Brise Soleil – Simple But Effective Climate Control

Construction, Sun Protection
As with so many such developments, brise soleil and other types of natural climate control have been around a while but are now becoming increasingly popular due to cost and environmental reasons. A ‘sun breaker’, as the phrase translates, can be a very simple structure (little more than a judiciously-placed wall), or it can be very complex, as with the huge and mechanical wing-like structures in use. Other variants are glass louvres and several forms of external louvres. The general idea in all cases is to avoid using unnecessary power to control the temperature in a building by making good use of natural resources. During the course of a day, and through the changing seasons, any aspect of a building will receive greater or smaller proportions of sunlight. The trick…
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Aluminium curtain adding more than just style

Sun Protection
It’s always pleasing when good looks and practicality go together. Whether it’s a pair of well-fitting jeans, a carefully chosen antique fruit bowl or a hip yet functional family car, most people would prefer to combine beauty with function wherever possible. This holds just as true for buildings, particularly when many aspects of function are non-negotiable due to energy-conscious building regulations. From this need has grown the increasing market for the brise soleil, aluminium curtains and external louvres. You may not be familiar with these terms but you will have seen them numerous times, probably without registering that they were anything more than a stylish flourish to finish off a building in need of an identity. Not so. The term ‘brise soleil’ effectively means ‘sun block’ in French and it…
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