The architectural concept envisioned by the management board of the Bogdanka coal mine office building, was the natural appearance of blocks of coal.
The aim was realised through the use of black matt structural panels in combination with glazing made of Pilkington Activ™ Blue, self-cleaning body-tinted solar control glass in a unique blue colour. Delicate light reflections contrasting with the material used in the façade, remind the visitor of coal in its natural state.
The architects chose Pilkington Activ™ Blue because of the original colour, which enhances the effect of the reflected blue sky with clouds shifting through it. The unique blue tinted glass helps to keep internal temperatures cool while still maintaining excellent light transmittance, low light reflection and high energy absorption, which is necessary especially on the front elevation of the building that is exposed to the sun. Self-cleaning properties make the glass an ideal choice for use in hard-to-reach places.
The façade of the building is a direct reference to the main architectural idea, which was to represent a “coal block” with all its complexity and uneven surface similar to formations in natural rock.