Le François, Martinique, France
A contemporary take on a Creole theme

Built on an outstanding site on the windward coast, this villa covering more than 700 m² is broken down into relatively separate, airy spaces on a plot measuring 3675 m². The way in which the rooms, doors and window openings are arranged offer the occupants “slideshow” views of the islands and the Atlantic ocean. Views which change from one room to the next. The finest views are available through the huge glazed areas in the lounge (6.50 m) and the master bedroom (4.50 m), where the understated TOPAZE + pocket windows slide away neatly into the walls, so as not to get in the way of the scenery. The architect, Olivier Compère, says “the design is very contemporary and the grainy anthracite grey finish of the TECHNAL frames combines with the typically Creole way in which the space has been used to reflect the idea of cultures coming together: something I have been working on for a number of years now. The concept is based most of all on a constant dialogue between the traditional architecture of Martinique and contemporary architecture. Here, this dialogue also continues through the use of materials and textures – warm or cool, smooth or rough – and the main protagonists are the aluminium and glass of the windows and doors, the painted wooden cladding on the façades, the slate and wooden shingles on the roofs, the stone slabs and decking.” Ventilation for the house is provided by aluminium SAFETYLINE louver systems, which have been produced in the same finish as the other frame elements, “whose anthracite tones give a restful quality to the light coming in, and yet conform to the vocabulary of traditional Creole architecture.” All the aluminium door and window frames were produced by Ver'alu Sarl, a longstanding partner of Olivier Compère, who works almost exclusively with TECHNAL products.

Project owner: private
Architect: Olivier Compère, DPLG DPEA (earthquake engineering), Fort-de-France
Aluminium company: Ver’alu, Rivière Salée, Martinique

Learn more about: TOPAZE / SAFETYLINE

Pretoria, South Africa
A contemporary façade marked with ancient lattice work

The building in Pretoria which houses Menlyn’s offices has façades whose graphical lines were directly inspired by the triangle, a basic yet universal shape, the earliest examples of which have been found on blocks of engraved ochre in the Blombos cave, South Africa (see picture). The triangle is also one of the 7 pieces of the Chinese Tangram, which uses 5 triangles, a square and a rectangle to create outlines such as those of animals. The Podium building therefore has several thousand triangular pieces of glass or concrete, and their mysterious lines speak of both primitive symbolism and the language of mathematics. The glazing units were created from the GEODE Structural Sealant Glazing façade, whose technological principles are based on ease of construction: each panel is made in the factory before being installed on site. Here the panels consist of two panes of different coloured glass fixed to a diagonal crosspiece. 3500 m² of GEODE SSG façade and TOPAZE doors and windows were made and fitted by L&D Entreprises.

Project owner: Eris Property Group
Architects: Frans De Klerk from Boogertman
Aluminium company: L&D Enterprises
Photography: Harvest Moon Photography

A number of fragments of ochre were found in the Blombos cave. Among them, two blocks contain geometric shapes in a lattice design. Reckoned to be 75,000 years old, they are the oldest known artistic creations.

Learn more about: GEODE SSG

Madrid, Spain
Reading rooms

Madrid’s municipal library sees the pleasure of reading as a top priority, with light as a major comfort factor. Natural light is optimised through the use of light wells, and the façades have been carefully designed using GEODE, proving once more how creative and flexible it is. GEODE was also used for the internal partitioning, particularly in the main room. The design of the interior spaces, signs, fixtures and natural and artificial light sources also plays its part in creating a warm, bright reading area. Users will appreciate these levels of comfort, safeguarding that intimacy which is an essential part of the pleasure of reading.
The library currently covers an area of 4500 m², with space for 400 visitors. In the second phase, the main reading room will be extended by 40%.

To see more photos of the library

Project owner: “Lope de Vega” municipal library
Architects: Ruipérez Cuevas Arquitectos
Photography: Ruipérez Cuevas Arquitectos

Learn more about: GEODE

Madrid, Spain
An envelope of light and aluminium

The architecture of the Fuencarral police station in Madrid combines the demands of a major institutional building, a bastion of order and security, with those of an advanced democracy where transparency and light are important. This solid and stable construction is a glass and aluminium cube, from which further boxes spring out, their frontages made of glass. The remarkable way in which the façade is broken up increases the feeling among users that they can look out without being seen. Inside, the three floors are arranged around a large central atrium running the full height of the building. The internal glass partitions amplify the feeling of transparency brought about by the building’s envelope with its GEODE-designed façade. There is a double skin: the first, on the inside, is made of glass and aluminium; the second, on the outside, consists of anodised aluminium panels with random perforations drilled in them. The space between the two façades consists of a ventilated service area running round the whole perimeter of the construction. This double façade provides users with comfortable natural light, yet protects them from direct solar radiation. Seen from the street, the perforated aluminium panels provide passers-by with a view which changes with ambient light levels.

Project owner: Comisaría del distrito Fuencarral-El Pardo
Architects: Voluar Arquitectura
Photography: Voluar Arquitectura

Learn more about: GEODE

Dakar (Senegal)
A naturally lit Villa overlooking the Ocean

The Pointe Sarène Villa was designed by Guillaume Koffi and Issa Diabaté to maximise natural light and transparency whilst being protected from intense solar radiation. The maximum glass surface area of Technal’s joinery is used to optimum effect in this design...
The Pointe Sarène Villa is located just to the north of the Pointe Sarene Bay, a light sandy beach bordered by soft green filao trees on which dozens of brightly coloured dug-outs sit.
Swing windows and large TOPAZE sliding windows open the West facade onto a terrace with swimming pool. The East facade has only one main opening to offer protection against the heat of the morning sun. SAFETYLINE jalousie windows on this east wall provide natural ventilation.
A V-shaped roof supported by cement columns offers secondary protection over part of the villa. This additional coverage lowers the temperature of the lounge located below and provides overhangs that protect the facades and terraces from solar radiation.

Architects: Guillaume Koffi and Issa Diabaté (Koffi and Diabaté Architects)
Metal builder: Metralu

Learn more about: TOPAZE / SAFETYLINE

France
TECHNAL Aluminium Architecture Awards

The 11th TECHNAL Aluminium Architecture Awards recognised 7 projects, picked out for their technical and architectural style. The prizes were awarded during the Architecture 24 Hours– a national event in which TECHNAL is a partner – held on 19 October at Strasbourg’s Manufacture des Tabacs.
The TECHNAL Aluminium Architecture Awards are emblematic of the creative collaboration which exists between architects and TECHNAL Approved Aluminium Workers in projects which may be daring, restrained, innovative or traditional, but always remarkable for their aesthetic quality and user-friendliness.

The 7 projects to receive prizes were:
• Studying prize: HQE Pierre Bourdieu high school, Fronton / Architects: Séquences Architectes
• Collective Housing prize: Spark, Valence / Architects: Traversier
• Private housing prize: Private house, Lalbenque / Architects: Franck Martinez
• Private housing renovating prize: Private house, Toulouse / Architects: Taillandier Architectes Associés
• Tertiary renovating prize: Amiral Job social cultural and sports centre, Toulouse / Architects: Puig Pujol Architectures
• Enjoying prize: Crèche des bords de l’Adour, Dax / Architects: Bernard Saillol - Alexandre Saillol
• Working prize: Maison du projet, Balma / Architects: Puig Pujol Architectures

The project managers and prize-winning TECHNAL Approved Aluminium Workers will be invited to join an architectural visit to Bilbao (Spain), and their work will be publicised nationally, regionally and locally. Their projects will also be published in a collection aimed at project managers and developers.

TECHNAL motorises LUMEAL!

Aimed at the high-end villa and hotel or specialist residential markets, the motorised LUMEAL sliding window brings remarkable accessibility and ease of use to large sized sliding windows and doors.

With its focus on user needs, TECHNAL now offers a motorised option on large sliding windows and doors (frames up to 4500 mm long x 2800 mm high). The motor-driven leaf can be up to 2650 mm long x 2180 mm high, with a maximum weight of 250 kg. The drive unit is fully integrated into the side frame, ensuring the glazed area is kept as large as possible.
The brand has real added value, building on LUMEAL’s aesthetic appeal and performance. The motor facilitates opening and closing, with a silent sliding speed of approximately 15 cm/s (depending on leaf size), and provides locking and unlocking for the moving leaf.
In accordance with safety regulations, movement halts immediately if the leaf encounters an obstacle, then switches into reverse. It can be operated manually in the case of a power failure.

Thermal performance:
Uw = 1.3 W/m².K ; Sw = 0.44 ; Tlw = 0.63

Market launch: by end of 2012

Learn more about: LUMEAL

All of Technal’s websites have had their homepages redesigned. The new visual identity can be seen on these sites: www.technal-int.com, technal.in, technal.ma, technal.co.uk, technal.fr and so on.
The content about current developments in architecture and Technal’s partner companies around the world has also been enhanced. Web users will be able to find a recent flagship project on the first page, and news boxes have been created to provide more news and greater interaction.

Get acquainted with the TECHNAL website