The facade is entirely made of glass panels holds 2,400 motorized interior Venetian blinds (50mm slats). This allows occupants to take advantage of maximum light intake while reducing electricity consumption related to artificial lighting.

Electrically operated roller blinds fitted with Somfy LT50 motors were installed on the 2nd floor to provide glare and temperature control for occupants. animeo IB+ was installed with advanced functions allowing users to position blinds locally via RTS radio control units. To operate this system, animeo RTS cards were connected to the animeo motor controllers (MOCO).

Interior Venetian blinds are controlled by the Somfy animeo IB+ solution and connected to the GTB. With the integrated “Suntracking” feature: the slats are positioned according to the angle of sunlight to avoid glare without restricting natural daylight.   In each office, local control units were installed to allow users to manage their blinds independently.

Images © 'Stanhope plc by Hufton+Crow'

70 large-scale horizontal blinds were motorized with Somfy FTS motors and as many as 240 vertical blinds using LT 50 motors.

The blind management system used in this building is animeo IB+ Premium. The Energy Saving feature allows for optimal control of blinds even when building is unoccupied. 

315 interior screen blinds were installed within the offices of this 70 floor building. Individual controls allow users to manage one or several blinds per office.

112 blinds were equipped with Somfy motors and connected to individual or group controls. To protect the blinds from strong winds, wind sensors are conected to the motors and send commands to rise when necessary.

Interior and exterior blinds are driven through a Somfy animeo IB+ Premium solution and respond according to meteorological parameters monitored by the weather station.
Individual control units are available in each room for greater flexibility.
Blinds are also connected to the audio-video system in the projection room which provides the training staff with great comfort of use.

To reduce the greenhouse effect and provide occupants with continuous visual comfort, 555 interior Venetian blinds were equipped with Somfy motors. They are connected to a LonMark BUS network via LON interfaces for centralized controls of blinds, cooling and heating systems

Photographer: Ingrid Friedl.

1. The glass facades allow the building to breath: glass louvers enhance air circulation and provide thermal comfort for occupants. They also prevent the green-house effect in summer: the position of louvers, when open, create ventilation in loggias and cools the building interior. In the winter, louvers remain closed, capturing heat and diffusing it into the building. Tilting glass louvers were all equipped with Mingardi (Somfy Group) motorization systems.
2. Within the more conventional facades, motorized exterior blinds are colored, therefore greatly influencing the look of the facade and the comfort of occupants.
3. In the apartments, roller shutters are motorized and provide complete darkness in every room as well as enhanced Dynamic Insulation™.

The motorized Venetian blinds are managed through the animeo IB+ Premium system that provides many operation modes:

• automatic management of blinds in case the area is unoccupied: here, priority is placed on saving energy and blinds are driven via timer settings and/or sun sensors installed on the facade.
• management of blinds by occupants: individual or group control.

The screen blinds are equipped with wired technology motors connected to individual controls in each room. A centralized control system drives all the blinds in order to ensure a harmonious look (an essential feature for this historical site).

Photo credit: FECIT – Cabinet Malphettes et Biz.

225 colored drop arm awnings brighten this building’s facade and protect the occupants from glare. Motorized awnings, along with 352 exterior Venetian blinds are controlled with the animeo IB+ solution. This solution includes 3 BUCO (Building Controller) and 276 MOCO (Motor Controller). It manages the blinds, grouped in 24 areas, that respond identically to commands sent by outdoor sensors or timer settings.

Offering their guest highest quality service and comfort was essential for this luxury hotel. In the rooms, 1300 curtains were motorized using the Glystro 25, providing the guest with an outdoor view through the wide window areas. In the evening, their privacy is protected while complete darkness is guaranteed at night.

For the owner, it is a profitable long-term investment: curtains remain in good condition and employees responsible for cleaning the rooms save time on a daily basis. Curtains are set back to default positions with one simple touch of the control unit.

All 120 interior blinds in the Qingdao exhibition Hall are equipped with Somfy motors driven using the animeo IB+ system that provides many operation modes:

• automatic management of blinds in case the area is unoccupied: here, priority is placed on saving energy and blinds are driven via timer settings and/or sun sensors installed on the facade.
• management of blinds by occupants: individual or group control.

• All the roller shutters were equipped with RTS Oximo motors that guarantee the occupant's safety while opening and closing the application with the obstacle detection feature. Motors are controlled individually using the RTS Telis.
  
• For further comfort, the « centralizing roller shutters » feature is available in every apartment with the installation of RTS Centralis that allows group controls for several shutters at a time.
  
• Last, the RTS Chronis timer allows the user to program timer settings for the shutters that will provide more comfort and contribute to the Dynamic Insulation™ of the facade.
  

Photo credit: Quadra Architectes SARL

The exterior facades of Il Sole 24 Oro newspaper’s new head office are equipped with 1100 color vertical blinds that greatly contribute to the building style. All the blinds were motorized by Somfy. Inside the building, occupants take advantage of maximum natural light without the inconveniences of direct sunlight. The motorized exterior blinds also play a role in the process of Dynamic Insulation™.

This new complex located in Taipei holds numerous offices and exhibition halls. Somfy motorized all of the vertical and horizontal blinds installed to cover the glass roof.

444 motorized tilting louvers were installed on the double-skin facade. The blinds are managed using Somfy animeo IB+ Premium solution. 4 sun sensors are installed on the roof and continuously measure the level of sunlight.   Timer settings take over the controls when the office is unoccupied.

The animeo IB+ Premium solution made it possible to render the building HEQ® certified as it met the following 4 requirements:

1. Energy management: control energy gain by driving shading devices according to weather conditions
2. Maintenance motorization extends the life of shading devices as they are operated carefully
3. Hygrometric comfort: active control of thermal regulation
4. Visual comfort: managing natural light intake.

Photo credit: Photo RUAULT

This project was built keeping 2 key factors in mind, maximum natural light intake and visual comfort for students. The architect chose to create an all-glass structure, covered by vertical and horizontal blinds equipped with Somfy motors.

The installation of motorized Venetian blinds controlled through the animeo IB+ Premium solution fit the requirement of both occupants and building owner. Individual, area and central controls aim to enhance the level of comfort for occupants and save energy depending on the time of day and outdoor weather conditions.

Photo credit: Wilmotte & Associés SA d’Architecture

Somfy introduced a motorization solution for roller shutters with individual control systems. Comfort for the occupants and gentle operation of roller shutters that guarantees extended life… A key point for promoters and increased real-estate value.

Photo credit: Roxim Promotion, Loïc Digard Architecture firm

The facade is entirely made of glass and allows optimum entrance of natural light into the offices. To ensure continuous visual comfort for occupants by avoiding glare and excessive sunlight, every office has been equipped with motorized blinds. Somfy ILT motors are connected to LonWorks via BUS interfaces, offering centralized controls when the offices are unoccupied. During the day, users can control the blinds in their office through individual controls.

72 exterior blinds and 16 interior blinds for roof windows were equipped with Somfy motors and are driven by 2 independent control systems. Somfy-Matic ensures wind and sun management for exterior blinds while comfort control manages sun and daylight conditions for interior blinds.

This complete system helped reduce glare and energy consumption. Natural light enters the building while occupants can take advantage of an outdoor view.

Louvers were motorized with Mingardi linear window-opener motors and are driven via the animeo IB+ Compact solution.

To improve the occupants’ conditions, Somfy introduced centralized controls per classroom and a central control system within the building. To guarantee the protection of exterior awnings, 6 wind sensors were installed on the facades with stringent monitoring of winds to guarantee the safety of the equipment.

Photo credit: Conseil Régional PACA – Atelier de la rue Kleber

Conference rooms and offices at the Fubon insurance head office are equipped with interior blinds motorized with Somfy LS 40 motors.

The Southern facade overlooking the river is equipped with 80 motorized Venetian blinds, managed using the animeo IB+ Premium solution. During the day, occupants control the blinds in their office and at night, timer settings allow for optimal management of sunlight to reduce energy consumption in the building.

Inside the Shanghai Opera House, long motorized blinds provide privacy to the visitors behind the glass facades and allow for modulating natural light.

The Guggenheim museum is world renowned for its original architecture. Inside, the horizontal and vertical blinds allow for managing natural light in order to bring forward the exposed pieces. Somfy motorized all the blinds, with individual or group controls according to each hall.

Within the offices of the Supreme Court of Singapore, interior blinds were all equipped with Somfy motors with individual or group controls.