The Phoenix-Haus in Frankfurt is getting new, wirelessly controlled Warema exterior blinds

A Smart Upgrade Thanks to Automated Sunshades

The Phoenix-Haus office complex in Frankfurt underwent a thorough renovation in 2025. A key part of this was the replacement of the previously manually operated exterior blinds while the office spaces remained in continuous use. Warema’s automated sun protection solution is equipped with the WMS wireless system.

The five-story building complex, built in 1997 at Berner Straße 119 in the Nieder-Eschbach neighborhood, was outdated and needed to be renovated to improve energy efficiency and enhance user comfort. At the initiative of the new primary tenant, the owner decided to renovate three floors initially. On the ground floor, the first floor, and the fourth floor, the building services were modernized and more flexible floor plans were implemented—creating a future-proof work environment. Along with the interior renovation, the roof needed to be made more energy-efficient, and the existing exterior sunshades also needed to be replaced. Matthias Angermeier of Objektausstattungen Walter G. Angermeier GmbH in Dieburg, the company responsible for planning and execution, describes the requirements as follows: „The new sunshades were to contribute to user comfort and protection against summer heat while also allowing for cost-effective installation during normal use. Interventions in the existing facade structure were to be avoided, and a central control system for the sunshades was not required.”

Comfortable, wirelessly controlled window shades—installed without interrupting office operations

With this setup, the nearly 30-year-old exterior venetian blinds—which were previously operated with crank rods—were replaced with new Warema Basic exterior venetian blinds featuring flat slats and cable guidance, now equipped with a motor and an intelligent WMS control system. The advantage: the sunshades are operated completely wirelessly, eliminating the need for complicated cabling on the facade and inside the office spaces. The wireless signal receivers—the WMS Plug-in Adapters—are connected to the respective motors and communicate via the WMS mesh network with the WMS Wall Transmitters, which are discreetly mounted in the office spaces. A future expansion of the control system to include mobile WMS Hand Transmitters or individual scene control is also possible. This provides additional flexibility, for example, in the event of a change in the layout of the spaces or a change in tenants. Matthias Angermeier explains: „For proper installation, only a power supply to the motors and to the weatherproof WMS Splitter Plugs was required. This was routed along the facade through existing installation channels. This meant that no drilling or structural modifications to the existing building were necessary.” The connection to the power grid was carried out by a certified electrical contractor, while the commissioning and programming of the WMS wireless system were performed directly by Warema’s technical department in consultation with Matthias Angermeier.

Greater convenience and protection from the summer heat

The wireless WMS system enables the implementation of smart automated functions. The integrated sun control system automatically adjusts the exterior blinds based on the sun’s position and light intensity. This helps improve thermal insulation in the summer and reduces the amount of heat entering the interior spaces. In addition, WMS Weather Stations Plus protect the exterior sunshades on all sides of the facade. The installed sensors record meteorological data such as wind speed and solar radiation and regularly transmit this data via the mesh network to the wireless signal receivers. As soon as the wind speed reaches a critical level, the exterior blinds are automatically raised. This ensures the safety and protection of the system. „Especially when renovating an existing building like the Phoenix-Haus, the WMS wireless system offers enormous advantages: no need to make changes to newly renovated interior spaces, flexibility for future changes in use, and a noticeable improvement in comfort for users,” explains Matthias Angermeier. „The smart automation system controls the sunshades independently, thereby supporting the building’s energy management without requiring manual intervention by the user.“

Smart Technology for Smart Renovations

The successful upgrade of the sunshades at the Phoenix-Haus demonstrates that modern, automated solutions can be installed even in existing buildings with minimal structural modifications. A smart solution such as the wireless WMS system combines control tailored to specific needs, high ease of use, and flexibility for retrofitting into existing installations. An expansion to the other floors of the building has already been considered and is possible thanks to the system’s modular design.