Colourful chains as solar filter on Can Manent school [499]

In the research of an economic sunscreen to this school, the architects Franc Fernandez and Frontado/Dalmau have reached an exceptional solution. They have found a very cheap and effective product widely used in the popular construction: chain curtains, in this case aluminium-made. These chains are traditionally used as protection against mosquitoes, but nowadays they are less used. Nevertheless they are still produced, but probably most widely used as chain in toilet tanks.

The chains are arranged as a curved surface, hanging from the coronation of the south facade of the building and attached at its bottom to a variable cantilever. The mesh formed by the simple juxtaposition of such a simple element is reinforced in the upper half, which is in front of the windows, with a second mesh hung to the first. The colours of the chains have been selected within the range of the colours of such an elemental product, reproducing the general hues of the landscape around the place, Cardedeu.

The result is magnificent. The iridescent colours of the curved surface, separated from the windows, gets a very nice interior lighting. Maybe it would be a better point to have the chance to move the curtain, or change its density to conform to various external situations. We will closely follow the use these old mosquito curtains with a new case we will publish shortly.

General view of the building: