01 November 2012
Technal Windows Create Façade for Light-filled College Building
Casement windows from architectural aluminium systems specialist Technal have been specified to create an elegant and contemporary façade solution for a new campus building in south west France.
The College of Bessières near Toulouse is situated on the outskirts of the city in a stunning woodland location. The building was designed by architects Lanoire Courrian and Konbini Associated Architects to provide a high level of natural light and to create a visual extension of the surrounding tree-filled landscape.
Around 400 of Technal's aluminium casement windows were specified by the architects to fill the building with natural light and to minimise the use of air conditioning in summer whilst allowing occupants to benefit from the sun in the winter months.
The full height windows on the main elevation are shaded from the sun with brise soleil in Douglas fir, adding a degree of warmth to the building, an aesthetic link to the woodland and controlling solar gain.
According to Jean Larnaudie, Associate at Konbini Architects, "We oriented the building to suit the prevailing winds and introduced both light and shade to ensure occupier comfort all year round. Most of the zones inside benefit from natural day light which is rare in this type of rectilinear building. The Technal windows were the ideal solution to our specification criteria."
The window systems feature slim sight lines to reduce the reliance on artificial lighting and were able to accommodate the full height façade with an elegance and purity of design.
Technal's casement window suite uses a technically advanced framing system with unobtrusive narrow sight lines. It is available in a range of versatile module sizes to give architects and contractors the flexibility to deliver enhanced thermal efficiency and to meet project-specific requirements such as aesthetics, performance, and cost.
Other features include the option of single or dual colours, a common range of profiles and accessories to simplify specification, and flush EPDM gaskets to enhance the appearance of the window. The suite can be supplied in a full range of configurations, including fixed lights, tilt/turn, top, side and bottom hung, and pivot windows.
The systems can be used for punched hole, composite and ribbon window applications, and both new build and refurbishment schemes - and are fully compatible with Technal's Geode-MX curtain walling and MODAL low rise glazing.
For more information about Technal's aluminium casement windows, call 01924 232323, email info@technal.co.uk or visit www.technal.co.uk.
Editor's Notes
1. Images © Jordi Canosa.
2. Hydro is the largest supplier of aluminium glazing systems in Europe. Its Technal brand of glazing solutions designs, manufactures and distributes a fully integrated range of aluminium curtain walling, door, window and low rise framing products.
3. You can now follow Technal on Twitter @TechnalUK, on YouTube - www.youtube.com/user/TechnalUK and on Facebook - www.facebook.com/Technal.UK.
