Facades+ Los Angeles
11. April 2024Miami Health Center
23. April 2024Gold on the outside, cool on the inside – the Fabric Apartments and the PC- ALU 6020 architectural mesh from GKD
The eye-catching, light gold fabric façade of the Fabric Apartments in Brisbane, Australia is not only an aesthetic highlight, but also plays a decisive role in the building’s energy efficiency.
Brisbane, the subtropical capital of Queensland, is known for its high summer temperatures and high humidity. This is where the benefits of GKD’s PC-ALU 6020 architectural fabric come into their own. In view of climate change and rising temperatures, the Fabric Apartments’ architectural fabric is an innovative solution. The façade with its anodized aluminium mesh not only has a visual appeal, but also practical advantages. It offers protection from strong sunlight and contributes to the building’s energy efficiency.
Fabrics reduce solar gain
The eye-catching golden façade of the Fabric Apartments consists of 300 movable elements of the PC-ALU 6020 architectural mesh type, which are installed over an area of 600 square meters. They not only provide privacy, but also have a positive effect on solar gain, as Sebastian Rick, Director Market Segment Architecture and Design at GKD, emphasizes: “With a light transmission of 38 percent with the GKD PC-ALU 6020 architectural fabric, solar gain into the building is significantly reduced.“
Cottee Parker Architects chose the PC-ALU 6020 architectural fabric from GKD for the Fabric Apartments to create a harmonious combination of solar shading, energy efficiency and aesthetic façade design. The fabric is a sustainable alternative and supplement to conventional air conditioning systems, particularly in sunny countries.
GKD, as the global market leader for metal and plastic mesh and spiral mesh, focuses on products that contribute to health and safety. The PC-ALU 6020 architectural mesh is an excellent example of this.
For architects, PC-ALU 6020 architectural mesh offers design flexibility. It is available in standard dimensions of 2500 x 1250 millimetres, but can also be produced in individual sizes, with a maximum mesh width of 3900 millimetres.