A new wave: Edgetech’s flexible spacers transform Swedish skyline

Written by Chris Alderson

In historic Gothenberg, Sweden, they’re embarking on a staggeringly ambitious project that will see the city centre almost double in size – and at its heart, you’ll find a spectacular project featuring Edgetech warm-edge spacer bars.

The vision of Scandinavia’s largest architectural practise, White Arkitekter, the new Masthuggskajen district sits on the banks of the Göta River.

It’s that river that the dazzling, BREEAM-certified Våghuset building is designed to emulate. The 12-storey structure has a gleaming glass façade, which, on its East-facing aspect, looks like ocean waves.

Achieving this effect was a major undertaking, drawing on expertise from all around Europe. The façade was made in Lithuania, the curved profile was manufactured in Denmark, while the glazing was produced in Poland and Germany.

Curved IGUs

Over 300 curved IGUs were supplied to the project, made of 2 x 5mm laminated float glass with SunGuard® SNX 60 solar control glazing, which lets in 60% of daylight but only 29% of heat, removing the need for solar shading.

Perimeter lighting has been integrated into the façade profiles, meaning the building’s outline is always visible.

Given the curved, cylindrically-shaped glass required in the façade, an outstanding flexible spacer like Edgetech’s Super Spacer® TriSeal™ was the only solution.

TriSeal’s flexible design meant it could be moulded into the distinctive wave-like shape.

What’s more, TriSeal offers world-class performance with its unique triple seal design, incorporating an inner acrylic adhesive seal for immediate unit handling, a polyisobutylene primary seal for enhanced gas retention and low moisture vapour transmission, and an outer silicone seal for structural strength and durability.

The flexible foam structure handles both curved profiles and rectangles with ease, while at the same time enabling outstanding thermal efficiency.

These attributes will prove especially important given the Swedish climate, where winter temperatures can drop as low as -15 degrees Celsius.

Charlotte Hawkes, Edgetech’s Head of Marketing, comments: “This is yet another example of the unparalleled freedom our fantastic flexible spacers give to architects.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be a part of this spectacular project, which I’m confident will go on to become a much-loved feature of the Gothenberg skyline for decades to come.”