Architects Use Transparent Metal Mesh On Hotel With Traditional Spanish Monastic Design

January 5, 2016

Project Name: Parador Alcalá de Henares 

Location: Alcala de Henares, Spain 

Architect: Aranguren & Gallegos Architects 

GKD Metal Fabric: Tigris 

Photography: GKD/FOTONIK

Metal mesh as the exterior skin of a building provides a constantly changing stage for architecture by light interplay. Additionally, it gives form to architectural visions. In doing so, it fulfills many functions including; the resilient and low-maintenance material offers reliable fire and weather protection, takes over climate regulation as well as energy functions, and serves as an aesthetically pleasing sun protector. Particularly in countries with a hot climate, metal mesh façades give buildings a breathable cladding, offering natural ventilation and effectively filtering unwanted sunlight at the same time.

In Alcalá de Henares, a town in the Spanish province of Madrid, the Parador Alcalá de Henares is clad with a woven sun protector from GKD. Over 20,000 sq ft of Tigris mesh was installed as a protective two-layer cladding in front of the exterior wall of the hotel, which is housed in the former Dominican convent of Santo Tomás. The Tigris sun protector ensures a comfortable climate in each room, while providing unhindered views to the outside. The mesh also shields the interior environment from undesirable insight.

The use of a transparent mesh material allows for the building’s monastic Spanish architecture to be showcased while also providing the sunshading and weather ability protection the building required. There becomes a beautiful juxtaposition between the original brickwork and the enveloping tightly woven metal mesh. Now while there is a strong debate regarding the mixture of classical and modern architectural materials, the transparent mesh provides a solar barrier that will produce a more energy efficient structure without compromising aesthetics.

Whether as complete cladding or in the form of individual elements: metal meshes reduce solar energy input. This not only optimizes the interior climatic and lighting conditions, it also considerably reduces investment and running costs for the building services and air-conditioning technology. A woven sun protector not only represents cost savings, it is also a safeguard as well as a fascinating light filter.

Photography GKD/FOTONIK