Blind-ingly brilliant

CW staff , June 22nd, 2009

There is a whole lot more to window dressings than simply shutting out the light. Finding the right product can add style, bring in a technical touch and help you to drastically cut down on your carbon footprint

While window dressings may once have just been a way to add a stylish finishing touch, or inject some privacy into an interior design scheme, these days, selecting the right product can do a whole lot more.

With the Gulf region now fully awake to the need to minimise its carbon footprint, and increase the energy efficiency of its buildings, for interior designers looking to cut down on energy usage, window dressings are the perfect
place to start.

A recent study by the European Solar-Shading Organisation (ES-SO) calculated that if sun protective shutters and blinds were adopted in buildings throughout the EU, a potential 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions could be saved in heating energy requirements. The potential savings in cooling energy were even more staggering: the study calculated that the right window dressings could lead to an annual reduction in EU carbon dioxide emissions of 80 million tonnes.

In the Middle East, where the baking sun constantly streams through the windows causing us to crank up the air con, the need to employ eco-friendly solutions is particularly pressing.

“Sustainability is very important right now in this region, especially with the introduction of LEED and Estidama certification systems for old and new buildings,” said Abdo Aoun, manager of Gulf operations for Somfy, a specialist in home automation solutions. “Although these two rating systems are still optional, many developers are seeking to differentiate their companies and their projects, and to attract sensitive investors and end-users, as well as to be more socially responsible.”

 As an energy saving solution, Somfy has designed a flexible automation system for window dressings called ‘Animeo’. Automated shadings and openings on the facades of commercial buildings are integrated with sun and weather sensors.



“Depending on the position of the sun and the time of the day, the building can protect itself from external heat gains, in hot areas like the GCC, or preserve the heat inside the building, in cold areas like Europe,” explained Aoun.

“On the other hand, when the facade is not exposed to direct sunlight, the interior of the building is able to enjoy the daylight coming through from the high light-transmittance glazing.

“The impact of this is that it reduces energy consumption in the building from cooling and lighting. Not to mention the possibility of using natural ventilation, and the energy savings from this, as well as the impact of such a system on the internal environment of the building, thus improving comfort levels and productivity.”

Shady business

Hunter Douglas has also developed an integrated system for energy saving in commercial interiors by using solar shading. Enduris Glass Core technology contributes to sustainable design by protecting interiors from solar heat, diffusing incoming natural light, enhancing interior comfort and so increasing occupant productivity.

The product uses internal blinds which have been tested to eliminate up to 64% of heat from solar radiation. “The result is that you get a more pleasant indoor environment, with temperatures reduced by as much as 5 to 15°C, contributing to energy savings such as cooling load reductions of 40 to 60%,” explained Yvonne Tobien, sales executive, Hunter Douglas.

“The screen fabrics also provide excellent protection against UV radiation. All shades made with these fabrics offer excellent aesthetics, the highest strength and durability to maintain those looks, and performance characteristics that contribute to a healthier, more sustainable indoor environment.”

If the right materials are chosen, simple blinds can drastically lower energy usage. German company Verotex has spent the past 20 years developing a range of fabrics for use in blinds made from a highly innovative, eco-friendly coating, which reflects up to 88% of light coming through the window.

“Energy-conscious blinding is important for reducing energy costs and thus the environmental impact of the building,” said Holger Scholz, technical director, Verotex Gulf. “The weak points in terms of the energy technology in a building are the windows or the glass façade. Verotex fabrics reflect up to 88% of light, thus being able to reduce enormously the energy budget. At the same time, a transparent external view should be safeguarded in order to avoid a ‘black box’ feeling. To overcome this effect, Verotex has developed screen fabrics which are vaporised with a Nano mirror effect.”

Thanks to their capacity to save on energy while still letting light into the room, Scholz describes the fabrics as a “textile technical masterstroke”.

Window dressing company Luxaflex also offers energy saving blinds and fabrics. “Sustainability has become more and more important for the interior architect,” said Tobien. “Silhouette shades – one of our products – is made of a strong but light polyester fabric that doesn’t fade or tear, combining the best features of curtains and blinds in one unique design.”

Eco curtains

They may not have the technical capacity of blinds and shutters, but if you are going to go for curtains as a window dressing, fabrics can also be very eco-friendly. Drapilux, for example, has developed a range of intelligent textiles for its window dressings.

“Drapilux has always been interested in the topic of the environment and has been implementing environmentally friendly production techniques for many years, which are certified annually by Oeko Tex [an international testing and certification system for textiles which limits the use of certain chemicals during production],” says Gudrun Kloehn, international sales manager, Drapilux.

“Drapilux takes care to recycle waste materials and use recyclable packaging. The additional functions of Drapilux decorative fabrics contribute just as much to environmental protection: Drapilux Bioaktiv reduces the washing frequency of curtain and net curtain fabrics.

“Less detergents and water are required. Moreover, Drapilux is a member of ‘future e.V.’ which campaigns for the development of environmentally-oriented products and services.”
 
Talking techno

As well as being at the cutting edge of eco-friendly design, the latest innovations for window dressings allow you to precisely control the brightness of the light filtering into the room, close the curtains at a touch of a button, and
make difficult to reach windows a snap to operate.

Blinds are the most advanced window dressing in terms of technical capabilities. The amount of light coming into the room, as well as the direction of the light, can be precisely controlled by tilting the louvers, slats, vanes or panels.



“A blind is a natural and artificial light controller,” said Aoun. “We have three main reasons behind wanting natural/artificial light control in a commercial space. The first is comfort; you can reduce the glare and contrast in the workplace, which comes from direct or diffused sunlight. The second is energy saving, and the third is about controlling internal artificial light, which can cause night light pollution.

“This is the excessive amount of artificial light that comes out of buildings at night and reflects onto the street and surrounding buildings,” he said.

One of Somfy’s latest products is called Sonesses, a new range of ‘silent’ tubular motors for all types of roller shades. The motors come in different sizes and can be used for sunscreens, roman shades, cord-lift shades, and roller black out blinds. “By silent we mean less than 44 decibels, which means that if you are one metre away from the blind you won’t hear the motor operating,” said Aoun.

Another innovation from Somfy is a range of ‘silent’ motorised curtain track systems called ‘Glystro’. “In a commercial setting, Glystro is mostly used for hotels and hotel apartments, where you can integrate it with the room automation system,” he explained.

“In addition to being motorised and controlled automatically, the curtain can also be opened manually through a manual override system, in case the guest doesn’t realise it’s automatic.

“This is an important feature which limits the maintenance for the track and the fabrics. On the other hand, if the curtain gets stuck, Glystro by the means of its over torque detector, allows the system to declutch and switch to manual mode, preventing damage to the fabric and the components of the track.”

What’s in for windows? 

As the focus increasingly shifts towards the environment and technology, billowing, poufy curtains with reams of fabric seem to be out, as designers look towards blinds and shutters for the latest innovations. But has style gone out of the window?

Manufacturers say the latest trends for window dressings are sleek, contemporary and highly technical. “The trend makers for intelligent window design are coming from Europe,” said Scholz.

“Just after the last trade fair ‘R&T’ in Stuttgart, it became evident that panel track, vertical blinds – a newcomer – pleated blinds and roller blinds, in this order, will set the trend over the next three years, with high-tech materials being the special highlight.”

Roller shades, quite a retro-look for a while, have been reinvented and offer sleek designs, excellent light control and a clean, stylish look.

“With our huge fabric collection, whether it’s elegant, tailored design, natural grass cloth or sophisticated silk like fabric, we can create a roller shade to suit any taste,” explained Tobien from Luxaflex.

“The dual roller shade option allows you to pair two fabrics of varying opacities on one cassette for optimum light control and an intriguing layered effect.”



Another major trend from Luxaflex is for sleek, flat, Japanese-design vertical panels made from a unique paper material called ‘washi’ (literally meaning Japanese paper). “This opaque material has a cloudy finish that allows light through but obscures the view, making it perfect for privacy and sun protection,” said Tobien.
 
“We offer combinations with white and colour washi segments. The woven washi panels and roller blinds look like bamboo but are also made from paper. Wooden or aluminum ribs and bottom bars enhance the oriental look.”

According to Tobien, demand in the market is starting to show a definite shift from plainer colours to more vibrant styles. “Lately we have realised that the styles in demand have started to shift from colours such as white, beige and greys towards more vibrant and trendy colours.”

Another option for a cool and contemporary look is shutters. The Shutter Company creates bespoke handcrafted shutters which are ideal for a sleek modern interior. The shutters are made from solid basswood and can be both manual and motorised, and painted or stained suit any interior.