Northwest of Venice is the city of Trento, Italy. It is the capital of Trentino and is located on the Adige River valley. Driving the winding roads from Venice, we entered the historic city and drove to the site of the MUSE Museum of Science complex designed by the word renowned architect Renzo Piano.
Trento, Italy
Just recently completed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, this redevelopment project was built to replace the former Michelin tire factory on an 11-hactare brownfield industrial area adjacent to the Adage River. The site is bound on the north by the historic Palazzo delle Albere, on the south by Monte Baldo Road and on the east by the railroad.
The multi-purpose complex features a museum along with condominiums, offices and retail. The museum, dubbed MUSE, is a 12,000 square meter space dedicated to exploring the relationship between man and the environment.
As we arrived at the complex on the east end by the railroad, we were face to face with the condominiums accented in a brilliant chartreuse green color.
Renzo Piano, as I was told designs every detail of his projects. This included the exterior shading solutions that I was about to see. Yes, these shades are in the same green color as the building façade.
Renzo Piano
Model Systems Factory
All of the shades for the complex was manufactured and installed by Model Systems Italia of Treviso, and what I saw was truly Engineered Shading Solutions. Among the different shading systems installed at the condos, apartments and museum where the FM41 and FM51 in various creative applications.
FM41 FM41 on the balconies FM41 on windows
The solution I saw next was very exciting. It was the FM41 Exterior Shading Solution that was modified with hockey shaped aluminum arms that projected the shade cloth as an awning treatment.
The series of shades on the balcony were controlled by 1 motor. Shown below is the coupling device that connects rollers.
Coupling Hardware
The larger patios offered a more complex awning system that utilized the FM51 technology. The FM51 is a tensioned system, which can function without the assistance of gravity.
FM51 Tensioned System
The FM51 Exterior Shading Solution below incorporates cables under tension for the sloping system.
The last stop was to the Museum. The bright orange color FM41 was installed in several interesting locations.
Exterior View Interior View
The collaboration between the architect Renzo Piano and the manufacturer Model Systems Italia was a remarkable achievement. Over 6000 shading solutions in several different variations and styles were custom designed and installed. These European trends are exciting and innovative and are now available through InSync Solar USA.