Efficiently reducing heat gain through glass surfaces

Awnings from markilux make for a better climate in the Villa Tapas restaurant

Rooms and spaces that feature a lot of glass are known to heat up considerably due to the heat generated by sunlight. This is something the owner of the Villa Tapas, a restaurant in the Dutch town of Assen, a good 30 kilometres south of Groningen, also found out. To ensure guests could enjoy the light, open atmosphere at more pleasant temperatures, the restaurateur had part of the building shaded by awning systems from manufacturer markilux.

Right in the heart of Assen, in the northwest of the Dutch province of Drenthe, the modern glass building of the Villa Tapas restaurant extends over two floors and is reminiscent of an oversized greenhouse. Around 170 square metres of glass give the building, which seats a good 200 people, a transparent, airy character. But the design also brings a number of disadvantages with it: it became too hot in spring, summer and autumn. Awning systems from manufacturer markilux have solved this problem and now ensure that less energy is required to air-condition the interior of the restaurant.

Several above-glass awnings shade the roof
According to Jan Kattenbeck, head of "markilux project", the project business of the awning specialist, the restaurant operator decided to have the west-facing glass roof shaded as a first step in 2018. "On a space of 166 square metres, we installed seven above-glass awnings of our markilux 8800 model, some of which are coupled. We first had to design special track brackets to make this concept work. The new solar protection was already able to reduce the heat gain," explains Mr Kattenbeck. The light-coloured awning cover means the whole system blends in perfectly with the overall look of the location. But this solar protection solution did not reduce the heat gain enough, which is why, in a second step, the entire glass façade to the west was also shaded by the beginning of 2022.

Vertical roller blinds as additional solar protection
A specialist company installed eight vertical roller blinds, each a good five metres high, over a width of 20 metres. "As the blinds feature our 'tracfix' system, which holds the cover firmly in the lateral guide tracks, the wind does not really have the opportunity to make the cover flap to and fro. And that is really important, particularly with systems as large as these," stresses the awning expert. Because apart from the blinds looking good, the material is well protected and the system puts paid to any annoying wind noise. To ensure guests can continue to enjoy the view to the outside, the restaurateur chose a transparent screen fabric. "With this combination of above-glass awnings and transparent vertical roller blinds we were able to maintain the friendly, bright atmosphere within the building and at the same time provide a better internal climate. And that's something I'm really pleased about - both for the guests and the owner," explains Jan Kattenbeck, who is consequently also very satisfied with the way the project has turned out.

For further information, please visit: markilux-project.com

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markilux stands for 'Design Made in Germany', innovative new products and excellent quality in the exterior solar protection sector. Since 1972 folding-arm awnings, conservatory awnings and vertical blinds have been produced at its manufacturing facility in Emsdetten, northern Germany. The high-quality products are distributed by professional partners in Germany and abroad. Selected companies assure the high qualitative standards during the assembly of the awnings.