What are the Venetian blinds

Venetian blinds are architectural elements usually applied to the façades of buildings with the function of shading the sun’s rays, while at the same time providing natural lighting and ventilation of interior spaces.

They are usually installed where there are large windows or ribbon windows with the aim of remedying the greenhouse effect phenomenon and thus improving living comfort.

 Venetian Blinds are part of the contemporary architectural landscape, but in reality these structures were introduced a long time ago. Let us therefore look at a little history.

Venetian blinds yesterday

Over the course of time we have witnessed a long and continuous evolution of window openings and shading systems, starting from a mere function of protection against the intrusion of people or animals to that of filtering with the outside environment and specifically for the control of ventilation, lighting, noise and solar radiation. 

Today there are several examples handed down by the history of architecture that can be considered the ancestors of sunshades: the portico of classical buildings both Greek and Roman, the mashrabiya traditional architectural element of Arab culture.

In Roman times they were known as tentorium and velarium, which were structures with textile elements used to shelter from rain and sun. In the Middle Ages there was the canopium, a light and flexible structure consisting of a wooden or textile canopy supported by poles, used to protect platforms, canopies or other. During the Renaissance, the use of textiles to decorate and repair the large windows of the palaces of the nobility and bourgeoisie became increasingly widespread: drapes, curtains or veils were suspended with sticks, ropes or simply nailed to the windows. Later, between the end of the 17th and 18th centuries, in England and France, the tendency developed to decorate façades, balconies and terraces in private and public spheres with multicoloured striped cotton fabric curtains, supported by fixed, roll-up or semi-rolling structures, with a dual function: to decorate and to shelter people and goods from the sun and heat.

The appearance of the first Venetian blinds, first in wood and then in metal, came with the construction of the first industrial buildings, characterized by wide and high spans, with openings that cut into the roofs used for ventilation and natural lighting. Hence the need to control and regulate the flow of natural light over the course of the day and the seasons, i.e. by means of shading systems capable of performing this function. 

In the 20th century, many architects realised the importance of shading systems by incorporating them into buildings as architectural elements, starting with a modern interpretation of archetypes such as porches, mashrabiya and curtains. It was in this context that Le Corbusier proposed the brise-soleil, consisting of a series of horizontal and/or vertical projecting elements juxtaposed to the glazed façade. Among the most famous applications are the Government Palace in Chandigarh and the Unitè d’Habitation in Marseilles. Frank Lloyd Wright also used shading devices, realized by means of roofs with large projecting portions that shaded the walls, achieving additional benefits. A very famous example is the Robie House in Chicago, where the design of the building is characterized by specific bioclimatic strategies, through the use of a series of special solutions.

Venetian blinds today

Today, the Venetian blind has become an indispensable and much-appreciated element of sun protection. It is a synthesis of functionality and design: thanks to its slat structure, it is able to create elegant architectural façades and, at the same time, protect buildings without depriving them of air and light. 

The materials of which sunshades are made can be varied. The most popular products are aluminum, PVC, wood and terracotta.

Sunshades are an extremely versatile product whose characteristics blend harmoniously with the building. They are not only a design choice, but also and above all a practical solution to achieve significant savings in terms of energy consumption. In fact, these installations limit the access of the sun’s rays and the rise in temperature in the home: in this way it will not be necessary to use air conditioning systems on a prolonged basis with consequent savings in bills. Sunshades therefore provide living comfort, energy savings and privacy.

The benefits of installing these sunscreens are many: solar control and shading, thermal comfort and great resistance to weathering. This solution is functional both in summer and in winter: in the first case they limit the action of ultraviolet rays, while in colder periods they allow the cooling effect of the wind to be circumscribed.

LUPAK METAL’s Venetian blinds systems

With two factories and a team of around thirty employees, Lupak Metal is Italy’s first single-product manufacturer of profiled and extruded aluminium Venetian blinds systems.

The wide range of Lupak Metal sunshades is divided into two categories: CORD systems and CHAIN systems.

1. CORD systems: also called “corded” systems, they are an excellent compromise for those who wish to remain faithful to tradition. They have reduced overall dimensions and are designed for large openings and to meet more classic aesthetic requirements.
2. CHAIN Systems:  these are the ‘must-have’ for those who love innovation and the latest technology. Top of the range robust, elegant, with quality mechanics. They are designed to be in line with contemporary trends also thanks to invisible components housed in the building envelope to better adapt to the façade.

Each system is designed to meet precise functional and aesthetic requirements by pushing the limits of customisation to meet even the most specific requests. 

 In order to always be able to offer quality systems, we make careful choices for each component: the raw material, the specially created scratch-resistant paints, the Seaside treatment for installations in maritime locations and the new generation components.

 Lupak Metal systems also boast several patents: from the variator for Lume, Lume Esse and Lume Light, the unique coupling system between the blade and the mechanics’ pegs that is totally invisible from the outside and allows the width of the awning to be altered directly on site, to the possibility of complete rotation of the blade in any intermediate position.

 The priority for us at Lupak Metal is to find the most suitable solutions for our customers, with the guarantee of a 100% Made in Italy product. To find out more, contact us and we will be happy to help you! Fill in the form below and you will be contacted by our sales team!