Buildings are an eloquent indicator of technological progress. Every year we observe a series of innovations in the market of finishing materials, roofing, floor coverings and, of course, glazing. White plastic windows with a standard profile have long ceased to be a constant, with which you cannot do anything, and it would be nice to cover them with curtains. Such window solutions are rapidly becoming a thing of the past, giving way to new coatings, textures, colors and materials as such.
Dmitry Firsov, head of the VEKA engineering department
Windows become full-fledged "participants" in architectural projects - the color and material of profiles are taken into account when designing facades and choosing interior styles. Modern glazing is primarily a balance of technical characteristics and aesthetic components. Depending on the tasks set in the project (windows, facades, sliding systems), we can choose the profile material most suitable for its properties, combine different types of glazing, and at the same time visually combine them. From a utilitarian interior detail, windows turn into a means of accentuation in design and architecture. Not the last role in this change is played by color - it was precisely from the possibility of producing window profiles in various colors that the tendency to decorative interpretation of windows was born.
The trend for naturalness
Against the background of the growing interest in eco-design and the growing demand for private houses, the trend for windows with lamination, which repeats the color and texture of wood, stands out. At one time, glazing as such began with wooden frames, and later such solutions look authentic and appropriate. In addition, they organically fit into the context of country housing and such "natural" styles as Scandinavian or chalet.
In recent years, the demand for country housing has grown noticeably - people escape from the noise of the city to this silence and tranquility. In this context, one would also like to see one's own housing more environmentally friendly, organically integrated into the general landscape. That is why we are still interested in wood textures
"During the development of PVC window systems, the question of meeting consumer demand arose. Profiles imitating a tree in appearance appeared. The production of a laminated profile is a rather complex technological process that unites manufacturers of the profile, glue, and the film itself. The profile manufacturer produces several types of base, based on the customer's requirements for color: white, caramel, brown and gray. White is suitable for different types, it is made both inside and outside. The combination with decorative elements gives the "white plastic" a beautiful appearance and relief, which can already be incorporated into beautiful architectural projects," Dmitry Firsov shares the features of designing window structures.
As an alternative, you can use natural textures of stone and wood to finish the decorative elements, but leave the window profiles dark. Similar shades do not conflict with the general facade, but at the same time, they are more universal in interior design
PVC profiles with "wood" lamination are a natural and balanced solution for those who consider it important to combine the aesthetics of the project with a reasonable budget, functionality and high quality windows. The peculiarity of VEKA laminated windows is that films from leading German manufacturers, such as Renolit and Hornschuch, are used for the lamination process. Such windows not only complement the project stylistically, they also promise to last longer, since the film itself acts as a kind of protection of the surface of the profile from the effects of atmospheric precipitation.
Tactile revolution
Today's customer is attentive to every detail, comfort in all nuances of operation is extremely important to him. Windows are an element of housing with which we constantly interact: we open and close the sashes, change the ventilation modes, and just lean back, in the end. An ideal window has a tactilely pleasant, non-marking, wear-resistant surface. It can be made in the most relevant shades: dark graphite or ash gray. Such a window will fit into absolutely any style thanks to its laconic forms and universal color scheme. And such a window exists.
The texture of the window profile is not visible from a distance to the naked eye, but in daily use, this detail is certainly important. VEKA offers a wide range of solutions - from a relief surface "like a tree" to a velvety soft touch coating
"The latest trends in architecture and market development pushed us to create our own development - SPECTRAL films," says Dmitry. This coating was presented to the European consumer for the first time in 2018, and less than an hour later, the Ukrainian market already got acquainted with it. It seemed that it was possible to create one that would bypass existing coatings in all its characteristics and become a new word in the design of window profiles? In the laboratories of the VEKA research center, they found the answer.
SPECTRAL films differ from the more popular and "established" films in the company's arsenal at least in the application technology. Instead of painting or laminating with an ordinary film, a polymer composition with a special varnish is used. It has increased light-reflecting properties - this is especially relevant for windows facing south and exposed to high temperatures. Also, SPECTRAL is distinguished by extraordinary mechanical strength. It is very difficult to deform in any way; it is resistant not only to temperature changes, but also to the harshest precipitation.
The tactile properties of the new coating deserve a separate paragraph. Windows made using this technology are distinguished by a velvety soft touch coating
The tactile properties of the new coating deserve a separate paragraph. Windows made using this technology are distinguished by a velvety soft touch coating. It has a pleasant texture and looks equally good under both artificial and daylight lighting. The SPECTRAL coating does not leave fingerprints or other traces of touch on itself, which only makes it more pleasant to use. For the first time on the market, this innovation was presented in only one shade, anthracite. However, in 2020, the company presented four more color solutions of this line: graphite, umber, light gray and white — for lovers of good old classics. All five shades presented today are simple, universal, and therefore will fit into almost any style - both facade and interior. Still, in addition to the above-mentioned trend for wood textures, there is also a noticeable increase in interest in windows in dark shades.
Connecting link
Attention to dark profiles is due to the demand for aluminum glazing. This is a durable and high-tech material that can be used in a wide range of glazing categories. Thin profiles, increased load-bearing properties, durability of structures — of course, this is a more expensive price segment. But during the development of the project, it sometimes happens that in one zone a similar solution is necessary (for example, for the installation of a panoramic facade or a sliding system with a large area of double-glazed windows), and in another, PVC profiles perfectly cope with the tasks. Increased costs, as well as savings, are relevant situationally, since any building is heterogeneous in its functions and requirements for materials.
Dmitry describes this situation as follows: "Since the market is developing, and buildings are becoming more complex and technological, and from the point of view of design, combined types of glazing (aluminum and PVC) are used. In such situations, some inhomogeneity of the facade arises, and with it, the need to bring the facade solution to a common denominator. Aluminum overlays on PVC profiles appear in everyday life. As a result, we not only optimize costs during the construction of the building, but also give it a unified appearance."
Different materials are sometimes used in the project for different glazing systems. Aluminum overlays on PVC profiles allow you to combine such windows not only with metal "neighbors on glazing", but also with exterior elements, for example, site fencing
Aluminum overlays are a simple and stylish solution that VEKA offers in cases where windows from different materials are combined in one project. In addition to stylistic integrity with aluminum structures, such linings also increase the wear resistance of the profiles to which they are attached. In fact, it is a mechanical barrier that protects the window itself from aggressive external influences.
Another case when the use of overlays is appropriate and expedient is the glazing of projects for which the production of windows in a variety of different colors is assumed. Bauhaus, inspired by the canvases of Piet Mondrian, started talking about color accents in the facade a hundred years ago, but this technique has survived to this day, and for its implementation, colored window frames are often used. But, as Dmitry Firsov noted earlier, lamination of profiles with colored films is a technologically complex and painstaking process. At the same time, aluminum overlays are not difficult to manufacture and are installed in a matter of minutes — they are literally irreplaceable in such projects.
After so many years? Always!
"The appearance of such a material as PVC in the 60s gave a start to its use in building structures. Several companies were founded, which were actively involved in the work. VEKA initially specialized in the production of PVC roller shutters, which it continues to do today. The demand for such additions to the windows themselves is not in a hurry to fade away - on the contrary, it is very stable. For example, a standard window in Germany is a window with a shutter that protects from the sun and provides ventilation. At the same time, the facade of the building is not weighed down by boxes or additional elements in any way," says Dmitry Firsov.
Roller shutters (also called shutters) are a universal and reliable solution for protecting windows. They are used with equal success both for commercial objects and for private housing. In addition to additional protection against break-ins, they also cover windows from rain, snow and excess dust in windy weather. The bonus of precisely such protective structures is that the process of lowering them can be automated with the help of a built-in drive. This feature is particularly well suited to the growing trend of "smart homes", in which many household processes can be started without even getting up from the chair.
The architecture of private houses today demonstrates all the variety of possible solutions in glazing. Their production and application - both individually and in tandem with each other - is primarily aimed at maximum comfort for the owners and giving the project a unique character
If you look at commercial and private residential objects of recent years, along with the desire for simplicity and minimalism, you can note the tendency to install panoramic glazing. And where there are large areas of double-glazed windows, there are direct rays of the sun that shine persistently into the eyes for at least a couple of hours a day, reflect off the laptop screen, and heat the room as a whole. In some interior styles, massive dense curtains are invariably appropriate, in some interior textile blinds or blinds are quite acceptable. However, in the context of laconic interiors, which we try to "unload" as much as possible, the installation of external sun protection is becoming more and more relevant - and roller shutters are also suitable for this.
The roller shutter itself can be either tightly closed or partially translucent. As a rule, the hinged block, in which the roller blind is hidden, is located above the window, but if you made the decision to install it at the construction stage and the planned thickness of the walls allows, the block can be hidden "in the slope", thereby visually facilitating the facade.
Open "niche" terraces are often found in modern architecture. For their protection during the departure of the owners, the ideal solution would be PVC blinds built into the eaves. They prevent burglary, and when unnecessary, they are literally hidden "into the wall" and do not overload the facade
Trends in the design and installation of windows change over time - that's what they are. However, the best of them these days is a quality trend. We spend more time in our own home, more often pay attention to details that we might not have noticed before on the run. Today, more than ever, we want the room to be beautiful, and we understand that beauty has no value if it is short-lived... It is precisely this attention to detail that large companies are betting on in their attempts to give what we want to see in architecture of various scales. And VEKA is among these companies.
