The adhesively-bonded glass brick system of the Qaammat Pavilion in Greenland: From research to realization

A novel adhesively-bonded glass brick pavilion, designed by Konstantin Arkitekter, has been successfully constructed within the Aasivissuit – Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site in Greenland. This 3.2 m diameter × 2 m height structure faces extreme engineering challenges due to its arctic location, including winter temperatures as low as -35 °C, limited budget, and reliance on local labor without specialized equipment. The research identified two adhesives that meet structural and aesthetic requirements: 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Polyurethane Adhesive DP610 for the bottom rows, offering higher shear strength and clarity, and DOWSIL Experimental Fast Curing Adhesive, developed specifically for this project, providing larger gap-filling capacity and a white color. The study involved lab tests at (i) room temperature and (ii) -5 °C to select suitable adhesives, followed by small-scale prototyping and on-site construction, addressing logistical challenges in Greenland.

Oikonomopoulou, F., Bristogianni, T., van der Velden, M., & Ikonomidis, K. (2022). The adhesively-bonded glass brick system of the Qaammat Pavilion in Greenland: From research to realization. Architecture, Structures and Construction, 2(1), 39–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44150-022-00031-2