Platform on sun and daylight control, shutters, patio covers and closures
Retrofitting automatic blinds with manageable efforts
Ideally, sun and heat protection are already taken into account when planning the building and the relevant material is ordered. But fully automated sun protection can also be retrofitted with Warema products without much effort. Typically, a few openings for the power supply are sufficient; the integrated components do the rest by remote control.
Ute Laatz and her husband set great store by architecture. The 1927 brick building with its clearly identifiable, distinct features of New Objectivity architecture fascinated them both at first glance. The house, which was probably last rudimentarily renovated in the 1970s, contained three apartments. The resulting spatial fragmentation required a great deal of imagination to create something "grand" out of it. It was precisely this vision that engaged and fascinated the clients.
Except for the basic structure, almost nothing could be preserved. The room layout had to be completely changed, new walls had to be built, and the floors had to be completely redone. There was no insulation behind the ceiling tiles in the attic, and most of the two-wire electrical cables had been laid without an earth conductor. Hot water was generated by decentralized boilers for each apartment. Only the white PVC windows were still quite good, but were replaced during the renovation with new wooden windows with center-post. Looking back, the owners agree: "A good dose of naivety, coupled with a fascination with the building and a lot of luck with the craftsmen, who coordinated perfectly and worked very well together - otherwise this project could not be realized." The purchase contract was signed in June 2019 and the move took place just four months later, in December 2019.
The house is optimally oriented to the southwest, with no north facade, and is flooded with sunlight all day. When the old windows were replaced, the old, no longer attractive shutters were also removed. However, the first summer already showed that too little attention had been paid to shading in the overall decision-making process for necessary building measures. An oversight that was now causing an obvious problem.
Just extensively renovated and already moved - in such a case, it is understandable that the topic of renovation is out of the question for the time being. Nevertheless, a consultation was held with the specialist trade on the subject of sun protection. Markus Boshammer, sun protection specialist and Managing Director of Lamell-o-Group GmbH, was quickly able to clarify that a retrofitted, fully automated sun protection system does not necessarily require a larger construction site. "We only need the power supply, everything else is done wirelessly - at least with Warema's sun protection systems," says the specialist dealer. This removed the main obstacle, as it was unthinkable for the clients to break open the just-completed interior walls. Further planning revealed that the conversion could be limited to a few power cables, which could be pulled directly from nearby electrical outlets to the drop-out screens.
Eight Warema pre-wall frame screens with drop-out arms and semi-circular hoods were installed, mounted directly to the façade with a narrow side recess projection. In a discreet, matte signal black (RAL 9004) and with a very low installation depth, the frames fit unobtrusively into the facade without disturbing the finely balanced architecture. The architect's favorite color, black, was also chosen for the cloths. Thus, everything fits together well and emphasizes the elegant appearance of the historic brick façade. In a first step, the power connections were made and in a later stage the screens were installed.
The complete installation and commissioning of the textile sun protection system was completed within one day, despite the adverse weather conditions. A leaden gray sky and repeated brief rain showers were not a problem, however, because: Warema supplies the frame screens completely ready for installation as standard. All that was required were a few plugs for fastening. Since all drives and remote control components had already been installed at the factory, the systems could be learned and handed over ready for operation by the end of the afternoon.
With a weather station attached to the facade, a handheld transmitter and a smartphone app via WMS WebControl pro, individual, wireless and smart control of the entire shading system is possible, via Warema's WMS wireless system. This guarantees optimum use of the blinds at limited investment costs. If desired, the central weather station can take over complete control. Sunlight intensity and wind strength are then recorded. All awnings are automatically retracted when it rains and, if necessary, automatically extended when the sun shines. The textile awnings thus effectively protect the house from overheating and ensure a comfortable climate even on hot summer days.
This minor work on intelligent shading is the result of a product strategy that Warema has been following for years. "By consistently focusing all of our components on wireless communication, we have laid the foundation for installing the highest level of technical comfort in a "minimally invasive" way and constantly adapting or updating this technically," says Bernd Riedmann, head of the "Smart Building Solutions" business unit at Warema. With the intelligently controlled blinds, the Laatz family's living space is now well equipped for the future - with an optimal indoor climate, a high level of comfort and at the same time energy savings.
Property: Three-family house with brick facade
(built in 1927, New Objectivity architecture)
Pitch: Neuss, Germany
Client: Living-editorin and autorin Ute Laatz
Conversion: 2019
Total living area: approx. 230 m²
Implementation products: Lamell-o-Group GmbH, 47877 Willich, www.lamellogroup.de
Products: Front-window screens with drop arm and semi-circular hood
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