MHZ lets in the light

There are not many decisions that can be as formative for a building as those concerning sun shading. Why? Because these elements are located precisely at the interface between inside and outside: They become surfaces that shape the façade in a similarly striking way as the rooms inside.

One could tell the story of architecture by looking at ever-larger glass surfaces – Mies van der Rohe was undoubtedly a pioneer with his Barcelona Pavilion, the Villa Tugendhat or his Farnsworth House. But large glass surfaces also create challenges: for aspects such as glare protection and heat generation, solutions must be found that fit the aesthetics of a building.

The manufacturer MHZ has dedicated itself to precisely such solutions and has long been appreciated by international architects and interior designers for its formally restrained and technically sophisticated sun shading products. This is because they correspond convincingly with a variety of different architectural languages.

As is often the case, experience is a value that should not be underestimated: it all began over 90 years ago with the manufacture of curtain rails and curtain rods. Today, MHZ is an internationally active company that remains family-run, with a product range that includes interior sun protection as well as numerous options for exterior shading.

MHZ’s metal blinds offer a number of advantages that are quickly explained. They offer a special form of sun protection: one that allows transparency even when closed. Their materials – aluminium or stainless steel – visually match modern buildings and enhance them aesthetically. Their roll-formed profiles result in a low weight. And due to their wind load capacity, they are also suitable for tall buildings.

So let's take a closer look at the three variants of metal blinds that MHZ manufactures. First of all, there is the s_enn model: the curtain profile was developed together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg. It is made of stainless steel and ensures a strong solar energy reduction in buildings.

Due to its high transparency, s_enn maintains visual contact with the outside world. The narrow installation dimensions result in a small winding diameter and here, too, roll-formed profiles ensure a comparably low weight. All in all, s_enn can be regarded as a classic of the MHZ range: timelessly simple, formally reduced and filigree – yet durable, wind-resistant and robust.

MHZ’s website provides a thorough idea of how the series works in reality. Here you can see s_enn installed in the Upper West Berlin building – and immediately understand how it aesthetically complements the architectural design. With its 33 storeys, the building, realised in 2016, is one of the tallest in the German capital, installing s_enn in its Skybar One Lounge at a height of almost 110 m, providing breathtaking views over Berlin – even when the sunshade is down.

The second model, s_onro, is an exterior aluminium blind. It functions according to the roller shutter principle and shields the interior from direct sunlight from an inclination angle of 20 degrees, but still provides the interior with daylight. How much privacy protection s_onro creates is freely selectable, just as is the colour of the curtain – which is available in five standard shades, ranging from white to silver to anthracite.

The manufacturer's third model is called s_enro – it is the latest in the programme and is characterised by a particularly filigree design. This is enabled by small angular diameters and roll-formed profiles that have a homogeneous, precisely perforated surface. The aluminium micro louvres of s_enro can be colour-coordinated with the respective building, allow plenty of daylight into the rooms and at the same time protect against excessive heat build-up.

The Slideshow, Virtual Room and Configuration sections on MHZ’s website are particularly exciting: they offer a precise impression of how the various systems look functionally and aesthetically. In any case, their advantages become as clear as day during a virtual visit.

Upper West Berlin | Architecture: Langhof Architektur und Stadtentwicklung, KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten; Client: Strabag Real Estate

One Fourty West | Architecture: cyrus moser architects; Client: Gemeinschaftsunternehmen der Commerz Real AG und der Groß & Partner, Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH

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