As part of the refurbishment of the former Office National des Forêts (ONF) headquarters, Tour Racine in Paris was redesigned to include a striking winter garden at the top of the tower. This unique glass cylinder structure required a carefully engineered shading solution to enhance thermal performance and protect the trees and greenery inside.
Guthrie Douglas were brought in by façade engineers Arcora to develop an integrated and efficient shading strategy.
THE CHALLENGE
The primary challenge was to deliver a shading system for the fully glazed, cylindrical roof. The system had to deliver effective solar control for tenants, whilst also allowing precise control to facilitate the correct internal environment for plants within the winter garden.
THE SOLUTION
The TESS™102 was specified by the client for its ability to cover the trapezoidal forms of the glazed roof structure. Intermediate relieving rollers were designed into the structure to ensure tension and stability over the full 6m length of each glazing bay.
CONCLUSION
The early collaboration with Arcora, the client, and design team for the project lead to an excellent outcome which meets both the technical requirements for solar shading, and the aesthetic vision of the architect.
