In Melbourne, it’s all about aesthetics and functionality – your business needs to find a happy balance between these two traits to win clients or tenants over while standing your ground in the competitive Australian commercial leasing landscape.
A well-designed building not only adds to the value of the brand but also enhances the appearance of the commercial property and the company’s positive public image. In other words, aesthetics matter in Melbourne – they can have a substantial impact on your ability to consistently draw customers in and force them to take you seriously as a brand.
As the owner of the building, it will be in your best interest to choose an architectural design that pops (i.e., appealing designs) – people need to like (and approve) of what they see from a distance before they can commit to signing a commercial lease.
Window shrouds are the perfect way to bring the best of both of these "two worlds" together in perfect harmony. This decorative feature is an essential architectural design element that is built to "float" on the face of the building's exterior's facade – it functions best as a product that is designed to shield the commercial building from the harmful rays of the sun.
The Importance of Window Coverings in Commercial Design
Window coverings such as blinds, shades, and window “shrouds," also enhance the visual aspect of commercial properties. They can act as a complement to a company's architectural design, as well as the general “branding” message of that business. When properly coordinated, these window treatments can be used as a focal point of design for commercial interior spaces. They can add just the right elements of colour and texture needed to complete the overall visual appeal of commercial spaces.
Controlling for light and privacy is a must for commercial properties. Thus, the importance of good window treatments. Well-placed window treatments prevent or limit the occurrence of any sort of “glare” that might otherwise “facilitate” on the surface of glass screens. Along with that, window treatments can serve as a sort of physical barrier to commercial properties, limiting the amount of light that enters a room. All the while, window coverings can create a comfortable viewing experience for any and all customers who happen to pass by a certain commercial business.
The Role of Window Shrouds in Energy Efficiency
Window shrouds are a type of "energy-efficient window treatment." They are an extra layer of insulation that keeps the inside temperature of the building regulated. This is a big deal because they cut down on how often and how hard a commercial property's heating or cooling systems need to work to keep temperatures stable. This often goes beyond the benefits of the shrouds themselves and leads to long-term maintenance savings by prolonging the lifespan of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Trends in Commercial Design: Incorporating Window Shrouds
Window shrouds have become a big design trend in commercial construction projects, contributing both an interesting design aesthetic and functional value. The design feature can add a visual point of difference to a building, but the actual execution will help improve buildings' energy efficiency by managing shade cover and reduce the incidence of glare. In a place like Melbourne, which is dominated by a series of microclimates where the simple angle of light can sharply redefine a small space and create a new, relatively small swatch of an urban microclimate, smart thinking about how to manage natural light begins to become a serious design proposition.