Dynamic Sustainability for the Urban Environment
December 31, 2011
A host of ecologically friendly design features along with a stunning aesthetic façade, are the qualities which have helped to win the Worlds Best Tall Building award for the new KfW Bank headquarters in Frankfurt. The award, presented by the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat [CTBUH], recognises projects internationally that have made ‘extraordinary contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment, and that achieve sustainability at the highest and broadest level’.
The dynamic building known as Westarkade was designed by architects Sauerbruch Hutton and combines colour, form and sustainable technology to provide a structure which monitors and responds to varying weather conditions.
Wicona’s aluminium unitised curtain walling was used in the form of a distinctive ‘saw-toothed’ shaped double skin, encompassing automated solar blinds. Tempered glass panels and striking coloured ventilation flaps describe the outer skin while the inner surface contains windows which can be occupier-controlled.
This remarkable structure is not only extremely attractive, but is one of the worlds most sustainable office buildings with a primary energy consumption of only 98kWh/m2.
The success of this state of the art innovation demonstrates the versatility of aluminium curtain walling. The properties of aluminium allow for a varied range of design features and it is increasingly being applied in a domestic as well as commercial/industrial setting.
First Choice Aluminium H & P are specialists in the manufacture, supply and installation of an incredibly high standard of aluminium products including curtain walling. Our glazing systems are fabricated in our factory in Oldham, Greater Manchester, where use of the ISO 9002 accredited production system demonstrates the FCAHP commitment to customer satisfaction every time. Check our FCAHP website for a list of successful projects ranging from aluminium double glazing of schools, care homes, banks and domestic dwellings. FCAHP are also delighted to offer secondary double glazing which is becoming increasingly popular due to its superior thermal qualities and subtle presence.