Mermet's Screen Nature, essential for LEED Gold certification in Barcelona

This building, which houses the entrance to the Poblenou district, the headquarters of the international law firm Cuatrecasas, had to obtain Gold certification from the LEED program (Leadeship in Energy and Environmental Design). This certificate is the international benchmark comparable to the French HQE for the construction of high performance sustainable buildings.

With the simultaneous objective of preserving privacy, guaranteeing good sun protection and achieving a light quality suitable for the administrative use of the building, the Screen Nature fabric by Mermet, leader in the design of technical fabrics for solar protection, has played an essential role both technically and environmentally.

An exemplary environmental project

Historically industrial district, Poblenou was completely transformed for the 1992 Olympic Games and made it possible to connect the city with its beaches. Today it carries the image of the renewal of the entire city.

Located on the Diagonal at the entrance to this XNUMXst century Barcelona with parks, shopping centers, artists' studios and nightlife, the Cuatrecasas building should be exemplary.

With the objective of achieving up to 30% energy savings compared to traditional high-rise buildings, GCA Architects has designed a 28.000 m complex² which can accommodate more than 1.000 people and is distinguished by:

• its pure and minimalist facades all in glass meeting the architectural criteria of the district,
• its two towers of 10 and 17 floors, one of which overhangs to accommodate a green terrace on the 7th floor, extend up to 72 meters in height,
• its three-story glass atrium connects them both and allows the passage of natural light.

“… We had to obtain LEED Gold certification: the materials chosen had to have zero or little environmental impact. Origin, composition… the Screen Nature fabric from Mermet met all the specific requirements both at the environmental and technical level with regard to the opening factor, the supply of natural light inside… ”

The concept is developed around a series of several layers of protection and regulation of light, by:

• the external covering, homogeneous double skin, with a modular construction system, consisting of slats and uprights in extruded aluminum filtering sunlight
• a highly reflective glass curtain wall which, to preserve the privacy of the first 7 floors, has an opaque lower third and visibility through the upper two thirds, before fading to offer a clearer view of the city and the sea ,
• interior fabrics: 8 m² of Screen Nature fabric, Bronze 000 color, or 1134 blinds were installed.

The perception of light and optical and thermal comfort differing from one person to another, our main problem was to find a technical solution that satisfied 100% of the occupants.

Inserting an interior blind that everyone can regulate "to their taste" provided better flexibility. From an aesthetic point of view, the wide range of colors and fabrics facilitated the integration of the canvas in the atmosphere we wanted to give ... "Juan Velasco Garcia de Sierra - GCA Architects

Screen Nature - The high environmental quality fabric with 0% fossil energy

PVC-free, halogen-free, polyester-free ... the mineral composition of the Screen Nature fabric has minimal impact on the environment. Incombustible, without smoke emission, it is classified M0 (NFP 92 503), Euroclass A2-s1-d0, F0, it meets all the requirements both in terms of safety and health. This fabric with excellent transparency has many advantages:

• very good glare control: up to 95% (Tv = 5%) of filtered light rays, comfort class 3 (good effect) according to standard EN 14501
• optimal thermal comfort with up to 82% of the solar energy rejected (gtot = 0,18 / glazing g = 0,32 and U = 1,1)
• dimensional stability, durability (10 cycles, class 000 NF EN 3), mechanical resistance which gives it perfect flatness even in large dimensions

This elegant and very fine fabric, ideal for blinds fitting into small spaces, is available in 8 colors and 2 widths of 180 and 240 cm.

With its Screen Nature fabric, a veritable “ecological” fabric, the French company once again demonstrates its culture of excellence: by enabling the building to meet increasingly demanding standards, Mermet allows buildings to reduce their impact carbon.