Faber Blinds is helping to inspire the next generation of landscape professionals and raise awareness of green infrastructure at the RHS Hyde Hall’s new Learning Centre.
The company, part of the Hunter Douglas Group, has supplied solar shading solutions for the £3m new facility. The project is a beacon of sustainability for the construction industry and the significant environmental credentials of the Hunter Douglas product portfolio were instrumental in seeing the Faber system specified.
Part of a multi-million pound investment across a number of the Royal Horticultural Society’s sites in the UK, the centre will help children to develop their understanding and experience of growing fruit & vegetables, cooking them and generally create an environment for learning. It will significantly improve the visitor experience for adults and enable the RHS to share and build expert knowledge by raising the levels of standards, accessibility and interpretation.
Faber’s 1800 FTS system has been utilised at the visitor centre. “The specialist high tension 5100 series fabric provides an excellent solar shading solution and has had a very direct cost and saving benefit,” explains Mike Foulston, Contracts Manager at Faber Blinds.
“We fitted the shades over the tills and fresh produce area to reduce spoilt goods and enhance customer and operator satisfaction.”
Faber 1800 FTS is an efficient and flexible internal motorised blind system that can be used in pitched or horizontal roof light windows.
The hardware of the blind can be fully enclosed in a square head box and there is a choice of various side channels to suit all applications. The system is especially suitable for installation in a concealed recess or above a ceiling when provision is made for this at the design stage of a project, so that the blind can be fitted in such a way that it is only visible when lowered.
Faber 1800 FTS can be used for both large and small windows, but the system has been specifically designed for large areas of glazing with each blind capable of covering an area up to 4000 x 6000 mm.
Located in the Hilltop Garden on the site of the existing grain barn, the Learning Centre is composed of two flexible classrooms, with a demonstration kitchen in each and an exemplar teaching garden. The rooms will be suitable for a range of groups and ages, including multiple school classes, adult learning courses and public lectures.
“The design is organised around a well-proportioned courtyard to help align the new Learning Centre with the existing buildings on the site,” explained a spokesman for architects Cullinan Studio.
“The exciting roof-form responds to the climate and support sustainability by providing protection, collecting rainwater, supporting solar panels, controlling daylight and fresh air.”
Faber Blinds, part of the Hunter Douglas group, is internationally recognised for fabricating outstanding solar shading solutions for commercial premises. It offers a wide range of products supplying both internal and external blinds, as well as awnings and brise soleil.
For almost 50 years, Hunter Douglas products have contributed to the sustainable thermal, acoustic and visual appeal of buildings across a wide range of branches and sectors, from trade to industry and from the catering business to government. These products consistently meet the needs of architects, designers and contractors, thanks to Hunter Douglas’ intensive collaboration with these parties.
