The design by architects Gianni Rigo and Carlotta Rigo for the local enterprise centre (ANVA) at Scorzè near Venice, Italy, consists of two simple, rectangular buildings in reinforced concrete set side by side and painted vivid red. A series of huge cuts have been made into this regular geometry. Stretching from the base to beyond the roof of the original buildings, these full-height glazed ‘inserts’ have aluminium mullion and transom frames and are joined to the adjacent volume by huge volute-shaped seams. The light colours of the interiors, visible from the outside, give a sense of uncluttered space that contrasts to great effect with the brilliant red of the outside façade. The stark colour contrast is attenuated at dusk when the volutes are illuminated by ground-level LEDs and interior lighting flooding through the large glazed surfaces. This further enhances the continuity between inside and out. The argon-gas filled glazed assembly (10.8/15/6.8) comprises Pilkington OptithermTM S3, a low-emissivity glass that combines thermal insulation with excellent solar neutrality. For added safety, OptithermTM S3 was combined with impact resistant OptilamTM glass that if broken will remain in place, averting injury and intrusions.
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