A glass-blowing workshop with a modern aluminium skin
The Studio Comploj glass studio is reintroducing productive activity into the city, and in a renowned one at that. For almost 20 years, Robert Comploj and his team have been working in the field of glass design, creating glass design objects. Architects Alfred Berger and Tiina Parkkinen of Berger+Parkkinen Architects developed a three-part ensemble for the studio, consisting of the conversion of a neighbouring former car repair shop, an extension as a sales and gallery space, and the reconstruction of a small existing building used as a residence. The result is an impressive 760 square metres of floor space on a 566-square-metre lot.
A vibrant place where art, craftsmanship and life come together
‘Studio Comploj functions like a small village. It offers space for everyday life, crafts and trades, living, guests, community, garden and recreation,’ the architects explain. The glassblowing workshop of Robert Comploj is the central core of the building. ‘The glassblowing workshop's furnace – the large kiln with an overhanging metal hood – is in the middle of the studio and is a central meeting place,’ say the architects.
Ensemble with a common material language
The three buildings of the studio are connected by a common material language. PREFALZ is used on the facades and roofs in different textures and dimensions. The facade of the residential and guest house is completely clad with PREFALZ. The panels running over the facade and roof form a regular, linear pattern and act as a protective skin. The details on the gable façade in particular give the structure a modern look, as there are no projections or striking profile ends. The architects emphasise that PREFALZ is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functionally convincing: ‘The use of the material on the façade and roof, as well as the wide range of colours, offers a considerable advantage.’ As an industrially manufactured product, PREFALZ is safe and versatile to use and also has a high guarantee of durability.
A sense for professional projects
The family-run sheet metal company Alexander Pfeifer took on the metalwork and renovation of the existing building. The roof and facade surfaces were clad with a total of around 1,500 square metres of PREFALZ aluminium. ‘You have to have a sense of whether a project is good and professional if you want to do the best work,’ says Alfred Fritz, who was responsible for project coordination, detailed planning and construction supervision. Fritz is particularly proud of the precise execution of the ventilated façade elements: ‘At the eaves, the air supply grille is installed behind the gutter and the air is discharged via the ridge ventilation. The fact that these details are hardly noticeable is thanks to the installation and detailing skills of the tinsmiths.’ Special details such as the rhomboid FALZONAL® elements that adorn the gables and the use of PREFABOND strips that visually integrate the loggias emphasise the technical sophistication of the project. ‘For me, technical functionality is crucial because it forms the basis for durability and safety,’ explains Fritz, who chose the tinsmith profession because it combines creative thinking and precise craftsmanship on a daily basis.
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