The requirement was a barely visible structure to protect the ruins of the antique Roman bath from exposure to weather. Glazed shell structures provide an optimum in transparency. Like in membranes the loads are transferred in the surface areas instead of bending the profiles. Therefore, prestressed diagonal cables (Ø 10 mm) stiffened the glazed rectangular meshes in the surface area, thus creating a shell clearly spanning approximately 68 x 40 m in plan with steel sections measuring only 60 x 60 mm. However, for transverse stiffening prestressed cables consisting of T-shaped compression chords and almost invisible chord- and diagonal cables (Ø 10 respectively 20 mm) have to be added to the barrel vault. 1.725 glass panes, 10 mm thick and measuring approximately 1.20 x 1.20 m, held by stainless steel plates at the corners create the transparent and durable roof -skin. The approximately 2000 plates made of stainless steel were cast in ceramic molds and given their matt-finished surface by blasting with glass beads.
An extremely minimalist construction was chosen for both facades. Like the strings on a tennis racket, horizontal and vertical strings, made here of high-strength steel cables, are stretched and the glass panes are attached to them with stainless steel castings in the corners. The glass is padded in the holders so that it can follow the visible deformations of the cable network in strong winds without damage. With modern technology, an extremely delicate and transparent construction was created that puts little strain on the ancient bath ruins in two senses.
