How vision and expertise work together perfectly
With the invention of windows, we created practical and weatherproof elements for light, ventilation and views. They were an ingenious idea from the builders right from the start. HIRT kinetics has set itself the task of further improving and optimising this invention with the support of precise technology. The result is HIRT kinetics windows – silent and retractable window fronts that seem to work like magic. They open up rooms and create space for a new feeling of freedom. They remove boundaries, because the inside becomes the outside. Nature and buildings merge. A completely new form of aesthetics and interaction emerges – pure quality of life.
A window is more than just a hole in the wall
A brief journey through time shows why windows are such an important invention. Early humans sought shelter from harsh weather conditions in caves. It was only around 12,000 years ago that the idea of building permanent houses arose. A hole in the wall provided a remedy for the lack of light, but this created new problems: the opening allowed the heat from the fireplace to escape outside, while wind and cold penetrated inside. A shop-like cover made of animal skins or wood was initially an attempt to get this problem under control. These temporary solutions lasted for millennia. It was not until the 12th century that it became possible to produce glass surfaces that were smooth on both sides. But glass was a real high-tech product at that time, which only the clergy, princes and kings could afford.
Until the late Middle Ages, the windows of farmers and ordinary citizens were made of parchment or linen. Shutters were used to protect against the cold. In the 20th century, glass was finally produced on an industrial scale. This made the material affordable for everyone. Soon, some buildings were made almost entirely of steel and glass.
A marvel of Swiss craftsmanship
For a long time, windows were a desirable barrier. They let light into the house, but kept everything else out – heat or cold, smells and noises. However, this also meant that they shut out real life. Ultimately, it’s a logical question: what if …?
What if the inhabitants of a house could shape their own lives as they pleased and windows were no longer a barrier but an integrating element? When the sun shines in spring and a gentle breeze blows, you can bring spring into your home. When storms and heavy snowfall arrive, you can curl up in front of the fireplace and make yourself comfortable.
The answer to this question is simple, but revolutionary: Something uniquely new is created, familiar and yet spectacular.
It is precisely this goal – the synthesis of ‘making the inside the outside’ and ‘bringing the outside inside’ at the touch of a button, so to speak – that HIRT moving architecture pursues. Retractable building elements create completely new spatial concepts. They create an unprecedented aesthetic. They offer unrivalled flexibility – in short: the perfect feeling of freedom. HIRT’s precision technology is capable of making entire walls disappear silently and effortlessly. And anyone who can simply ‘magic away’ walls can also turn windows into something very special.
HIRT kinetics windows offer endless possibilities
With HIRT kinetics windows, the motto is ‘Only the sky is the limit’. We are ultra-flexible here, and you, the builder, determine the size. The final weight is not a limiting factor, because HIRT kinetics windows are not hung in the traditional way like normal windows. They stand on a supporting structure that can easily hold and move tonnes of weight. Walls and window fronts become virtually weightless. All we need is an efficient and super-quiet motor and a technical room to house the counterweights, among other things. The possibilities are almost endless:
If you want to expand your thinking and break out of old patterns in a conference room, simply lower the HIRT kinetics window fronts. This allows fresh air and a breath of fresh air into the room. Ideas will just bubble up!
If you want an indoor pool for the winter and an outdoor pool for the summer, you no longer have to choose. Simply build a pool house with HIRT kinetics fronts. This allows you to remain flexible: lower the window front to merge your pool with the outside world when the weather is nice. Raise the window front to be completely protected from wind and weather.
If you want to bring the city vibe into your café or hotel and spread your message through scent, then the same applies here: simply lower the HIRT kinetics windows and a wonderful coffee aroma will waft through the city. This creates a completely new symbiosis and interaction with your guests, day tourists or ordinary city dwellers. You couldn’t ask for a more inviting atmosphere!
No technical compromises
HIRT window technology meets the highest standards in terms of safety, airtightness and thermal insulation. We tailor the design, production and installation entirely to your requirements.
You specify the dimensions. For example, with the small HIRT kinetics SF 90 model, we can achieve a width of up to 6 metres and a height of 6 metres. The maximum window area may be 18 square metres in total. The HIRT kinetics SF XL model has virtually no limits. Standard components are used for areas up to 40 square metres. Only then do we move into areas where we use the HIRT kinetics SF Custom series. The largest HIRT window project to date was 20 metres long. The window façade weighed 7,500 kilograms. Impressive, isn’t it? But it could be even bigger and more impressive. HIRT kinetics are simply limitless!
Once the dimensions have been determined, it’s time to focus on the details and ask the question: what else should the window be able to do? Triple glazing is standard today. Safety glass, even with bullet resistance, is also possible. The window glass can also be fitted with a sun protection coating. With HIRT kinetics SF 90, glass up to 63 millimetres thick can be used, and with HIRT kinetics SF XL, up to 70 millimetres. Everything at HIRT kinetics is subject to the highest safety requirements. The windows are built in accordance with the strict CE standard. SUVA – the Swiss equivalent of the German TÜV – has even confirmed the prescribed CE conformity through a type examination. Compliance with the Machinery Directive guarantees the safe operation of the technical components.
HIRT kinetics windows can perform various tasks. They can function as a simple window front or be combined with an entrance and exit. Installing a swing door or sliding door is generally no problem. Additional electronic monitoring is then installed to ensure that the door is locked when the entire front is moved.
Perfect thermal insulation properties
With HIRT’s window construction expertise, no wish remains unfulfilled when it comes to thermal insulation. From the outset, we designed the aluminium profiles used to be thermally separated. In addition, a sophisticated system of seals ensures that there are no draughts in HIRT kinetics windows: not even the slightest breeze can be felt.
The retractable window fronts are 100 per cent sealed thanks to the use of four sealing levels – watertight from the outside and airtight from the inside. At the heart of this is the pneumatic seal – a clever invention that normal windows do not have. With HIRT kinetics, a sealing bead that is actively inflated presses against the window profile. It acts as a reliable vapour barrier. Warm air cannot escape to the outside.
This is also confirmed by measurements. The heat transfer coefficient (U) of a HIRT kinetics drop-down front can be up to 0.75 W/m2K. The lower the U-value, the lower the heat permeability. In practical terms, this means that as a builder, your house will lose hardly any heat through the HIRT kinetics windows in winter. In summer, it stays cooler because the interior does not heat up as much through the windows thanks to HIRT kinetics technology.
The sophisticated sealing system achieves thermal insulation standards that normal windows with a U-value of 1.0 to 1.3 will never be able to match. HIRT kinetics windows meet the highest insulation standards with permeability class 4, enabling homeowners to save enormous amounts of energy – and therefore costs – on heating and cooling. As with technology, we do not compromise when it comes to sustainability and climate protection.
In all weathers: you can rely on HIRT technology
The pneumatic seals are controlled via the technical room. An impulse causes the seals to inflate. In addition, brush seals remove coarse dirt and ensure a harmonious transition between the frame and sash. For maximum comfort, we also recommend installing a warm air duct to compensate for the lack of heat reflection from the glass.
You will hardly notice any of the technology behind HIRT kinetics window fronts. The entire control technology and the necessary counterweights are concealed in the technical room. It also serves as a ‘parking space’ for the retractable components. This is where the silent motor, drive shaft and pneumatic components are located. They work together with the precision of a Swiss watch and can be controlled exactly from the living room at the touch of a button. Homeowners need not worry about power failures. There is an emergency closing system that can be operated manually with little effort. HIRT technology is low-maintenance and wear-resistant because we use extremely high-quality components such as sealed ball bearings and special coatings to protect against corrosion. This means that even sand and salty air have little chance of causing damage. The guidelines stipulate periodic maintenance every two years. Frequently used elements should be serviced annually. In addition, remote maintenance via an internet connection is possible at any time.
There are certainly many individual questions surrounding statics, installation time, drainage, accessibility and safety. Simply get in touch with us. We will be happy to explain all the details to you in a personal consultation and can then answer specific questions about your planned project. Choose HIRT moving architecture and open a new chapter in construction. Benefit from a previously unknown level of ease and freedom. Bring a whole new attitude to life into your home – with all its spheres: indoors and outdoors are now possible in one and the same space.
New project: A spectacular summer retreat in the Hamptons
We have just completed a project in a breathtaking estate in the Hamptons near New York.
