Folding wall systems Valley, Amsterdam: 'No compromises on quality'

For Valley's special, stepped high-rise apartments on the Zuidas, currently under construction, Solarlux developed customized folding wall concepts with very high facade density. A combination of SL 25 folding walls for the uninsulated facades and Ecoline/Highline systems for the facades with high wind and noise loads. Architect MVRDV chose Solarlux because of its qualities as a system house, says account manager André Jansen. "We keep everything in-house, from engineering to assembly."

Text | Jan-Kees Verschuure    Image | Solarlux, Bouwcombinatie Valley Amsterdam

The requirements regarding living at height, as well as architectural appeal, were so high in Valley's case that MVRDV itself preferred Solarlux, says Jansen. "The supplier of the full-glass folding wall systems must be involved from the design level in cases like this. Because of the desired requirements and specifications, but also because of anchoring options and connections. When it comes to details, you can't do without a systems house. At each level, we have our input."

And the demands are high: 35 balconies fully accessible from the apartments at height (from the eighth floor up), with extremely high wind and noise loads; a design with very little repetition, many corner configurations and, last but not least, the architect's desire to create large glass surfaces with ultra-slim aluminum profiles. "You can imagine that at 900 Pascal wind loads, an EPC < 0 and a maximum of 99 millimeters of profile attachment, a top product from the balcony glazing industry is used."

At the location of the stepped façade sections, high-end systems are used for balcony access.

Quality and ease of use

That product is the Highline/Ecoline folding wall system. Jansen: "Where triple glass is used in the stepped façade sections, the Highline is supplied, in the other cases the Ecoline, and on the uninsulated façades, the tight façades, we use our standard SL 25 system. This full-glazed glazing system provides noise and weather protection on the balcony and can be opened for 100%. The sliding system blocks driving rain and noise up to 22 dB." The Ecoline/Highline systems are a high-end variant of this, with maximum performance and capabilities, as well as slimmer profiles. In some cases, parts of folding walls weighing hundreds of pounds have to be lifted upwards. "The systems are up to 5.80 meters wide and count six sashes, sometimes in a corner arrangement. In the case of the Highline with triple glazing, a sash alone weighs 100-110 kilograms, and then the folding wall system is also smooth to operate, with maximum ease of use. Crucially, we are involved as a system house from engineering to assembly. The key word for Solarlux is quality, without concessions."