Architectural aluminium glazing specialist, Technal, has won an international award for innovation and design for its latest façade concept.
The Batimat Design Awards are held every two years as part of the international construction exhibition and conference in Paris. The awards recognise manufacturers who have launched innovative building products developed in conjunction with in-house or external designers.
At this year’s awards, Technal won a Silver trophy in the Structural category, which was presented at a glittering event held at the historic Hotel de Ville in Paris.
The award was given for a double skin façade concept developed by Technal with leading French architects, Jacques Ferrier Architectures. The aluminium system ‘folds’ to help accommodate a building in its environment – it is ‘pleated’ vertically for east or west orientations and horizontally for southern aspects.
The façade panels can be modular and units with photovoltaic cells provide sunshading to reduce solar gain and control glare. The double skin system is also designed to improve insulation, to cool the photovoltaic components whose efficiency is temperature-related and to deliver enhanced acoustic performance.
The concept was developed by Technal as part of a research and development project to redefine the building envelope and demonstrate innovative use of solar power generation.
This year Technal also launched a number of new façade products at Batimat, which all encompass the brand’s ethos for style, functionality, sustainability and comfort. These systems will be available in the UK and Ireland in 2012 and include:
The Soleal casement window range – available in tilt/turn, pivot, bottom and projecting top hung window options, and horizontal sliding and tilt/slide balcony door configurations. The range will set new standards in energy efficiency and aesthetics.
The Soleal door range – a high performance thermally broken commercial door in pivot and hinged configurations, and a single door with a disabled access threshold.
A concealed parallel opening vent option for Technal’s MX curtain walling, giving specifiers the opportunity to radically increase natural ventilation as an alternative to tilt/turn and top hung vents.
An innovative motorised side hung open-in window will provide automated locking and unlocking using a touch screen control to replace the traditional handle for users with disabilities.
For further information about Technal’s portfolio of commercial aluminium window, door, curtain walling, and low rise façade systems, visit www.technal.co.uk or call 01924 232323.
