Most modern buildings face a bit of a challenge – how to let in natural light while also keeping out excess heat. The brise soleil, which means ‘sun breaker’ in French, solves this problem by working as a sun shield for buildings. This smart design feature helps buildings stay comfortable, save energy and also look stylish.
What Is Brise Soleil?
A brise soleil is a set of slats that are placed outside the windows of a building. These slats can block direct sunlight, but they still allow softer natural light to enter the building. This simple idea was made popular by the architect Le Corbusier in the mid-20th century and has become a key feature in modern building design.
How It Works
When direct sunlight enters through windows, it creates a greenhouse effect that heats up the rooms inside your home or business. The brise soleil blocks this direct light but lets in the ambient light, which means that rooms stay bright without getting too hot. The result of this is that buildings need less air conditioning, which saves energy and money while also keeping people comfortable inside.
Different Types
Buildings can have different kinds of brise soleil depending on their shape, size and location. Horizontal slats work best on south-facing walls, but vertical slats are better for east- and west-facing walls. Fixed systems stay in one position, but adjustable systems can move to track the sun throughout the day
Materials Matter
Builders choose the materials for a brise soleil based on how they look and how well they perform. Aluminium is light, doesn’t rust and comes in many finishes, steel is stronger and can be used for larger designs, and wood gives a natural warm look. Firms such as alusystems.uk/brise-soleil-solar-shading/ offer aluminium blades for the outsides of buildings.
More Than Just Practical
Beyond just keeping buildings cool, brise soleil also adds style to the architecture. The patterns of light and shadow created by these systems give buildings character and visual interest. This shows how good design can solve practical problems while also making buildings more beautiful.