Solina, situated in the Bieszczady Mountains in Poland, is one of the country’s most beautiful tourist destinations, comprising a spectacular dam and lagoon. It is also near the Bieszczady National Park, which is teaming with wildlife that includes a thriving bird population.
Protecting Solina’s bird population was therefore a top priority for the two groups behind the tourist attraction, the PKL Group (Polish Cableways), which provide sustainable mountain tourism services, and the PFR Group (The Polish Development Fund), a state-owned financial group which invests in sustainable social development, who paid close attention to the needs of bird species throughout the design and construction phases.
That's why one of the top priorities for the architects involved in the observation tower and gondola stations design process was to specify glass that would help protect our feathered friends.
The obvious choice was Pilkington AviSafe™, the innovative glass developed to reduce the number of bird collisions when confronted with glass barriers. Its special patterned coating, enhancing the reflection of UV radiation, distorts light reflections, enabling the birds to see the barrier.
The tourist center and the gondola lift over the dam of Solina were officially opened on July 1, 2022, and is the newest tourist attraction of the Bieszczady Mountains.
The PKL gondola stations, located in a wooded area inhabited by dozens of birds, feature modern architecture with large glass areas.
To protect birds against possible collisions with glass, Pilkington AviSafe™ was specified. The glass has a special coating that increases the reflection of ultraviolet radiation, which birds can see perfectly. For people, Pilkington AviSafe™ looks and acts like any other glass, offering good visibility and comfortable light transmission.
The bird-safe glass has been used in the façades of the gondola station and the observation tower. Toughened and heat soak tested Pilkington AviSafe™ THS has been used in combination with toughened Pilkington Suncool™ 70/35 T high-performance solar control glass and Pilkington Optilam™ Therm laminated thermal insulation glass in triple-glazed insulating glass units.
The Pilkington AviSafe Insulight™ Triple insulating glass units not only protect birds but ensure excellent thermal insulation, solar control, and safety.
Walls of gondola entry stations were made of laminated bird-safe glass Pilkington AviSafe Optilam™ 12,8.
Pilkington Glass was also used for balustrades at the terrace of the observation tower. The key requirement for the glass was to provide an unobstructed view. It has been achieved thanks to Pilkington Optiwhite™ extra clear low iron glass. This product is colour neutral, which allows the colours of the landscape visible behind the glass to be reproduced faithfully and naturally, providing a clear view from a height of 50 meters of the nearby lake and mountains.
The balustrades of the terrace were made of Pilkington Optilam™ OW T Screen Printed 21,5 toughened and laminated extra clear glass with screen printed dots. Apart from an unobstructed view, they provide safety to the visitors of the terrace and the birds.
Advanced planning and specification of solutions tailored to the project ensured comfort for all users of the new tourist center. Using the right types of glass protects the birds and provides tourists visiting Solina with an unforgettable experience.