Fashion for your window

The Duette is something you will love. (Photo courtesy of Hunter Douglas)

We went to a talk on Window Treatments by one of the top local designers, Ivy Almario. It was a very interesting night, we think. The host was fun and the discussion was lively. A quick introduction debunking some myths on the major sources of pollution preceeded. The event was actually an effort to reintroduce Hunter Douglas window treatments and position them as a green technology.

A major part of the talk introduced to the audience the Duette Honeycomb Shades by Hunter Douglas.

At P800 per square foot, this window treatment can cut your cooling (or heating if you’re in the cold countries) costs significantly. Functionality in its energy-efficient cellular design is even matched with a soft fabric appearance that will into any modern interiors.

For more information on Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, visit their showroom at #33 Jade Place, Visayas Ave., Quezon City or call (2) 924 0220.

The Green Hunter

It seems that 2008 is the year of design competitions. Here and there, we got lots of call for entries . You have, of course, the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence National Competition which is perhaps the biggest annual design competition. There’s also this design competition sponsored by Wilcon, and another landscape architectural competition sponsored by the MMDA. But of these competitions, we never thought that the “underdog” would be one of the most interesting—the Hunter Douglas design competition.

Hunter Douglas, a world class supplier famous for their sophisticated line of building solution materials such as screens and shades turned into green architecture as the focus of their recent competition. For the architect category of on-going projects, it’s our good friend, architect Francis L. Santaromana together with architect Rachel Ebalan who won. And you will never guess what space their entry was—a gymnasium, nonetheless.

Francis and Rachel’s entry, the De La Salle Santiago Zobel Sports Pavilion may be an unconventional entry to submit to a design competition. But once, you see their concept boards and plan, you’d immediately understand why they won. Every little aspect of design—concept, layout, materials and techniques—all played around the principles of Green architecture. No detail is left out untied to environmental-friendly design.

Apart from the meticulous use of environment-friendly Hunter Douglas products throughout the gymnasium, we are particularly amazed at their use of Brisse Soleil system for the exteriors. Traditional technique implemented through modern products is not exactly the kind of design you would always see become effective. But for this project, the Brisse Soleil exteriors not only provided its cooling function for the structure, it also bestowed an exceptional identity to the building.