The Frauenkirche church in the Neumarkt district of Dresden has symbolic value. The hot debate about the reconstruction and how to handle the architectural landmark buildings and quarters led to the restoration of a unique building. Steeped in history yet emanating radiance, today the Frauenkirche attracts visitors from all over the world to Dresden's city center. Neumarkt is home to this Baroque church and the urban center of Dresden at the same time. Recent years have seen the reconstruction of an old town on 34 hectares of space around the Frauenkirche - an architectural feat with an extraordinary blend of tradition and modern. The sun shading systems faced unique challenges in helping to preserve this balance. For each window it was possible to implement a solution ideally suited to specific user needs by installing different models of window awnings and external venetian blinds .

The urban context of prestigious buildings like the Frauenkirche, the Cosel-Palais and Hotel de Saxe with its prominent facade called for a sensitive and restrained approach to the installation of the sun shading systems. The aesthetic overall impression of the facade has to be harmonised with technical and functional requirements without the sun shading system dominating the facades like a foreign object. Especially facades with a historical appearance need sun shading that lends an element of style too. Which is why, in Dresden, specifications for the technical and aesthetic design of the sun shading and glare control systems also had to be fulfilled.

Vertical awnings from WAREMA were used for numerous windows on the top floors of the buildings in Dresden Neumarkt. These awnings provide optimum sun shading and, thanks to their compact box dimensions, can be mounted in the tightest of spaces. Whether at the Hotel de Saxe as a shading system in the hotel rooms or on the top floors of a jeweller's shop – here in a version with a round arch reveal – these vertical awnings offer a high degree of variability in terms of both technology and design. To protect against the wind, the end rails – which can either be visible or pushed into a fabric loop, run in a lateral cable guide or in guide rails.

Sun shading systems have to meet a host of different requirements. In hotel rooms, for example, privacy has to be ensured. Use on office buildings, on the other hand, calls for a better view to the outside while maintaining effective shade, in order to create comfortable working conditions. Basic awnings as markisolettes from WAREMA differ from vertical awnings in the shading effect. When extended, the individually height-adjustable top part of the fabric remains essentially vertical and runs parallel to the window. The room behind gets optimum shading thanks to the height adjustment function. The bottom section of the basic awning as markisolette is tiltable, ensuring an almost unrestricted view to the outside in this area. In addition, the tilted basic awnings as markisolettes enhance the facade effect by a space-creating, almost peppy touch.

Designing the sun shading system for the new buildings, which had not been constructed to a historical blueprint, presented a special challenge. The required scale, materiality and colour shades of the facade had to be implemented and achieved using modern architectural elements. WAREMA facade awnings protect against excessive sunlight on homogenous window surfaces. On setback, split-level storeys, roof structures or arcade entrances, they provide shading for large vertical or sloping facade areas and can be adapted to suit the profile of the facade, even over several storeys. Thanks to the coloured textile finish, the buildings blend well into the overall urban development context of the Neumarkt district.

Front-mounted awnings with drop arm from WAREMA combine efficient sun shading with an unobstructed view to perfection. In Neumarkt, they are installed on numerous ground floor display windows and on the first floor in two restaurants with balcony. Even when the awning is extended, the tilted fabric permits an unobstructed view inwards through the display window, as well as a view from the restaurant onto the street. The end rails, made from aluminium, can be left visible, covered with fabric or provided with a valance. A gas pressure spring integrated into the drop arm ensures that the awning fabric is taught no matter how far it is tilted. The technology is extremely robust and has been tried and proven for many years. Aside one exception, the front-mounted awnings with drop arm were also installed in prepared shafts.

Most of the window awnings were installed in prefabricated shafts and fastened to either the window frame or to the raw facade. Inspection covers, which protect the technology, optically reduce the depth of the shafts and are quick to remove for maintenance work, form the bottom closure. The sun shading and glare control systems are operated either manually or electrically. At Hotel de Saxe, the awnings are additionally fitted with a control, which regulates the sun shading systems by a fully automated process depending on the light and wind conditions.

The quality and the colours of the fabrics used in Neumarkt are based on the users' requirements, the colour scheme of the facade concerned and the stipulations in the city council resolution. Acrylic fabrics that are extremely lightfast, weatherproof, tear-resistant and dirt and water-repellant were used in many cases. Other solutions included special fabrics made from polyester and glass fibre, which ensure an unobstructed view to the outside while providing sun shading and glare control. These fabrics also had to comply with heightened fire regulations. In line with the urban development design guidelines, broken white and ochre hues where chosen in the main, with light grey shades being selected in some cases.

For one modern office building that had not been constructed to a historical blueprint, the main criteria were functional ones. Instead of a textile solution, an external venetian blind system was installed in this case. This system combines extreme practicality with robust technology, which is especially beneficial in positions exposed to wind such as split-level storeys. The external venetian blinds ensure thermal protection with the best possible shading. Their slats can be adjusted almost infinitely at any angle, reflecting exactly the right amount of light into the room no matter what the time of day. When the sun shading system is closed, the matt metallic finish of the aluminium slats matches the tonality of the facade stones used in the block to create an homogenous effect here too.

Contrary to the urban development stipulations, articulated arm and cassette awnings were used in a small number of ground floor areas without an existing shaft and where a shaft could not be integrated. These systems, which are installed in front of the facade, provide both sun shading and wind protection for the extended awning fabric. With the cassette awning, the fabric has all-round protection, whereas the articulated arm awning is partially open and equipped with a rain hood to protect against the weather. Both systems are set apart by robust articulated arm technology with integral springs. The range of consoles means they can be installed in any situation.