If there would be a competition for research that’s pretty aesthetically pleasing, this project would definitely be short-listed. Literarily joining forces with Chanel and MVRDV, the faculty’s Glass & Transparency research group crafted the first ever glass bricks that can bear their own weight whilst looking impeccable.
Used for the facade of Chanel’s “Crystal House” on Amsterdam’s luxurious shopping street P.C. Hoofdstraat, the bricks almost identically mimic the 19th century wall it’s replacing. And even though they might look pretty fragile, quite the opposite is true as Rob Nijsse, professor of Structural Design, states that attacking it with a sledge hammer (or a stiletto) wouldn’t even leave a dent.
Read a full article on the research here , visit Amsterdam for a real-life look at the store (P.C. Hoofdstraat 66, Amsterdam) or check out DEZEEN’s nicely illustrated article on the building here.
And don’t forget to watch this beautiful movie by Warenar Real Estate:
