| Inside Munich's Olympiapark is the | | | | an extremely thin, burned in titanium oxide |
| four-cylinder" building which has helped | | | | coating. The unique way in which light is |
| create public awareness of BMW for many years | | | | refracted with reflection and transmission |
| now. This is where the BMW Group gets all the | | | | also played a very important role. The |
| ideas in the more than 150 countries it | | | | optical interference coated mineral glass |
| operates in. Therefore, this is also were BMW | | | | serves as a mirror, giving a silvery, |
| 325i parts are being conceptualized. | | | | esthetic brilliance in front of a dark |
| | | | surface. But suddenly becomes transparent in |
| Just in time for the Olympic Games in 1972, | | | | front of a light background or backlighting. |
| Karl Schwanzer, an architecture professor | | | | |
| from Vienna, completed the building. It | | | | Günter Bauer, the Managing Director of |
| consists of more or less four 100 meter high | | | | Bauer innovativ GmbH in Altötting, |
| cylinders that are positioned crosswise. It | | | | Germany, said Mirona is truly something very |
| was subjected to complete renovation and | | | | special as regards its lighting performance, |
| modernization measures from 2004 to 2006. The | | | | color and processing capabilities. He added |
| reinventions were supervised by the Hamburg | | | | that the ability of this glass to appear |
| based architectural firm ASP Schweger | | | | transparent on the one hand, though it serves |
| Assoziierte Gesamtplanung GmbH. | | | | as a reflective surface on the other, enabled |
| | | | them to incorporate the monitors into the |
| The decision was also aimed at redesigning | | | | conference room in a more temperate manner. |
| the conference rooms. Plans required | | | | Bauer's company was the one responsible for |
| installing many huge format TV monitors in | | | | the construction of the tables for use in the |
| one of the rooms, without allowing them to | | | | conference room. |
| become distracting to the persons having | | | | |
| conferences. So in order to suffice the needs | | | | SCHOTT product manager Stephan Pfaff |
| of this challenge, a total of 40 square | | | | explained that the functional metamorphosis |
| meters of the specialized glass "Mirona" from | | | | from glass to a mirror offers huge potential |
| SCHOTT were mounted onto the front side of | | | | for premium quality applications, |
| the tables. This surface serves as a mirror, | | | | specifically interior decorators, designers |
| for as long as the monitor behind the pane is | | | | and shop fitters. He further explained that |
| turned off. But once the monitor is turned | | | | lighting fixtures, partitions or basic |
| on, the glass provides a crystal clear view | | | | mirrored wall paneling can be turned into |
| of the screen. | | | | elegant design objects at a press of a button |
| | | | with the help of Mirona. |
| This effect is attained through the help of | | | | |