Taiwan Glass FPG | Philipp Mainzer

The new office building of Taiwan Glass in Fujian, China has been completed after a nine-month construction period. The building design concept, blueprint, planning of guiding details and interior design are by PHILIPP MAINZER OFFICE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN. As part of the new company location of Taiwan’s biggest glass manufacturer in Fujian, China, an 8.000 sqm large building was constructed opposite the new factory complex. In addition to the three-story building which houses the company’s offices, administration, showroom, restaurants as well as apartments for company managers, are further connected buildings such as the gatehouse and a plant building. PHILIPP MAINZER OFFICE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN together with the client Taiwan Glass developed a special partially coated glass, which was produced especially for the façade of Taiwan Glass’ new office building in Fujian. The office building is an earthquake-proof concrete frame construction, which is horizontally structured mainly by a recessed basement thus giving the impression of a floating two-storey glass body. The reflection of the surrounding landscape in the façade as well as different lighting conditions, additionally reinforce this aspect. Due to the recess, the visitor immerses into the building and is exposed to a powerful experience once the internal space opens up. Two courtyards vertically structure the building in its function into the office area on the one side and the restaurants and apartments on the other. Instead of several separate buildings, a compact and longstretched body was developed, which through its transparency evokes a generous and open feeling of space. The courtyards ensure optimal natural light exposure of the building. Outward-opening windows in the minimalist, part-mirrored curtain-wall offer natural ventilation for the office, apartments and restaurant areas. Wall mountings to the façade were realised with transparent glass side panels and thus emphasise the glass façade as a Taiwan Glass product. Right from the start, glass was a crucial factor for the design of the glass manufacturer’s new office building. With its architecture language, the building was meant to act as an advertisement board for the company. This approach was consistently realised in a close working relationship with the client. The recessed basement made from transparent glass offers views into the two reception areas, the company showroom and into one of the three restaurants. For the façade of the two top floors Taiwan Glass together with PHILIPP MAINZER OFFICE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN developed a special glass, which through partial coating on the pane has reflecting properties to the exterior. In addition to reflecting the sun light, the bespoke glass restricts views into the inside of the building whilst allowing unrestricted views from inside out. The glass is a low-energy glass possessing good sun protection properties at high light transmission. With a reflecting sun visor on the inside the heat introduction is further minimised. The mirroring spots increase upward thus reflect cumulatively the striking landscape and evoke the impression, depending on the time of day, that the building fades into its surroundings. The choice of materials is restricted to just a few, selected products, which were used in stringent details. Oak is applied in the architecture of PHILIPP MAINZER OFFICE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN in the lining of the entrance hall and manager areas. The floors are from local natural stone, which runs from the inside to the outside thus emphasises the reference from inside and outside with fluent transitions. The gate and plant building present a contrast to the office building with their solid monolith appearance, which have similar puristic details. Visible for a long way from the street, the office building is at once advertisement board for the company as well as for the products of Taiwan Glass. Fujian is one of 10 factory locations of Taiwan Glass in China. It is the only location in which photovoltaic-glass is produced. Taiwan Glass is Taiwan’s and in three regions of China’s biggest glass manufacturer.