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As with so many such developments, brise soleil and other sorts of natural climate control have been around a while but are now becoming very popular due to cost and environmental reasons. A ‘sun breaker’, as the concept translates, can be a very simple structure (little more than a well-placed wall), or it can be very complex, as with the extensive and mechanical wing-like structures in use. Other variants are glass louvres and several forms of external louvres.

The overall idea in all cases is to avoid using unnecessary power to control the temperature in a building by making more effective use of natural resources. During the course of a day, and through the changing seasons, any face of a building will receive greater or smaller proportions of sunlight. The trick is to maximise the ‘passive’ heating provided by the sun in the winter, whilst making sure that in the summer the level of sunlight is lowered and ventilation increased, to keep the building cool. Obviously, getting the balance wrong could result in freezing or stifling temperatures.

Whilst some forms of external louvre are extremely complex, other types are really simple. Brise soleils can be little more than a wall, placed in such a location as to reduce the sun at certain points of the day and year. Louvres are generally positioned to allow the building to receive low-angle sun – at the beginning and end of the day, or during the winter, when the sun never rises very high in the sky. Higher-angle sun, at hotter points of the day and year, is stopped.

What this means is that the temperature of a building can be controlled far more easily, reducing the need for extra energy on heating or air-conditioning systems. It also makes for a more comfortable office, because the air has not been heated or processed to the same extent – something that can leave it dry and recycled. This means people are more comfortable, happier – and therefore more productive.

There are many examples of brise soleil and external louvres, which can be retrofitted to buildings. The simplest glass louvres are merely slats which open and close depending on the present conditions. However, depending on your needs and budget, there are some really imaginative examples around, which add to the character of the building and are part of its architectural appeal, as well as any functional upside.

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Brutalist urban planning is often decried in our times as the epitome of ugliness and drabness that exhibits a general lack of feeling for its inhabitants. The fact remains, however, that the avant-garde architects at the forefront of this building style – Le Corbusier, for example – were in fact most motivated by the thought of making life more smooth-running. While beautiful but malfunctioning buildings increasingly need add-ons such as brise soleil, glass louvres or external louvres to keep them aerated, insulated and light, the likes of The Barbican in London has these kinds of sensible instruments already built into its structure. Of course, many people would not want to sacrifice old or attractive buildings that contain within in them quirks and memories. Most people would not want to rebuild whole towns and cities using Brutalist master Le Corbusier as a guide. But the fact remains that we still hanker after more efficient living and working spaces that are more comfortable because the air circulates within more freely and the sun does not come glaring in.

The brise soleil actually increases heat flow through buildings, meaning that sharply contrasting ice-cold and stuffy rooms within the same building can be a thing of the past. Certainly, these features turn buildings into better ‘machines for living’. Intelligent and environmentally friendly as heat balancing systems, brise soleils have the extra benefit of helping to lower our heating bills: you won’t find yourself turning a radiator up to full blast in one particularly chilly room any more because the device redistributes and balances heat fairly and appropriately between spacious and cold and smaller, usually warmer rooms.

At a time when we are all trying to be thriftier though oil costs are rising, such a ventilation and heating system really is a worthwhile investment. Beyond the home, the working environment can also benefit from modern systems that maximise the functionality of our offices. Very regularly workers enjoy and benefit from getting direct sunlight as they work but in some buildings pleasant brightness can quickly turn into a headache-inducing glare. To minimize this unwanted side-effect an external louvre is recommended: consisting of extendible slats akin to a mechanical awning, this piece of architectural ingenuity can be rolled out at the times when the sun is at its harshest and rolled back again at will. glass louvres can function similarly but, tailored to the individual’s needs, are often the first choice of architectural style hunters.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/

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