On October 6th a crowd of journalists, architects, local entrepreneurs and institutional representatives gathered to witness the unveiling of the new iGuzzini Espana Headquarters.

This extraordinary complex, designed by the architect Josep Mias (winner of the prestigious 2007 Premio Ciutat di Barcelona award for architecture and urban planning) succeeds in fusing together an expert use of materials with advanced energy efficiency.
Shaped like a huge crystal ball, the structure includes 4 floors of office space above ground and two more floors below. A total of over 8,000 square metres of floorspace containing not only the iGuzzini offices and showroom, but also the Catalonia Polytechnic University.

To ensure the complex is highly energy efficient, an in-depth study has been conducted to establish the position of the entire glass surface in relation to the sun's day by day irradiation.

Thanks to a sophisticated system of calculations this research has succeeded in defining the characteristics of each single glass module and the quantity of light and heat they create inside the building.
A special solar shield made of expanded aluminium covers the glass of the south side in order to allow light to enter during winter while also protecting it from direct irradiation during the summer. In other words, increased visual comfort and significant energy savings. 

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