Meet the architect who designed our FM41 Exterior Shading System
Check out the great article below on our FM41 Exterior Shade designer!
Five Top Housing Shows in Las Vegas for Design & Construction Week
Check out the great article below!
My trip to the Altex Factory
C’est Magnifique!
My trip this to the Altex factory in early September, brought me to the city of Terrebonne. This Montreal off-island suburb is located on the north shores of the Rivière des Mille-Îles and of the Rivière des Prairies and in the heart of French speaking Quebec.
Altex is a fabricator that provides Engineered Shading Solutions throughout Canada. The history of Altex began with a Montreal dry goods retail store that opened in 1913 by the Alepins family. Through the many years of serving the many customers with their family business, Michael Alepins along with his sons Paul and Gaetan founded their company Altex.
The Architect’s Pavilion – WF Magazine Las Vegas 2015
All throughout Europe, Engineered Shading Solutions are an integral part of the dynamic facade. Architects across the pond agree that window coverings are no longer an afterthought, but need to be included in the building and design of commercial and residential construction. A common installation for these treatments is exterior shading solutions. 
My Trip to Trento
Northwest of Venice is the city of Trento, Italy. It is the capital of Trentino and is located on the Adige River valley. Driving the winding roads from Venice, we entered the historic city and drove to the site of the MUSE Museum of Science complex designed by the word renowned architect Renzo Piano.
Trento, Italy
Just recently completed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, this redevelopment project was built to replace the former Michelin tire factory on an 11-hactare brownfield industrial area adjacent to the Adage River. The site is bound on the north by the historic Palazzo delle Albere, on the south by Monte Baldo Road and on the east by the railroad.
Window Fashion – Vision Magazine: Engineered Shading Solutions
Window Fashion – Vision Magazine has introduced a new section called Engineered Shading Solutions. Each issue includes an article and an interview on the exciting concept of the newly coined term, which is defined as:
Engineered Shading Solutions are sustainable systems for interior and exterior window coverings, which engage the latest technologies to control solar heat gain, glare and light.
This month’s article introduces the concept of Engineered Shading Solutions as it relates to The Dynamic Facade. The interview with architect Roger Bayley is about his participation with the Vancouver Olympic Village and how Exterior Shading Solutions were integrated into the project.
Click on the below image to view the July/August issue(pg 24)
If you would like a free subscription to WF-Vision Magazine,
click here
Zurich Insurance Headquarters, Milan
Below is a recent project we did at the Zurich Insurance Headquarters with all FM 51 Exterior Shades. This system works on a tension mechanism, ideal for slopes and inclined applications.
The Third Skin
Since the advent of man seeking shelter, the concept of the Third Skin was critical to survival. Human skin is the first skin, our clothing is our second skin and the facades of our buildings are the Third Skin. The Third Skin describes the intimate relationship between humans and the living space. Today, the concept of the Third Skin has evolved into the popular designation of the Dynamic Façade. The Dynamic Facade is the filter between the indoor and outdoor environments. This filter should provide protection from the elements, such as heat and cold, an exchange of ventilated fresh air, sufficient natural daylight, and a connection with the outdoors.
The intention of today’s building skin is to create a place for the occupants to live, work or learn in comfort along with a visual connection to the outside world. The Dynamic Façade is designed to filter and manipulate sunlight, regulate heat exchanges, provide ventilation and reduce energy costs.
With the advent of today’s Dynamic Facades, window coverings play a critical role in the success of the façade or third skin. With this need of high performance, window coverings have evolved into what we call Engineered Shading Solutions. The definition of which is: