A sponsored publication produced in collaboration with Aquarius Blinds, a specialist installer of commercial and residential awnings, pergolas and blinds, supplying bespoke shading solutions across London and the South East for over 40 years.
Some awning specifications test the limits of what a typical contractor can deliver. Heritage restrictions prohibiting facade fixings, completed roof membranes that cannot be penetrated with standard brackets, building sites where scaffolding has already been struck, and late-stage appointments where design and construction have to run in parallel. All are examples of projects many installers decline, and the exact ones that Aquarius Blinds is increasingly called upon to resolve.
The South East-based specialist has built a strong reputation in the architectural sector over the last four decades, working alongside architects, structural engineers, and principal contractors on technically demanding projects. As one of the region’s leading Markilux installers, it combines in-house fabrication capability with access to the full Markilux range.
Two recent projects demonstrate what such partnerships have achieved.
Grade II Listed Penthouse, Chelsea, London SW3
A private penthouse on Manresa Road in Chelsea presented constraints that several manufacturers had already declined. The Grade II listed property, undergoing major refurbishment, required solar shading across 13 metres in three separate areas. Door heights exceeded three metres, and heritage restrictions prohibited any fixings to the building’s facade. Standard wall-mounted awnings were immediately ruled out.
Working alongside main contractor LDB Construction Ltd and structural engineers Michael Barclay Partnership, Aquarius Blinds developed a bespoke freestanding solution: three Markilux 6000 cassette awnings on a Markilux Syncra framework, with posts secured to the terrace deck using specialist fixings. The installation was phased over 14 months to align with the wider programme, with the Syncra framework installed during the main construction phase and the awnings crane-lifted to the penthouse for final commissioning.
The result is a fully automated system that covers the entire front elevation, with the Markilux 6000’s clean architectural profile sitting comfortably within the refurbishment, without any compromise to the building’s listed status.
Residential Atrium, Westbourne Grove, London W11
At a high-specification property in Notting Hill, two large skylights, each spanning five metres wide, sat above a double-height atrium and were generating significant solar gain and heat build-up.
The enquiry, passed via architect Studioshaw Ltd and main contractor Westgreen Construction Ltd, was initially for an internal solution. Aquarius Blinds assessed the project and recommended an external Markilux Awnings system, capable of stopping solar energy before it reaches the glass, which performs materially better than managing heat once it’s already inside.
The over-glass awning Markilux 8800 Tracfix system was specified for its ability to span up to seven metres in a single unit with a near-invisible retracted profile. Two constraints required bespoke engineering:
- The liquid-applied roof membrane had already been completed, rendering conventional surface fixings useless. Aquarius Blinds designed and fabricated custom steel brackets in-house, fitted with Integrated Fixing Points for cold roof construction to create secure, watertight fixings without compromising the envelope.
- Scaffolding had also been struck before the awning units were ready. Rather than reintroducing temporary access structures, the team deployed a hydraulic lift to raise both Markilux 8800 units from street level to the fourth-floor roof.
After a ten-week design and coordination phase, the on-site installation was completed in a single day. The system integrates with the client’s Lutron building management system via a Somfy RS485 interface, with automated deployment triggered by rain, wind, and solar sensors. When retracted, the units are effectively invisible from the atrium below.
A contractor built for complex specifications
Both cases came with constraints that had already deterred other contractors and required Aquarius Blinds to contribute as a design and engineering partner, rather than simply an installer, working directly with architects and principal contractors to develop solutions that were buildable within the programme.
The company employs no salespeople and no subcontractors, with all fabrication, installation, and commissioning handled in-house. That gives project teams a single point of accountability across the project lifecycle.
For architects working on complex or high-specification schemes, Aquarius Blinds offers a dedicated awnings service for architects, covering design consultation, structural coordination, CAD detailing, programme alignment, and full installation. Further case studies and recent installations are available on the company’s website and the team is available for CPD sessions, specification support, and site visits at any stage.