French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have put their spin on the humble roller blind using textiles the duo created for Danish brand Kvadrat (+ movie).
Launched in Berlin yesterday, the Kvadrat Roller Blinds are the Bouroullec brothers' take on the simple window-shading device.
The project follows the Ready Made Curtain do-it-yourself kit that the Bouroullecs designed for the brand in 2013.
"The roller blind was a typology we couldn't challenge," said Erwan. "Ronan and I simply wanted to make a perfect construction – to treat this everyday object with decency and respect."
"It is refined, like a Swiss watch," he added.
The duo created a trio of monochrome textiles for Kvadrat: Stratus, Nimbus and Cumulus. All three are designed to help control light levels, glare and temperature, as well as the ambience of a space.
"We did a lot of research into the textiles and their relationship with light," Erwan said. "The textiles not only introduce positivity and colour; they can change the ambience of a space in an instance."
The material is stored in an anodised aluminium case. The roll is half exposed along its full length, while the top and sides are protected.
A looped cord of metal beads that hangs to one side of the blind can be used for opening and closing. Options for switch-operated and remote-controlled versions are also available.
The blinds can be installed against both vertical and horizontal surfaces, fixing so no screws or hinges are visible.
Frames and textiles come in a variety of sizes and colours. The Kvadrat Roller Blinds are available in Germany, Belguim, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark for contract use.
The Bouroullecs have worked with Kvadrat on a number of occasions. The duo launched their first fabric collection for the brand in 2014, and have previously used its textiles to create a stripy installation at London's V&A museum and a modular room-dividing system.