Project story: Large format glass
The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj offers stunning views of the sea, the old town of Rovinj, and the island of St. Catherine, while being designed to harmoniously blend into the surrounding landscape.
One of the key features of the hotel is the banquet hall. Such halls are typically located in the background, without any view, but here the hall has been designed and rotated to provide a direct view of the iconic "postcard" of Rovinj - the peninsula with the bell tower at its top. A large glass wall further emphasizes this motif and creates a unique visual experience.
The design and installation of this glass feature involved a series of engineering and logistical challenges, which were successfully overcome to achieve the desired effect. In collaboration with the company Sedak, the maximum possible dimensions of the glass were defined, based on which the entire concept of the hall was created.
The glass is recessed 5 meters below the terrace, which provides shade and enhances its transparency. A large reflective pool in front of the glass further amplifies the view of the old town by mirroring it in the water.
The glass consists of 12+12mm heat-strengthened glass, laminated with 1.52mm PVB foil, a 16mm argon-filled air space, and 10+10mm heat-strengthened glass laminated with 1.52mm PVB foil. The glass has a surface area of 48 square meters and weighs 5,280 kg, weighing 110 kg per square meter.
The oversized glass pane was transported from Germany to Croatia by a large cargo truck. Due to the terrain, a crane could not reach the installation site, so the 50-meter-long arm of a crane was used to carry the glass pane over the hotel. The glass was then mounted on specially designed rails and slid into its position below the terrace. The installation process was complex and time-consuming, starting early in the morning and finishing late in the afternoon, with the team encountering some challenges along the way. Considering its weight and thickness, the contractors and installers were surprised by the glass’s flexibility.
The large, frameless glass walls blur the lines between the interior and exterior spaces. This design element is intentional, aiming to create astonishing and almost unreal effects while playing with the perception of scale for those using the space.
The glass window in the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj conference room is more than just a design element; it’s a statement of architectural intent. The combination of its size, the way it is integrated into the building, and the views it offers creates a unique experience for guests, while the challenges of its installation reflect the innovative and thoughtful approach of all participants in the design process.
