Introducing Solara: A New Way to Shape Light, Space and Facade Detail

For more than 30 years, Fairview has supported architects, builders and installers with facade solutions designed to bring clarity, consistency and confidence to every stage of a project. As buildings become more expressive in form and more demanding in performance, the way designers control light, privacy and facade depth has become just as important as the cladding itself.

Today, we are pleased to introduce Solara, Fairview’s new architectural batten and sunscreen system. Solara expands our facade offering in a meaningful way, giving architects a single, cohesive source for both cladding and screening solutions that work together in colour, materiality and performance.

Solara is a natural extension of the Fairview range, engineered to deliver the coordination, efficiency and reliability our clients already expect from us.

 

What is Solara?

Solara is an architectural batten and sunscreen system available in aluminium and terracotta, giving designers flexibility to manage solar control, privacy and visual identity. It is engineered to integrate seamlessly with Fairview’s cladding range, offering:
 
  • Coordinated colours and finishes
  • Aligned technical documentation
  • Consistent performance standards
  • A single supplier solution

 

Solara Aluminium: Lightweight, Durable and Versatile

solara aluminium - profiles

Solara aluminium battens are designed for projects requiring precision, durability and installation efficiency.
 
 
Key benefits:
 
  • Advanced finishes: Woodgrain, anodised and premium powder coat options designed for UV stability and long term colour retention
  • Lightweight strength: High strength to weight ratio for easier handling and faster installation
  • Corrosion resistance: Suitable for both interior and exterior environments
  • Installation flexibility: Multiple fixing methods to suit different design and compliance requirements
  • Clean linear aesthetic: Long profile lengths reduce visible joins
  • Sustainable material: Aluminium is fully recyclable without loss of quality

 

Solara Terracotta: Natural Performance and Design Depth

 

 

solara terracotta - profiles

 

Solara terracotta battens offer a distinctive materiality with rich tones, texture and long term durability.
 
Key benefits:
 
  • Natural colour range
    Fired finishes, oxides and glazes create tones not achievable with coated metals. Colour is locked into the material for life
  • Unique profiles and textures
    A wide range of shapes enables varied shadow effects and façade articulation
  • Long lifespan
    Highly durable and resistant to weathering
  • Low maintenance
    Anti static surface helps reduce dust build up. Rain naturally cleans the surface
  • Energy performance
    Reduces heat gain and improves thermal efficiency. High thermal mass limits heat transfer
  • Sustainable material
    Made from natural clay and can be recycled or repurposed at end of life
 

 

Why Architects Are Choosing Battens

Architects specify sunscreens and batten systems for four clear reasons: solar control, privacy, thermal performance and facade character.

Light: Battens filter and diffuse daylight rather than blocking it entirely, reducing glare without sacrificing natural light. The result is interior environments that shift naturally as the sun moves through the day, improving occupant comfort without closing the building off from the outside.

Privacy: Battens provide visual separation from the street or adjacent buildings while keeping views and light intact. Occupants benefit from a degree of screening without the compromise of solid panels or obscured glazing.

Thermal efficiency: Battens intercept direct solar radiation before it reaches the building envelope. This reduces heat gain through the facade, limits the load on mechanical systems and contributes to the overall energy efficiency of the building.

Design: Battens add depth, shadow and rhythm to the facade, bringing movement and definition that a flat cladding surface alone cannot deliver.

 
 

Seamless Colour Matching Across the Facade

Solara was developed to work as a natural extension of Fairview's existing cladding families. Colours, finishes and materiality align directly across the suite, so the transition from cladding to batten reads as a single, considered composition.

  • Colours and finishes align with the palettes used across Fairview cladding systems

  • Woodgrain technologies match the tones used in our aluminium cladding ranges

  • Anodised and premium powder coat systems are tested and documented to the same standards

The result is a facade that holds together visually at every scale, from the detail of a single batten profile to the full elevation of the building.

 

One Supplier. One Workflow. One Point of Accountability.

Facade packages often involve multiple stakeholders. When something doesn’t align, responsibility becomes unclear and delays multiply. Solara simplifies project delivery by keeping every facade component under one roof.

This gives project teams:

A single point of contact
For specification queries, samples, design coordination and site support.

Streamlined documentation
Span tables, fixing details, fire compliance, coating systems and maintenance guides all come from Fairview, aligned across the product suite.

Unified warranties
Consistent coverage for coatings and performance across all facade elements.

Simplified logistics
Coordinated deliveries reduce downtime and keep site sequencing efficient.

The result is a facade package that is easier to specify, easier to install and easier to manage.

 

A Complete System for Modern Architecture

The addition of Solara strengthens Fairview’s position as a full‑service facade partner. Designers can now specify cladding, battens, and supporting documentation through a single supplier, with confidence that every component has been developed for compatibility and long‑term performance.

Solara brings new ways to shape light, create rhythm and define the facade, while reinforcing the efficiencies and consistency that come from working with a single, established manufacturer.

Complete your facade with Solara Architectural Sunscreens.