the creation of an urban landmark that engages with the community. A slender 18–story tower punctuates the skyline, and a public plaza and four–story annex connect to the scale and fabric of the city. The large, open plaza at the intersection of Mission and 7th is a valuable asset in the South-of-Market district, identified by the city as deficient in public space. The placement of the free standing cafeteria pavilion and the public nature of the facilities housed within the tower’s lower levels (including a conference center, fitness center, and daycare center for both local residents and employees) enliven the urban plaza with a steady stream of visitors. The re–definition of circulation and vertical movement paths provides opportunities for chance encounters, a critical mass in circulation, and places for employees to gather across the typical confines of cubicles, departments, or floor plates. The democratic layout locates open work areas at the building perimeter and private offices and conference spaces at the central cores. Many of the same design decisions that create high quality workspace also maximize energy efficiency. The Federal Building is the first office tower in the U.S. to forgo air-conditioning in favor of natural ventilation. As a result of the tower’s narrow profile and strategic integration of structural, mechanical and electrical systems, the building provides natural ventilation to 70% of the work area in lieu of air conditioning, and affords natural light and operable windows to 90% of the workstations. A folded, perforated metal sunscreen shades the full-height glass window wall system and a mutable skin of computer–controlled panels adjusts to daily and seasonal climate fluctuations. With an energy performance that surpasses the GSA’s criteria by more than 50%, the project sets new standards for applications of passive climate control, while physically democratizing the workplace and enhancing employees’ health, comfort, and sense of control over their environment. A dramatic example of sustainable design principles, the San Francisco Federal Building’s shape and orientation maximize natural airflow for cooling and ventilation, and take advantage of natural daylight for the majority of the office interior. The first five levels, with high concentrations of people and equipment, are fully air-conditioned. Above the fifth floor, the windows automatically adjust, allowing fresh air directly into the building for natural ventilation and free cooling. The window system creates a “living skin” that allows the building to breathe. Breezes pass through openings on the windward side and are vented out through the leeward wall, with control based on wind speed and direction. A computerized system, known as the building automation system (BAS), controls and monitors all of the building’s mechanical equipment including those devices that are used to maintain internal environmental conditions and lighting levels.  During the night, the BAS opens the windows to flush out heat build-up and allows the nighttime air to cool the building's concrete interior. Throughout the day the thermal mass of the exposed concrete columns, shear walls and wave-form ceilings help cool the occupants of the building. In the tower, the design of the high-performance façades is critical to the functioning of the natural ventilation. At the southeast elevation, a perforated metal sunscreen protects the glass façade from excess solar heat gain; at the northwest elevation, a series of fixed translucent sunshades are attached to an exterior catwalk, breaking the sun’s path to shade the glass. Through simple sensors, the building's automated systems manage the balance between powered and natural daylight. The building minimizes pollution by replacing high proportions of Portland cement in its concrete foundations and frame.  In the Federal Building’s concrete mixture, 50% of the pollution-intensive Portland cement is replaced with blast furnace slag, a recycled waste product from the steel industry, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from conventional concrete. This environmentally sound choice also results in higher-strength concrete and has a warm, light-colored tone that contributes to the favorable daylight penetration within the office space.  The project recycled 87 percent of its waste material. (Fabiana Cambiaso - Università La Sapienza) Credits: www.morphosis.com morphopedia.com/projects/san-francisco-federal-building   Federal Building – Morphosis Team Completed: 2007 Site: San Francisco, California (USA) Materials: Concrete, Metallic Grid, Translucent Glass Applications: Structure, Envelope Photos: © 2013 Morphosis Architects; © Frankie Flood.

Marco Mignatti

The parquet decorates itself and it becomes furniture. The Xilo 1934, specialized (also) in the field of wood floors, presented at Cersaie 2015 a product of great interest: the design floor Kimano. We talk about a decorated parquet, expression of a unique style that combines the elegance of wood product to the aesthetics of a classic finish.

This made in Italy product also has advantages, including ease of maintenance, as well as being more resistant to scratches and, in case of damage, the surface can be repaired. In addition, it is natural: no formaldehyde or toxic emissions, but only water paint with a greater protective layer. Kimono, available in multiple formats, is indicated for installations on radians and cooled; it is perfect for glued installation and floating.

And above all it gives rise to new locations. The flooring is no longer just finishes for interiors and exteriors, but it becomes subject to personalize our rooms and create geometric patterns or shapes that change the appearance. Kimano was created by the artist from Palermo Fiorella Bonanno. Daughter of art, with a love for decorations from a young age, Bonanno is passionately dedicated to the study and reproduction of typical Sicilian décor wood, keeping alive the artistic traditions of his homeland.  

Pop.for.Pav is the winning project of MonaLisa Digital Workshop at Politecnico of Turin. A research aimed at creating an architecture aimed at enhancement of poplar plywood: nature becomes architecture. Designed by nine students, MonaLisa Pavillion is a forest structure characterized by a regular trees scan consisting of elements in poplar plywood floors. The project was created with the intent to recreate the natural environment of the nursery. In the initial phase, project’s development goes on in a two-dimensional way, because it represents initial growth of the stem of the tree. As it progresses, however, the elements are also developed in three dimensions through curved items, so they can give shape to the hair. These were generated through a branching story elements and are arranged in an ascending sequence that determines an architecture capable of illustrating the features and versatility of the material with which it was achieved.

A natural, durable and flexible material. The tour invites users to explore a space defined by twenty-two trees whose canopies enact the voltage generated on poplar veneer process at the origin of plywood production. The suggestion to penetrate between the branches of a Poplar Grove is evoked by the changing interaction between the material, users movement, light, sound and shadows that filter from the housing. The MonaLisa Pavillion was presented at Made Expo. The initiative was promoted by the Department of architecture and Design at the Politecnico of Turin and by technical Committee PioppOk of Conlegno, in collaboration with Assopannelli-Federlegno-Arredo and Pro-Populus. International educational experiences of the AA School in London, of the University of Stuttgart, Aalto University School of Arts and Columbia University have been important.   Credits Roberto Cortese www.woodlab.polito.it www.conlegno.eu Credits by WoodLab Politecnico Torin

10 January 2019

Italcementi Group alongside Mario Cucinella will be technical partner to build a 100 sqm house with just 100,000 euro, by using the finest materials and the most advanced eco-sustainable techniques. The new building, designed by the architect from Bologna as a sustainable architecture, evidence that Italcementi Group keeps caring about research and innovation. The Centre's technical research and Innovation Group is working in close collaboration with the Studio Cucinella to develop building materials, techniques for thermal and acoustic insulation and industrialization processes for reducing the costs of construction of the eco-home. The non-standardized prefabrication, with light structural elements and mobile equipment, makes it possible to diversify the look both outside and inside.

Carlo Bardelli

An excerpt of master thesis in Design & Engineering, academic year 2010/2011 by Marta Musitelli School of Design, Politecnico di Milano Speaker: Barbara Prof.ssa Del Curto Co-rapporteur: Prof.ssa MariaPia Pedeferri Sustainable Smart Insulation is the thesis of the research conducted by Marta Musitelli at Politecnico di Milano. The project aims at the development of sustainable and innovative insulating panels, achievable through the use of two components: the cellulose, obtained from recycling waste paper, and Phase Change Materials (or PCMs), substances capable of accumulating and releasing heat on a scheduled basis. Through the mixing of two substances during processing of recovered paper, it was possible to obtain a composite material with an entirely new set of features, which combine the thermal properties of the two components. In the construction field, the PCM is used and studied for several years to improve the capabilities of heat insulation of the walls. Cellulose fibers are used as ecological insulating material. The aim of the research is to get an array of cellulose insulation enriched by thermal properties of PCM and carry out studies and tests to verify its suitability in the context of use. Several ideas for optimizing material properties, such as lightness, mechanical resistance, fire resistance, resistance to water absorption and environmental sustainability, were proposed and tested . The presence of air zones within the structure of a material reduces the density and at the same time improve the insulating properties. In order to achieve a more efficient and lightweight Panel several techniques of inclusion of air inside the new material in waste paper and PCM have been tested, such as:

1. Lyophilization process
2. Proving process
3. Distribution of flakes
4. Shape modeling

An effective method to get air pockets within a structure is lyophilization. A second method is to use leavening agents such as baking soda, able to decompose at high temperatures and to create carbon dioxide particles inside the wet pulp, which during drying in stove increase in volume due to the boiling water. The addition of sodium bicarbonate in various quantities gives different results: the Panel made with 30% of baking shows a significant increase compared to the panel thickness without additives; the Panel with 50% of baking shows a thickness increase further compared with the previous coming to be about double the Panel without additives. A third method is to get a get a lightweight structure through the layering of cellulose flakes obtained by grinding. This method allows you to obtain lightness thanks to the air that is trapped between disordered fibers, but it is not suitable for use in the construction field because it is not workable and mechanically resistant.

06 December 2018

Global trends make now new solutions in the construction industry necessary. The Fraunhofer Innovation Engineering Center (IEC), along with 12 small and medium-sized enterprises in the construction sector in South Tyrol has launched a research project detailed in this regard. Development of innovative and sustainable methods, handcrafted processes, technical and organizational innovations and a lot of planning: these are the main focus of the research team that is part of the Build4future project. Supported by the province, with the participation of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Free University of Bolzano, CasaClima Agency and the TIS Innovation Park for scientific aspects, it has very important aims as to trace strategies for the industrialization of processes in the construction of buildings. The need arises from the current situation of construction companies. These are mostly small or medium size and they have a good level of technical knowledge within them, but this is not enough to put them in competition with other European companies that operate at a lower cost. To meet this challenge, and therefore be in step with the needs of the future, at the beginning of 2011 the Build4Future cooperation project was created; in this project the economy cooperates with science to develop the necessary strategies and measures. The Institute took part at KlimaHouse 2014 with the Build4future group to sensitize the public to the issue of sustainable innovation and, above all, to send out a clear signal that push all going in the same direction. The key word seems to be cooperation between different actors operating in the field in the different phases of design, planning and implementation.   Fraunhofer Italy Established in late 2009 in Bolzano, it is a branch of the Fraunhofer Society, the first organization for applied research in Europe. The name comes from the German physicist Joseph von Fraunhofer. The projects to which the company devotes itself are international and able to tap more disciplines: general optics partnership aim to create a network system to achieve the desired results by the various innovation projects. www.fraunhofer.it/it/Progetti/Build4Future.html

Carlo Bardelli