External louvres to roll out only when you need them
Brutalist urban planning is regularly decried in our times as the epitome of ugliness and drabness that exhibits a general disregard of 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 inspired by the thought of making life simpler. While beautiful but malfunctioning buildings increasingly beg for add-ons such as brise soleil, glass louvres or external louvres to keep them aerated, insulated and bright, 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 distinctly 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 keep down 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 attempting to be thriftier though oil bills 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 productivity of our offices. Very regularly workers take pleasure in 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.
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