As part of an ambitious project to renew the heart of the city of Mestre and its urban fabric, the M9 museum complex has become not only the first intangible and completely multimedia museum in Italy, but above all a new place to learn, meet and gather residents.

Opened in December 2018, it is the most technological museum in Italy, designed by the Sauerbruch Hutton studio, using the latest construction and engineering solutions. It tells the history of the twentieth century based on the experience of Italians and their changes, and thus shows the evolution of Italian society.

The facade of the museum, which uses more than twenty thousand polychrome ceramic elements harmonizing with the typical colours of the surrounding context, is characterized by large openings for projecting museum spaces outside.

The role of glass in this project was crucial. It is no wonder that the choice fell on the extra clear glass Pilkington Optiwhite™, whose remarkable transparency allows establishing a strong connection between the outer surface and the exhibition area.

Huge blocks of buildings include two large windows in which Pilkington Optiwhite™ glass used in insulating glass units provides maximum transparency, and above all a lot of daylight for visitors to museum rooms. Thanks to the impressive dimensions of the glass, reaching 2299 mm x 6994 mm, the presence of frames is minimized, thus ensuring continuity with the external environment.

The crowning element is a skylight with surprising dimensions also made of Pilkington Optiwhite™ glass, which illuminates the steps of large concrete stairs. A seven-meter panel made of toughened laminated safety glass ensures safety and guarantees natural lighting of two floors thanks to the high light transmittance and neutrality of the glass. This solution contributes to the sustainability of the building.