New design slat roof débuts on the big stage

Garden architect Gabriella Pape, whose designs can be found all over Europe, spoke at the event about the growing prominence of garden and terrace areas in holistic philosophies of the home and good living. Henning Rieseler, Design Director at Studio F. A. Porsche, who designed the product together with his team, shared insights into the design process. HELLA Managing Partner Andreas Kraler, the evening's host, explained in turn how the new product fits into the company's wider strategy.

Outdoor living – upgrading outdoor areas to gain extra useful living space – is becoming more and more popular. Recent forecasts suggest this particular sector of the market will see annual growth of between around four percent and close to 13 percent over the next few years. Spurred on by these predictions, HELLA has invested in recent years in the development of an innovative new modular slat roof. The resulting product was unveiled at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart in front of over 200 invited international guests. HELLA discussed the benefits of the new model at the event, and Günther Jauch chatted with designer Henning Rieseler and Gabriella Pape, founder of the Royal Garden Academy Berlin, about design, garden architecture and the product creation process. The following day saw guests invited to a business brunch at the HELLA CAMPUS in Geislingen, the company's very own education and training centre, to find out more about the technical features of the product.

The new VENTUR ONE, SUN and SKY models stand out not just by virtue of their performance, but also for their sophisticated looks – the result of a collaboration with Studio F. A. Porsche. The design studio, which is part of the Porsche group, and HELLA, a family-owned company from the East Tyrol region of Austria, share a philosophy centred on reliability, aesthetics and unbeatable quality. 

"The collaboration has created a product that is not just technically compelling, but also makes a very clear statement in visual design terms. This pergola represents the culmination of a partnership fashioned around trust, precision and a shared appreciation of timeless high-end-design," explained Henning Rieseler, Design Director at Studio F. A. Porsche. What really set the product apart, he continued, are the things that are not immediately obvious. The VENTUR models have no visible screws, for example, and no visible mitres. Everything is conceived and shaped in line with an absolutely minimalist design language. "HELLA's requirements regarding assembly and installation have also played an important role. The product has been developed so that it can be installed quickly and efficiently, but there is no risk of damaging components in the process as all technical elements are concealed. This too forms part of what we regard as the basis for high-end design. An uncompromising approach right down to the last detail gives us a product of the highest quality in all respects," Rieseler declares.

"The garden is one of the last remaining private retreats people have, so it is important their garden too reflects their personal philosophy of the home and good living," explains garden architect Gabriella Pape. "Many of my customers consider the creation of a beautiful garden to be an art well worth investing in. It has become part of what it means to make the most of life." The terrace, the internationally renowned expert points out, has particular importance as the "first garden room", the link between inside and out, and deserves especially careful planning to ensure it becomes an attractive additional option for as many occasions as possible throughout the seasons and whatever the weather. Solving this problem in an elegant fashion is exactly what HELLA's new slat roof is all about. It extends living space into the open air and creates a stylish setting for outdoor living.

"Effective, customisable and sustainable in design and longevity – that's what we expect from the sun protection solutions of the future," explains HELLA Group CEO Andreas Kraler in summary. The new VENTUR has been designed to be all these things, including at the technical level. Custom colour combinations, optional integral photovoltaic modules and a choice of mix-and-match glass and textile side closure solutions pave the way for tailored outdoor concepts equally well suited to private gardens, hotels, hospitality businesses and public spaces.

The ground-breaking nature of the new model is especially evident in its technical attributes: stable in winds of up to 137 km/h when open/123 km/h with closed glass elements and capable of withstanding as much as 500 kg/m² of snow, the VENTUR is made for year-round use even in more challenging climates. It is, in fact, the strongest system of its type on the market. The system statics have been tested and certified by TÜV, which means a faster technical inspection process and a smoother journey to the building approvals necessary for the size of system planned in the region concerned.

The details too speak of a remarkable level of innovation: slats that rotate from 0 to 135 degrees, an optimised concealed drainage system for water, a fast and yet particularly quiet drive unit and an easy-to-install design ensure efficiency in both installation and subsequent use. Additional convenience comes in the form of the proprietary ONYX control system, which enables seamless smart home integration and automated responses for sun, wind, rain, frost and snow.

The first model to market will be the VENTUR ONE, which will be available from May. HELLA will then launch the VENTUR SUN model, with photovoltaic slats, at the end of the year and begin production of the VENTUR SKY model, the version with the retractable roof, in the first quarter of 2027.

The new slat roof will be on display at HELLA's brand experience worlds in Geislingen (Germany), Vienna and Abfaltersbach (Austria), Bruneck (South Tyrol) and Wil (Switzerland) from mid-May.