Transparent blinds in energy-efficient office building

Cloth combines shading, visibility and comfort

A new office building in Bussigny, Switzerland, shows how textile shading is becoming part of the façade design. The project selected Soltis Veozip by Serge Ferrari, a fabric that limits solar radiation while maintaining visibility and light penetration.

The building of e-commerce company QoQa comprises about nine thousand square meters and combines office functions, logistics and shared workstations. The layout with large areas of glass and a central courtyard required a solution that performs both thermally and visually. Therefore, a zip system with a textile fabric was chosen, applied to the exterior facade and in the courtyard.

According to Marcos Santos, Sales Manager Solar Protection Benelux & UK at Serge Ferrari, the challenge lay in combining performance and visibility. “It was necessary to greatly reduce solar radiation, but one wanted to maintain visibility to the outside. It is precisely this combination that determines comfort in the workplace.”

Balance between shading and light penetration

The application limits the heat load on the facade and thus supports the building's energy concept, which combines insulation, heat pumps and solar panels. The choice of a light fabric color is striking. Whereas darker variants usually provide better performance, this material blocks 97% of solar energy through (g-value), even with a light shade. The chosen hue softens the appearance of the glass façade and counterbalances the warm-colored accents, such as the stair railings. 

Santos says Soltis Veozip was developed specifically for zip systems. “The material structure provides sufficient flexibility to accommodate tension differences, while the fabric remains dimensionally stable. As a result, no waves or creases are created along the side guides.” This was especially important because of the building's location, on an open and elevated site, making wind resistance essential.

Comfort for users

There is a lot of work on screens in the office, so it was important to reduce glare without completely eliminating daylight. Soltis Veozip filters the light, but retains the view outside. “Users don't want a closed-off feeling when the blinds are down. Transparency is therefore just as important as blinds,” Santos says.

Indoor environment and safety were also considered in the choice of materials. The fabric is free of phthalates and has certifications that allow it to be used in healthcare and educational buildings, among others. This makes the material suitable for office projects, but also for applications where health and safety requirements are more important.