vanceva PVB interlayers let sunlight into kinder building galleries

Vanceva arctic snow PVB interlayers in the Kinder Building

In Texas, the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building addition to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) boasts an unusual treasure in its galleries – natural light. Enabled by Eastman’s Vanceva™ PVB interlayers for laminated glass, Steven Holl Architects found a way to control the light coming in, while protecting the priceless classical art inside. Strolling through this art museum, visitors can enjoy the glow of sunlight inside the space, perfectly calibrated to preserve the precious works it illuminates.

the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building addition to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) features a glass façade, made possible with Vanceva™ Arctic Snow PVB interlayers for laminated glass

all images © Richard Barnes and Olaf Schmidt

The milky white exteriors of the Kinder Building are meticulously designed to embrace natural light, facilitated by Vanceva White Collection polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers. The company’s advanced interlayers, integrated into laminated glass, allow designers to choose the precise color and translucency levels for their glass enhancements. With this technology, glass structures can achieve a tactile, artistic quality without the reliance on traditional methods such as sandblasting, acid etching, painting, or wall cladding. Steven Holl Architects, known for their elaborate practice with architectural glass, reunited with the Eastman product to realize the complex façade.

Vanceva’s PVB interlayers, when integrated into laminated glass, allow designers to choose color and translucency levels

1,150 repeating glass tubes

Envisioning a continuous repetition of gentle, cylindrical forms enveloping the exterior space, Holl Architects saw their concept come to life through a collaboration between façade specialist Josef Gartner and German glass façade experts knippershelbig. The tube’s limited bending radius necessitated gravitational bending during production. Additionally, the glass features an acid-etched exterior surface and four translucent Vanceva™ Arctic Snow PVB interlayers, finely controlling the amount of daylight permeating through. The outcome is a striking exterior comprising 1,150 tubes, each with a 6.5m length, forming a ventilated ‘cool jacket façade.’ The distinctive surface not only regulates incoming light but, thanks to Vanceva PVB interlayers, contributes to reducing energy transmission, maintaining the building’s coolness.

Holl Architects, alongside glass specialists, designed specialty glass tubes to make up the building’s exterior

The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, though appearing delicate, defies fragility with a sturdy foundation. A steel substructure, coupled with discrete structural glazing connections supporting the tubes, upholds the building’s strength. The glass, rigorously tested for load-bearing capabilities, also contributes to its structural integrity. The incorporation of PVB interlayers adds an extra layer of safety, ensuring that even if a wall section is impacted, the glass remains unharmed.

though appearing delicate, the building achieves advanced stability through a steel substructure and laminated glass

moody shift from daylight to nighttime

The integration of natural light into the building was carefully curated, much like an artist choosing shades and tones. daylight simulations and mock-ups measured daylight transmission in respect to the building, helping the architects and engineers to understand how the building could host natural light. Thanks to this research, daylight now filters in through clerestory glazing, offering visitors at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston a distinctly illuminated museum experience. As evening descends, the soft artificial glow from the glass tubes transforms the streetscape into a radiant display.

project info:

name: Kinder Building—Museum of Fine Arts Houston

location: Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

architect(s): Steven Holl Architects | @stevenhollarchitects

glass laminator: ShenZhen ShenNanYi Glass Product Co., Ltd

façade engineer: knippershelbig

featured product line: Vanceva™ color PVB interlayers, White Collection

material: four layers of 0009 (Arctic Snow)

photography: Richard Barnes and Olaf Schmidt