GUARDIAN GLASS × HOPLITES MANAGEMENT
Natural light transforms architecture. Controlling solar radiation transforms the comfort of buildings. With HMA, explore Guardian Glass glass solutions for your projects in Africa.
Why choose Guardian with HMA? ↓
ARCHITECTURE, LIGHT & COMFORT
Guardian Glass develops glass solutions that combine transparency, architectural aesthetics, solar control and thermal insulation. The facade becomes a space for dialogue between the building, its occupants and its environment.
Through Hoplites Management, we support architects, design offices, developers and companies in the selection and specification of glazing adapted to the requirements of their projects in West, Central and North Africa. Our role: link your architectural intention to the characteristics of the glass, its transformation and the conditions of production.
WHY CHOOSE GUARDIAN WITH HMA?
A glass facade must meet an architectural ambition, the comfort of the occupants and the constraints of construction. Choosing Guardian Glass with HMA means bringing together documented glass solutions and support to adapt them to your project in Africa.
References: Burj Khalifa · Dubai ↗ Tour de l’Entente · Abidjan ↗ Borj Attijari · CFC ↗
In buildings exposed to the sun, transparency must be accompanied by consideration of comfort. SunGuard glazing makes it possible to seek a balance between visible light and transmitted solar energy.
For your project: select a level of solar control consistent with the orientations, glazed surfaces and facade protections, then evaluate the effect with building studies.
A facade bears the identity of the building. Color, reflection, transparency and perception of interior spaces must be able to be studied together. The different SunGuard families open up several rendering and performance possibilities.
For your project: compare the samples and the compositions while keeping as benchmarks your aesthetic intention and the requirements of the specifications.
Light transmission, solar factor and Ug coefficient take on their meaning when associated with a defined composition. The Guardian sheets and the Glass Analytics tools enable exchanges between architects, design offices and companies.
For your project: have explicit hypotheses to examine variants, prepare for consultation and validate expected performance.
A bank headquarters in Casablanca, a hotel in Dakar or an office tower in Abidjan do not have the same uses or the same exposures. The choice of glass must also take into account acoustic, safety, processing and supply constraints.
For your project: organize a selection adapted to the site and the speakers, with availability, formats and deadlines to be confirmed before commitment.
The right choice is based on a comparison of solutions meeting the same requirements. The price of glazing is studied with the necessary treatments, dimensions, transformation and logistics; the effects on energy and comfort are analyzed at the building scale.
For your project: prepare a consultation that makes the variants comparable and allows informed decisions to be made.
Hoplites Management supports discussions around the specification and facilitates coordination with Guardian technical resources and project stakeholders. Questions of design, composition and feasibility can thus be addressed in the same approach.
For your project: advance your selection, from first intentions to samples, necessary studies and preparation for the consultation.
For the diversity of SunGuard solutions, their documented performance and the possibility of building a suitable response with HMA. The final choice is based on your project: expected rendering, composition, technical requirements and commercial conditions.
Our support commitment: to help you transform these criteria into a clear specification, to compare the options and to identify the necessary validations.
01 / WHEN LIGHT MEETS TECHNOLOGY
In a building heavily exposed to the sun, the facade must find a balance between natural light, views, glare and thermal gains. It is at the heart of this balance that the choice of glazing lies.
The SunGuard® functional layers modify the behavior of the glass in the face of solar radiation. They make it possible to combine different light transmissions with levels of solar control and insulation adapted to the chosen composition.
The glazing thus contributes to the quality of use of the spaces: views to the outside, light to be distributed across the floors and solar gain to be controlled in line with the façade protection and building equipment.
The effect on energy consumption is verified by a study of the building; it also depends on the orientation, the glazed surface, solar protection and uses.
THE SUNGUARD® RANGE
Selectivity and transparency
The SNX family uses triple silver layer technology. It makes it possible to seek significant light transmission while controlling solar input.
For facades where the light of interior spaces and solar control must be studied jointly: offices, hotels, health or educational establishments.
Explore SNX 70 ↗Architectural neutrality
The SuperNeutral layers combine solar control and thermal properties, with a neutral appearance whose rendering varies depending on the reference and the glass support.
A selection path for tertiary or commercial facades, large windows and projects where the perception of color plays a determining role.
Discover an example SuperNeutral ↗Solar control and aesthetic diversity
The HP range offers several shades and reflection levels to work on the exterior appearance with solar control and insulation objectives.
The choice is made based on the precise reference and its conditions of transformation, implementation and availability on the project market.
Consult the families Guardian ↗These families guide the selection. The actual range available, compatible treatments and dimensions should be confirmed with Guardian and the transformer.
02 / UNDERSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Light transmission describes the portion of visible light passing through the glazing. It is studied with the depth of spaces and the risk of glare.
The solar factor expresses the fraction of solar energy transmitted inwards. A lower value limits these contributions, to be assessed according to the orientation and the climate.
The Ug coefficient characterizes the heat exchanges at the center of the glazing. The lower it is, the more insulating the glazing is; the complete facade has its own performance.
Compare values for the same build-up: glass thicknesses, coating and position, cavity and gas filling, heat treatment and calculation standards. Energy savings require a building-level assessment.
A DOCUMENTED EXAMPLE · SUNGUARD SNX 70 HT
Guardian’s published build-up: 6 mm ExtraClear glass with SNX 70 HT coating on surface 2, a 16 mm cavity filled with 90% argon and 10% air, and 4 mm ExtraClear glass. Calculated to EN 410:2011 and EN 673:2011. Values shown above are those on the manufacturer’s data sheet accessed on 16 October 2026.
These results illustrate a precise composition. They do not describe all SunGuard products nor the overall performance of a window or facade.
Check the composition and values at Guardian ↗03 / ARCHITECTURE AND MATERIAL
The glass gives depth, hue and rhythm to the building. Its appearance changes with the sky, the angle of view and the interior light.
A facade is also chosen from the street: presence in the landscape, perception of volumes, continuity between transparent and opaque parts. Inside, the glazing frames the views and influences the perception of the environment.
Compare the glass support, the transmitted color and the reflected color. A light transmission value is not enough to describe the rendering.
Examine the facade from multiple angles and sky conditions, then coordinate vision glazing, spandrels and other materials.
Observe the samples in their installation orientation and plan a representative model when the visual issues justify it.
Each facade is unique.
Every specification must be as well.
04 / BUILDING FOR AFRICAN CLIMATES
From Casablanca to Abidjan, from Dakar to Kinshasa, sunshine, orientations and uses lead to different choices. HMA studies glazing in its real environment: site climate, facade geometry, exposure and operating constraints.
Balance light from the platforms, visual comfort and solar gain, taking into account external protection.
Preserve views and architectural identity while studying thermal comfort, privacy and acoustics.
Study access to light with the safety, maintenance and comfort requirements specific to each space.
Compare solar factor, light transmission, reflection and selectivity. Study the directions separately to take into account their exposure and external protection.
Define the composition of the insulating glazing, the Ug coefficient and the role of the other facade components. Coordinate the selection with the hypotheses of the energy studies.
Specify the sound environment and objectives for each room. Study the thicknesses, asymmetry and possible interlayers with documented performance for the envisaged composition.
Identify the requirements related to wind, dimensions, risk of impact, personal protection and thermal constraints. Have the necessary treatments and assemblies validated by the competent parties.
Compare solutions based on the same specifications, then integrate the feasibility of processing, formats, quantities, deadlines and logistics to the country of destination.
The calculation hypotheses, the availability of references and the transformation capacities must be confirmed for each operation. HMA facilitates exchanges between design, Guardian and project companies.
05 / ARCHITECTURAL REFERENCES
Three references to discover applications of Guardian Glass glazing, in Dubai, Abidjan and Casablanca Finance City.
01 · DUBAI / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Large-scale glass performance
Burj Khalifa brings together office, residential and hotel uses in a tower whose envelope must cope with the sun and climatic conditions of the desert.
Guardian documents the use of SunGuard® Solar Silver 20 combined with ClimaGuard® NLT Low-E. This project shows the benefit of combining solar control and thermal properties in a composition designed for its environment.
IVORY COAST · THE PLATEAU
02 · TERTIARY ARCHITECTURE IN WEST AFRICA
A new presence in the Abidjan landscape
Tour de l’Entente, presented by Patrick Genard & Asociados, is one of the projects that are renewing the architectural landscape of the Plateau business district.
Its interest in this presentation lies in the place of the facade in a tertiary building exposed to the climate of Abidjan: views, natural light and comfort of the work spaces must be studied together.
Glazing, facade and general contractors: information communicated by HMA. The commercial reference and the composition of the glazing are not specified.
MOROCCO · CASABLANCA FINANCE CITY
03 · BANKING ARCHITECTURE IN NORTH AFRICA
Light and institutional identity at the heart of CFC
Designed by VIGUIER with Uni Archi, this bank headquarters project in Casablanca Finance City combines a tower with a set of offices and landscaped spaces.
The architectural approach articulates the provision of light, solar protection and the relationship with exterior spaces. Guardian Glass supplies the glazing; HMA identifies Talbo as façade contractor and CMS as general contractor for the operation.
Distribution of speakers: information completed by HMA. The glass product and the exact composition are not specified.
This selection does not claim intervention by HMA in these operations. The visuals of Abidjan and Casablanca are accessible from their authors; their reproduction on the site requires the authorization of the rights holders.
06 / FROM DESIGN TO PRODUCTION
The expertise of the manufacturer. The proximity of your interlocutor.
Hoplites Management facilitates the integration of Guardian Glass solutions into architectural projects. We organize exchanges between architects, design offices, developers, general contractors, facade builders and glass processors to advance the specification with coherent information.
Location, orientations, uses, surfaces and architectural objectives.
Compositions and manufacturer data, safety and processing constraints.
Samples, rendering, necessary studies and discussions with project stakeholders.
Technical and commercial consultation, availability and logistical conditions to be confirmed.
GUARDIAN TECHNICAL RESOURCES
Glass Analytics brings together tools to help you choose glass compositions. The Performance Calculator allows you to compare thermal and optical properties; Visualization resources help explore the appearance of glass.
These results accompany the selection and technical exchanges. The assumptions and limits of the tool used must be verified, then the studies necessary for the project validated by the responsible stakeholders.
Go to Glass Analytics ↗YOUR VISION. OUR EXPERTISE.
Are you designing a hotel, an office tower, a hospital or a real estate complex? HMA supports you in the selection of architectural glazing and the preparation of a solution adapted to your requirements.
HOPLITES MANAGEMENT
Glazing specification and technical support
North, West and Central Africa
Sources consulted on October 16, 2026: sheet Guardian SNX 70, sheet SuperNeutral SN 63, brochure Guardian AME and Glass Analytics. Project references refer to publications by the manufacturer, architects or engineers.
The six photographs in the argument are illustrations; they do not represent Guardian achievements or members of the HMA team. Credits: Bradley Andrews, Milad Fakurian, Daniel McCullough, Youssef Bouhsini, Jan Huber and Fiqih Alfarish / Unsplash.
Photographs: Joel Filipe (hero image) and David Rodrigo (Burj Khalifa), under the Unsplash licence. The banner is an architectural illustration whose glazing is not identified. Project photos of Tour de l’Entente and Borj Attijariwafa bank are not reproduced without documented rights.
Performance applies to the defined glass build-up. Energy savings require a building-level assessment. Guardian Glass and SunGuard are trademarks of their respective owners.