The new greenhouses open at the botanical garden in Padua in the name of technology and innovation
Padua, September 15th 2014. The most ancient university botanical garden of the world improves for its technology and intelligence thanks to a team of companies which made possible the ambitious project of the architect Giorgio Strappazzon, VS associati studio. It's a mix of futuristic architecture, app, green tech and research laboratories.
GREENHOUSES
The building hosting new five greenhouses seems as a unique glass surface, 100 meters and 18high, thanks to the new fixing system of the panels without external profiles. The glasses produced by Veneto Vetro have been installed with special Fischer dowels, FZP-G which require only semi-perforation. The surface dedicated to the plants increases from 22thousand square meters to 37thousand square meters.
The architecture has a big visual impact in a high historical background, becoming a visual link between Saint Giustina and Saint Antonio complexes, reinventing the composition rules of the VI century Hortus cintus.
The suggestion offered to the visitors is amplified by ponds, small tropical lakes and waterfalls making water the leitmotif of The Garden of Biodiversity.
The new building has gained the nickname “The Marvels Garden” for its majestic and the high innovation level. The architect explains that it has been designed «as one big breathing leaf which produces oxygen and controls the temperature opening and closing the structure». An app detects the values of oxygen and temperature to create the correct climate. «A building zero impact on the environment which purifies air and optimizes resources» because the organization of its spaces and materials are optimized to get energy and water self-sufficiency (transforming solar energy and reusing rain water). A nanotechnology applied on the external and internal surfaces decrease considerably even the atmospheric pollution. The matte panel are covered with photocatalytic film which uses UV rays to create a chemical reaction (it's estimated 150cubic meters for each square meter cleaned up from pollutants everyday).
Even Renzo Piano during a visit defined the new building “a true miracle”. It had to be built within three 3 years, in time for the Expo 2015, and so it was. Even the 20million euro budget had been respected «in order to get the goal we found solutions using what we had and we made it happen» says with pride Strappazzon.
The September 15th opens the doors to this new attraction pole for 250thousand visitors expected in the next two years.
THE GLASS GALLERY
The Marvels Garden is, as the rector Giuseppe Zaccaria says, “history, technological solutions and innovations”. During the visit inside the greenhouses visitors will admire 1.300 plant species in relation with the human/nature connection. Informations will be available in a digital format, thanks to an app developed by H-art using iBeacon technology, and analogical in a spectacular way: tens of showcase in big tempered glass panels made by Veneto Vetro using Cromoglass digital printing. This one last choice is ecological and efficient because it resists the difficult climate conditions of greenhouses and also reduces reflections. The continuity of printed image and the sensation of floating panels are possible thanks to FZP-G Fischer dowels.
«This botanical garden - the philosopher of biological science Telmo Pievani explains - is an important journey of human beings and plants relationship. How mankind has influenced the development and viceversa». This project is an exemplary case that is possible to make innovation in all fields
Veneto Vetro worked to the expansion of the Botanical Garden of Padua, inaugurated September 15th 2014, supplying the large glass panels used to build the architecture cube of 100x18 meters and the panels printed with Cromoglass technology as part of the exhibition.
The visit into the 5 new greenhouses develops two major themes: botany and the relationship man/nature.
The oldest botanical garden in the world is become also the most innovative. Close to each plant there is the typical label with the Latin name, but an app will give you also a compendium of information; information that are available also on vertical glass panels, positioned on the walls of each greenhouse. Their monochrome graphics told you about the habitat, species characteristics and curiosities. The choice of using glass printed with Cromoglass technology as main material has been dictated by its characteristics of inalterability even thought conditions of high temperature and humidity, as well as continuous exposure to sunlight because there is no colors alterations, that is instead typical of pigment printing on paper.
Please mind that Cromoglass is backprinted so reflections are minimized, facilitating reading and contributing to the spectacularization of large-scale photographs. These high-resolution printed images accompanying exhibits or showcases and in a couple of cases becomes interactive installations thanks to the collaboration with Dotdotdot.
The printed image continuity and the effect of being floating are possible thanks to the particular system adopted: FZP-G Fischer dowels that require only semi-perforation.
Moreover, the glass is 100% recyclable; it's an environmentally friendly choice, in line with the principles and values of a place dedicated to preserve the botanical world.
