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The Kursaal Centre, San Sebastian, Spain has a "skin of laminated glass" containing Butacite® PVB that was specified by architect Rafael Moneo.

Moneo's Kursaal Centre uses laminated glass for "a total departure from traditional urban architecture"

The foyer gives breathtaking views of the sea and mountains.

The Kursaal cultural centre and concert hall in San Sebastian, Spain, inaugurated in August 1999, is set on a strikingly beautiful stretch of the Cantabrian coastline between Mount Ulfa and Mount Igueldo. Architect Rafael Moneo specified an innovative, laminated glass 'skin' for Kursaal which at once allows performers and visitors to enjoy the splendid views to the maximum and protects the building from the often stormy, coastal weather conditions on the Bay of Biscay.

Moneo says he conceived Kursaal as "two gigantic rocks stranded at the mouth of the river, forming part of the landscape rather than belonging to the city". He explained: "When a visitor enters the foyer, he is subconsciously led towards the highest level where there are sweeping views of Mount Urgull and the sea from a single, large window."

The curved glass specified by Moneo comprises a laminate of 19 mm extra-clear, sandblasted glass (Starphire® by PPG) on the interior, a 0.76 mm interlayer of clear DuPont™ Butacite® PVB and a 4-5 mm pane of printed glass (Flutex® by AFG, USA and manufactured in Europe by Glaverbel) on the exterior.

"The window punctuates the building's 'double wall', composed of a steel skeleton clad inside and out with specially-designed laminated glass elements. The exterior, laminated glass 'skin' protects Kursaal from saltwater sea gales. It's also very attractive, giving the volume the effect of a dense, opaque yet changing mass by day which is ultimately transformed into a mysterious, dazzling light source by night."

Cricursa of Barcelona fabricated the laminated glass used for Kursaal. The curved glass specified by Moneo comprises a laminate of 19 mm extra-clear, sandblasted glass (Starphire^® by PPG) on the interior, a 0.76 mm interlayer of clear DuPont^™ Butacite^® PVB and a 4-5 mm pane of printed glass (Flutex^® by AFG, USA and manufactured in Europe by Glaverbel) on the exterior. The radius of curvature is 600 mm. A Cricursa spokesman commented: "The main production challenge was to curve a glass pane of 19 mm and laminate it to another pane of 4-5 mm thickness to a very tight production schedule". Cricursa supplied the Kursaal Centre with more than 5,000 units of laminated glass to complete the project, covering an area of almost 8,500 m², representing one of the company's largest projects to date.

As Moneo summed up: "I wanted to use laminated glass to create a structure that blends in perfectly with the natural environment of the Urmea riverbank, an abstract, freestanding piece representing a total departure from traditional urban architecture."