Vakko Headquarters and Fashion Center / 2010

ArchitectRE X

Structural EngineerBuro Statik

Services EngineerGurmen Muhendislik

ContractorDora Yapi Insaat

Façade ContractorLamglas

This new Turkish fashion house headquarters provides 40,000 ft2 (3,716 m2) of offices, showrooms, conference rooms, an auditorium, a museum, television studios and production areas. The unique glass façade is composed of approximately 11 ft (3.4 m) tall insulated glass units with protruding transparent ribs spanning from corner to corner of the exterior annealed glass lite of each panel. The interior lites are composed of flat laminated low-e glass. The ribs were fabricated using an artisanal slumped glass method and hand-crafted molds. The x-braced glass appearance was designed to perform structurally, as well as aesthetically, resulting in increased structural efficiency, allowing for large spans without the need to increase the glass thickness to meet wind loading requirements.  Front collaborated with the design team on all enclosure systems throughout the project, from the initial concept, throughout construction administration.