The Wave cassette: The volume that forms the rhythm

The 3D Wave cassettes from GRADAS transform an ordinary flat facade surface into an expressive architectural relief filled with movement, shade and plasticity. This series has been one of most recognizable designs of GRADAS for many years and is actively used by architects who want to give the building a dynamic, modern and memorable character.

Technically, the series is very flexible: cassettes of this type are made of aluminium with a thickness of 1.5 to 3 mm or steel with a thickness of 1 to 1.5 mm, sizes range from compact 200×300 mm to large 1400×3800 mm.  Any color from the RAL palette can be selected as the coating. 

A striking example of the use of Wave cassettes is the Volna water treatment plant, where 3D panels form a powerful vertical rhythm, visually facilitating a large engineering volume. The wavy lines move upward, making the facade more dynamic and giving a sense of development. Special attention is drawn to the fact that the facade consists not just of 3D cassettes, but of 3D cassettes with perforations. The color BX0001 resembles a shade of dark gold, so that the play of light and shadow on the edges of the cassettes makes the surface alive throughout the whole day. 

Another significant building is the Mnevniki water treatment plant. The Wave cassettes create here an expressive vertical pattern, but with a more graphic and restrained character. Cassettes made of aluminium of a delicate turquoise color BX0652, 2 mm thick, were used for the facade, which makes the facade look like a modern architectural shell that successfully hides the engineering function behind an aesthetically verified plastic surface. Fluidity and strict modern geometry are created by soft curves and flowing lines simultaneously. That is an perfect solution for urban infrastructure facilities. 

Exactly these qualities make the Wave series especially attractive to architects. It allows you to create a strong visual accent, play with shade during the day, visually reduce the scale of massive structures and realize almost sculptural plasticity of the facade without the need for complex curved structures.