Hunter Douglas has launched a new linear wood ventilated rainscreen facade, which is the only product of its kind to have fully concealed fixings.

Linear Wood was inspired by Hunter Douglas’s own range of suspended wood ceilings, which have been on the market for several years.

But this is the first time that the treatment has been adapted specifically for external use as a facade system.

Three sizes of fixing profiles are available, depending on the building’s substructure and required depth of cavity. The fixings clip into small grooves at the rear of the linear wood panels, making it easy for individual panels to be removed for localised maintenance.

The highly durable panels are available in multiple widths and lengths and can be vertically or horizontally mounted.

Juliette Halliday, national sales manager for Hunter Douglas Projects in the UK, said: “Linear Wood is a really exciting addition to our ventilated rainscreen range.

“Wood is such a versatile material, and it adds a great contemporary twist to modern buildings, particularly when it’s combined, or integrated, with other materials.

“Timber is very popular as a building material in the UK, so we’re anticipating a lot of interest. The uniqueness of this product in terms of its completely invisible fixings will provide some fantastic options for architects.”

A wide range of different wood types are available in a variety of widths and thicknesses, each providing their own unique look and offering a large number of design possibilities.

Panels can also be supplied with planed, sawn or rough textured finishes, which will change subtly over the years, giving an organic quality to the building. And they can be coloured to suit the project.

The product can even double effectively as an exterior ceiling system. All wood can be treated to meet European fire retardancy regulations B-S2-d0.

Much of the innovation with the Hunter Douglas product range lies in the fact that it is designed to fully integrate with all other Hunter Douglas products. The panels can be easily combined with windows, doors, sun control and the existing range of aluminium rainscreen systems.