Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Comfort and transparency

Architect Benié Adou redesigned an emblematic 70s-style villa comprising concrete rectangles offset to create 3 half levels. “The analysis of the design of this beautiful example of architecture revealed that its creator had probably considered the possibility of raising the height. I pursued this idea of raised height and created an extension to the left of the existing structure. As the living room proved quite small, I built a large “table” (16m x 9m top and 3m high resting on 4 posts and two 14m beams). My aim was to create a living space looking out over the exterior with entirely glass walls. From the bedrooms, you can see through the living room, into the garden and across to the building located on the other side of the road." The fixed glass frames and hinged doors were manufactured with the TOPAZE range and combined with several SAFETYLINE Jalousie windows. The large 12m-long slider that overlooks the garden comprises 6 sliding leaves on 3 tracks created using TOPAZE + to guarantee the required inertia, in particular to withstand relatively strong winds. Benié Adou’s use of transparent walls creates a relaxing and comfortable architecture and a contemporary light feel. The aesthetic quality and reliability of Technal's architectural solutions is proven in this project. Benié Adou recommends the use the brand for all of his projects “because Technal creates designer products that combine attractiveness with robustness and easy manoeuvrability. Technal is the only solution for me! ADS*, the local distributor of the brand, meets my requirements and we have an excellent working relationship. This is also true of the company K.J. Construction which manufactured and installed the joinery. I am in the process of delivering Technal facades to a dozen bank branches.”

* Aluminium Distribution Systèmes, exclusive distributor of Technal in the Ivory Coast, holds a permanent stock of TOPAZE doors, sliding applications and casements, GYPSE guardrails and the GEODE single glazing facade.

Contracting authority: Private owner
Architect: ADOU Benié SARL D'Architecture (A+A)
Photos: Pierre-Aka Adou

Learn more about: TOPAZE+
Learn more about: TOPAZE casement frame
Learn more about: TOPAZE doors
Learn more about: SAFETYLINE

Slough, England
A dramatic symbol of urban regeneration

The city of Slough in Berkshire, England is investing in a new, architectural bus station that will be an emblem of its commitment to urban renovation. Designed by Bblur Architecture and built by McLaren Construction, the structure uses Technal aluminium façade systems. Built and installed by Glassolutions Installation, TECHNAL’s Geode curtain wall spans the full height of the first floor on station’s north and south façades. This provides a high level of transparency and makes a connection between interior and exterior.
Matthew Bedward, partner at Bblur Architecture, says, ‘We specified TECHNAL’s GEODE system to provide us with a glazing solution that would be clean, simple and elegant, as well as efficient and economical.’ He adds: ‘It also needed to accommodate large spans but with slim mullions and no visible transoms. And to realise our vision for the building, we wanted a system that wouldn’t detract from the sculptural qualities of the overall design. We are pleased with the finished effect.’
GEODE provides architects and designers with maximum versatility, offering sizes even larger than those used in this building. Panels can weigh up to 600 kg per crossbeam and they reduce dependency on artificial lighting.
In sum, the curvaceous, sculptural new bus station was designed to become the symbol of connection with the town centre. It has succeeded in this endeavour thanks to its innovative façade, undulating roof canopies and a spectacular, 140 m long covered pedestrian walkway.

Project: New bus station in Slough
Location: (Berkshire, England)
Architects: Bblur Architecture
Builder: McLaren Construction
Industrial façade installation: Glassolutions Installation
TECHNAL solutions used: GEODE curtain wall
Photography: McLaren Construction Group Plc and Hufton + Crow.

Learn more about: GEODE

Sydney, Australia 
SMR Designs: SAFETYLINE, only SAFETYLINE

SMR Designs Pty Ltd based in Sydney, with an office in Brisbane and a representative in Melbourne, specialises in the manufacture and installation of the SAFETYLINE louver system. This company targets the top-of-the-range residential and service sector markets and works on various new building and renovation projects. Twelve SMR Designs Pty Ltd employees out of 55 work specifically on the SAFETYLINE louver systems: 6 in marketing, 6 in the workshop.
During the renovation of these 4 Australian educational establishments, SMR Designs was approached to provide motorised SAFETYLINE windows with glass and aluminium blades to create more natural light and to ventilate the premises whilst ensuring maximum security.

Learn more about: SAFETYLINE

... LIVING

Beirut, Lebanon
Hochar Tower:
A tower combining wood, stone and light

The luxury Hochar Tower residential building rises above and stands in the centre of the Beirut coastal road, which has become a very popular residential area since the loss of the traditional city centre. Located between the American University campus and the Riviera hotel, this seafront apartment block enjoys a stunning view of the Mediterranean and of Mount Sannine. The 17 floors include two 500sqm ground floor duplex apartments, thirteen 600sqm apartments (one per floor) and two 1400sqm penthouse apartments, one on floor 16 and one on floor 17, with hanging gardens and a private swimming pool.
The apartment block provides an ultra-comfortable and very spacious living area, incorporating 3.4m-high ceilings, luxury and natural materials - doors, terraces and balconies made of oak, a natural stone exterior, and 400 TECHNAL windows and sliders to maximise light.
The architect, Ziad Akl, opted for a linear, horizontal and restrained design using wood, glass and natural stone to make this unique building stand out on Beirut’s coastline.

Exclusive distributor of TECHNAL: SIDEM - Beirut
Architect: Ziad Akl, ALBA - Beirut, Urbaniste ENPC - Paris
Aluminium manufacturing-installation: STAL

Learn more about: TECHNAL sliders

Bangalore, India
TECHNAL supports sustainable construction

The Beary’s Global Research Triangle located in Bangalore, is the first building in India to receive LEED Platinum status. This is the highest LEED certification rating. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification known as the LEED Green Building Rating System™ is an international rating system that notably demands:
- a reasonable construction cost,
- limited energy consumption,
- the preservation of natural resources and in particular water,
- consideration of user comfort.

Built by the Bearys Group – one of India’s leading sustainable construction companies – the Beary’s Global Research Triangle blends perfectly into its environment whilst being as environmentally friendly as possible. Natural ventilation plays a key role in the project and water consumption is 20% less than a comparable construction. Most of the materials used in the construction were produced within a 500-mile (800km) radius of the building. The project makes extensive use of natural light (75% of the light used) with the installation of GEODE facades fitted with double glazing and the SUNEAL brise-soleil to limit the effects of solar radiation. These facades were designed by the TECHNAL International technical team in close liaison with the architect firm N.M. Salim and Associates (Kerala) and the contracting authority, to optimise the building’s thermal performance.

Learn more about: GEODE / SUNEAL

... EVOLUTION

SOLEAL
The new generation of sliders

TECHNAL has created a new generation of sliding systems combining large dimensions, thermal performance and low air permeability: the SOLEAL slider is aimed at designers of low energy-consumption single-family housing or blocks of flats.

It is universal…
SOLEAL can be used to design sliding windows:
- on 2, 3 and 4 tracks,
- in partitions up to 3 tracks,
- with or without ultra-flat threshold for mobility impaired people,
- joinery assemblies.

It is large…
SOLEAL can be used to manufacture sliders up to 4600 mm x 2600mm with large inertia mullions in a 2-leaf version.

It is ultra-modern…
- TECHNAL has designed a joinery with delicate lines to maximise the glass surface area due to minimalist aluminium sight lines: 103mm at the edge, 33mm on the central mullions, and 136mm on the 4-leaf central drilled section.
- The interior hinges can be embellished with a Décor profile (TECHNAL patent) with a polished anodized finish.
- SOLEAL is fitted with concealed drainage which drains off water invisibly.

SOLEAL will be available on the market from April 2013 in most finishes, including in TECHNAL's "Exclusive” finishes.

The line offers a wide variety of locking options, from 1 to 4 locking points with or without key lock.

TECHNAL, “The world looks better”

“The world looks better”: TECHNAL’s new slogan will appear on all of the company’s global communication to reaffirm the brand’s inherent universal values of design, light, comfort and respect for the environment.

TECHNAL applies these values to all of its processes, from the design of creative and innovative architectural solutions for contemporary architecture players, to the production of its aluminium systems.

Set up in France fifty years ago, TECHNAL moved into the main European markets, then into regions of high growth potential, including Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, India, etc. This expansion is supported by an innovation and diversification strategy aimed at offering products that best meet the demands of each individual market. The main aim of the "The world looks better" slogan is to harmonise the brand’s communication on all of these continents, focusing on the simple and memorable concept that TECHNAL architectural solutions help to embellish the urban landscape.

This slogan also connotes that “the world will look better” if we help to look after it. This is what TECHNAL strives to do through its support of aluminium recycling programmes and through the development of products that comply with energy production or low energy consumption building requirements.