In architecture, plastics play a role that cannot be replaced by any other materials, both from a functional and from an aesthetic point of view.
Plastics are used for interior finishing for instance, due to its specific colour options, or for exterior panels due to its strength, weight and durable nature.
Anansi Playground Bldg, Mulders vandenBerk Architecten
Corian Acrylic Polymer outside - here in exterior panels (7,2 x 3.5 m), initially smaller (0.9 x 3.5 m), 12 mm thick milled with unique graphic pattern and glued together at the site with the color –matched acrylic epoxy. (source : Ballard Bell V., Rand P. „Materials for Architectural Design 2, pp. 199, 201)
CENTRO CONGRESSI in Villanueva de la Serena , Spain, Vegas Altas Pancorbo, de Villar, Chacon, Martin Robles
Winner of 2008 competition . Designed for musical and theatre performances .The main auditorium seats 800 people.The cube with openings is wrapped with polypropylene ropes secured by steel anchors .Skylights and insulations made of plastics – polycarbonate panels and reticulated polyethylene membrane .
(The PLAN , April 2015)
El B Conference Hall and Auditorium, Cartagena Spain, Selgas Cano Arquitectos
The glossy wall and partition materials of the building are composed of two plastic products (acrylic, polycarbonate) of varying color and transparency made from a single custom extrusion profile. (source: Ballard Bell V., Rand P. „Materials for Architectural Design 2, pp. 184, 186)
Housing Vallecas, Ensanche 5117, Madrid South, architects Somos arquitectos, 2006- 2009
Polycarbonate panels used in social housing, 123 dwellings.The eight floor building houses the maximum number of the appartments as required by the developer. To diversify the facade and reduce its scale the surface is divided into small coloured strips. These strips consist of open-celled polycarbonate panels in three shades of green, fixed on aluminum profiles. (source: E.Kuryłowicz, 2015)
MIROTERIE Retail Building, Lausanne, Switzerland, B + W Architecture
Polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene ETFE. Small department store with three walls which did not to be transparent and are constructed with translucent, air-inflated cushions .The structural system of the building works as the structure supporting the triangular elements made of four layers. (source: Ballard Bell V., Rand P. „Materials for Architectural Design 2, pp. 202 - 205)