GKD-USA Awarded Patent For Illumesh® Illuminated Metal Fabric
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Illumesh® Illuminated Metal Fabric has been used on projects the world over. Two stunning examples can be found in the 118-foot Indemann Observation Tower in Germany (above) and the of Atelier a Torcé manufacturing facility in France (below). Photos of those projects were courtesy of ©Maurer United Architects (Indemann) and GKD-USA (Torcé) respectively. Click images to enlarge.
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Cambridge, MD – GKD-USA, a leading manufacturer of woven metal fabrics, has been awarded a patent for its Illumesh® Illuminated Metal Fabric product. Illumesh® works by allowing system-integrated LED lighting to project light onto the reflective metal mesh surface creating a brilliant projection. The span of illumination can be controlled by the angling of the LEDs, which can be focused on a specific area or blanket the entire façade. Illumesh® is now protected under patent 7,513,644 B2.
“The Illumesh® product is ideal for projecting large scale images,” said Mike Leonard, technical director, Mediamesh® and Illumesh Systems for GKD-USA. “Compared to other conventional illumination systems, Illumesh® offers high resolution dynamic imagery within the context of an extremely durable, energy-efficient material.”
As a transparent material, Illumesh allows for a media façade but does not inhibit natural ventilation, lighting or views to the outside. All of which affect a building’s energy efficiency as it eliminates the need for mechanical ventilation and lighting.
Illumesh® has been used on buildings all over the world to add awareness and visual appeal. In France, both Illumesh® and MediaMesh® helped to transform the façade of Atelier a Torcè, a manufacturing facility, from a dull structure to an ever-changing display of light and color. The fabric covers 1,600-square-feet using seven large panels of Illumesh®.
Designed as a symbol of the structural-political evolution of a former mining district, the 118-foot Indemann Observation Tower in Inden, Germany serves as a visual representation of progressive planning for the future. The tower features a transparent skin of Illumesh® interwoven with 40,000 separately computer-controlled LED lights that glow magnificently to create a spectacular light show.
About GKD-USA
With a 75-year tradition of German engineering, precision manufacturing and technical innovation, GKD has evolved a collection of extraordinary woven metal fabrics engineered for the architecture and design communities. The MetalFabrics™ are produced in various weights, textures, and degrees of transparency and flexibility and are specified by internationally renowned architects and designers in interior and exterior applications worldwide. For more information, visit www.gkdmetalfabrics.com.