SPECIAL EDITION

1

WHO WE ARE

ETEM is one of the leading

companies for extrusion

of aluminium profiles in

Europe. Established in 1971,

the company quickly enters

the international market

and is currently operating

in more than 20 countries.

ETEM is a designer and a

manufacturer at the same

time of faÇade systems,

doors and windows, and

aluminium profiles for different industrial applications. The

product line of ETEM is exquisitely diverse, striving not

only to answer the demands of clients, but also the state-

of the-art trends in architecture and construction. ETEM

has manufacturing facilities in Bulgaria, situated over

built-up surface area exceeding 39 000 square meters.

With its annual capacity, which exceeds 35 000 tons per

year, the company guarantees constant and uninterrupted

delivery of its products. The production of ETEM is certified

under ISO 9001-2000 and is compliant with the strictest

European and international standards. The ETEM team

is highly-qualified and consists of exquisite experts from

different areas. From the very beginning of a new project,

ETEM is an important supplier of aluminium components for the automotive industry sector. The company is a direct supplier of international automo-tive industry giants, such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Jag-uar, Daimler, etc.

3

INNOVATION

About ETEM

1

5About ETEM

the company experts help the client select the best

product or solution in compliance with its requirements.

The vision of the company is to offer added value products

and services by developing long-term relationships based

on correctness, integrity and consistency. Each order

is produced and processed with the end goal of 100%

satisfaction of the clients as regards efficiency, quality,

delivery and price.

The main mission of ETEM is to design and manufacture

state-of-the-art products sustainable enough to improve

the environment and living conditions in the building. All

products of ETEM are designed with care to the future

and the efficient use of resources. The software developed

by ETEM for specific purposes, ETEM Energy Pro, is used

to determine the general energy properties of complex

façade structures, to project the energy effect, and to

prepare an analysis of the changes and optimisation of

combined structures.

ETEM is constantly developing its technological know-how and state-ofthe-art facilities in order to provide an ever-expanding range of products in its three product directions: architectural systems, profiles for different industries, and car manufacturing◀

1

ETEM AT BAU MUNICH 2017

1 2 3

12345

New Anodised Collection of etalbond®

New E68 Opening Windows and Balcony Doors System with Thermal Break

New Tailor-Made Retro Design of E75 Premium System for Windows and Doors with Thermal Break (more information on p. 37)

Innovative Water Flow Glazing System Concept, under the InDeWaG Project (more information on p. 55)

Samples of etalbond® Special Colours

New Anodised Collection of etalbond®

New E68 Opening Windows and Balcony Doors System with Thermal Break

New Tailor-Made Retro Design of E75 Premium System for Windows and Doors with Thermal Break (more information on p. 37)

Innovative Water Flow Glazing System Concept, under the InDeWaG Project (more information on p. 55)

Samples of etalbond® Special Colours

7

ETEM AT BAU MUNICH 2017

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6789

10

E75 Flat Door with Digitally Printed etalbond® in collaboration with Geze Door Systems

Ventilated Façade System BRAVO Y for mounting etalbond® cassettes

Samples from ETEM’s portfolio: E70, E70SG and E50 Sliding Systems, E99 Unitised Façade System and the new E39 Bi-Fold Doors System (more information on p. 51)

Ventilated Façade System VARIO Lamella for mounting Extruded Aluminum Lamellas

Ventilated Façade System BRAVO W with the new etalbond® A2 cassettes (more information on p. 41)

E75 Flat Door with Digitally Printed etalbond® in collaboration with Geze Door Systems

Ventilated Façade System BRAVO Y for mounting etalbond® cassettes

Samples from ETEM’s portfolio: E70, E70SG and E50 Sliding Systems, E99 Unitised Façade System and the new E39 Bi-Fold Doors System (more information on p. 51)

Ventilated Façade System VARIO Lamella for mounting Extruded Aluminum Lamellas

Ventilated Façade System BRAVO W with the new etalbond® A2 cassettes (more information on p. 41)

1

INSPIRATION

This is an interesting and not that famous quote of the Ger-

man philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche which occured to him as

he was sitting at his typewriter and working. In this memora-

ble moment, Nietzsche has just substituted handwriting with

these new modern machines, quite strange to the 19th centu-

ry. The philosopher discovered and shared his insight that he

was thinking differently when using a typewriter.

Nietzsche’s quote is very topical in modern society and the

conditions of the digital work we live and work in. The stateof-

the-art technologies in the area of modelling and architecture

do not just change design as a process, but also provide un-

limited possibilities for the architect to change its own percep-

tions and express his or her own nature, whilst paying no heed

to the spatial and geometric limits.

That is why we, ETEM, decided to challenge and provide a

playing field for students and architects who would like to

challenge their own “parametric thinking”, using the new digi-

tal design and modelling tools. Together with the manufactur-

er of aluminium composite panels etalbond®, ELVAL COLOUR,

we have supported the international workshop for parametric

design and prototyping strategies, Intelligent Tectonics V1.0,

organised by Design Morphine.

The challenge of this workshop was the creation and modeling

of a pavilion, which both ETEM and ELVAL COLOUR could use

to participate in the biggest exhibition of Europe, BAU Munich,

2017. The task was assigned with the requirement to remove

Our tools are beginning to affect how we think.- Friedrich Nietzsche

9

all limits to imagination and parametric thinking. These three

elements were unified in a uniform graphic concept, and they

built an overall visual image.

A leading element in the graphic vision of the stand is the con-

tour adaptation of an image of the original module wall from

the winning project, finely existing as a print over the encircling

walls. In order to create the modules of the wall with the para-

metric design, a aluminium composite panels etalbond were

selected along with a transparent material, emphasizing the

etalbond variety of colours and textures.

The presentation corner of the pavilion also accommodates

an interesting sample structure: a demonstration system

from the European financed innovation and research project

of ETEM, InDeWaG (Industrial Development of Water Flow

Glazing). The project is financed under Horizon 2020, the big-

gest European Research and Innovation Programme. The

unique approach of InDeWaG is the maximum utilisation of

the daylight from a transparent fluid-filled glass panes, its

use as a solar collector, and also covering the criteria for near

zero-energy building (nZEB).

All of the client and partner areas and exposure elements of

the ETEM and Elval Colour's pavilion are connected by a matrix

marking on the floor. This makes it easier for visitors to navi-

gate and find different samples of the companies through this

“information system” for visual orientation.◀

The concept of the stand of ETEM and ELVAL COLOUR is exactly what the win-ning Project, Prospective System Pavil-ion, is based on. The very completion of the pavilion balances the elements of the parametric “prototype”, the presentation of the new products of ETEM and ELVAL COLOUR, and a comfort area for having conversations with clients and partners.

Inspiration

1

PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECTS THAT PARTICIPATEDAT THEINTERNATIONALWORKSHOP FORPARAMETRICDESIGNJuly 2016, Sofia

11

The second project that was presented

managed to dismay the jury and the

audience with its reconstruction of the leaf of a lily. “In

order to create the Leaf project, we studied the organic

structure of the leaf of a water lily, and we tried to create

this unique grid of “veins” resembling the veins in the leaf

of a lily. The deliverable is a system of folding panels, which

provides stability of the structure and aesthetic finish at the

same time”, shared Clarissa Evans, architect in the Norman

Foster Studio in England, and Teodor Andonov and Stefan

Georgiev, Bulgarian students of architecture.

“We were striving to create interrelation-

ship between materials and respond to

the requirement for reuse of the pavilion. We were inspired

by the work of the sculpture Erwin Hauer. Observing his

projects we decided to check what the effect of tension

of the surface of the installation would be. This made us

create a double grid, outlining a curved topology. For us,

the uniqueness of this project comes from its spatial quali-

ties and its structural efficiency”, shared the architects Ivan

Bonev and Hristina Kamenova, and the student of archi-

tecture in Skopje, Zvonko Vugreshek, in the presentation of

their project, the Hedgehog Pavilion.

Project 1

And the Projects Are...

Project 2

1

Тhe third project presented, Prospective System Pavilion, which finally won the first prize, was created by the Turkish architect Ertunç Hünkar and the Hun-garian architect Adrian Auth, and the youngest participant in the workshop Sebastian Comanescu, an architecture student from Romania. “We decided to stake on the simplicity of our concept. We transformed a typical rectangular panel into a structural element through a diagonal fold and applying minimum efforts. The final form and the colour of our design are, to a great degree, result from the resemblance of the folded pan-els to scales”. This is what the three par-ticipants shared and they added that all parts of the design could be assembled without the need for any screws or tools.

Project3

1

“Destructive Tectonics was inspired by

our visit to the ETEM factory. We wanted

to showcase the hidden potential of the material etalbond®,

i.e. that the only limitation of working with this material is

your imagination. We know that usually it is used for building

façades. In this case we have created an independently erect

structure, consisting of a hexagonal structural grid, which

allows visibility from all sides”. These were the words of the

participants in the fourth team, the Polish student Monika

Kalinovska, architect Arec Keshishian from Armenia, architect

Elitsa Dimitrova, and the student Miroslav Naskov.

The Flow project was the fifth project pre-

sented. Its authors shared that they were

inspired by the natural forms and the art of origami. “Ori-

gami are forms which are both plastic and dynamic, and

this made us think that if we stick to them it would be

easy to meet the requirements for completing the project.

To achieve this flexibility of elements, we used only three

standard angles to fold and cut the etalbond – 45, 90 and

145 degrees”. The Flow project was presented by the Bul-

garian students of architecture, Iliana Aleksandrova and

Yana Veleva, the Czech student Ondřej Pokoj, and architect

Aleksandra Babunska. ID EAS

Project 4

Project 5

15

The jury was tasked with the very difficult decision of selecting just one of the six projects, and the first prize was awarded to the Prospective System Pavilion project. The team authoring the project will have the opportunity to further develop it with the participation of workshop experts and to take part in the operational and construction phase of the pavilion in Munich in 2017.◀

ID EAS

And the Projects Are...

The last project presented was entitled

Performative Plate Morphology. Its authors,

the students Matiz Carmen Cristiana and Desislava

Chusheva, from Romania and Bulgaria, respectively, together

with the architect from Saudi Arabia Assem Afify, shared

that their main inspiration came from the etalbond® material

itself, and its aesthetic and structural properties. “In order to

achieve stability of the system, we developed and optimised

an algorithm for reproduction of hexagonal joints between

the panels, without using any other additional materials”,

summarised the team members.

Project 6

1

THE PARAMETRIC SUBCONSCIOUS

The rise of parametric design in the architectural field has

changed the workflow of architecture forever, and for what

I believe the better. As we know, architecture or any product

design field is considered by many as a slow art. For this,

any tool that can improve the timeline of architecture pro-

jects while preventing more unforeseen error is welcome.

Traditionally, architecture is not a linear profession with one

anticipated workflow. However, until parametric design, the

software produced for and used by architects was conceived

in a linear fashion. The new paradigm shifts toward pro-

grams which allow workflows more similar to the profession

is greatly improving the performance, cost, and execution of

current architectural projects.

Pre parametric design software is often referred to as

computational design because it uses a computer. This is

a false labeling, as the work is the same as using a pencil

and paper except it is on a screen. If something needs to

be changed in the design, the designer must go back, de-

lete, re-draw, and edit all other parts in relationship to the

edit. Following this, the designer must back track within

the drawings and also manually coordinate drawings that

may have a link to this change.

Pavlina Vardoulaki, Arch.,Co-Founder & Creative Director of DesignMorphine,

Graduate of the Architectural Association School

of Architecture’s Design Research Laboratory

17The Parametric Subconscions

This workflow is one of the greatest bottle-

necks in the design industry. For instance,

if a detail of a door needs to be changed

the designer has to re-draw this door in all

instances of its existence, going to each

drawing plan, section, details, and sched-

ules. This is an exhausting amount of work

for each little change making it possible to

make many mistakes or provide misaligned

information across a documentation set.

1

Pavlina Vardoulaki, Arch., &Norman Foster, Arch.

The issue of going back is that the 19 steps that occurred

after that action also need to be removed. Therefore, the de-

signer has to repeat the work they already did. In parametric

design, the entire time line is accessible in some way or an-

other. This means that the designer can review all the steps

they made throughout their work, access any step, edit it,

and for the most part, the steps that occurred thereafter will

be updated in accordance with the change. This is a power-

ful workflow that saves lots of valuable time. This sense of a

history existing all at the same time is why Grasshopper3D,

currently the most popular parametric software for archi-

tects, was originally called Explicit History Editor.

Before parametric software, each operation was in-

dependent of the other. In parametric software, each

command relies directly on the previous command. For

instance, if you create a sphere and cut a hole in it but

then you decide to convert the sphere to a cube instead.

Parametric software links the action of cutting a hole to

the previous action of creating a primitive geometry. So,

no matter what geometry occurs in step one, step two of

cutting the hole will happen to it. In non-parametric soft-

ware, the process of manually cutting a hole would need

to be re-done each time the designer wanted to change

the initial geometry. This logic is especially ideal for ar-

chitecture and design of buildings. In a way, we can con-

sider parametric design as a system of relationships as

opposed to actions. Building elements pass information

about changes between each other in a seamless corre-

spondence of data. If a floor level changes height, the re-

lationship of the stair to floor plate will change requiring

the stair to need more steps. A parametric relationship

The live history states of parametric software also have another great effect which is that the pieces of information talk to each other. Each action is linked to subsequent actions

19

knows that the stair, no matter what, needs to reach from

one floor to the other and will update the step accordingly

by adding more steps and adjusting the stairwell size to

accommodate the new steps. So, in one move of a floor,

parametric elements have also changed the stairs, the

stairwell, handrails, material sizes, wall heights, and any

other part of the building that is affected by this change

via parametric links. In non-parametric software, all these

changes would need to be manually updated by the user.

In many cases, this will lead to errors in design, such as a

busy designer moving a floor but forgetting to remake a

stair that relies on this floor height.

Consider a runner who is running very fast, the action he is

in control of is the speed and motion of his legs; this would

be the design changes the designer is focused on. The

runner’s body subconsciously knows to sweat, increase the

power of breaths, and swing the arms in opposing direc-

tions to the legs. Those subconscious actions would be

parametrically linked actions that occur because of the

user controlled action of running. The runner does not

need to think about those secondary actions as they are

a direct result of the primary action of running, and this

frees him up to concentrate only on the running. It is the

same with parametric design in which the designer only

needs to focus on the primary design task and the second-

ary linked tasks happen automatically in sync.

You can consider parametric design as our designer’s subconscious, picking up all the little things that rely on our changes, freeing up the designer to focus on larger design moves without getting bogged down on tracking and fixing secondary design updates.

The Parametric Subconscions

1

Before parametric design tools, designers had to study the

actual paths of the sun on site and make educated guesses

about how the sun would affect the façade. In parametric

design, we can input sun path information and have façade

updates from them, making differentiated size openings

and orientations to block or allow sunlight. In terms of

structure, we can apply the simulated weight of geometry

onto the system and receive stress analysis information.

This information can be absorbed by the parametric soft-

ware and automatically thicken, thin, add, reposition, or re-

move elements of structure as needed. These simulations

provide the designer with more confidence in design and

less fear of the risk of liability. Along with these changes,

the data can also be easily stored and accessed via organ-

ised spreadsheets and document sets, relieving the design-

er of the daunting tasks of manually inputting the informa-

tion. With that, a large margin of human error is removed

from the transition of design to construction. Parametric

design is not new but it is just now becoming a standard

in design fields, especially in architecture. With these new

“subconscious” design tools, the designer is free to focus on

the bigger picture of large design moves. Parametric design

gives the designer confidence in design decisions by ensur-

ing that secondary design elements are always updated.

Workflows become faster and more efficient and the tools

designers use are more suitable to the way architecture is

as a process. Design now becomes about intelligent rela-

tionships as opposed to a linear string of commands. The

designer is free to work in both past and present of a de-

sign system simultaneously.◀

The other great advantage of parametric design is having the ability to influence and document design with data. The biggest factors to consider with design are environmental and structural factors.

21

1

ABDULMAJIDKARANOUH, AE,DIRECTOR OFFAÇADES ANDINNOVATION DEPT.,RAMBOLLGROUP, MIDDLEEASTBlitz interview for ETEM

23

ETEM: What made you decide to become an architect/engineer?A.K.: I have always been passionate about forms and colours

and what things are made of. As a child, I often found myself

picking up a pencil to sketch the things that I visualise in my

mind, and I would later do physical models to express those

visions more tangibly. I guess I took a spontaneous and un-

planned path to becoming an architectural engineer.

ETEM: Which are now the trends in façades?A.K.: The industry is increasingly showing more interest in de-

veloping context inspired solutions that offer more original/

innovative and context friendly solutions. There is also more

interest in integrating biological and adaptive systems into

building façades as opposed to traditional static solutions.

ETEM: How would you define your signature style?A.K.: I’d rather be known for a signature approach as op-

posed to a signature style. I am a student of nature which

offers many lessons and brilliant examples in terms of beau-

ty, functionality, sustainability and adaptivity which we can

draw upon to inspire our designs. That said, the signature

approach is being considerate, responsive, and adaptive to

resolving any design, engineering and construction challenge.

ETEM: Regarding the state of the planet in the face of climate changes many people are very pessimistic about the future. How do you see the urban building of the future?A.K.: Climate change is a natural cycle that our planet con-

tinuously goes through. What is more concerning is the direct

destruction of nature that we practice as a result of abusing

and over-consuming our planet’s natural resources in a highly

irresponsible and unsustainable manner. Mass deforestation

due to cutting down trees in huge numbers, water and air

pollution due to the use of large quantities of toxic chemi-

cals, and contamination due to radioactive emissions are a

Interviews

1

few yet highly critical and more urgent issues that we face

– none of which is a result of climate change, but perhaps

the other way round. That said, we need to rethink urban

planning (macro-scale) and building design (micro-scale) in a

way to avoid wasteful solutions and cut down on the use of

construction materials and methods that result in unsustain-

able consumption of natural resources and in emitting toxic

chemicals that pollute our environment.

ETEM: The engineering progress and the dis-covery of new materials in the past decade are enormous. However, are there specific forms or shapes which are still impossible to build in the conditions of modern technologies?Every era will always have its limitations because inven-

tions and solutions will always be trailing ideas and visions.

ETEM: What is your advice for young architects?A.K.: Architecture requires highly driven and creative yet high-

ly conscious and conscientious individuals. The buildings that

you will design and eventually build will have a direct impact

on their inhabitants and everything else that surrounds them

for decades to come. Contrary to the stereotypical ego-cen-

tric and highly subjective attitude that mainstream architects

tend to portray – it is a great responsibility that requires a lot

of humility and consideration.

ETEM: What to expect from you in the near future?A.K.: The world is experiencing major geopolitical and eco-

nomic changes which are directly impacting the building in-

dustry. My role as an architectural engineering consultant is

becoming more like a martial artist, where positioning myself

in the right place at the right time and preparing myself for the

next move is most critical in order to steer any decision in the

right direction. In that respect, you would expect to see my role

and position evolving in the near future in order to adapt to the

paradigm shift that the industry is currently experiencing.◀

CRE ATIVITY

25

ЕТЕМ: Which was your most challengingproject and why?A.K.: The Al-Bahr Towers is one of the most chal-

lenging projects that I have designed and delivered

due to its highly complex nature and context. The

political nature of the Client and Project Team made

the task of communicating innovative ideas very

challenging indeed – one that required developing

an innovative communicating method. In short, it

required innovation to communicate innovation!

CRE ATIVITYInterviews

1

KASOOSTERHUIS, ARCH.,CO-FOUNDERONL, OOSTERHUISLÉNÁRDSTUDIOBlitz interview for ETEM

27

ETEM: What made you decide to become an ar-chitect/engineer?K.O.: My architect father did not encourage me to study

architecture, instead he suggested that biology would have

future. Maybe that drove me towards becoming an archi-

tect who is very interested in rule based design and natu-

ral physics. Recently a major contribution was made by a

Dutch natural physicist named Erik Verlinde who claimed to

have found a new theoretical basis for the universe. His the-

ory was based on straightforward information exchange, no

particles, no atoms, no quarks, but complex dynamic aggre-

gations of information only. I was simply excited since that

resonated so much with what I am deeply interested when

developing my designs.

ETEM: Which was your most challenging proj-ect and why?K.O.: The most challenging was the foundation of the Hy-

perbody research group in 2000. I introduced a completely

new view on real-time dynamic systems in architecture. I

proposed the Trans-Ports project which was a flexible pro-

grammable structure that changed shape and content in

real time. I still need to find an opportunity to realise that

concept on the grand scale. My mission is not complete

before I have achieved that goal. After the iWeb and the A2

Cockpit which meant nothing less than a revolution in how

to design to produce a building, Trans-Ports 3.0 will mean

a true revolution in real-time programmable architecture.

ETEM: Which are now the trends in façades?K.O.: I cannot see façades as a separate thing from the

structure and its behaviour and performance. Structure and

skin must be developed as one coherent system. Whether

this is a trend I do not know, but it certainly needs to be-

come a trend. Otherwise all our efforts will end in window

dressing, in fashion, in holding up appearances.

Interviews

1

29

ETEM: The engineering progress and the dis-covery of new materials in the past decade are enormous. However, are there specific forms or shapes which are still impossible to build in the conditions of modern technologies?K.O.: We do not build shapes, I am strongly opposed to the

idea that a design starts with a complex shape. For me, the

complexity is based on simple rules. My work is based on rule-

based design, algorithms, lean data exchange, and above all

it is open-ended and aiming at possible surprising outcomes.

That is why our fusion of art and architecture on a digital plat-

form makes sense. I am strongly opposed to architects who

present their fantasies but do not yet know how to make them

happen. I call that the “position of the spoiled child architect”;

that attitude is especially harmful for my own practice, since-

noutsiders think they see parallels between them and us, while

in fact we are almost at the opposite ends of the spectrum.

ETEM: What is your advice for young architects?K.O.: Make sure you develop a fundamental skill, think like

an entrepreneur, not as a consultant. Think and act as a

maker. What to expect from you in near future? Probably I

will design and build the straightest building in the world,

yet at the same time fully parametric and dynamic in its

behaviour, like a multimodal transformer.◀

ETEM: How would you define your signature style?K.O.: My signature style is best defined as a simultaneous

force from within and from without. It is based on a deep

empathy with the constituting components and their mutu-

al relationships, which is a bottom-up process. At the same

time the dynamic swarm systems of components are subject

to external forces which are the drivers of their billions of

possible configurations. We call these drivers the Powerlines.

ETEM: Regarding the state of the planet in the face of climate changes many people are very pessimistic about the future. How do you see the urban building of the future?K.O.: Understanding and control of the internal and exter-

nal constituting forces will lead to an affordable, green,

sustainable appreciation of the natural beauty. There is

nothing more natural than diversity, multimodality, hy-

bridity, and nothing more natural than complex adaptive

systems that are part of an ecosystem of other complex

adaptive systems, both on the small scale as on the grand

scale of the planet. The urban building of the future must

acknowledge such complexity and understand the mutual

relationships between all players, both people and things,

that constitute a city.

JUST DO IT!Interviews

1

THORSTEN HELBIG, ENG.,CO-FOUNDERAND PARTNER,KNIPPERSHELBIG

Blitz interview for ETEM

31

ETEM: What made you decide to become an ar-chitect/engineer?T.H.: It is fascinating to see the progress of an idea from

first sketches to drawings and models which become more

and more refined, then to fabrication, and finally to see the

project take shape on site. One’s contribution as an architect

or engineer is visible and physically present in the built project.

ETEM: Which are now the trends in façades?T.H.: We are interested in further activating the building en-

velope. The façade should support the specific performance

requirements of a building. Façade systems have to be able

to meet these specific requirements.

ETEM: How would you define your signature style?T.H.: I am interested in supporting interesting and ambitious

architectural projects, and I embrace exploration and innova-

tion through the design process. I don’t think engineers should

have any signature style, even if I see some of my colleagues

aspiring to do so. We are influencing design decisions and

sometimes our input significantly shapes the design.

ETEM: Regarding the state of the planet in the face of climate changes many people are very pessimistic about the future. How do you see the urban building of the future?T.H.: There is a global trend to create more urban density

which enables further reduction of the carbon footprint of

people living in the cities. Building technology and espe-

cially advanced façade technology can further support this

development. Today’s buildings should be considered as ho-

listic systems in a larger urban network.

ETEM: The engineering progress and the dis-covery of new materials in the past decade are enormous. However, are there specific forms or shapes which are still impossible to build in

Interviews

1

the conditions of modern technologies?T.H.: We are exploring and experimenting with GFRP, CFRP-

and textile-reinforced concrete. To us, it is interesting to un-

derstand and develop approaches to how these composite

materials could be used to provide better performance than

traditional materials. We have built the first carbon fibre-re-

inforced concrete bridge without any steel reinforcement

spanning over 15 metres. The thickness of the deck sec-

tion is 70-90mm. We were able to fully replace steel, which

avoided any issues with corrosion. The reduced concrete

quantity and reduced the cement in the bridge by about

two-thirds compared to a steel-reinforced concrete bridge.

The carbon footprint and embedded energy are therefore

significantly lower.

We are interested to further explore the potential of such

‘new’ materials to lower the carbon footprint of the built

environment.

ETEM: What is your advice for young architects?T.H.: Stay a ‘teenager’ in our profession; be curious and

question accepted limits. You can find innovation by taking

risks and looking beyond conventions of safety if your ap-

proach is based on a deep understanding of material per-

formance and the latest technology.

ETEM: What to expect from you in the near future?T.H.: I am looking forward to see the new Academy Muse-

um of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, where we supported

Renzo Piano’s team, start construction next year. And we

are excited to now realise four integral mass timber bridges

in Germany near Stuttgart. We have been developing the

concept of mass timber bridges, which provide long-term

carbon dioxide storage, for more than five years now, and

these will be the first in the world to be built.◀

33

ЕТЕМ: Which was your most challenging project and why?T.H.: It’s always the most current one. But

Shenzhen Airport T3 with architect Massimiliano

Fuksas was the largest and, in terms of

integrated design, the most complex project

our team had done until then. We were able to

approach structure and façade holistically.

The Shenzhen project also shaped our team and

the way we approach complex tasks.

Interviews

1

TOBIASWALLISSER, ARCH.,FOUNDEROF LAVALABORATORYFOR VISIONARYARCHITECTUREBlitz interview for ETEM

35interviews

ETEM: What made you decide to become anarchitect/engineer?T.W.: When I was six years old, my parents built a new

house. I was fascinated by two things: playing in the con-

struction site on the weekends imagining other functions

for the spaces and figuring out how to build the house with

LEGO-blocks. I enjoyed the combination of working with

your hands building models or sketching ideas and the more

analytical approach of trying out how to predict, explain or

calculate the way things will work.

ETEM: Which was your most challenging proj-ect and why?T.W.: In 2001, as the creative director of UNStudio, I was

in charge of the competition for the new Mercedes-Benz

Museum in Stuttgart which we won. From the beginning,

the budget and the date of the inauguration were set – it

simply had to be ready for the Soccer World Championship

in Germany with games being played right next to the

building! The building is a geometrically complex structure

integrating all technical parts into walls, floors and ceilings

to achieve clean spaces as backdrop for the exhibition. It is a

prototype in many ways, trying to figure out how to transfer

the way cars are conceived into the building industry using

many parametric tools that were programmed especially

for the museum. It was one of the first buildings being

coined a building of the era of a “digital modernity” in 2006

when it opened. I spent five years of my life working on

this project and learned an incredible lot – but the biggest

challenge would have been the Jebel Hafeet Glacier, a solar-

powered ski-resort on a desert mountain near the equator

in Abu Dhabi. We started working with some members of

the team of the Mercedes Museum and had the design

development almost ready when the financial crisis hit the

market and the project was abandoned. The challenge to

build a skin for a 2.5 km long building with 500 m height

difference and a temperature difference of plus 55 degrees

outside and minus 2 inside was extreme…

1

ETEM: Which are now the trends in façades?T.W.: For some time now, façade elements have taken up

more and more functions integrating technical features

into a seamless skin. At the same time, the geometrical

possibilities for façades have greatly been increased al-

lowing architects to design more complex forms. For me,

the most interesting trend is the emergence of adaptive

façades that are able to respond to environmental condi-

tions. Changes in temperature, solar conditions, noise, hu-

midity, or even the seasons trigger different configurations

or performative qualities. This is all possible through the

application of nanotechnology to façade materials.

ETEM: How would you define your signature style?T.W.: I am not sure if we have such a distinct style. Our de-

sign philosophy can be summarised as: MORE WITH LESS:

more (architecture) with less (material/energy/time/cost).

To achieve this we try to merge future technologies with

the patterns of organisation found in nature.

Computation allows you to simulate natural behaviour, such

as growth and adaptation of species. It is often misunder-

stood as superficial mimicry, but the potential is in under-

standing the principles behind nature, not only the appear-

ance. Our projects range from a solar station to a city in

the desert, illustrating that it is not the scale of the proj-

ect that’s the decisive factor for us, rather the opportunity

to create innovative approaches to solutions. From small

changes we see the potential to create something great.

Naturally evolving systems, such as bubbles, spider webs and corals, are the basis of our building typologies and structures; these geometries in nature create both efficiency and beauty.

37Interviews

ETEM: Regarding the state of the planet in the face of climate changes many people are very pessimistic about the future. How do you see the urban building of the future T.W.: We are facing an unprecedented increase in the global

population. Within the next twenty years, an additional 2 bil-

lion people will require housing. This is an increase of more

than 60 percent. Never in the history of mankind has so much

needed to be built – generating even more of a necessity for

controlled, consistent development of new buildings and cit-

ies to compensate for the enormous amount of material re-

sources which will be required. Sustainability is therefore not

a question of ecological outlook, but sheer necessity. We see

this as a huge opportunity, but also a huge responsibility. As

designers, we can help shape the lives of many and in so do-

ing implement changes along the way. We see the potential

to achieve great things, for instance, in creating man-made

landscapes on rooftops, integrating alternative energy and

new transportation concepts within urban design.

ETEM: The engineering progress and the dis-covery of new materials in the past decade are enormous. However, are there specific forms or shapes which are still impossible to build in the conditions of modern technologies?T.W.: We dream of buildings that work like a piece of na-

ture. I am less concerned about a particular form or shape

but about the performance of elements. As mentioned be-

fore, one area is building envelopes – being no longer mere

façades they are both smart and educational. Like a skin of

a snake or a spacesuit for a new environment, they address

contemporary needs for flexibility, light, air and views. A new

skin can react to the environment, to temperature, humidity

and air pressure, and can have embedded layers of technol-

ogy and sustainability, saving water, producing energy and

communicating information to occupants inside the building

as well as to the outside world.

1

ETEM: What is your advice for young architects?

T.W.: Never stop dreaming but never dream without

being acknowledged for it. The world’s future depends

on the ingenuity of its inhabitants. The contribution of

architects to this is the search for suitable spaces for

tomorrow’s challenges. Don’t wait for anyone to ask,

just be active!

ETEM: What to expect from you in the near future?

T.W.: LAVA has been named as laureate of the European

Prize for Architecture in 2016 which was a great suc-

cess for us and confirmed us to continue the path we

are on. Our architectural motto is: Man. Nature. Technol-

ogy; efficient, beautiful and sustainable. Our next step

will be to focus even more on the integration of natural

principles and the latest advances in technology with a

bottom-up support from users. On the drawing boards

there are some large-scale housing projects, small-scale

prototypes and new types of iconic structures like an

energy-storage tank for the IBA in Heidelberg.◀

39

WHATDESIGNNEEDSE99

BY:

Unitized façade system

1

The exclusive retrodesign of ETEM'sE75 systempreserves theuniquenessand authenticityof historic buildings

Е75

41

The Е75 premium system for doors and windows of ETEM

has an entirely new design developed specifically for the

reconstruction of a building – a cultural monument in Sofia.

In regard to this, ETEM, using all of the advantages of

the Е75 system, has prepared a special design of profiles,

which repeats the design of the previous wooden joinery in

its complexity and uniqueness.

The Е75 system is distinctive with a very wide interrupted

thermal bridge, and excellent heating and technical

features, and is designed entirely to respond to the state-

of-the-art requirements of residential construction in the

era of energy efficiency. The additional internal insulators,

multi-chamber EPDM central seals, and 39 mm polyamides,

provide excellent heating insulation, and they make the E75

system compliant with the highest possible standards. One

of the main advantages of Е75 could be found in its elegant

straight line, its reliable opening mechanism, and multiple

openings points, the great diversity of colour solutions, and,

last but not least, the option for installing casings to protect

against breaking and entering.

All of these distinctive features of Е75 made possible the

partnership between ETEM and the principal for the project

for reconstruction of the building of Bulgaria Hotel.

ETEM was the only company which managed to offer a solution, which covered all requirements of the principal regarding the technical assignment, and to protect the shape and the authentic façade of the Bulgaria Hotel in its entirety.

E75 Retro

1

43

The building was erected in 1880-1881, designed by the Czech architect Adolf Václav Kolář, who developed the first urban plan of Sofia. After 1944, the building was used in succession by the Economic Council of the Council of Ministers, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, Sofia Press, the Bulgarian Airlines, etc◀

Е75

1

etalbond® А2 ALUMINIUM COMPOSITE PANEL BY

45

Modern construction undergoes a process of constant de-

velopment searching for yet more sustainable solutions

which may change not only the appearance of buildings,

but also their residents’ quality of life. The emphasis in

material improvement during the past years is put on the

greater safety of people in residential buildings or in public

facilities, such as metro stations, shopping malls and com-

munication centres. Buildings of the future will meet the

latest technical requirements and standards in the fields

of energy efficiency, noise protection, fire protection and a

number of other safety requirements.

etalbond® A2 is the new aluminium composite panel by El-

val Colour. It meets the need for innovative and sustainable

materials in the construction of buildings and projects of a

new generation. In case of fire, etalbond A2 provides max-

imum safety to human life, as well as to the protection of

the building and the buildings nearby. The material com-

The composite panel etalbond® A2 has a non-combustible core which makes it incombustible according to the most stringent European standard for fire protection EN 13501-1.

bines unique innovative features in design, and also meets

the latest standards and requirements for fire resistance of

materials.

The panel is rated A2 for incombustibility, s1 for lowest possible

smoke emission and d0 for no droplets when the panel is ex-

posed to fire. These parameters make etalbond® A2 perfect for

high-rise buildings, high visitation buildings, such as shopping

malls and airports, buildings of high sensitivity, such as hospi-

tals and schools, or buildings having a high-tech design.

1

At the same time, the etalbond® A2 panels provide a com-

bination of rigidity and flexibility giving the architects ab-

solute freedom during the project design and construc-

tion. The new etalbond® A2 is light and resistant, perfectly

smooth and easily processed. It is formable in the most

intricate 2-D and 3-D shapes. Furthermore, it has excellent

insulating properties and is the appropriate cladding solu-

tion for various interior and exterior surfaces in new con-

struction projects and renovation activities.

The etalbond® A2 material was developed to satisfy the

need of innovation in modern construction and improve-

ment of the materials used. Modern buildings must not only

meet the highest design standards, but also the latest tech-

nical requirements.◀

In architecture, colour is the main means of expression and it may render unique-ness to each and every project. etalbond® A2 is available in a large variety of co-lours and textures for different coating surfaces, while special colours may be developed according to the customer’s requests and requirements.

47

1

IT’SALL ABOUT THE SKIN

49

1

Dating back to the Pyramids in ancient Egypt and now to

the contemporary parametric designs, buildings have been

designed and constructed under the influence of different

changing external forces – culture, religion, calamities, wars,

moods, climate, technologies… In fact digital technologies

did not give birth to parametric design, neither have they

redefined forms in architecture. The computer, digital and

software technologies are just tools enabling architects

and engineers to design and construct innovative buildings,

compliant with the current more demanding conditions of

the general and urban environment.

In the 21st century, humanity is challenged by the global

climate change, which not only requires sustainable con-

struction, but also an entirely new appearance of the urban

environment. Buildings themselves are the highest energy

consumers, they consume more than a third of the total con-

sumption of energy and approximately a half of the global

electric power. As a result of this, buildings are responsible for

approximately one third of the global carbon emissions.

Energy and environmental influence are now taking their

very important place in the future development of architec-

ture and construction. Our present has an ever-expanding

need for solutions which are applicable in future projects

and developing buildings not only providing higher quality

of life for the inhabitants, but also harmony with the envi- VISI ON

The form of the house is not amorphous, not a free-for-all form. On the contrary, its construction has strict boundaries according to the scale of your living. Its shape and form are determined by inherent life processes.

- Frederick Kiesler

51

ronment. In this context, façades are the privileged building

components, which can offer solutions. Building envelopes

have a great effect over the levels of energy consumption

and provide the desired environmental parameters. Cli-

mate-adaptive building is not something new and it has a

long-standing history, because people have been trying to

survive by counteracting climate conditions using clothing

and shelter. Applying climate-adaptive design is now dom-

inant as increasingly more important alternative in the aim

to achieve higher sustainability goals in the architectural

environment. In comparison with the conventional façades,

this design method provides different opportunities to save

energy and improve the environment. Climate-adaptive

façades are no longer just building barriers, separating the

interior from the exterior. Integral systems can be devel-

oped using the climate-adaptive façades, which create con-

venient spaces by using the environment, including natural

resources, for example lighting, shading, heating, etc.

Among the main functions are: providing natural light, view

to the outside, natural ventilation, and producing energy.

Therefore, the conceptual design of the building envelope

will unify the different functions of the façade and will in-

clude a series of elements which are part of it, including

shading elements, windows, photovoltaic panels, connect-

ing flexible components.

The modular development of façades is a standardised

approach in design and construction creating matching

modules and repeatable connection elements. The modular

approach in design can help in the successful implemen-VISI ON

Each façade performs a wide range of functions, which are defined by the location of the building and the conditions needed by the inhabitants of the building.

It’s All About the Skin

1

tation of serious climate-adaptive characteristics of the

façade. The building envelope itself can be “personalised”

according to the specific conditions and “modules” can be

produced using the specific characteristics. This approach

helps architects to make the façade compliant with any of

the design specifications. Last but not least, the modular

design will facilitate essentially a follow-up repair, because

it allows the removal or the addition of elements. At the

same time, the separate modules allow for flexible inte-

gration of various factors. Reviewing the construction and

the decrease of energy consumption from a large-scale

perspective, a single building with its climate-adaptive

façade is just an unit against the background of the total

urban environment. Therefore, it is very important that the

separate characteristics of the building are to be reviewed

against the background of urban forms and the total sus-

tainability level.

EExactly in the context of the current rapidly changing

urban environment, the creation of innovative and imple-

mentable solutions in the development of climate-adaptive

façades is both a necessity and a mission.◀

In the foreseeable future, the design of every building will be subjected to preliminary evaluation of its contribution and its place in the context of different urban forms for sustainability, thus developing a framework for eco-cities of the future – cities with green infrastructure, high density, and mixed use of the land, environmental and cultural diversity and passive solar design.

53

1

Bi-fold doors

New addition to the ETEM portfolio

Е39

55

The Е39 system is the newest solution in the ETEM Portfolio

designed to provide more freedom as regards the selection

of the type of opening. Е39 is a bi-fold door that not only

allows to differentiate and adapt the exterior of a house,

hotel, or restaurant, but also guarantees interior solutions

according to their needs and purpose.

Besides being distinctive with its elegant straight design and

providing the desired look to the premise, the ETEM’s system

also enables the realisation of many unconventional ideas in

design and architecture, which at the same time combine

the demanded unique vision and comfort.

The main advantage of the system is the freedom to open

a certain room to the maximum extent possible during the

warm days and, respectively, close it and protect it during the

winter season.

The Е39 aluminium system can partition or open a surface

area of up to 20 sq.m. using a maximum of 8 consecutively

opening partitions with a width of 1 metre, and a height up

to 2.8 metres. The heat insulation and the sound insulation

have been guaranteed due to the thickness of the glass

casing, which is 34 mm – dimensions allowing the use of

special glasses and panels. Because of the very high quality

of aluminium, the stainless steel and the EPDM seals, Е39 is

highly resistant to corrosion.

E39: New Addition to the ETEM Portfolio

Е39 allows the use of natural light, provides sound insulation, adaptability, it is energy efficient, and last but not least, due to the high quality of materials, it guarantees long-term and fault-free operation.

1

The ЕТЕМ experts share that due to its adaptability and reactivity to outside influences, the Е39 Harmonica has a very wide possible scope of application. It is appropriate for private houses, villas, hotels and all-season swimming pools, as well as for establishments, public event premises, stores, galleries, etc.◀

Е39

57

1

ETEM IN THE EU PROJECT InDeWaGInDeWaG - Industrial Development of Water Flow Glazing. The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Re-search & Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 680441.

59

ETEM is part of the 3.5-year research and innovation

InDeWaG project where universities, research institutes

and industrial partners from Germany, Spain and Bulgaria

join forces together to develop, on industrial scale, a new

façade system for near Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB).The

industrial development of an innovative façade technology,

Water Flow Glazing, is the main objective and the ambition

of ETEM Bulgaria together with B+G Consulting Germany,

HTCO GmbH Germany, Cerviglas S.L. Spain, Architectonika

Studio Ltd Bulgaria, GMAE Transforma SL SVC Spain,

Fraunhofer ISE Germany, CL SENES Bulgaria, Universidad

Politecnica de Madrid, Spain and The University of Bayreuth,

Germany. nZEB buildings will become a “must” in Europe

by the end of 2020. The unique approach of InDeWaG is

to enable maximum use of daylight by a transparent glass

façade and at the same time meet nZEB performance with

decreased production costs. The project is coordinated by

the University of Bayreuth, Germany.

Within the project ETEM has the ambitious task to design

and produce a new aluminium façade system.

The cost-reduction goal and nZEB performance will be

achieved with Fluid Flow Glazing façades (FFG) and Ra-

diant Interior Walls (RIW), while minimising the size of

heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and PV-in-

stallations. InDeWaG is following a dual strategy to bring

down the costs of ZEB: the project is focused on industrial

production of standardised building components, which

can be used for multiple types of ZEB in different climate

zones and on the development of a simulation tool for

precise early stage planning of buildings using these in-

novative glazing building envelope and interior elements.

These components will be tested on demonstrators, one in

Spain and one in Bulgaria.◀

More information can be found on the InDeWaG official

website: http://www.indewag.eu

Veneta Novakova, MEng.,

Director R&D Department, ETEM, vnovakova@etem.com

Ina Gencheva

Specialist European Projects, ETEM, igencheva@etem.com

The project aims at technical innovation, introducing a new building envelope system which has at least 15% building cost-reduction potential and could be brought to industrial ripeness.

InDeWaG

1

MAGIC OR GOODSTONEBALANCEMichael Grab from Gravity Glue (http://gravityglue.com/) is

a real magician or just a master in the art of the stone

balance. He began balancing rocks in the summer of

2008 while exploring Boulder Greek in Boulder, CO, USA.

Michael shares that only simple curiosity has involved into

the creative passion and daily meditative practice, which

allows him to feel all surroundings in a very different way.

“I quickly noticed the unique effect that my creations had

on myself and others, often inspiring a sense of magic and

peace, often a sense that anything is possible. Further, I

wish to highlight the idea that we are the creators of our

own reality”, Michael said.

Michael reveals his secret weapon against gravity. He

explains that balance requires a minimum of three contact

points. Every rock is covered in a variety of tiny to large

indentations that can act as a natural tripod for the rock

to stand upright, or in most orientations you can think

of with other rocks. But through the physical element of

finding tripods, the most fundamental non-physical element

is likened to meditation. Achieving a challenging balance

requires contemplation of both mental and physical

elements in real time.

61

MICHAEL GRABFOR ETEM:ETEM: Do the stones symbolise something special for you?M.G.: The stones are like teachers in a way. Zen masters.

Old and wise. Other than that they are simply chunks of

earth. I find it fascinating to ponder their lives over many

millions and even billions of years.

ETEM: How and when did your passion for the art of stone balance appears? How long did it take you to develop all these special skills – patience, adaptation, slow breathing and steady hands?M.G.: My first stone balance experience happened in the

middle of a psychedelic state of mind. Quiet. Meditative.

Sitting in a creek on a summer day. The skills mentioned are

an ongoing learning process. Many of them began naturally

as a human being. Many of them developed more significantly

through my balance practice since the first time.

ETEM: Have you tried to overcome the gravity with something else (from nature or not)?M.G.: I began overcoming gravity since my first days of

walking I guess. We all have an innate dependence on

gravity. Walking upright. Running. Skateboarding. Riding

a bicycle. All these examples are ways I’m constantly

collaborating with/overcoming gravity.

ETEM: How long do your stone structures remain?M.G. The lifespan of each structure ranges anywhere from

10 minutes to many days. The longest recorded lifespan for

a single creation was 3-4 months. Which was an arch. But for

a regular point balance, the longest I’ve seen was 3 weeks.◀

Magic or Good Stone Balance

1

ETEMFOR THEAUTOMOTIVEINDUSTRYETEM is developing a more extensive range of products for the automotive industry.

63

ETEM is not only a leader in the production of aluminium

profiles, but also an important supplier of aluminium

components of the automotive industry sector. Thanks to their

rich experience in the area of automotive sector, the company

is cooperating with one of the largest global concerns, starting

from the preliminary stage of the design to the supply of

completed and semi-completed products for the purposes of

car manufacturing. Engineering, extrusion, surface processing,

packaging and transportation are only some of the services

which ETEM is providing to their partners.

Considering the global trends, it is not strange that ETEM, as

a leader in the manufacturing of architectural systems, will be

developing in car manufacturing. On a global scale, architecture

and car manufacturing are two closely related sectors, and they

are influencing one another. Innovations in automotive design,

such as colour, purity of elements and resistance of materials,

are also reflecting on the trends in façade engineering. The

aerodynamic forms of motor cars inspire architects more and

more, and this is evident in the façades of many of the modern

buildings, both in and outside Bulgaria.

In 2005 and 2006, ETEM started working on projects with

extrusion of aluminium for AUDI A3 Sportsback, AUDI TT

and Cabrio. The company has never stopped developing

technologically and in 2011, in the factory of ETEM in

Bulgaria, it started manufacturing specialised solutions for the

ETEM: Architecture and Automotive

In 2004, ETEM started manufactur-ing products for the automotive in-dustry in Greece, and the first compo-nents delivered were for BMW Series 1, BMW Series 3, and the Smart For-Four model of Daimler.

1

automotive industry. From that moment in time, the company

has more than 7 current projects for AUDI MSS Lamborghini,

Jaguar-Land Rover, BMW Series 5 and 7, AUDI Q7, etc.

During the full manufacturing process, technologies specially

developed by the company will be used. During and after the

production, the separate components will be subjected to

thermal processing in order to achieve the required specific

properties of the products. A series of simulation methods will

be used in order to optimise the manufacturing process. And,

last but not least, a laboratory with high level of technology

equipment will be observing the quality of the products.

The company will deliver components for doors, chassis and

suspension parts, which require exquisite characteristics,

profiles for rails on the car roofs, decorative profiles with special

covers, and others.

During the production process, the company is relying

exclusively on the quality and precision. ETEM has implemented

certified and standardised procedures of the highest level, and

will comply with the strict regulations and requirements in the

automotive industry, in cooperating with approved organisations

and laboratories in Europe (Institute für Korrosionsshutz in

Dresden, NTUS –National Technical University in Athens, etc.)◀

Together with all this, ETEM is also cer-tified for the manufacturing of alumini-um profiles subjected to special “crash” tests, and is currently a direct supplier of international automotive giants, such as BMW, Porsche , Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Daimler, etc.

65

WHATDESIGNNEEDS

1

67

NOVEMBERSOFIACOMING SOON….

Stay updated: faÇadeconference.com

www.etem.com