Tampere, Finland’s second largest city, was founded in 1779 by Gustav III, King of Sweden. Readers may be familiar with this beautiful city as the location for the world’s leading glass conference, Glass Processing Days (see www.glassprocessing days.com).

The focus for the city is a stunning central square, known as Keskutori. This features the famous Nottbeck fountain donated by factory owner Wilhelm von Nottbeck in 1883. To protect this cultural gem from the harsh Finnish winter, the city council has arranged for it to be completely covered in winter with a striking 4.5 metre high curved glass cover, designed by architect Juha Ryösa and fabricated by the world-famous Tambest Oy from nearby Pirkkala. The high technology glass structure consists of an inner layer of 6mm toughened safety glass laminated to an outer layer of 6mm Pilkington Activ.

Source

Glass Age