The “G. Pascoli” sixth-form art and teacher-training college at Bolzano, designed by Ermanno Ranzani, is a new complex of four buildings containing normal classrooms, 15 special classrooms, a 350-seater lecture hall, a gymnasium and a library.
The distinguishing feature throughout is that elevations are handled differently according to the way they face: the north-facing façade is compact and enclosed with a ventilated curtainwall clad in pre-weathered 7/10 KME copper; the façades to south and west open out onto a broad pedestrian access court and are formed of a double-skin glass wall ensuring comfortable air-conditioning inside and minimal use of heating and cooling systems.
The design and assembly of this façade involved a multi-disciplinary team in which Kaser took an active part. Right from the planning phase Kaser brought to bear their experience in mounting structures of this kind.
The façade comprises an insulated inner wall and a ventilated outer wall made of large panes of toughened, stratified, clear 10 + 10 float glass, fixed by stainless steel cruises made to Kaser specifications. The 47 cm cavity is partly man-accessible and inspectable via steel grilles: it creates a natural convection current, swelled by ventilation from the joins between panes which are not sealed and around the windows on the inside. At these points the façade unit narrows as the outer skin is pierced. The changing length of the glass units gives a pleasing effect of dynamism enhanced by the roll-blinds in their different coloured fabric. The colour effect of these last is heightened by a play of light and reflections between the glazing and all the finishings, including a string course clad in stainless steel.
The thermal-break inner façade was mounted on Schüco Fw50+ frames, the opening units being series AWS 70BS. The glass used is largely Silvestar Combi neutral 70/40 glass from Glas Trösch on the outside, and an acoustic stratified glass on the inside.
The window openings are protected by a glass parapet which can itself be opened for inspection purposes.
This style of double-skin façade provides the building with various outstanding comfort and energy-saving factors such as contained build-up of cavity temperature, efficient indoor ventilation, good acoustic insulation from outside, upstairs and next-door noise, as well as good protection from the risk of fire or smoke spreading.

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I - 39040 Varna
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www.kaser.it