05. Dec 2019

Metal mesh: Sustainable façade for court building

The Tribunal de Justica do Distrito Federal e dos Territórios (TJDFT) court building in Brasilia designed by Brazilian architect Siegbert Zanettini complies with the city's strict sustainability agenda. The sustainable choice of material and the energy efficiency of the building make a huge contribution to the awarding of the globally recognized LEED Gold certificate (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). For the solar protection façade, Zanettini opted for the stainless steel mesh OMEGA 1520 from GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG.

16 solar protection elements made of stainless steel mesh – each 13.80 meters long and 3.20 meters wide – were attached using the Fusiomesh adhesion technique developed by GKD to underline the delicate appearance of the design by Siegbert Zanettini. The transparency of the fabric permits an unencumbered view of the outdoors from inside the building. The real eyecatcher of the 6,200-square-meter, five-story office building is a delicate steel and glass construction with a red central axis and two slightly offset wings at the sides. The left wing of the building has green terraces on every floor to improve the air quality. They also provide shade for the floors below. The 16 solar protection elements from GKD were hung vertically in front of the upper four stories and provide efficient solar protection here. On the right-hand side, a full-surface cladding with GKD metal fabric replaces the terrace-roof construction. It serves as protection against sunlight, reduces the thermal load, and guarantees natural air circulation, which has a positive impact on energy efficiency by lowering the need for air-conditioning. However, the sustainability of the material was also a factor in this first ever application of GKD fabric in Brazil. The stainless steel mesh remains wind and weather resistant and requires no maintenance for decades, and is almost completely recyclable at the end of its service life.