Dutch firm Hunter Douglas said it has launched a new ceiling that can safely handle the GCC’s harsh climate while promoting sustainable building design.

Sustainable building is booming in the Middle East, and is set to grow from $17.9 billion in 2012 to $ 23 billion by 2016, according to Green Middle East.

The UAE is the region’s leader in sustainable design, hosting more than two-thirds of the GCC’s 1,236 Leed-certified buildings, driven by Dubai’s green bbuilding codes and Abu Dhabi’s Estimada initiative.

Unlocking the potential for Middle East developers and architects to design stunning and sustainable buildings, Hunter Douglas has developed a unique ceiling that resists corrosion, handles wind velocities of up to 150 km/hour, and can last for 50 years without inspection.

Hunter Douglas has successfully installed the 2,500 sq m ground floor ceiling for De Rotterdam, The Netherlands’ largest multifunctional building, designed by award-winning firm OMA. The ceiling stretches from outside to inside, and is separated by a glass façade.

Kees van Casteren, the associate-in-charge, OMA, said: “We wanted the building’s exterior to cross over into its interior as seamlessly as possible. It was not a system readily available on the market. Hunter Douglas took up the challenge to create a ceiling that matched our ideas.”

Hunter Douglas developed a storm-proof construction mounted above the ceiling panels, gave the aluminium exterior ceiling a corrosion-resistant coating, and produced reports on strength and wind load to ensure the ceiling will last for at least 50 years without inspection.

Terry Woudenberg, the project advisor for Hunter Douglas, said: "The building is situated on the banks of the Meuse River, which means it will face heavy winds, moisture, and corrosion factors. We applied aluminium grids with a corrosion-resistant coating and anchored the ceiling with a more stable back construction, making the ceiling storm-proof."

To meet strict lighting and acoustic requirements for the interior ceiling, Hunter Douglas produced the ceiling with two layers, explained Woudenberg.

"The top layer’s reflective panels hide lighting and ventilation systems, while the lower layer’s grid ceiling has perforated panels that absorb sound and minimize reverberation. In between are fluorescent lamp holders, with light bouncing off the reflective surface and spreading inside the building," he added.-TradeArabia News Service