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MOSO® is proud to have contributed significantly to the green look-and-feel with...
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Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas International Airport is the second largest airport in Europe and the largest bamboo reference project in the world to date. The curved bamboo ceiling in Terminal 4, which was added during the renovation that was completed in 2005, has become the landmark of the airport with millions of yearly passengers.
From the very beginning, it was clear that the new terminal would have to be future-proof and sustainable, while also effectively supporting the flow of passengers through the airport. The famous architect and Pritzer-award winner Richard Rogers was in charge of the design of Terminal 4 and had decided early on to use bamboo for the cladding of the ceiling. The ceiling had to meet the highest European fire safety standard M1. In addition, the ceiling was supposed to have a curved wave design, which would place great technical demands on the material to be used.
In the end, only MOSO® was able to meet all the requirements with a new product that was developed: bamboo veneer combined with glass fibre. Only thin bamboo veneer strips could be impregnated to ensure fire safety and still offer the required flexibility for the curved forms. For use in the new Madrid airport terminal, MOSO® had to make major changes to parts of the processing of the bamboo strips and develop a multi-layered structure of cross-glued veneer to meet the stability needs. These changes took about two years of development work in close partnership with the bamboo supplier, architect Richard Rogers and Estudio Lamela, and installation specialist Lindner.
The renovation of Terminal 4 was also successful from a sustainability point of view. A significant reduction in energy requirements was one of the main objectives. However, a number of other environmentally friendly measures were implemented, such as the installation of a rainwater collection system. Bamboo, as a natural and sustainable building material, also played a role in the overall sustainable concept. Bamboo is an inexhaustible resource, with a growth of up to one meter per day.
Bamboo is the dominant optical element of the terminal. The impressive ceiling construction that is 25 soccer fields large, is reminiscent of a leaf canopy of a forest and is supported by variously coloured steel “tree trunks”. Bamboo, with its naturally beautiful charisma, is traditionally synonymous with peace, tranquillity and inner balance and is intended to create a positive travel experience in a relaxed atmosphere. No wonder the airport has won several construction and design awards over the years.
Worldwide we have many inspirational stories where bamboo was taken to another level and we developed innovation solutions for customers. Be inspired by them here:
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Would you like more information about the possibilities of bamboo? Please feel free to contact our MOSO® Bamboo experts or order samples of the materials suitable for you.
Sara Monge
Area Sales Manager MOSO Europe S.L.U., Spain & Latam
