Housing corporation Nijestee in Groningen (The Netherlands) fitted their new building with skylights for plenty of natural light in the offices.
In the first year already they realised that it also became unbearably hot inside on sunny days. The new building was not equipped with blinds, but shortly after moving in, it was considered how best to add them. Various shading options were considered and compared on budget and efficiency.
In the end, the immense sloping skylights on the south and west facade were fitted with Topfix Max by Renson, a sun protection solution tailored to horizontal and angled glazing. The head boxes and side guides of the 17 angled screens were finished in the same black anodised colour as the curtain wall profiles. In terms of operation, the blinds are linked to an automatic control system with solar and wind sensors. Installer De Haan Westerhoff joined forces with climbing specialists for the challenging installation.
