06. June 2004

Woven metal mesh in airport architecture

A congenial partnership of functionality and design

Woven metal mesh has been successfully established in industrial applications for decades: precision-woven high-tech products by GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG are indispensable in filtration and separation, in process belt technology and in screening and acoustic insulation. The idea of using this material, renowned for its technical precision and robustness, in architectural applications was first put into practice in 1993 by Dominique Perrault. In twelve different applications, he explored the full range of the material’s potential in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. Helmut Jahn was also fascinated by the novel potential of this material for architecture and used it in 1997 for his widely acclaimed carpark façade at Cologne/Bonn Airport. Today, woven metallic architectural and design fabric has become a characteristic design element for public spaces all over the world. The material is uniquely attractive in the way that it combines the two dimensions of aesthetics and functionality in a congenial partnership.