AGC announced today that its world’s first glass-roof bench has received the Good Design Award 2013. Developed and used for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 football tournament, this award-winning bench with AGC’s glass roof achieves both weight reductions and safety by incorporating AGC’s Dragontrail™, a thin, strong specialty glass for chemical strengthening mainly used in smartphones and tablets.
The judges commented: “The glass roof, which satisfied the stringent restrictions and requirements of FIFA, is a masterpiece that showcases Japan’s technological capabilities. Football fans pay attention to not only the players on the field but also the managers and reserve players on the benches. This player bench, which incorporates a thin, chemically strengthened glass used in electronics devices allows viewers to clearly see inside the bench area. With excellent scratch and weather resistance, it also contributes to improving the luxurious ambiance of a stadium.”
The glass-roof bench will be exhibited at the Japan Football Museum from Saturday, November 2 to Sunday November 24. Visitors can sit on the bench that was used in the Brazil vs Japan match. In addition, a commemorative event will be held as des cribed below.
Date and time: 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday, November 17 (final entrance: 17:30)
Place: Virtual Stadium, Japan Football Museum JFA House, Soccer-street (3-10-15 Hongo) Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Details:
(I) Exhibition of FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 specification ball and shoes signed by Shinji Kagawa and Atsuto Uchida
(II) Photo contest (Furt her information will be provided separately.)
(III) Demons tration of Dragontrail™
AGC will provide more advanced benches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. By further expanding the potential of glass using its technological capabilities, AGC will add value to the world’s attention-grabbing sports event.
[Details of Good Design Award]
Award-winning item: FIFA Competitions player bench with AGC´s glass roof
Company: Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Designer: Goal Project (AGC internal project team) Design advisors: Eito Sakai, SD; Susumu Matsunobu, Ove Arup and Partners Japan Limited.
Judges’ comments: “This glass roof for stadium team benches was developed for use at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 football tournament. The glass roof, which satisfied the stringent restrictions and requirements of FIFA, is a masterpiece that showcases Japan’s technological capabilities. Football fans pay attention to not only the players on the field but also the managers and reserve players on the benches. This player bench, which incorporates a thin, chemically strengthened glass used in electronics devices allows viewers to clearly see inside the bench area. With excellent scratch and weather resistance, it also contributes to improving the luxurious ambiance of a stadium.”