Page 72 - Between light and shade
P. 72
between light and shade, TRANSPARENCy and reflection
Tammisaari, Finland, that it proved to be extre-
mely useful [01/561, Fig. 70].
On the outside, multiplex wooden crossbeams
support openwork cladding made from wooden
planks and a single-glazed canopy and, on the
inside, there are multi-walled polycarbonate
panels.
plastiC membranes
Since time immemorial, natural light has also
been transmitted in a diffuse way through white
canvas tents or filtered by basketwork or ropework
meshes and nets.
The discoveries and inventions of the past
century now enable us to create flexible envelopes
made from transparent and watertight canvases
and films, and even sheets, meshes or nets with
variable permeability, as well as rigid envelopes
made from translucent panels with excellent insu-
lating properties. They open up new avenues for
the art of building, once again playing with light
and shade, transparency and reflection.
The use of PVC coated polyester fabrics 72,
hitherto used for tarpaulins (and in particular
to cover the cargo beds of lorries), has been tested
72 Hoechst in Germany was the main producer of them at the
time, but has been gradually superseded by Serge Ferrari in
Lyon, which has been producing the best performing tarpaulins
since 1973, with fabrics that have an M2 fire classification.
72
