Gibus: 'New: bioclimatic slat roofs Velvet and Velvet Plus'

"An outdoor space that combines design and technology with versatility and controllable light and ventilation." Those are the essential features of Gibus' new Velvet and Velvet Plus bioclimatic slat roofs from Gibus, according to Gibus Netherlands general manager Martijn Westenbrink. 

With the two bioclimatic slat roofs Velvet and Velvet Plus it is possible to choose between a completely closed roof, a half-open roof by tilting the slats (up to 85°) or an open roof by sliding the slats up. A closed roof provides complete shading and maximum weather protection, with tilted slats an optimal microclimate can be created under the slat roof by regulating light and air. 

Velvet slat roofs use the patent-pending Velvet Motion system. That system allows rotation of the slats independent of the slats sliding together. The dual motion is made by two different motors. One linear motor allows the slats to rotate at an angle of 0 to 85°, and a second motor allows the slats of the roof to smoothly slide together to form a package. 

In addition to Velvet Motion, the two new models are also equipped with the patented Side Seal technology, which guarantees all-round sealing of the slats when the slat roof is closed and thus optimum weather resistance. 

According to Westenbrink, the new slat roofs feature a sturdy construction of extruded - powder-coated - aluminum profiles. "They combine excellent technical performance with a minimalist and ultra-modern design that blends perfectly with any architectural, garden and landscape style, allowing the creation of personalized outdoor spaces." Velvet lamella roofs are available in both freestanding and semi-freestanding versions with gable or side mounting, offering many design options. 

The Velvet and the Velvet Plus differ in one respect. The Velvet can be fitted with zipscreens to block out the sun, wind and/or view, or with glass walls to provide shelter from the weather. With the Velvet Plus, both options can be combined, with the zipscreens fully integrated into the frame and uprights. 

Other options of the two canopies include LED lighting with white or colored light, heaters or an audio system that can be controlled via bluetooth directly from the smartphone to play music from Spotify or Apple Music, for example. 

"Gibus has again paid great attention to ease of assembly and maintenance with the Velvet and Velvet Plus," Westenbrink said. "For example, thanks to the patented Quick Blade system, hooking and unhooking the slats into the mechanical drive system is extremely easy, which significantly reduces assembly time." 

In addition to the Velvet slat roofs, Gibus is introducing another new slat roof: the Sway. Gibus characterizes this roof as slim and slender, minimalist, solid and functional and as particularly suitable for terraces and gardens of limited dimensions. A canopy that stands for the Italian lifestyle. The Sway is the result of Gibus' continuous search for increasingly sophisticated solutions, based on market research, R&D and almost 40 years of know-how. 

Gibus deliberately designed the Sway to be simple and elegant, with slim 13 x 13 cm uprights and a roof framing of only 25 cm to create outdoor spaces with their own unique, individual style and identity, especially for smaller outdoor spaces such as terraces or small gardens. 

"The Sway couples its distinctive design with high-quality technical features," observes Martijn Westenbrink. "With the slats closed, the slatted roof protects against sun and precipitation. The roof can be easily opened or closed, rotating and sliding simultaneously, in one fluid motion. Fully retracted, the slats cover slightly more than a quarter of the roof, allowing patio users to sit under the open sky when the roof is fully open and allowing sufficient light to enter in case the Sway is placed in front of a glass facade." 

To increase the comfort of users of the Sway, the sides of the canopy can be closed with zipscreens or Glisse sliding glass walls. Other options include various white or RGB LED lighting options, a sound system and various power outlets, including USB-A if desired. 

The Sway is available in a freestanding version with - depending on the dimensions - four or six uprights or as a semi-freestanding canopy, attached to the facade. In the latter case, frontal mounting is possible, with the slats oriented parallel to the facade, or lateral mounting, with the slats oriented transverse to the facade. "The Sway offers end users maximum design flexibility," Westenbrink believes, "for example, through the possibility of combining different modules to also cover large areas." This makes the Sway suitable for both small-scale residential projects and larger canopies, for example for the hospitality industry. 

Incidentally, for all slat roofs in the Gibus range, the slats can be fitted with insulation. "This initially provides a noise reduction of up to 70% under the canopy, with the added benefit of greatly reduced condensation on the underside," concludes Westenbrink.