I NS TA L L AT IONS
FENTRADE DELIVERS NEW SHOPFRONT FOR SPECIALIST RETAILER
www.ggpmag.com June
Trade fabricator, Fentrade Aluminium,
has manufactured and supplied a
commercial shopfront system with highsecurity
doors for the refurbishment of
a specialist mobility aid showroom in
Haverfordwest, Wales.
Working with Fentrade’s trade
customer, Gardinia (West Wales), the
original showroom had been fitted with
standard entrance doors which were
reportedly no longer fit for purpose.
The commercial shopfront and new
doors were specified to meet the
specialist needs of the retailer.
This included a low-level ramped
threshold to facilitate ease of access,
‘hold open’ concealed door closers to
INNOVATION COMBINES WITH COMPLEX TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Cube Berlin is an eye-catching, 11-storey
office building located at Washington
Platz in the Europacity urban district
of Berlin. The …†,‡‡‡m2 structure,
developed by CA Immo, is said to be
an excellent example of how innovative
architectural design can be successfully
combined with the complex technical
(structural and energy performance)
requirements of an ‘intelligent’
commercial building.
Designed by ŽXN Architects of
Copenhagen, Cube Berlin stands out
due to its fully glazed, double skin
ventilated fascade. The unique facade
not only meets the aesthetics required
by the architect, but also meets the
high structural and energy performance
requirements.
The dynamic facade uses a stepped
thermal facade beneath an outer glass
skin, which wraps the building in a
triangular pattern. Access points are
introduced through a set of articulated
openings in the outer skin on all four
sides and on multiple floors.
Torben Østergaard, partner at
ŽXN and architect on the project,
commented: “In order to make the
building work as a sculpture on the
square we were looking for reflective
glass that emphasises the surface while
also visually reflecting the surroundings.
“As the floor plates are rather deep,
we were aiming at a fully glazed facade,
not only to produce the best possible
daylight conditions but also to allow
for the particular feel of floor-to-ceiling
windows that offer great outside views.”
The ventilated double skin facade
also offers protection against (solar)
heat gain, while allowing the occupants
to benefit from natural ventilation.
Joachim Fauth of Drees & Sommer,
facade consultant on the projec, said:
“To prevent overheating of the cavity,
we put solar control coatings and solar
absorbing PVB layers in the outer skin.”
Another challenge was the structural
make-up of the glass. This meant
adding another structural interlayer,
which had to be compatible with the
solar absorbing PVB interlayer. This
solution was developed from scratch
and national approval had to be sought
during the design and construction
phase. By adding this extra structural
interlayer, edge stability was increased,
and the risk of delamination lowered,
while reducing the yellowness index.
minimise user effort when entering and
existing the premises and hook-lock
deadlocks for additional door security.
The shopfront and commercial doors
were manufactured in a non-thermal
shopfront system in white aluminium.
Chris Reeks, director of Fentrade,
said: “Replacing the shopfront in white
aluminium gave the showroom a more
stable and solid entrance whilst not
looking out of place with the existing
white PVC-U windows which were
being retained in the property.
“This project was a great opportunity
to demonstrate our ability to
manufacture commercial shopfronts to
exacting demands.”
/www.ggpmag.com
