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News & Media

Latest ITER Newsline

  • On site | 28 who "truly shined"

    The new ITER Star Awards recognize exemplary performance and commitment. Every year, during the annual assessment campaign, ITER staff may be recognized for exe [...]

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  • MT-28 Conference | Superconducting magnets as a catalyst

    Many passers-by paused for a moment and picked up their cell phones to capture the scene. It was indeed rare to see dancers on the square outside of the Pavillo [...]

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  • Fusion world | TCV tokamak turns 30

    The Swiss TCV tokamak (for Tokamak à Configuration Variable, or 'variable configuration' tokamak) has been exploring the physics of nuclear fusion for 30 years [...]

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  • Image of the week | Port cell with a view

    A visit to ITER would not be complete without a peek into the Tokamak pit where the machine is being progressively assembled. For several years, one of the equa [...]

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  • Visit | Chinese Minister reaffirms "full support"

    ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology (MOST) Wang Zhigang share a common academic background. They both tra [...]

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Of Interest

See archived entries

ITER NEWSLINE -

Reflections in the mirror

The architects (ENIA Architectes) who planned the exterior aspect of the ITER scientific buildings wanted them to meld into the natural environment, and at the same time to reflect the precision of the research work being performed within.

For the moment, the mirror-like surfaces of the mockup only reflect the shapes of the trucks and cranes that surround the building... (Click to view larger version...)
For the moment, the mirror-like surfaces of the mockup only reflect the shapes of the trucks and cranes that surround the building...
Their technical solution reposes on alternating cladding of polished stainless steel and grey-lacquered metal. At the same time as the ITER buildings reflect the changing skies and pick up the hues of the passing seasons, the polished, sharp quality of their exteriors conveys something of the high-tech nature of the activities they harbour.

In order to check the feasibility of installation and to have the final choices validated by the architects, a mockup of the planned cladding has been erected at the south corner of the Assembly Building. A few square metres of the building's metal structure have been covered with the two types of alternating cladding, allowing us to imagine what the completed building will look like.

Melding into the natural environment, the alternating cladding of polished stainless steel and grey-lacquered metal reflects the precision of the research work being performed within. © ENIA Architectes (Click to view larger version...)
Melding into the natural environment, the alternating cladding of polished stainless steel and grey-lacquered metal reflects the precision of the research work being performed within. © ENIA Architectes
For the moment, the mirror-like surfaces only reflect the shapes of the trucks and cranes that surround the building.

But we have an indication of what the final result will be—and it's quite impressive.

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