Title of the entry: »Building fronts« 6 posters (500 x 350 mm, laminated to carton)
Name: Patrick Knippertz
From: 41748 Viersen, Germany University of Duisburg / Essen
Field of studies: Interior design, 3rd semester

Abstract
Every building has its individual front, each front has its own character. Sometimes it becomes necessary to change the front; old fronts have to be renewed, new ones have to be set up. The vacuum pressing technology of Wemhöner is providing a method of laminating CNCrouted elements with plastic materials which are resistant to ageing (foils). This way, one single front element can cover all demands which a building front has to meet. Beyond this, the individual elements have a very low individual weight, and can be easily assembled. The vacuum pressing technology is able to process each front element separately, respectively assemble the individual elements. This is almost as easy as wallpapering.

Panel statement:
The project "Building fronts" is aimed at the shells of buildings, which can receive much more individual surface designs than the conventional stereotyped "suburban brick" look, and which can also be manufactured with the 3D technology in small series. Many interesting combinations can be achieved using the technical parameters of a building front, like weight, heat insulation and price level, with the multiple possibilities provided by the grooved or profiled designs of the front elements. The panel recognized the performance especially in the aspect of transferring a technology - so far was recognized as furniture-specific - into the architectural field of exterior applications, as elements for building fronts. The approach of this project opens up new ways of making use of the three-dimensional lamination technology, which means a challenge for the foil quality as well as the adhesive performance, and also for the controls used for this technology on semi-rigid substrates.