Darmstadt, Germany, July 21, 2009. Transparent multi-wall and solid sheets made of Makrolon® from Bayer Sheet Europe are the top choice whenever the architectural design calls for a material that is easily shaped, transparent, and lightweight. For the pavilion model that is on display at the German Architecture Museum (Deutsches Architekturmuseum, DAM) in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, from July 11 through September 20, 2009, the renowned Berlin architects Barkow Leibinger and the engineering and design firm Werner Sobek Stuttgart decided in favor of this versatile material. The pavilion, as well as other models, is part of the exhibit „The Pavilion - Pleasure and Polemics in Architecture ("Lust und Polemik in der Architektur"). The exhibit documents the history of these "flying" buildings in the 20^th and early 21^st century.

The design of the DAM pavilion was developed in 2008 for the park of the Museum for Applied Arts in Frankfurt, Germany, and has yet to be built. The feathery design consists of steel pipes that have been bent into several dimensions, covered with a translucent outer skin. At the exhibit, design sketches and models illustrate the intensive research and development that went into the design of the pavilion. There is also a full-size model that visitors can enter. This pavilion was built with solid Makrolon® sheets from Bayer Sheet Europe.

Architectural versatility with Makrolon® sheets

Translucency that creates a pleasant lighting is not the only feature that makes Makrolon® stand out. The polycarbonate from Bayer MaterialScience is also lightweight, making it possible to build filigree substructures with standard steel piping. It was also an easy task to install connecting elements between the steel pipes and the sheets. The Dual Lock^TM fasteners (manufactured by 3M) form a solid but detachable link by simply pressing them together, which ensures hassle-free setup and dismantling if necessary.

Especially in public construction projects, excellent impact resistance, break resistance, and thermal and thermoforming resistance are a must. The same applies to fire protection classification and high strength during transport and installation.

If a pavilion like the one on display at DAM is constructed, a special outdoor coating would be added to the Makrolon® solid sheets. Then, by way of co-extrusion, a thin, yet highly effective weathering protection coating consisting of UV absorber concentrates is added. This coating ensures a long life for Makrolon® solid sheet. Requirements such as water spreading, hail resistance or energy reflection can also be attained.

Often the choice of a construction material is determined by the ability of the manufacturer to adapt the parameters of the material to the specific requirements of the customer. As the pavilion in Frankfurt demonstrates, Makrolon® is scoring points with its outstanding properties. For sheet manufacturers like Bayer Sheet Europe, the recipe for success lies not only in providing optimized materials, but also in flexible manufacturing.

Venue:
DAM Deutsches Architekturmuseum
Schaumainkai 43
60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany