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The unique façade of the Be Open building, the showpiece of a new complex in Paris’ Rive Gauche development area, features an undulating form that seems to change in color and shape as the sun and sky evolve throughout the day.
Designed by the architectural firm Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés, Be Open’s edifice is made of white enameled aluminum tubing that creates a wave-like patterning resulting in a depth and drop shadow effect. Because aluminum picks up variations in light, the building’s appearance is sometimes dull, sometimes sparkling and sometimes satiny.
The interior, too, is designed for interplay with light as large windows let daylight flood in. At the same time, the architects knew they needed to control visual and thermal comfort for the building’s occupants, but they wanted to use shading material that integrated with the aesthetic of the building’s exterior.
All facades exposed to sunlight were fitted with 866 Solozip® vertical roller blinds from Griesser Switzerland, connected to the building’s GTB heat management system. The architects turned to Mermet SAS, a French designer and manufacturer of high-performance solar shading fabrics, for the blind material. Mermet chose Satiné 5500 fabric, which offers transparency and provides optimal glare control and protection against heat.
Satiné 5500 prevents heat from penetrating a building by reflecting back as much as 96 percent of solar energy. It offers a high-quality transparency for perfect exterior vision. At the same time, its diagonal satiné weave provides glare control—96 percent of light rays are filtered out. For more information, visit www.sunscreen-mermet.fr.