Project Case
Sonnenweg 7
A facade renovation in Basel, replacing heavy tinted solar control glass with MicroShade® micro honeycomb insulating glass. The brief demanded equal or better solar performance without reverting to a coloured product. The result is a brighter, more comfortable building with a clean, neutral facade that will last for decades.
From dated to timeless. Without starting over.
A residential building in Basel with plenty of life left in it, but an ageing facade that had run its course. The existing solar control glass, distinctive for its heavy golden tint, had become visually dated and was due for replacement. The challenge was straightforward but demanding: find a more neutral, modern glazing solution that matched or improved on the solar and thermal performance of what it replaced.
Tinted solar control glass was ruled out. Achieving the performance required without reverting to a coloured product meant finding a solution that worked through geometry rather than coating. The MicroShade micro honeycomb insulating glass was specified, delivering outstanding solar and thermal protection while allowing significantly more natural daylight into the building and giving the facade a clean, neutral appearance.
The transformation is visible from the street. Where the building once read as distinctly dated, it now sits quietly and confidently in its surroundings. Inside, rooms are brighter, more comfortable and more pleasant to be in throughout the day. The energy balance improved and the facade was future-proofed, all without touching the existing structure.
Our Project Cases
Kallmann Museum
A historic orangerie museum near Munich, comprehensively renovated to meet modern performance standards. The glazed facade overlooking the castle park gardens was the central challenge.
Traditional blinds and screens require mechanical systems, power supplies, maintenance contracts and regular replacement. They block the view when closed and do nothing when open.
MicroShade® is integrated directly into the glazing unit. Passive, permanent and automatic, it works with the angle of the sun delivering shade in summer and allowing warmth through in winter. No moving parts. No intervention required.
No. Visible light transmission of 50-60% ensures interiors remain genuinely bright throughout the year. Unlike solar control glass, the microstructure blocks high-angle solar heat while allowing diffuse daylight to pass through freely.
Colour rendering above Ra 95 means natural light inside the building stays true to its source.
Yes. The product integrates into standard double or triple glazed units and is suitable for both new construction and retrofit projects. No mechanical systems, no wiring and no structural modifications are required.
There is no impact on the building exterior and no additional trades are needed beyond the glazing contractor already on the project.
The microstructure film sits protected inside the glazing cavity and is almost imperceptible to the naked eye, though the join between sheets is visible on close inspection. From the outside the facade looks clean and as designed.
From the inside the view out remains clear and unobstructed at all times. No tint, no visible pattern and no reduction in the quality of the outlook.
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