News and press releases - VELUX Media Centre | VELUX Group

Make the home a nest for autumn

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 08:00:00 +0200

Fashion and interior design are subject to many of the same trends and increasingly influenced by each other in terms of materials and shapes. Some of the strongest influences today are “cocooning” and “nesting”, which draw on the same references and link to colder times with their preference for wrap effects, texture, volume, knit and luxurious materials.

Yet neither cocooning nor nesting is directly associated with autumn. The trends refer rather to the idea of staying in and decorating the perfect home, which will render you a peaceful private space in a hectic everyday life and, as such, go hand in hand with the VELUX Roman blinds collection. Essential to the Roman blinds design is the introduction of soft fabrics for roof windows, which add a new sense of emotion and aesthetics to the blinds design and make it homely, yet sophisticated and modern in style.

New design in natural colours selected by Trend Union
The Roman blinds is a new category in the VELUX portfolio of blinds for roof windows, and one to be warmly welcomed by all fans of home decoration for its highly decorative qualities, soft colours and natural look. With the Roman blinds, the VELUX Group presents a blind that is not only functional, but also a decorative home accessory. The extra volume of the soft blinds allows you to sculpt them according to personal taste and interior style, and place them anywhere you like it in the window − top, bottom or middle. For bright autumn days, the Roman blinds are ideal for softening the sun in the living room with draped effect to match the elegant, yet comfortable sofas and cosy cushions, while the bedroom remains balanced and calm with blinds to blackout the light.

The Roman blinds collection is set in twenty colours, handpicked by Europe’s leading trend agency, Trend Union. The colour theme is natural and soft, ranging from beige to brown and black, and supports the idea of the home as a well-balanced retreat furnished with nature’s own materials from marble to stone, wood and ceramics.

Make your own nest with just a click
The arrival of the VELUX Roman blinds collection heralds not only a new product category and colour theme, it also introduces an ultra-dynamic blinds design that is specially made for redecorating and creating an authentic nesting feeling.

Implementing VELUX Roman blinds is easy, as each fabric in the collection is sold separately and can be installed in just a click, thanks to an easy-to-change system. This allows you to switch from one design to another and change the look of the room in no time. From autumn’s earthy and woody look to winter’s sculptural black and white interior.

Blinds capture light from dawn to dusk

Mon, 02 Feb 2015 09:00:00 +0100

Working with internationally acclaimed design duo Scholten & Baijings, the VELUX Group combines six stunning and unique textile designs with the Colour Collection by Scholten & Baijings with the introduction of the new category − Roman Blinds for roof windows.

In 2011, world-famous designer Karim Rashid created a collection of colourful blinds for the VELUX Group. The partnership marked a new approach by the Group, adding design factor to the blinds category. In 2015, yet another significant collaboration will see the light of day.

The Colour Collection by Scholten & Baijings is rooted in the launch of the Roman Blinds collection. It is a design that takes blinds to a new, decorative level while playing with light, shapes and colours. As such, it is the perfect creative match for Amsterdam- based designers Stefan Scholten and Carole Baijings.

As a design duo, Scholten & Baijings celebrate their fifteen-years anniversary in 2015, working for companies such as Pastoe, Thomas Eyck, HAY and Georg Jensen, and have gained international recognition for their graphic designs combining light effects, distinctive fluorescent colours and richly crafted details. This is a design DNA that is at the core of their VELUX Colour Collection, making each blind a functional piece of art and an exquisite, yet easy way to decorate with the style of tomorrow.

Decorative and dynamic design
In fact, introducing the VELUX Colour Collection by Scholten & Baijings means introducing not only a design collaboration but also an entirely new VELUX blinds category − Roman Blinds. Unlike other blinds for roof windows, Roman Blinds offer rich, soft textiles with the possibility and flexibility of positioning them in any way you please – at the top, bottom or middle of the window. The choice is yours − and the effect is amazing. Roman Blinds not only allow you to dim the light, but also let you tailor the blind to the rest of the interior – whether you have gone for sculptural, minimalistic or graphic.

Inspired by nature and individually cut
When the VELUX Group approached Scholten & Baijings with the idea of designing a colour collection for the new Roman Blinds range, they took instantly to the idea of integrating light into the design. Obviously, we use blinds to dim or block out light, but light is also vital to us and has great aesthetic and metamorphic qualities. Light is never the same throughout the day. So Scholten & Baijings took inspiration from the changing light we meet in the morning, at midday and at night and created six individual patterns for their Colour Collection. Three colour styles with light-blocking fabric and three with light-regulating translucent fabric, each of them taking on the natural colours from the blues of morning to greys and evening red.

Each pattern is gradient in true Scholten & Baijings style, with a signature hint of neon, and all fabrics are individually cut. This means that no two blinds are alike, and that the patterns reveal themselves differently depending on how they are sculpted. As an extra decorative detail to the translucent fabrics, the patterns project onto the wall once hit by the sunlight, turning the design into a piece of nature’s own art.

For those finding it difficult to choose from the Colour Collection, the Roman Blinds’ design offers a brilliant solution. The blinds are born with an easy-to-change fabric system that allows you to switch from one design to another with a single click. This makes the designs in the Colour Collection highly dynamic and ever-changing, just like the light from dawn to dusk.

Innovation-driven market leader
Offering a new and unique designer blind to the market in collaboration with one of today’s most successful design studios is in line with the overall ambition of the VELUX Group.

For further information about the Colour Collection by Scholten & Baijings please see:
New VELUX Roman blinds

Scholten & Baijings in brief

Founded in 2000 by Stefan Scholten (1972) and Carole Baijings (1973), Dutch born and based in Amsterdam
Hold a unique niche in the world of Dutch product design
Known for their fine balance between design and functionality
Work for companies and institutions around the world from Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum to HAY
Received several nominations and design awards from Dutch Design Awards to Wallpaper Design Awards

Hyunjeong Kim wins the first VELUX International Design Award with an innovative concept for roof window blinds

Fri, 23 May 2014 00:00:00 +0200

Two winners and five honourable mentions were presented and honoured at the VELUX International Design Awards ceremonyat the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands on 22 May 2014. Hyunjeong Kim from the Berlin University of the Arts in Germany won first prize for her project, 'Ferro Fluid Scales'. The second prize went to Iris van den Brink and Anneloes de Koff from the University of Technology in Delft in the Netherlands, for their project called 'The Swipe'.The jury awarded the top-prize of 6,000 Euro to Hyunjeong Kim for her "comprehensive and innovative solution for roof windows," adding that her Ferro Fluid Scales "is a project that shows a high level of innovation and has vision. Also technically, it is a very clever and sophisticated solution that shows a new way of thinking roof window coverings."

Magnetic attraction

Hyunjeong Kim from the Berlin University of the Arts in Germany won first place in the first-ever VELUX International Design Award for her inventive blind design, titled Ferro Fluid Scales.

"I'm very excited and happy about winning the VELUX International Design Award, says Hyunjeong Kim - the VELUX awards are very famous and important awards. I'm proud to win, hoping it will be excellent for my career."

The inspiration for Ferro Fluid Scales came from the liquid Ferrofluid, which resembles black water in its natural state but becomes condensed when placed between magnetic fields. Ferro Fluid Scales integrate this scientific knowledge into an original design by containing the opaque liquid as well as a clear suspension liquid in each transparent glass blade, and allowing the user to easily increase or decrease the strength of the magnetic field – thereby controlling the amount of light that can enter through the blind.

Kim elaborates on her development process: "After researching many materials to realise my idea, I finally discovered Ferrofluid. The most important aspect of the Ferro Fluid Scales design is that the blind functions not through physical movement, but rather through the organic changes of the Ferrofluid within the thin glass panels, or scales. I added an electromagnetic unit that makes it easy to control the power to increase or decrease the amount of incoming sunlight."

Seven significant projects

The second, 2,500 Euro prize went to Iris van den Brink and Anneloes de Koff from the University of Technology in Delft in the Netherlands. Describing their gradual shading system project, The Swipe, Iris van den Brink and Anneloes de Koff explain: "Besides having a beautiful, aesthetic effect, our design is feasible because of its simplicity. All the different parts of The Swipe are standardised elements, which is why production costs can be kept low. We feel that this is in line with the VELUX vision of making great design accessible to everyone."

The jury found the project to be "a very simple but strong and innovative solution," adding that "the inside/outside solution shows an interesting way of manipulating the light."

Five teams also received honourable mentions for their projects. At the awards ceremony, all seven finalists – from design schools in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland and Hungary – presented prototypes of their designs.

Jury member Peter Zec, who founded the prestigious red dot design award, said, "Among the five projects that were nominated for an honourable mention, there were many interesting solutions. We have seen the use of new and exciting technology – for instance, using natural daylight as a night-time energy source, as well as both sustainable and technical solutions with a lot of inspiration from nature."

Selecting the winner

Settling on a favourite was a difficult task for the jury, which consisted of German Peter Zec, the Danish-Italian design duo GamFratesi and the Dutch designer and architect Petra Blaisse. With so many talented teams and exceptional projects, the jurors often found themselves at odds about the winning choice.

Jury member Petra Blaisse, known for continuously challenging the status quo with her designs, calls every finalist a winner, as they all managed to cast new light on the vast possibilities in the area of blind design – and to make the selection process challenging for the jury.

"In the winning project we saw a combination of technological intelligence, inventiveness and effectiveness. Effectiveness understood in terms of functionality – the solution doesn't force decorative design onto the user" says, Petra Blaisse when explaining the winning solution.

A new design award drives innovation

The VELUX International Design Award was established to offer aspiring design students from around Europe the opportunity to push the boundaries of what is possible to achieve at the intersection of design and technology, for blinds for roof windows. VELUX invited students to submit their ideas on the future design and composition of roof window blinds for a chance to win the VELUX International Design Award. Contestants from more than 20 European countries submitted their work, which was rated based on the criteria: 'innovation', 'improved quality of life', 'sustainability' and 'market potential'.

Kent Holm, Global Director of Decoration and Sun Screening Products at VELUX Group, was impressed with the number of inventive projects the participating teams produced – particularly the designs highlighted at the ceremony.

"When we decided to establish this competition, we had no idea we would be standing here today with such a large number of exciting projects," Holm said at the ceremony. "It is truly admirable how many of these design teams have opted for highly complex solutions, and we are thrilled by the sheer level of dedication and workmanship that have been displayed throughout the competition."

Holm hopes that the students benefited from the process – from inspiration to conceptualisation and from design to prototype. "As a source of daylight, fresh air and an attractive view, the roof window enriches our lives with light and creates better living environments for life, work and play. I am sure that all the participants have gained valuable insight into roof windows and we definitely feel inspired by all the creative concepts and solution that the students have come up with."

For more information, please contact:

Learn more about the award winning prototypes

Check out this great summary: http://bit.ly/TqQUgC

Press material at VELUX Media Centre

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Invite your favourite Disney characters into your home with the Disney & VELUX Dream Collection

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0200

The VELUX Group, the world's largest producer of roof windows and accessories, is collaborating with Disney to create a new series of blinds for children's rooms. Children can now welcome Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Planes or Disney Princess characters into their bedrooms and become part of their favourite Disney universe in a setting that lets imaginations roam. With 12 unique designs created especially for the Disney & VELUX Dream Collection, the new array of high quality blinds offers thrilling possibilities for room design.

A place for fantasy and rest
Used for both sleep and play, children's rooms typically serve a dual purpose, making it necessary to create an adaptable environment that can both stimulate and relax. This consideration was very important in creating the new collection and guided the decisions throughout the development. Kent Holm, Global Director of Decoration and Sun Screening Products at VELUX Group, explains:

"It is important to both Disney and us that the environment we create for future generations is both safe and creative. Combining the VELUX roof window and blind's expertise with Disney's magical universe enables us to shape spaces that offer room for both play and sleep – two of the most important activities for our children."

Creating an environment for children that is at once tranquil and stimulating can be a challenge. There is, after all, a big difference between rest and play. Together VELUX Group and Disney can strike the ideal balance. The blinds in the Disney & VELUX Dream Collection are all 100% blackout, giving parents and caretakers control over the amount of light allowed into a child's room during waking and sleeping hours. Furthermore, the designs have been selected with diverse preferences in mind, offering options for those who enjoy bold colour as well as those who prefer more subtle decorating choices. Finally, with their favourite characters watching over them, children are generally more inclined to want to spend time in their rooms – whether Dusty Crophopper or Minnie Mouse are inspiring their playtime or gently lulling them to sleep.

In selecting characters to feature in the new collection, the two companies were careful to ensure that the images not only inspired imaginations, but also embodied positive qualities such as friendliness, curiosity and compassion in order to positively impact children's creativity during both play and sleep. Dan Dossa, Deputy Head of Retail, The Walt Disney Company Nordic, comments:

"The Disney & VELUX Dream Collection features some of our most beloved characters – characters that help create an atmosphere of discovery and wonder. They have been chosen because they all capture the hearts of audiences both young and old, and have the power to bring whole families together. This is what the Disney & VELUX Dream Collection is all about."

The Disney & VELUX Dream Collection
The emphasis on exceptional quality has been fundamental throughout the VELUX Group and Disney's collaboration. Kent Holm, explains:

"From the very onset of this project, the VELUX Group and Disney were very clear about what we were striving for. We wanted to develop the highest quality blinds possible, and at the same time create a universe that connected with people and in particular with children. When the collaboration with Disney became an option, we quickly realised that we could combine the best of both our brands to develop an ideal solution for families. With our technical knowledge of high quality blinds production and Disney's spectacular universe, we feel that this project is indeed a great match, in terms of both reaching a new audience and creating a fantastic universe for children to enjoy. We believe this to be the answer our customers have been waiting for."

VELUX blinds are produced to meet the highest industry standards, in terms of not only quality but also when it comes to health and safety. All new designs live up to stringent OEKO-TEX® standards, ensuring that the components used for blinds contain no harmful substances or chemical products that can harm the body. With children in particular, it is essential to ensure that no dangerous elements enter their living space.

The Disney & VELUX Dream Collection comprises six Disney characters – Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Planes and Disney Princess – each represented by two distinct design options: one that is bright and vivid and the other offering a more subtle experience. The 100% blackout blinds ensure excellent control over the amount of light allowed into children's rooms during playtime and sleep time. Each blind is tailored specifically to the size and shape of the window.

All Disney & VELUX Dream Collection blinds feature VELUX Pick&Click!™ technology, allowing for easy installation. Switching out the blinds for new Disney-themed or other VELUX blinds is equally straightforward.

European design students put their visions of future blinds to a vote on VELUX community award site

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0100

Design students all over Europe are currently working on their submissions for the 2014 VELUX International Design Award competition. As part of the process, the contestants have the opportunity to take part in a series of challenges at an online community site (communityprize.velux.com), where they can share images of objects and concepts that inspire their design process as well as their reflections on their chosen materials and the final product they aim to create. The online community ultimately selects the winning team via a democratic voting system, where the contestants collect votes by sharing their images on social networking sites.

Organic inspiration and technological solutions
Many of the contributors to the first community challenge have found inspiration in both nature and technology – particularly in nature's interplay of light and shadow and the ways in which technology can be used to further emphasise this balance.

With participants from more than 20 European countries, sources of inspiration are diverse, ranging from images of leaves and animals to technological innovations and graphic renditions. Linda Hechmann Lagoni, Manager of Concepts and Innovation Support at VELUX, who is in charge of overseeing the innovation process and concept development as well as finding new business development opportunities at the VELUX Group, comments on trends in the community contributions:

"When the design students visualise their sources of inspiration for this project, we can clearly see that many of them have drawn inspiration from nature. I notice the tendency to make use of morphology and natural structures and forms as well as organic shapes and materials like leaves, wood, and flower petals. We also see tendencies that exploit new technology, and a blend of both 2D and 3D design work."

The work of Bob Jaap de Boer, from the design school at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (De Haagse Hogeschool) in the Netherlands, has been driven by a quest for design solutions that mimic nature – and a focus on utilising the latest technologies to execute their innovative, poetic vision.

"My overall inspiration comes from leaves during three seasons: spring, summer and fall," explains Bob Jaap de Boer. "Each season offers its own unique set of colours and shades. I find inspiration in a lot of different things, but for this nature seemed the obvious choice. The way that leaves filter sunlight reminds me of window coverings, and I felt it natural to try to combine the two. Nature always seems to have a solution for a problem, and with the inclusion of new technologies we are better equipped to incorporate these solutions in our lives."

The work of Charlotte Raffin from Olivier de Serres in Paris, France has primarily been driven by evolving technologies. Her concept focuses on the importance of combining the functionality of VELUX blinds with a further technological aspect to contribute to the future of blinds design.

"I found our inspiration in a flexible and durable material made from metal and LED technology called Mediamesh," explains Charlotte Raffin. "This material is often wrapped around buildings, where it can display images via LEDs without disrupting the view from the interior of the building. With this technology, it is possible to develop blinds that bring the same external possibilities into the room, establishing a certain level of light inside throughout the day. This way, you will always be able to have the exact type and amount of light you wish, giving roof window blinds a whole new dimension."

Applicable design and innovation
Peter Zec, one of the jury members for the VELUX International Design Award, is also the founder of the prestigious red dot design award. With a long history of working with design awards, he is looking forward to seeing innovative ideas, but also stresses the importance of thinking about functionality.

"My favourite thing about design awards is that there are always fresh works that stay in my memory. I hope to see a selection of restrained creations and also flashy, extraordinary designs," Zec says. Asked what he imagines to be the most challenging aspect of designing and developing coverings for roof windows, Zec continues, "It may be very challenging to find a composition of adequate material and good design. There are so many individual needs regarding a window covering: the appearance has to fit into different interiors and, additionally, the material must not fade in sunlight or suffer in high temperatures." In short, "the function and the design have to go hand in hand," says Zec, concluding: "My advice to every participant is to be courageous, think outside the box if necessary – but always be true to yourself."

In addition to fulfilling form and function successful designs must, of course, also meet production requirements. At VELUX, the innovation and idea generation process is closely linked with the production unit to continually ensure that new products are feasible both in terms of production and how they are used. As Linda Hechmann Lagoni explains, "Overall, there are many interesting and exciting elements in these contributions. It is always important to remember that the key to a successful blind not only comes down to the design or the material. It is equally important that the design can be produced on a large scale. It will be fascinating to observe the process from these first visual inspirations to the final design, and I look forward to following the contributions."

Petra Blaisse: Blinds are an integral part of architecture

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Dutch designer Petra Blaisse works around the world in a fascinating mix of cultures and creative crosscurrents. Her Amsterdam design studio, Inside Outside, specializes in bridging interior and exterior design, intermingling the aesthetics of architecture and landscape architecture as they create everything from carpets and curtains to gardens, public parks and urban plans.

Blaisse has an intimate understanding of how we manage a space's character with window coverings – by blocking, filtering or playfully experimenting with light as it enters the room. Whether the project is in Seattle, Stuttgart or Seoul, Blaisse and her team of designers collaborate with some of the world's top architects to rethink the boundaries between inside and outside.

Window coverings are an integral part of architecture – and everyday lifeFor Blaisse, the things we use to cover our windows play a fundamental role in a building's design. "I view blinds and curtains as an integral part of architecture," says the Dutch designer, "things that must converse fluently with the essence of the architecture."

Blaisse strives to make window coverings complement rather than compete with a space's overall context and patterns of use.

"Ideally, window coverings become an active part of your daily routines and influence how you move about in a space. If they are done right, they play a role in the choreography of everyday life as you move through your day and your changing needs for privacy, climate and light. These are things that we adjust to all the time."

Change the blinds, change the room
The movement of light and shadow through different materials is endlessly fascinating to Blaisse. She distinguishes between "dead" window coverings that block all light and "live" coverings that are translucent, and let you see movement on the other side. And there's no doubt as to where her preferences lie.

"Personally I don't really like dead window coverings. They are too definite, and they express no movement whatsoever. As soon as some light passes through a window covering, however, it comes to live. Materials can also be more or less alive. Imagine if they are silver or mirror-like and reflect what's happening in front of them, or pick up ambient colour. Other materials provide three-dimensional depth through unique weaves, folds or tufts. They are interesting because they let light through in different gradations."

According to Blaisse, the play of light, shadow and the elements, time shifts and weather changes, are endlessly beautiful in itself. That's why she believes blind design should often be more minimalistic than majestic. If they are to be used as a canvas, one must proceed with care. "Depending on their transparency, coloured and patterned window coverings can have an enormous effect on interiors and the impression of a building from the outside."

A fascinating game of light and movement
Even though Blaisse has worked at the cutting edge of her craft for more than thirty years, she is still surprised by the effect window coverings have on a room. For example when she worked on a house with large roof windows and automatic blinds.

"It had just rained and everything was wet. All of a sudden the sun came out, and the blinds moved to cover the roof window, so the raindrops on the window reflected on the white cloth of the blind. Then a cloud covered the sun and the blind retreated, so the raindrops cast their shadows on the walls. It was a fascinating game between that roof blind, the weather and the glass – such a beautiful collaboration."

Encourages students to break the rules
Kent Holm, Global Director of Decoration and Sun Screening Products at VELUX Group is convinced that the competition could not have found a more competent jury member than Petra Blaisse.

"Petra Blaisse has beautifully demonstrated the strength of design that refuses to be categorized," he says. "Her work transcends the usual classifications to connect inside and outside, light and shadow. We're thrilled to have the chance to work with her, and we hope students will be inspired by her example to think in some highly alternative ways."

Blaisse is curious to see what students from around Europe will come up with in the design contest. "There are so many possibilities on this threshold between inside and outside," she says. "I'm interested in discovering what new impulses the students will offer. I hope more students will go beyond the existing recipes and try to create something that is truly experimental. I always say that to be successful in the design profession you have to be incredibly driven and curious."

The VELUX International Design Award
The VELUX International Design Award 2014 was established to discover the blinds of the future. The competition invites design students – either individually or in teams – to join in the VELUX Group's innovation process to develop coverings for roof windows that go beyond the ordinary – and make a real difference in the quality of people's lives.

Are your windows dressed for the winter cold?

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Most of us have dug out our winter coats and mittens to keep us warm in the cold months to come. But not many of us spare a thought for the fact that we can save energy by cladding our windows for the cold season in winter clothes.

It is a perfectly natural reflex: when we have to go out into the cold, we put on a warm coat to keep warm. If we are cold indoors, we probably put on an extra jersey but maybe we also turn the heating up a bit. On a bitter evening, when the cold is biting outside, our homes can seem a little chilly and it is tempting to reach for the thermostat.

But we actually keep the warmth in better on cold days and evenings by rolling the blinds down. This applies to roof windows in particular – special energy blinds keep the warmth in the room thanks to built-in insulation material.

"It's a really good idea to fit energy blinds on roof windows – because the aluminium be-tween the two layers of pleated materials boosts the insulation. The warm air in a room rises, and if you roll the blinds right down, they help to maintain temperatures, so the room will be more comfortable to spend time in when it's cold outside," says Ghita Borring, Head of VELUX Media Relations.

When rolled completely down, an energy blind provides up to 34% extra insulation on each roof window.

Multi-functional energy blinds

But there is more to an energy blind than saving energy – it also has a good blackout effect and looks good, thanks to the structure of the folds. What is more, it is adjustable – as it is not fixed at top or bottom, it can be moved up and down the window to any position, block-ing out the sun and prying eyes and yet letting in the light.

"When you have an adjustable blind like the energy blind, you can sit and read your news-paper by the window and enjoy the light without being blinded by the sun. You can position the blind to offer screening just where the sun is strongest," says Ghita Borring, Head of VELUX Media Relations.

So, now it is time to prepare for the winter.

Read more about the innovative VELUX energy blind and take a look at the many possibilities and stunning colours at:

http://www.veluxshop.dk/produkter/velux-products/energigardiner

Sidebar:

The VELUX Group has launched its energy blind in nine different colours. It is a double-pleated blind with an internal coating of aluminium between the layers of material and fitted with a cloth that gives an effective blackout effect. The blind is versatile and can be posi-tioned precisely on the roof window where you want it and can be rolled up and down. The energy blind is easy to click onto the roof window with the patented Pick&Click!® system. It can also be combined with a VELUX insect blind, awning or roller shutter.

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About the VELUX Group
The VELUX Group creates better living environments with daylight and fresh air through the roof. The VELUX product programme contains a wide range of roof windows and skylights, along with solutions for flat roofs. The Group also supplies many types of decoration and sun screening, roller shutters, installation products, products for remote control and thermal solar collectors for installation in roofs. The VELUX Group, which has manufacturing companies in 11 countries and sales companies in just under 40 countries, represents one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector and its products are sold in most parts of the world. The VELUX Group has about 10,000 employees and is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family. For more details, visit www.velux.com.

VELUX Teams up with International Design Guru

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

World famous designer, Karim Rashid, has created a new collection of eye-catching blackout blinds for the VELUX Group. The partnership is a new design approach by the VELUX Group to work together with internationally acknowledged designers. Karim Rashid is a leading figure in the field of modern design and considered by some to be a cultural provocateur. His perspective and clients are global and his projects range from products, interior design and fashion to furniture, lighting design and art. His designs are 'democratic' in the sense that they are accessible and affordable by everyone. The VELUX blinds collection by Karim Rashid includes four unique patterns, each in two different colours, from vibrant pink and acid yellow to black and white. Available video includes an edited package.

The VELUX Group teams up with international design guru

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The partnership is a new design approach by the VELUX Group to work together with internationally acknowledged designers.

Karim Rashid is a leading figure in the field of modern design and considered by some to be a cultural provocateur. His perspective and clients are global and his projects range from products, interior design and fashion to furniture, lighting design and art. His designs are 'democratic' in the sense that they are accessible and affordable by everyone.

As a designer, Karim Rashid is always looking for ways to maximise light in his interior designs.

"Daylight is essential for our well-being and ability to think positively - and VELUX makes exceptional quality roof windows, flooding spaces with daylight. However, to create an intimate and recreational space, light control is an absolute must – for sleeping, working or privacy. So when VELUX asked me to design a blackout collection, I was excited to get to work with light versus darkness. Blackout blinds are the key to maintaining a satisfying sleep cycle and ideal for bedrooms and other spaces where complete light control is a must," says Karim Rashid.

A small piece of art
The VELUX blinds collection by Karim Rashid includes four unique patterns, each in two different colours. Depending on individual preferences, customers can choose from vibrant pink and acid yellow or more subtle designs of black and white. Inspiration from digital technology on the one hand and floral motifs on the other, adds a modern yet poetic look to the collection. The new patterns complement contemporary homes and have a sense of bringing an abstracted 'digital nature' into the home. Moreover four of the designs have beautiful and decorative metallic details creating a vivid texture."I want people to see a blind not as a genuine standard product but as a small piece of decorated art that adds beauty and even determines the style of the interior decoration," explains Karim Rashid.

Total darkness for day and night
The VELUX Blinds Collection by Karim Rashid lets you take full control of light and provides the best total blackout for both day and night. Perfect for afternoon naps and those lighter summer nights, blackout blinds are ideal for installing in bedrooms - the tight-fitting blinds prevent any light from entering the room. The new design collection fits any VELUX roof window perfectly without any adjustment and installs in minutes with the unique VELUX Pick&Clicktm system.

Great design for everyday living
Teaming up with one of the design world's most prolific designers demonstrates a new design approach in the VELUX Group.

"Choosing to work with Karim Rashid came from the recognition that if you want to be innovative, you have to experiment and demonstrate courage in the design process. So working together with internationally acknowledged designers like the 'King of Colors' represents a new experience at the VELUX Group. Usually our products serve the purpose of being discrete, but the new designs by Karim Rashid attract attention and add another feature besides quality and value for money to our products. We have already worked with one of the most respected proponents of Green Design, Ross Lovegrove, who designed the VELUX Suntunnel by Lovegrove that was launched earlier this year," says Kent Holm, Global Director of Accessories at the VELUX Group.

Product information
The VELUX blinds collection by Karim Rashid is sold by selected retailers or can be ordered directly at www.velux.com/products/blinds shop/default.aspx

Find your national blinds shop or showroom and pick original blinds.