In these times, in which the newspapers carry a new story on the prevalence of cancer almost daily, we are well aware of the need to wear sunscreen, particularly in summer between the hours of 11am and 3pm. We are less aware, meanwhile of the need to screen the buildings we inhabit from the sun – though there is a whole variety of brise soleil specially adapted to this purpose. And, while buildings are clearly not at risk from cancer, they should be causes of concern: careful upkeep of our buildings exteriors can help keep the insides running well. Energy efficiency, for example, can be greatly improved by controlling external factors such as heat and light. A building that uses glass louvres will normally require less internal heating and use of costly fuel. And buildings with external louvres can act simultaneously as blinds and as air vents for the intake and discharge of cool or hot air. The latter, in hot climes or seasonal temperature highs, will perform much the same function as an air conditioning system – only at a much lower long term cost.
External louvres come in many different guises and can even be custom-designed and fitted to suit specific buildings. This is because their fabricators are sympathetic towards the hugely divergent styles of architecture in existence these days, but are also knowledgeable of their common needs when it comes to heat regulation. To give an idea of what external louvres look like, it might help to imagine a heavy slatted blind or a set of narrowly overlapping sails. Given their placement outside, these sun-shading devices are always weather resistant with little maintenance required after their installation. This might be welcome news if the façade of your building currently looks shabby or is in constant need of repainting due to weather-related cracks and peels; external louvres will protect whatever lies underneath them, behaving much like defensive shields.
Glass louvres are more modern in appearance: think of the Louvre of the Parisian art gallery and you’ll have a good idea of their aspect. Clearly, some more traditionally minded home and building proprietors will not desire these sorts of additions in their midst. But, given enough space such as a courtyard or green space, these louvres can really come into their own. brise soleil perhaps tread a middle ground: more conspicuous than external louvres they are useful in the creation of walkways between buildings, jutting out like awnings from the wall.
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