Glass folding walls combine functionality and living comfort with maximum living space

Inside Becomes Outside

The housing shortage in the Netherlands is leading to a sharp increase in high-rise construction in city centers, with buildings extending to the very edges of their (small) lots. One reason for this is to maximize the number of square meters available for rent or sale. “We find a great example in Scheveningen, where an apartment complex is built right up against the municipal building line,” says André Jansen, Senior Account Manager at Solarlux. “All living rooms are equipped with our four-panel insulated folding wall, combined with a French balcony railing. This allows residents to enjoy a beautiful view of the Scheveningen harbor from their living rooms.”

The French balcony railings are screwed directly onto the Solarlux facades, Jansen explains. “Behind them are our floor-to-ceiling Higline folding walls with triple-pane glass. When the weather is nice, residents can open these folding walls completely. This allows them to sit very comfortably on the couch in the sun.” If a balcony had been built here, the entire building would have had to be set back at least 1.5 meters. “This would have significantly reduced the square-meterage of living space,” says Jansen. “Given the prices per square meter in, for example, the western part of our country, real estate investors would have lost tens of thousands of euros as a result. Moreover, the view from the living rooms would have been very different, which would also have affected the appeal of the homes.”

Outstanding performance

“Thanks to Solarlux’s insulated folding wall, the comfort and soothing feeling of the indoor-outdoor space is preserved, while at the same time ensuring maximum living space,” Jansen summarizes. “The floor-to-ceiling folding walls fully comply with current energy standards and stand out for their excellent thermal insulation value (Uw value). Other unique features include the slim profiles, smooth operation, and excellent wind and water tightness—even on the coast. Thanks to special cleaning hardware, residents can easily clean both the inside and outside of the glass, and no special window-cleaning equipment is required.”

Solid-glass balustrades are also available

Another notable feature is the high level of sound insulation, which ensures that noise from sources such as road traffic, air traffic, and train traffic is not an issue. “This makes our insulated folding wall ideal for use in noise-prone locations,” says Jansen. While a French balcony railing was used in Scheveningen, Solarlux’s insulated folding wall can also be combined with a full-glass balustrade. “In this case, residents benefit from greater transparency and an even more beautiful view.” As an example, Jansen cites an all-glass parapet, which combines an unobstructed view with a modern look.

Outdoor space on the quiet side

However, the impressive folding wall alone does not yet comply with the Building and Living Environment Decree (Bbl) for new construction. “According to NEN 7120, apartments must have an outdoor space of at least 4.5 m². By installing our Higline folding wall at the front of the home, however, this outdoor space can be relocated to the quieter side or rear,” says Jansen. “For example, in the form of a loggia or balcony. If the noise level is still (too) high here as well, the loggia or balcony can be combined with our SL Modular with Proline T, Proline T Mega, or Proline S balcony system.”

Second-skin facade

SL Modular consists of an integrated fixed parapet, an integrated ventilation grille, and an integrated SL25 tilt-and-slide system. “While the balcony glazing provides sound insulation of up to 25 dB, the integrated grille ensures guaranteed, permanent ventilation and sound insulation. Thanks to an extremely slim profile, maximum daylight penetration and transparency are also ensured,” says Jansen. “The balcony glazing creates a so-called ‘second-skin facade,’ which helps save energy. Furthermore, residents can enjoy their outdoor space all year round. Combined with the Higline folding walls at the front, residents experience maximum living comfort.”