An interesting project with an idea that appeals to me - eco-friendliness and the union of opposites, exclusive luxury goods and recycled materials.

For the new Bulgari store in Shanghai, MVRDV created a green jade façade made of brass and recycled champagne and beer bottles.

The art deco architecture is reminiscent of Shanghai itself, a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.

The panels are made of sintered green glass with a translucent effect, which looks very effective.

And the gold-colored brass trim makes a reference to jade jewelry.

At night, the lighting further enhances the unique textural quality of the glass and is designed for minimal energy consumption of the facade.

This is the third Bulgari store whose facade was designed by MVRDV. In Kuala Lumpur, the store has a marble facade with gold veining and in Bangkok also a combination of brass and glass, but in warm yellow hues and with more emphasis on the openings.

Recently we wrote a post about glass bricks and glass blocks and how they are experiencing a new round of popularity, including their use in exterior finishes.

Here's another impressive example of their use on the facade.

A restaurant called Artisans Ayutthaya in Bangkok.

Here is a very unusual combination of wood and glass blocks. And it was from unsold remnants of the blocks, which were considered unmarketable, that this project began

As the "mortar" of fixing the blocks is a steel frame, which is covered with wood from the outside.

This gives an interesting effect, where the color of the wood is reflected in the glass gaps.

The technology itself is original and seems to have no analogues yet.

Недавно мы писали заметку о стеклянных кирпичах и стеклоблоках, о том как они переживают новый виток популярности, в том числе в использовании во внешней отделке.

Вот еще один впечатляющий пример их применения на фасаде.

Здание ресторана Artisans Ayutthaya в Бангкоке.

Здесь очень необычное сочетание дерева и стеклоблоков. Причем именно с нераспроданных остатков блоков, признанных неликвидом, начался этот проект.

В качестве “раствора” скрепляющего блоки выступает стальной каркас, который и закрыт снаружи деревом.

Это дает интересный эффект, когда цвет дерева отражается в стеклянных промежутках.

Сама технология оригинальна и кажется еще не имеет аналогов.