An Office Building In The UK

Case Study of Venetian Blind Fabric Application in an Office Building in the City of London, UK

Project Background

This eco-resort in Switzerland, with a total construction area of 28,000 square meters, is primarily composed of low-density wooden villas. Its design concept emphasizes "coexistence with nature." To meet the Swiss Minergie-P ecological building certification and UNESCO natural heritage protection requirements, the client required a shading system that is adaptable to extreme climates, biodegradable, and integrated into the landscape.

Client Needs and Challenges

Extreme Climate Adaptability: Switzerland experiences winter temperatures ranging from -25°C to -15°C, with an average annual snowfall of 8-10 meters. The fabric required superior thermal insulation, snow pressure resistance, and rapid snowmelt.

Ecological Protection Requirements: The blinds' installation must not damage surrounding alpine vegetation or animal habitats.

Local Certification Compliance: The materials must comply with the Swiss Minergie-P standard, the SN EN 13501-1 fire protection code, and the environmental protection provisions of the Alpine Convention. High-end Customer Experience: Seamless switching between "zero light pollution" stargazing mode and "private snow scene" mode is required to meet the personalized needs of a global elite clientele.

Solution

Fabric Technical Parameters

Material: 40% Polyester + 60% PVC / 35% Polyester + 65% PVC, etc.

Insulation: R-value 9.5 (meets Minergie-P insulation requirements for high-altitude buildings)

Light Transmittance: Semi-shading and full-shading

Fire Rating: SN EN 13501-1 B-s1,d0 certified (Switzerland's highest fire rating)

Environmental Certifications: Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Platinum, EU Ecolabel, Swiss Blue Angel

Customized Design

Climate Adaptability:

The fabric surface is coated with a super-hydrophobic nano-coating, with a snow load capacity of 200 kg/m².

The insulation layer reduces the fabric's thermal conductivity to 0.009 W/(m·K), reducing indoor temperature fluctuations to ≤1.5°C in winter. 

Ecological Protection Plan:

The fixing brackets are made of recyclable titanium alloy, and the installation process was carried out by helicopter to minimize damage to ground vegetation.

High-End Guest Control System:

Integrated with the Lutron Homeworks system, guests can adjust the blinds via a bedside touch panel or mobile app.

Implementation Process:

Eco-Co-Design: The blinds system was precisely simulated using a BIM model to integrate with the timber-framed villa, ensuring an installation tolerance of ≤0.8mm.

Carbon-Neutral Installation: Materials were transported using electric sleds, and solar power was used during construction, achieving zero carbon emissions.

Achievements and Feedback:

Energy Consumption:

Winter heating energy consumption was reduced by 42% (compared to the Minergie benchmark), and summer cooling loads were reduced by 31%.

Minergie-P certification was achieved with a score of 98 (Platinum threshold: 85), and the hotel received subsidies from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.

User Satisfaction:

97% of guests praised the stable indoor temperature in winter, and 95% were satisfied with the natural light control. The resort's general manager commented, "This system makes the resort a true 'Eco-Smart' in Switzerland."

Customer Testimonial

"MINGCHEN blinds perfectly address the dual environmental and functional requirements of high-altitude ecological buildings. Its intelligent control system seamlessly integrates with Lutron, making this resort a 'breathing natural landmark' in Switzerland."

—Pascal Müller, Project General Manager of a Swiss resort