Aluminium Centrum

The Aluminium Forest

November 2001 the Aluminium Centrum in Houten, the Netherlands, opened its new office. The primary function of this information centre is the display and propagation of aluminium products in general.

The design of this 100 % aluminium building is from Micha de Haas, winner of the contest in which 64 architects participated. The architect placed the building 6 meters above the ground on top of 368 aluminium columns to accentuate the lightness and strength of aluminium. He calls it ‘the aluminium forest’.

The architectural design of the skin of the building consists of 600 mm wide aluminium panels in one piece with a good surface flatness, straightness and rigidity. For the facade 1500 m2 of ALUCOBOND® PE tray panels were proposed, suspended on aluminium bolts using aluminium U profiles. Alcan Nederland engineered the detailing of the façade and produced the ALUCOBOND ® panels and U profiles.

1150 mm wide ALUCOBOND ® tray panels were applied. By increasing the width it not only reduced the number of panels and production costs, but also gave the building a more robust look. 

The panels were partly folded on site. After hanging flat unfinished tray panels on the U-profiles, the parapet return and the lower cladding end were folded. This led to a smaller transportation volume and a sustainable reduction in transportation costs.

Special window sill cover details guaranteed the drainage takes place through the aluminium profiles of the support system. This resulted in less pollution of the façade. 

The window jamb consisted of 42 mm wide panels that were hooked on the U profiles and clamped on a special ALUCOBOND ® profile. This guaranteed continuous drainage through the U profiles and did not disturb the vertical lined architectural design.

The Silver Metallic No. 500 PVDF fluorocarbon coating of the Alucobond strengthened the aluminium appearance of this building and guaranteed long lasting quality.