FEATURED STORY
The extra at the window
"Looking at the architecture and trying to complement it was more than just an inspiration, it was a guideline," says Erwan Bouroullec. The complement is the first collection of the new company "Kvadrat Shade", a merger of the manufacturers Kvadrat and Coulisse, who have also brought the expertise of Verosol and Somfy on board for the product premiere. Thus, Kvadrat Shade’s offering fulfils a variety of solutions for different room situations. This should be of particular interest to interior designers and decorators: "With our range of textiles and fittings, we can create true design expressions, offering everything from complete blackouts to light and airy solutions. With a variety of hardware solutions and accessories, we can meet almost any need we see in the market," says Katrine Rafn Knudsen, Product and Concept Manager at Kvadrat Shade.
In detail, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec designed the straight-lined fittings that provide the basis for the textiles with their reduced design and different finishes. These were conceived by the Bouroullec brothers, who also head the art direction of Kvadrat Shade, as well as by other creatives, be it Alfredo Häberli or Louise Sigvardt. All in all, users can choose from more than 70 different textiles and almost as many possibilities to combine the fittings. Kvadrat Shade not only provides shade and privacy: with metallised textiles, a large part of the sun's energy is reflected outwards before it turns into heat. In winter, the inconspicuous aluminium coating also acts as an insulator, limiting heat loss. This means that the heating and cooling costs of the building can be reduced. Room acoustics can also be improved with Kvadrat Shade's high-quality textiles. "We want to provide comfort and increase well-being in office and building environments," says Katrine Rafn Knudsen. Durable, PVC-free and recyclable, the Kvadrat Shade roller blind solutions are also convincing in terms of sustainability. (am)
