'Crystal Palace' inspired Herzog for the design of Design Center Linz. As in the design from engineer Paxton for the world exhibition of 1851 the concept of Design Center Linz is a fully covering glass roof. Under this glass roof he has designed a large exhibition area that allows for a multitude of usage- and layout variants.
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In 'Glaserne Flugel', an exhibition about his work, Herzog says that the façade is not only meant as protection against outside influences but that the casing also must be able to breath. The building then becomes like a second skin that adjusts itself to the circumstances and selectively allows light, air and warmth to pass through, depending on the conditions. This theme was starting point for the development of Design Center Linz.
In co-operation with 'Lichtplanungsbüro Christian Bartenbach' a system
was developed which will create an equal level of light in the exhibition
areas. In the cavity of the isolation-glass, with which the glass roof
is constructed, a 16mm high micro mirror screen is fitted. The screen
sees to it that direct incoming light is mirrored as diffuse light into
the inner area. The direction of the screen is adapted dependent on the
position of each panel in the curved roof. Seen from the inner area the
sight to the north is unimpeded while in other directions the bottom of
the roof looks like a shimmering plane. This way blinding is prevented
and an open air like exhibition area is created in which large elements
can be optimally lighted.
To avoid the disadvantages of glass roofings, namely overheating in the
summer and heat loss in the winter, a clever energy- and ventilation concept
was designed. The roof is purposely kept low to minimise the building's
volume to be heated. A 'spoiler' is also placed on the top of the arc
that routes the wind around the building to create ventilation for the
building. Flaps under the spoiler can be opened in several levels to regulate
the airflow.
A feedback system sees to it that the façade adapts itself to the circumstances to create the most optimal conditions. Design Center Linz has an extensive nervous system with almost 2500 sensors that register the conditions at several places in and around the building. The information is sent to the central computer that adapts the facade based on this information and the experiences of the users of the building. The period directly following delivery of the building was a period in which the computer had to learn the effects on the inner climate of weather conditions and activities in the building. The whole system is more and more starting to work automatically. In the beginning technicians were operating the ventilation flaps on the roof, now the computer has taken over their job.
jv