The Future of Façades

As part of Hydro Building Systems, Wicona is committed to research and development and to introducing new innovations in façade design, looking at advanced technical developments which will benefit future generations, not just today’s façades.

TEmotion – An Award-winning Design Concept for the Future

TEmotion is a pioneering, award-winning design concept for a self-sustaining building envelope, which integrates all aspects of a building’s mechanical and electrical services into the façade.

Batimat Gold Award

A world first, this highly innovative façade system won the coveted Batimat Gold Award in recognition of ‘its intelligent and sustainable design’

The system incorporates a number of functions for creating a comfortable internal environment – ventilation, air conditioning, solar shading, redirection of natural light and energy generation.

The façade can be controlled using a centralised building services management system or by the user, and will even report possible maintenance requirements back to the control centre.

Energy supply

Photovoltaic cells are arranged on pivoted slats, generating energy, which is supplied to the building services.

Ventilation

Decentralised ventilation systems exchange air to and from the interior of the building, over the shortest possible route. Natural ventilation through the opening of windows is also possible.

Lighting

Intelligent systems optimise the use of natural light. LEDs are used to dramatic effect in a range of colours for the exterior of the building, there are anti-glare daylight controls and artificial lighting is integrated into the façade.

TEmotion also allows areas in the heart of the building to be well lit without the need for additional light sources.

Sunshading

Shading from the sun is controlled by blinds for the glazed areas of the façade.

SAVE – Security Access Ventilation and Energy

The SAVE project is a new concept in window design that uses integrated hardware and automated control to maximise security, access, ventilation and energy conservation.

New Paint Finishes – A World First

Hydro Building Systems is working on a new range of powder coated paint finishes which lower the U-value of the aluminium framing system by reducing the absorption of solar energy. This advanced technology has been developed by Hydro in partnership with DuPont and is a world first.

The paint also has a worldwide patent pending for being the first to reduce emissivity, typically from 0.9 to 0.46 W/m²K – another major technological development to improve the sustainability of façades for the future.