{"id":38255,"date":"2026-09-24T14:00:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T12:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zintek.it\/uncategorized\/the-fifth-facade\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T09:23:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:23:00","slug":"the-fifth-facade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zintek.it\/en\/focus-on-en\/the-fifth-facade\/","title":{"rendered":"The fifth fa\u00e7ade"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn 18 September 2026, the conference \u201cForms, Technologies, Expressions of Metal Cladding in Architecture\u201d<\/strong>, organized by Zintek in partnership with the Order of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects, and Conservationists of the Province of Milan<\/strong>, was held in the Rogers Room at Politecnico di Milano.

Founded in 1863, Politecnico di Milano is Italy\u2019s largest technical university and one of the most prestigious in Europe. As well as training new engineers, architects, and designers, it also conducts intensive research in collaboration with businesses and institutions.

Lecturers, architects, professional body representatives, businesses, and students came together at the event to reflect on the building envelope\u2019s role in contemporary architecture, and on the relationship between design, technical development, and implementation. The day also provided an opportunity to explore zintek\u00ae\u2019s potential as a cladding material and the contribution a specialist company can make when redeveloping buildings of various types and uses.

Professor Marco Imperadori<\/strong> from the Department of Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering at Politecnico di Milano and the architect Valerio Tolve from the university\u2019s Department of Architecture and Urban Studies <\/strong>were the day\u2019s scientific coordinators<\/strong>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Building bridges between universities and the profession <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The opening remarks highlighted one of the initiative\u2019s main objectives: to enable students <\/strong>preparing to enter the profession to meet people who work in design and construction on a daily basis.<\/strong>
The speakers were the architects Andrea Campioli<\/strong>, dean of the School of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Construction Engineering at Politecnico di Milano; Jacopo Muzio<\/strong>, president of the Foundation of the Order of Architects of Milan; Fabio Sironi<\/strong>, president of the Order of Architects of Monza and Brianza; Roberto Beraldo<\/strong>, president of the Order of Architects of Venice; and Carmelo Iannicelli<\/strong>, president of the Order of Engineers of the Province of Milan. Francesca Domeneghetti<\/strong>, president of the Order of Engineers of Venice, who was unable to attend, sent a letter to be read out to the audience and speakers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The speeches revealed the importance of creating continuity between study programmes and the world of work.<\/strong> University offers critical tools and theoretical knowledge; architects and industry bodies bring experience of the profession; and businesses contribute manufacturing skills, applied research, and mastery of the various implementation processes.
Promoting dialogue between these areas helps to demonstrate how an idea evolves into a finished building, and highlights the importance of attention to detail on the quality of the end result.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The roof as a fifth fa\u00e7ade<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Professor<\/strong> Imperadori <\/strong>\u2014 who moderated the conference \u2014 opened proceedings with a reflection on the history, characteristics, and applications of metal cladding<\/strong>.
He used a range of examples \u2014 from the Pantheon in Rome to Paris\u2019s mansard roofs, and from the Doge\u2019s Palace and St Mark\u2019s Basilica in Venice to Frank Gehry\u2019s contemporary architecture \u2014 to illustrate metal\u2019s ability to adapt to a place\u2019s character and to buildings of myriad shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Professor Imperadori focused in particular on the different elements that make up a roof system, the performance of its surface, and the different joining techniques. The roof \u2014 he noted \u2014 should be considered a building\u2019s \u201cfifth fa\u00e7ade\u201d: not an add-on, but a substantial part of the architectural design.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Grand Hotel Ampezzo: memory and complexity<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Massimo Furlan from AI Progetti<\/strong> described the renovation of the Grand Hotel Ampezzo<\/strong> in Cortina<\/strong>, a town in the Italian Dolomites. In this complex building, historical memory encounters the demands of a new architecture, set to become a stand-out feature of the urban landscape.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The roof\u2019s unique geometry, habitable attic rooms, and skylights overlooking the mountain panorama meant careful coordination was needed between all the parties involved in the project. Zintek\u2019s technical department worked with the architects to develop cladding and installation solutions.
Matteo Donini completed the presentation<\/strong> by illustrating the roof\u2019s modular design and the regular layout of the seamed sheets.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Building a school destined to last<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Andrea Borin<\/strong>, also from AI Progetti<\/strong>, took attendees through the process that led to the construction of Tina Anselmi Primary School in Marcon<\/strong><\/a>, near Venice.
The main challenge when working on a public building \u2014 he noted \u2014 is ensuring long-lasting quality and performance. The starting point was a piece of pedagogical research, which was then translated into an architectural space using an integrated design process: the structure, systems, envelope, sustainability, and colour choices were all tackled together from an early stage.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The external cladding thus simultaneously became a technical, design, and cultural feature of the building.<\/p>\n

Working with specialist companies like Zintek meant the project\u2019s architectural aims could be supported with a detailed knowledge of the material and its applications.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Roof certifications and safety<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Part of the conference was dedicated to regulatory aspects and installation quality.
Antonio Bianco from ABICert<\/strong> explained the value of professional certification<\/strong><\/a> for sheet metal workers, describing it as essential in one wants well-designed materials and systems installed by skilled personnel.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Alessandro Cibin<\/strong>, technical director of a notified body, tackled the topic of roofs\u2019 external fire performance<\/strong> in light of the September 2025 DCPREV (Italian Fire Brigade) guidelines. He then illustrated the tests conducted on titanium-zinc zintek\u00ae systems and explained their BROOF <\/sub>(t3) classification<\/strong><\/a>, which refers to the entire roof package and not just the cladding material.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Modularity, light, and landscape in Merano<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The architects Valerio Tolve, Giovanni Maggioni, and Mirko Noris from WERK<\/strong> presented the design of the Marconi\u2013L\u00e9vinas Vocational Schools in Merano<\/strong><\/a>, a town in South Tyrol in northern Italy.
The building fits perfectly within the landscape thanks to a linear fa\u00e7ade that also defines its identity, channels light into the interior spaces, and offers mountain views. The use of modular elements allowed the architects to control the visual rhythm of the fa\u00e7ade and to manage the technical complexity of the building envelope.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Matteo Donini then provided some details from the executive design<\/strong> of the fa\u00e7ade clad in titanium-zinc zintek\u00ae, providing further evidence that a good end result requires continuity between the architectural design, technical development, and installation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Two unique pieces of sports architecture<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The architects Daniele Rangone and Kleina Nasto from Settanta7<\/strong> presented the new municipal pool in Rimini<\/strong><\/a> on Italy\u2019s east coast and Tobagi gymnasium in Bergamo<\/strong><\/a>, north-east of Milan.
In Rimini, the pared-back volumes focus attention on the building envelope. The section clad in Mediterranean Blue zintek\u00ae shingles creates a dynamic image that recalls a mermaid\u2019s tail, while the colour establishes an immediate link with the building\u2019s function.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The design for the Tobagi gymnasium, meanwhile, is based on its relationship with the green space around it. Its wood, transparency, and openness to its surroundings make it a landmark feature in the local area. The joints in the cladding have an expressive as well as a practical purpose, giving the architecture a unique personality.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bridging art and architecture<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In his concluding speech, professor Imperadori set out some less common applications for titanium-zinc<\/strong>, leading to a discussion of the relationship between art, architecture, and experimentation.
The case studies he presented included the transportable chapel designed by architect Sean Godsell<\/strong><\/a> for the \u201cVatican Chapels\u201d installation in the Holy See\u2019s pavilion at the 2018 Architecture Biennale; a structure at Politecnico di Milano<\/strong>; and the projects linked to Arte Sella<\/strong>, including a preview of the 2026 exhibition.<\/p>\n

These experiences all demonstrate how the material can be employed in ways far removed from its traditional uses, giving rise to installations, small buildings, and artworks that combine technology, landscape, and artistic practice.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Award-winning works and professionals<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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At the end of the conference, Zintek paid tribute to a selection of major works <\/strong>by handing out awards to the professionals who helped to create them.<\/p>\n

The prize-winners were:<\/p>\n