GLASS HOUSE

Considered one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world, Brick Bay is renowned for its exceptional wine bar. The owners brought in New Zealand architect Noel Lane to build this unique wine tasting venue, called The Glass House, in the heart of their vineyard. A combination of glass, steel, coloured plexiglass and wood, this building awakens the senses of the wine lover with a 360° panoramic view of the property: the lake, the natural environment and the vines. In 2007 the building won the national award of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.

To achieve this result, the architect drew on Mermet's experience in solving the inherent problems of a restaurant made entirely of glass walls and a glass roof:

• the need to control light and heat
• to control sound quality (the materials used initially did not absorb sound)

By installing Mermet's Acoustis® 50 fabric, it was possible to solve both problems at the same time, while also enhancing the building's aesthetic qualities. 

As a result, the Acoustis® 50 fabric: 

• filters light without darkening,
• blends in perfectly with the interior. The Sandstone 00070005 colour has been chosen to achieve a completely natural effect,
• reduces ambient noise and provides a real acoustic quality, which is rare in these types of bars,
• avoids the usual condensation effect under glass surfaces and guarantees a healthy atmosphere; the fabric is air-permeable and very thin and therefore does not offer any thermal resistance

The large width of the fabric (250 cm) allowed us to create large panels while reducing the number of joints: 10 panels were installed, each measuring 3.6 m x 4.2 m. 

Acoustis® 50 is the first solution based on exclusive coated glass fibre technology with special weft and diameter control. And the first material that does not require any additional substances (foams, coatings, etc.). This patented weave is the first to give textiles such a high level of acoustic absorption. 
 

A major innovation, Acoustis® 50 fabric also has all the characteristics of Mermet fabrics:

• non-flammable classification, 
• excellent mechanical resistance (breaking, tearing and folding resistance), 
• good dimensional stability, 
• easy to use, 
• compatible with most blind mechanisms

©  Brick Bay Wines - Noel Lane Architects - SP Blinds - Mermet