Sphere
Mario Bellini Architects
Image: Bollinger+Grohmann
We make heavy things look easy
When entering the lobby of the Deutsche Bank headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, you are greeted by the “Sphere”, an impressive sculpture featuring a sphere crossed by two bridges. It was created by Milan architect and designer Mario Bellini and realized by Arnold in 2011 on the occasion of the extensive renovation of the Deutsche Bank towers. The gigantic sphere, 16 meters in diameter, may look light, but it involved a great deal of hard work and meticulous planning.
Image: Bollinger+Grohmann
33 tons of rolled stainless steel
It contains a total of 33 tons of specially rolled stainless steel. It took three months to find a rolling mill that could produce the specially grained surface, which reflects the incident rays of light particularly well. After detailed structural planning by a partner, Arnold designers transferred the line model to a 3D CAD system and production of the 1440 individual laser-cut stainless steel parts, each of which was individually shaped, could begin. It was a logistical challenge to deliver the right parts to Frankfurt at the right time, as they were welded together piece by piece. The assembly took a total of 18 weeks.
Images: Bollinger+Grohmann
On suspension bridges through new spheres
The Sphere, which symbolizes Deutsche Bank's internal and international network, is traversed by two 22-metre-long, 15-tonne bridges made of stainless steel-coated steel and walk-on glass floors, which Arnold also realized.
We would like to thank Deutsche Bank and Mario Bellini for their trust in this incredibly spectacular project.
Are you looking for someone to realize your ideas in metal? We would be happy to talk to you about your project, just give us a call.
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