Xalapa court, Mexico
A balanced architecture

Situated on one of the highest hills in the Animas region, the Federal Court of Fiscal and Administrative Justice in Xalapa, capital of the state of Veracruz, comprises three superimposed sections. The first, which is half underground, serves as the court platform. The second, on the ground floor, opens onto two large patios which offer natural light and ventilation and allow the building's functional connections to be seen from outside. Finally, a third parallelepiped sits perpendicular to the base of the ground floor and cantilevered so that the two ends hang over the empty space. The facades in this area located above the empty space are not glass, unlike the rest of the building which is covered with a completely transparent curtain wall system. "From the outside, the structure therefore appears to follow the same form as the famous scales of justice with its two suspended plates. Hearings therefore take place in these areas of the building", explains architect Mauricio Garcia Cué.
The GEODE SSG curtain wall system's sun protection is provided by a wide (300mm) SUNEAL brise-soleil system fixed onto the curtain-wall columns, emphasising the vertical positioning of the facades. "TECHNAL provided us with technical support from the project design phase right through to the project's operational implementation. TECHNAL's support in integrating facade plans and technical documentation helped us draw up accurate quotes and figures throughout the project", acknowledges Mauricio Garcia Cué. According to Pierre Gaussen, TECHNAL Manager for Mexico and the Caribbean, "this project – along with the two luxury tower blocks in Mexico City – illustrates the rising success of TECHNAL's products, which stand out from other products in the region thanks to their performance and design. Xalapa court highlights the TECHNAL products manufactured and used in this project: GEODE SSG curtain wall systems, the SUNEAL brise-soleil system as well as the sliding systems and doors put in place with the TOPAZE range."

Architect: Mauricio García Cué
Photos: Luis Gordoa

Find out more about SUNEAL brise-soleil
Find out more about TOPAZE sliding systems
Find out more about TOPAZE doors
Find out more about GEODE facade

Braga, Portugal
A daring renovation project to complement the existing architecture...

The post office headquarters in the old town of Braga (Portugal) have been converted into a shopping centre of more than 32,000m², named "Liberdade Street Fashion". The complex recently won the award for best project in the "Offices & Shops " category at the Property Awards 2012.
This work aims to boost commercial activity on one of the city's main avenues and, in turn, in Braga's old town. Designed by architect Golçalo Byrne, it strikes a perfect balance between the Baroque-style building and the minimalist design of the GEODE facade and the TECHNAL windows.
The building, which houses a host of clothing stores, is a reflection of today's fashion; ultra-cosmopolitan and reinventing the dialogue between old and new. This harmony between past and present can be seen on the building's facade, where the windows offer modernity, sturdiness and remarkable thermal performance without compromising the original architectural design.
Inside the building, the natural light provided by the windows and facades gives its shapes and volumes fluidity, thus creating an inviting, convivial atmosphere encouraging visitors to stay longer and discover the latest fashion trends.
Note: the many archaeological discoveries made during the renovation works were preserved and donated to the city. These findings allowed the building to be reclassified as a historical heritage site.

Project owner: Liberdade Street Fashion
Architect: Gonçalo Byrne
Aluminium company: Martifer
Photos: Gonçalo Byrne

Find out more about TECHNAL windows
Find out more about GEODE facade

Private villa, Portugal
Architecture in motion

Located in the residential area of Oliveira de Azemeis in Portugal, this villa, designed by architect Bruno Marques, is characterised by its dynamic volumes which project over the empty space in a twisting movement.
Its 600m² are skilfully divided into three volumes which open up onto the outside environment. The ground floor – which contains the kitchen, bedroom with bathroom, toilet, living room and dining room – is designed as a solid base over which the bedrooms of the first floor are cantilevered. Located 15km from the ocean as the crow flies, these bedrooms, which feature TOPAZE sliding systems, offer a lookout from which to gaze at the horizon.
Thanks to the large, glass-fronted spaces and the design of TECHNAL's products, natural light floods into the villa's different rooms, dispelling the architectural barriers between inside and out. This playful, innovative and contemporary architecture makes the most of the aesthetic and technical quality of TECHNAL's products, which here play a decisive role in user comfort.

Architect: Bruno Marques
Aluminium company: L&L – Ind. Metalurgica, Lda
Photos: AFFP Filipe Pombo

Sibu, Malaysia
University College of Technology
The future is being taught in here and now

University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) in Sibu, at the heart of the island of Borneo, will commence its first academic year in September 2013. Science and technology will be taught using an educational approach actively geared towards sustainable development, much as the state of Sarawak, which advocates research and development into human and technical resources in the field of renewable energy.
The campus features teaching facilities, R&D facilities and a technology park for innovative companies collaborating on industrial and educational projects. The programme also boasts sports and leisure facilities, university accommodation, hotels and restaurants.

The university entrance is particularly inviting with a long, central driveway located just past a circular water feature, a driveway covered with soaring, monumental roofing. A 12m x 10m light shaft features motorised photovoltaic SUNEAL sun-breaker blades.

The project seeks to obtain the Green Building Index Platinium Rating certification, a label that is likely to be granted for:
- recovery of rainwater for reuse as drinking water
- use of low-VOC materials free from Formaldehyde
- SUNEAL photovoltaic brise-soleil that will generate 70kW of electricity per day
- and finally, a high-thermal-performance building envelope, in particular for facades constructed using the GEODE range.

Four of TECHNAL's flagship products have been manufactured and implemented for this project: the GEODE horizontal-line curtain wall system for facades, the TOPAZE casement window range, TITANE for high-traffic entrance doors, and, finally, SUNEAL for photovoltaic brise-soleil. This active sun protection – situated on the roof of the entrance hall - consists of 104 motorised SUNEAL photovoltaic brise-soleil. The blades, which feature monocrystalline cells, are fitted east-west and are managed by an automatic 3-position control system that follows the sun's path. The electric cylinders' Somfy motorisation will be linked to a weather station in order to optimise sun radiation. The products have been engineered and produced by Brise-Soleil Concept. TECHNAL is therefore the first process development engineering company in the region to offer a ready-to-install solution, a solution which will be put in place by its client, Sincere Aluminium.

Architect: Akimedia – Mr Hii Puong Ching
Aluminium Partner: Sincere Aluminium

Find out more about SUNEAL brise-soleil
Find out more about the GEODE facade
Find out more about TOPAZE windows

TECHNAL creates a digital platform with its finest reference projects

A key player in the field of contemporary architecture, TECHNAL provides project designers across the world with creative and effective architectural solutions. Internationally renowned architects, such as Jean Nouvel, Carlos Ferrater, Mosher Safdie and Lacaton & Vassal have often called upon TECHNAL for their projects. To pay tribute to these designers whilst highlighting our own expertise and products, TECHNAL has developed a web-based application for use on computers, tablets and smartphones: a digital platform of the TECHNAL brand's international references in contemporary architecture. Malaysia, Argentina, Spain, China, France, UK, Mexico, Senegal... the first stops on this tour of the exciting world of architectural design.
Search the platform from a choice of seven categories: Private residential, Renovation, Residential, Tourism Leisure and Transport, Education and Culture, Health and Well-Being, Offices and Shops.
Each project, shown with a selection of photos and technical drawings, is geolocated using Google maps.

Click here to get access to the digital platform

TECHNAL at Construmat Barcelona

Demonstrating its loyalty to its Spanish clients, TECHNAL attended the Construmat construction trade show in Barcelona from 21 to 24 May.

The more than 1000 visitors were greatly impressed by:
- the motorised version of the LUMEAL sliding system,
- the SOLEAL range, from its casement windows to its sliding system, an ideal solution for low-energy buildings thanks to its strong thermal performance,
- SOLEAL Move, a motorised window prototype suitable for disabled people.

And Project Lebanon

SIDEM, the sole TECHNAL distributor in Lebanon, showcased TECHNAL's products at the Project Lebanon trade exhibition from 4 to 7 June 2013 in Beirut. At this more than 130m² stand, visitors had the chance to discover:
• The GEODE SSG and SG curtain wall system
• The LUMEAL sliding system
• The range of SOLEAL casement windows with thermal barrier
• The SUNEAL brise-soleil system
And many more aluminium solutions for the service and residential sectors.

TECHNAL is boosting its range of colours

TECHNAL, a pioneer in a colour approach that complements aluminium and contemporary architectural design, introduces a new collection of 8 "Exclusive" aluminium-enhancing tones: "Downtown Collection", adding to the "Classic Collection" which already exists in the "Exclusives" range.

Created in close collaboration with architects, "Downtown Collection" provides the shades with a metal-enhancing finish. The natural light variations on these finishes offer a purity and elegance characteristic of exceptional architecture.
"Downtown Collection" possesses the class 2 Qualicoat label and comes with a 15-year guarantee.

The "Selection", "Standard" and "Wood Decor" colour palettes of the "Basics" range are still current. Four new colours have been added: a new metallic-finish matte silver at the same price as white, along with 3 sandy tones.
These colour ranges, named Qualicoat, Qualanod, Qualimarine and Qualidéco, offer guaranteed long-lasting stability.

Download TECHNAL's new "Exclusives" and "Basics" brochures.