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Pilkington Activ Provides Winter Cover for Finnish Fountain

Founded in 1778 by Gustav III, King of Sweden, the Finnish city of Tampere, some 180 kilometres north of Helsinki, has a long association with high quality design and production. It was inaugurated specifically for the purposes of industry and commerce, and by the early nineteenth century had become the largest centre for textile industry in all of the Nordic countries.

Situated on the Tammerkoski Rapids between two large lakes, this beautiful city is the capital of the Tampere region (population 430,000) the country's second largest regional centre after the nation's capital. And it has maintained its association with technology and industry, through the presence of major world-class industries such as Nokia and Tamglass. It has done this without losing its vibrant cultural life, and is celebrated internationally for its theatre, opera and musical life, film festivals and one of the most comprehensive university networks in Europe.

Appropriately, the focus for the city is a stunning central square, known as Keskutori. This features the famous Nottbeck fountain donated by factory owner Wilhelm von Nottbeck in 1883. To protect this cultural gem from the freezing ravages of the harsh Finnish winter, the city council has arranged for it to be completely covered in winter with a striking 4.5 metres high curved glass cover. The cover is demountable in curved sections, and will normally be removed in the summer.

Completed in January 2004, the winter cover was designed by architect Juha Ryösä from KSOY Arkkitehtuuria, and fabricated by the world famous glass firm Tambest Oy from nearby Pirkkala. The high technology glass structure consists of an inner layer of 6mm toughened safety glass laminated to an outer layer of 6mm Pilkington ActivTM self-cleaning glass. The top and bottom of the dome is decorated with sandblasted designs by Finnish graphic
designer Sauli Iso-Läihteenmäki, and the structure is made more prominent in the dark using uplighters installed in the bottom of the fountain.

While the inner layer of toughened safety glass in the Nottbeck Fountain will protect the cover from accidental impact or vandalism (fortunately very rare in Finland), its outer layer of Pilkington ActivTM will save the city council significant regular cleaning costs by keeping itself clean in what is normally a wet and very cold season.

Tambest has a global reputation as specialist fabricator of curved architectural glass. Founded in 1984, the from has focused on the technology of curved safety glass, resulting in a number of significant innovations in this field. It specialises in applying bending methods for demanding, shapes such as spheres, cones and paraboloids.


Project of The Week
Click HERE for the General Project Page Pilkington Activ Provides Winter Cover for Finnish Fountain Founded in 1778 by Gustav III, King of Sweden, the Finnish city of Tampere, some 180 kilometres north of Helsinki, has a long association with high quality design and production. It was inaugurated specifically for the purposes of industry and commerce, and by the early nineteenth century had become the largest centre for textile industry in all of the Nordic countries. Situated on the Tammerkoski Rapids between two large lakes, this beautiful city is the capital of the Tampere region (population 430,000) the country's second largest regional centre after the nation's capital. And it has maintained its association with technology and industry, through the presence of major world-class industries such as Nokia and Tamglass. It has done this without losing its vibrant cultural life, and is celebrated internationally for its theatre, opera and musical life, film festivals and one of the most comprehensive university networks in Europe. Appropriately, the focus for the city is a stunning central square, known as Keskutori. This features the famous Nottbeck fountain donated by factory owner Wilhelm von Nottbeck in 1883. To protect this cultural gem from the freezing ravages of the harsh Finnish winter, the city council has arranged for it to be completely covered in winter with a striking 4.5 metres high curved glass cover. The cover is demountable in curved sections, and will normally be removed in the summer. Completed in January 2004, the winter cover was designed by architect Juha Ryösä from KSOY Arkkitehtuuria, and fabricated by the world famous glass firm Tambest Oy from nearby Pirkkala. The high technology glass structure consists of an inner layer of 6mm toughened safety glass laminated to an outer layer of 6mm Pilkington ActivTM self-cleaning glass. The top and bottom of the dome is decorated with sandblasted designs by Finnish graphic designer Sauli Iso-Läihteenmäki, and the structure is made more prominent in the dark using uplighters installed in the bottom of the fountain. While the inner layer of toughened safety glass in the Nottbeck Fountain will protect the cover from accidental impact or vandalism (fortunately very rare in Finland), its outer layer of Pilkington ActivTM will save the city council significant regular cleaning costs by keeping itself clean in what is normally a wet and very cold season. Tambest has a global reputation as specialist fabricator of curved architectural glass. Founded in 1984, the from has focused on the technology of curved safety glass, resulting in a number of significant innovations in this field. It specialises in applying bending methods for demanding, shapes such as spheres, cones and paraboloids. RETURN TO HOME PAGE