Design trends come and go but the need for sustainable, safe, and stylish fenestration systems remains as important as ever. In our latest blog, we explore how some of our most popular aluminium solutions can help bring the latest architectural trends to life in your next project.

Aluminium – an architectural all-rounder

Aluminium is a great building material, and when used to create fenestration systems such as doors, windows, curtain walls, and shop-front glazing, the design possibilities are endless. The use of powder coating to enhance aluminium frames with specialist finishes and a pop of colour is an enduring design trend, but increasingly, growing awareness about embodied carbon and environmental impact means that aesthetics must be balanced with sustainability. Fortunately, here at Senior, we have our own state-of-the-art powder coating facility, which is one of the most efficient of its kind, helping to reduce waste and the risks associated with outsourcing this important part of the procurement process. Add to this the fact that we can now manufacture our products from aluminium that has a lower carbon footprint, and it’s clear to see how we can work with architects, designers, and specifiers to create fenestration packages that perform as well as they look.

Curtain walling – making minimalism work

Minimalist design looks set to continue to dominate architectural trends in 2025 and aluminium curtain wall systems are a great way to create clean lines and wide views across façade designs. Both our SF52 and SF62 aluminium curtain walling systems have been developed to achieve this ‘less frame, more glass’ aesthetic by combining sleek, modern profiles that offer exceptional durability and thermal efficiency.

Aluminium systems are the perfect partner for this minimalist trend where daylighting is also favoured. That’s because of the inherent strength of aluminium, which allows much larger expanses of glazing to be supported in much slimmer frames. Our SF52 curtain walling system offers a versatile solution for low and high-rise applications, ensuring that buildings not only look stunning but also meet the stringent thermal and weather performance standards required in today’s competitive market. Similarly, our bespoke SF62 system provides enhanced structural capabilities, making it ideal for projects that demand larger spans or for projects such as high-rise schemes where structural movement may be a challenge.

By offering slim sightlines that encourage a greater flow of natural light and frame wider views, these systems allow designers to incorporate elements of minimalistic design into their schemes.

Doors – heritage styles for old and new designs

Heritage-inspired designs are seeing a resurgence as architects and developers increasingly look to replicate classic door styles with modern systems. This demand has directly fed into the development of our new aluminium Ali VU heritage door. Offering a choice of two transom designs, alongside a selection of heritage-style handles and backing plates, it pairs effortlessly with our popular aluminium Ali VU heritage window to deliver a cohesive, authentic look.

As well as helping to meet planning requirements, particularly if properties are located within conservation areas, heritage style fenestration systems have also made a home for themselves on new-build schemes. The demand for this style has led to the creation of a new generation of aluminium heritage doors that offer exceptional combines timeless thermal efficiency which not only meet but exceed current regulations.

Windows: Thermal-efficiency styles with added value

Thermal efficiency remains the most important issue of fenestration design and this shows no sign of changing in 2025, driven by focus on meeting Part L targets and those that are expected as part of the anticipated Future Home Standard. Our extensive range of high-performance windows has been designed to help our customers achieve compliance with these regulations and we have worked hard to offer more than one solution.

Safety and automation are also at the forefront of window design, highlighted by the recent introduction of the Building Safety Act and further updates to fire safety standards. Windows that offer automatic opening ventilation (AOV) meet this need head-on and we have already seen a surge in interest for our own offering. Based on the same aesthetic design as our popular SPW600 aluminium window system, the AOV version is fitted with a smart actuator which allows for quick and automatic ventilation in the event of a fire to help to remove smoke from the air.

Our PURe® range of aluminium windows offers a variety of design styles that all provide low U-values. These include parallel push-style windows. This type of window can be easily pushed open and yet will remain parallel to the wall, enabling rooms to be safely ventilated, but with the limited opening helping to reduce the risk of falls from the window. Similarly, where access to the exterior façade is difficult, overswing-style windows provide an effective solution as they are fully reversible. This enables the outside of the glass and frame to be safely cleaned from the inside.

A Partner for Success

No doubt there will be new challenges this year, but plenty of opportunities too. When it comes to ticking multiple boxes, we are proud that our range of aluminium curtain wall systems, doors and windows offer more than one solution. That’s why aluminium fenestration remains such an enduring and popular choice across the construction industry and a trend that never goes out of fashion.