Soltis Veozip chosen for a Berlin Office Building

The project located at 16 Ritterstraße was designed as a six-storey new commercial development on a greyfield plot in the lively district of Kreuzberg, in Berlin, Germany. Among the building’s most recognisable features is its facade, made from prefabricated concrete elements stacked on top of one another to create loggias and terraces, providing outdoor relaxation spaces for all occupants.

The use of Serge Ferrari’s Soltis Veozip solar protection screen, a material woven from coated high-strength polyester yarn and specially developed for ZIP blind systems, further adds to the building’s distinct look. With its unique sleek weave, it delivers exceptional performance enabling significant heat gain reduction. This property in particular contributed to the project’s Gold DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen) certification.

Solar protection, a key aspect of climatic design

To best address climate-related challenges (especially during summer), careful consideration was given to the design of exterior solar protection solutions. This also helped to maintain a good balance of glazing specifications for transparency, light transmission and colour.

To achieve the desired sleek, taut surface, solar protection was developed in the form of exterior vertical blinds with lateral ZIP tracks, which can be used at heights up to 22 metres. As the building is home to a variety of leased commercial units, the system was also designed with easy maintenance in mind.

Design specifications for the choice of fabric for the ZIP blinds were as follows:

• easy to wind and, if possible, wrinkle-free;
• available in widths up to 2.5 metres and heights up to 3 metres;
• maintain transparency from inside and ensure sufficient amounts of natural light for permanent workstations;
• complement the colour of the concrete facade when viewed from outside in the daytime.

Contrast between concrete, aluminium and woven fabric

The striking contrast of the solid prefabricated concrete elements against the delicate aluminium framing of the floor-to-ceiling windows creates visual depth between two vertical planes. In the midst of this captivating visual composition, the solar protection solution brings another level of sophistication to the design.

The design team chose Serge Ferrari’s Soltis Veozip in Frost White to match the colour of the prefabricated concrete frames. The overall design creates the impression of a massive volume when the blinds are lowered, like a solid concrete form inspired by the works of Rachel Whiteread. By contrast, with the screens up, the building transforms into an urban display, bringing to life the glass facade offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding environment.

Perfectly suited to any system

Whatever the system, Soltis Veozip adapts perfectly to any environment, and absorbs uneven forces and deformations, ensuring even and wrinkle-free winding. The fabric is always optimally tensioned, preventing any rippling along the lateral tracks or folds across the width of the screen.

Technical information:

•    Hemp-base composition for a natural textile look;
•    Exceptional sustainability credentials: phthalate-free, Greenguard certified, compliant with environmental standards;
•    Proven comfort: glare prevention (filters up to 95% of UV rays), visual comfort suitable for office environments;
•    Even in a light colour, the screen delivers a Gtote score of just 4% under ISO 52022-3 standard (Type D glazing — method 2);
•    Applications: ZIP blinds (facades and pergolas), exterior blinds, vertical slat conservatory blinds;
•    Meets the specific needs of projects designed with sustainability and well-being in mind;
•    Available in 15 colours and 4 widths (200, 250, 290, 320 cm)