Why is it called Aquarius™?
Breaking down the name Aquarius™ gives us ‘aqua’ (as in the Latin ‘relating to water’) and ‘rius’ (meaning ‘flow/flowing’, ‘movement/motion’).
What is the purpose of the Aquarius™ Architectural Louvre Range?
Solinear’s Aquarius™ louvre systems are in high demand for a variety of applications including for industrial and commercial units and buildings – primarily to either regulate the penetration of direct sunlight thus maintaining a consistent internal temperature, or to enhance natural and smoke ventilation. Solinear’s Aquarius™ louvre systems act as an effective barrier against the elements such as water ingress from heavy rain as well as dirt and debris and provides architectural screening
Specialist acoustic louvres can be installed that incorporate all these features whilst effectively reducing noise from plant room machinery such as air conditioning units.
How does the Aquarius ™ range work?
Aquarius ™ louvres are external shutters formed from several fixed or operable angled horizontal blades. The blades are mounted in a frame suitable for installation into a structural or glazed opening within a building or as a free-standing structure to a roof plant area (or similar).
Put simply, Aquarius ™ louvre systems consist of a series of equally spaced, angled fins or blades arranged in a configuration that offers protection against punishing elements such as strong winds and heavy rain as well as providing a barrier against dirt and debris ingress. Whilst the blades act as a shield, the aperture of the blades enhances organic ventilation allowing natural air flow, keeping the internal space at an optimum temperature and supplied with a continual source of fresh air.
In more technical terms, the Aquarius™ louvre systems are manufactured to Solinear’s custom brand geometric design profiles, with inherent airflow and weather performance data and capability, available through testing and CFD software modelling to ensure correct and optimised system performance wherever used on the building façade.
All Aquarius™ louvre systems are available with a range of standard perimeter flashings to ensure a full and complete weathered interface with the building structure.
What materials are used to produce the Aquarius™ range?
The Aquarius™ architectural louvre system is manufactured predominantly from corrosion resistant mill finish extruded aluminium and generally supplied with a powder coated or anodised finish to any standard RAL or anodised colour range.
Louvre systems are also available in stainless steel, galvanised mild steel or plastisol. These materials require the louvres to be fabricated and supplied as factory assembled modular panels.
If other materials or finishes are required, then Solinear is happy to discuss requirements.
Where is the Aquarius™ range manufactured?
Whereas many other UK based brise soleil and louvre companies rely on overseas supply chains and therefore lower quality products, Solinear doesn’t. All Solinear products, including the Aquarius™ range, are manufactured at Solinear’s UK-based manufacturing facility. Because there is no reliance on imported products, Solinear has complete autonomy over manufacturing, timescales and quality control. Products do not leave the manufacturing facility without thorough checks.
How versatile is the Aquarius™ range?
Solinear’s Aquarius™ extruded aluminium blades and brackets are extremely versatile for a variety of applications and available in a range of typical profiles and sizes to suit structural span, solar shading performance or noise reduction requirements.
Height variations of a building can be taken into account to manufacture bespoke louvre systems of appropriate size making it a versatile solution for buildings of any size and shape, accounting for irregularities.
Depending on applications, the elliptical blades can be mounted either in a vertical ladder arrangement or stood up on end vertically for an alternative effect.
Coordinating louvre doors and operable/motorised louvre options are also available, making the Aquarius™ range even more versatile and adaptable.
What are the benefits of the Aquarius™ range?
As mentioned, Solinear’s Aquarius™ louvre systems are much sought after primarily for their ventilation properties and as an effective barrier against the elements whilst regulating solar gain, but they can also be configured for use as effective privacy screens. For those who desire city living and as buildings jostle with each other for limited space, the desire to maintain privacy has become paramount. Recent high-profile cases have highlighted just how vital it is for our wellbeing.
Aquarius™ louvre systems can additionally be installed to provide effective security in the form of a louvre shield offering robust protection whilst simultaneously meeting airflow/weather performance needs alongside enhanced security requirements. An anti-climb finish is also available offering even more security.
Aside from the practical aspects of the Aquarius™ range, Solinear’s louvres can be manufactured to completely bespoke aesthetic specifications, achieving facade cohesion with acoustic and architectural screening. manufactured to the same colours, themes, etc. This means that a brand or style can be continued through the louvre system making a building more significant, appealing, identifiable and ultimately completely unique.
In areas where graffiti is considered a nuisance, Solinear’s Aquarius™ range can be finished with an anti-graffiti coating, preventing vandalism and therefore improving the appearance of the area.
Can installing Aquarius™ help the environment?
Aquarius™ systems are beneficial in regulating solar gain and allowing natural airflow, so, in an area where machinery needs ventilation to function efficiently, louvres are able to maintain the correct atmospheric conditions without the need for energy consuming artificial methods of internal climate regulation thus not only saving money but resources too.
With the addition of motorisation, louvres can also be a great way to maximise a building’s energy efficiency. Sensors add a further level of automation, linking the driving mechanism to a temperature sensor, for example, thus creating a louvre system that opens or closes automatically, depending on the required internal temperature and the unpredictable weather conditions outside. Therefore, reliance on high energy consuming equipment to control the internal environment and impact on the environment at large is further reduced.
According to an article by Viviane Chan in Buildings Magazine, it has even been proven that integrated louvres, on commercial buildings, offer up to three times the reduction in energy consumption when compared to triple glazing, so the benefits are clear.
Are there any examples of Aquarius™ projects available?
There is a dedicated case study page on the Solinear website which is very popular with potential clients who prefer to see examples of real-life projects that feature the products they are interested in.
Below is just a small selection of case studies, from the many, featuring the Aquarius™ louvre range:
- Solinear created vibrant and colourful penthouse/turret aluminium Aquarius™ louvres and ventilation products for The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.
- Aquarius™ louvres at The Christie Proton Beam Therapy Centre, Manchester, facilitating vital airflow for the high-tech equipment inside.
- Solinear’s Aquarius™ architectural louvre screening system was the perfect solution for the Imperial War Museum’s Parkside rooftop plant apparatus.
- Solinear’s stainless-steel Aquarius™ double louvre doors look resplendent at Nine Elms, London Underground
Want to know more about Solinear’s popular Aquarius™ range?
More in-depth and technical questions can be answered by talking to one of Solinear’s friendly and helpful team or visit the dedicated Aquarius™ ™ web page for more information.
