`The Cube´ - a glass box defies the sun

“Space frame system": structural glazing for the highest transparency and maximum solar control

Since the beginning of 2009, the headquarters of Banco Santander Central Hispano have been located in the financial centre “Ciudad Financiera”, twelve kilometres from Madrid, in Boadilla del Monte. On an area of more than 160 hectares, the € 270 million project in a rural environment offers not only 100,000 square metres of office space, but also recreational facilities: green space and sports grounds, shopping zones, a golf course and a kindergarten are available to the bank’s members of staff.

Intelligent design

While the planners deliberately aimed at a neutral appearance by using ipasol neutral 48/27, the glass ipasol sky 30/17, which has been used for the roof area, offers an even higher level of solar control. At 17 percent (according to EN 410), its g value is extremely low. The entire glazing is made from thermally toughened glass on the outside and from heat-strengthened glass on the inside.