Brise soleil structures are used in buildings worldwide. Le Corbusier first developed this solar shading system in the 1930s to regulate light and heat for a comfortable environment. In this article, we take a closer look at how brise soleil works in modern architecture.
Brise Soleil: A Brief History
Brise soleil solar shading was first developed by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in the 1930s for his work on multi-storey glass buildings. With his controllable solar shading system for the Ministry of Education & Health building in Brazil, he revolutionised passive energy control.
The name brise soleil comes from two French words – briser (to break) and soleil (the sun). Le Corbusier created a system of blades that broke up the sun’s rays, providing temperature and glare control.
How does a brise soleil system work?
When the sun gets in our eyes, we reach for a sunshade. Brise soleil performs a similar function for your building.
The orientation of the building is critical for a brise soleil system to work effectively. The sun travels on an east-west arc and reaches its highest point in the south. As a result, brise soleil solar shading is most effective on south-facing buildings.
For example, the summer sun in the UK reaches a maximum angle of 62 degrees. Rising temperatures and an additional 4-5 hours of sunlight a day create a greenhouse effect, and the glare and temperature can quickly become uncomfortable.
Brise soleil blades are commonly made from aluminium, such as those from https://alusystems.uk, or timber, and can be aesthetic as well as practical.
A well-designed solar shading system effectively mitigates glare and overheating. Solar shading can be fixed or automated to control exactly how much sunlight enters your building, reducing the temperature and creating a comfortable internal environment.
Final thoughts
Brise soleil solar shading can be retrofitted to an existing building or custom-designed for a new project, creating a productive environment. Passive solar shading is also highly sustainable, reducing your building’s carbon footprint and energy use. As the climate changes, brise soleil is well worth considering for your next design.
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