1. An extruded grid projects above the building envelope in the form of an open framework of white metal. 2. Beyond the screen, a wall of glass blocks, alternating with clear glass panels, encloses the building envelope proper, though penetrating the envelope does require thought. 3. Looking up at it, you can see that the building envelope wanted to be a much simpler composition of volumes and planes. 4. Nouvel has pushed the glass building envelope and structural expression toward a state of transparency far beyond Miesian precedent. 5. The building envelope allows no bulldozing or leveling of the land. 6. There will be a garden on the roof, protected by extensions of the glass curtain wall above the building envelope. 7. This, in effect will stretch the architecture outside the building envelope. |