Lighting up the imagination

Trespa has launched a new concept of using artificial light (LEDs) to encourage architects and designers to create imaginative and aesthetically different facades without changing the character and performance of Trespa Meteon exterior cladding panels. The Trespa Perspectives Character concept for Light will be followed later this year by similar concepts for Depth and Rhythm.

Architects are always searching for new ideas and inspiration, new shapes, colours, textures or materials. The Trespa Perspectives concept shows architects and designers how Trespa panels can be adapted, changed, moulded and fixed in different ways. The purpose is to create aesthetically different facades without altering the fundamental characteristics and performance of the product. Changing the appearance so that it becomes three-dimensional adds greater interest, depth and movement.

Light is an art form. The ever changing play of sunlight and shadow over a building accents and alters the façade. Now, Trespa has introduced the new concept of combining Meteon panels with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). ). The Trespa Perspectives Light concept, developed in consultation with a professional lighting partner, is being launched at several major building exhibitions during 2007.

Combining LEDs and Trespa Meteon cladding panels is a cost effective and environmentally friendly method of changing the character of a façade in a simple and extremely dramatic way. The LEDs are easy to fix and, like Meteon, are highly durable and weatherproof. By using artificial light to accentuate curves, joints and colours, to give shape to shadows and character to spaces and surfaces, interesting new dimensions and effects can be achieved. All the elements combine to create many different interplays between light and cladding. This means that the building, stunning by day, can have an equally stunning but quite different character at night.

LEDs can be concealed within the curved or flat panels or hidden behind translucent polycarbonate to complement the solid areas. They have unique properties, such as bright colours, compact size and low power consumption. The lights are UV and infrared free, are easy to use and control, emit little heat and can last for approx 50,000 hours. Single colour LEDs offer warm white, white, blue, green, yellow and red while RGB LEDs offer all the colours in the spectrum.

The LED strips are the only elements of the system that are concealed on the exterior. Because only 12volts are required outside, no special regulations about exterior lighting or local government legislation needs to be taken into account. The strips, up to l metre long, can be easily extended by interlinking them with the integral connectors.

Trespa Meteon

Trespa Meteon exterior architectural panels are available in a wide choice of different designs, colours and textures.

The Meteon panel is based on thermosetting resin, homogeneously reinforced with 70% wood fibres and manufactured under high pressure and high temperature. This results in a panel which is very tough and exceptionally durable, with dimensional stability and workability similar to hardwood. The smooth, non-porous surface resists the accumulation of dirt and retains its high physical performance and appearance in any weather or in extremes of temperature. The tough impact resistance of the panel means that it cannot easily be damaged, scratched or abused. It is easy to clean and is unaffected by cleaning materials.

A new source of design

Trespa Perspectives is a new source of inspiration for architects and designers – giving them the means to stimulate new ideas and realise new designs. By using the Trespa website and clicking on Projects, specifiers can study the work of other imaginative architects and designers who were inspired by the Perspectives concept and have used it for some of today’s most exciting building façades. Visitors to the website start with http://perspectives.trespa.com...... and finish with inspiration!

Reader enquiries

Trespa International b.v.
P.O. Box 110
6000 AC Weert
Netherlands
+31 495 458 353
P.Waterschoot@​trespa.com

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Notes for editors

Trespa

Trespa International, with head office in Weert, The Netherlands, specialises in the manufacture of high quality panels for exterior cladding, interior surfaces and other applications. Trespa has the expertise and in-house resources to provide specific products for many different applications and markets. In addition to their exceptional performance, Trespa products offer the specifier and user the very widest choice of designs, colours and surface textures.