SOLAR PROTECTIVE SHIELD

Type : PROJECT / PRODUCT DESIGN
Patent : N/A
Year : 2005
Status : Complete
Studio : VS-A
Client: UNIVERSITÉ DE PAU ET DES PAYS DE LADOUR
Graphic artist : SUZANNE KOHL

Sometimes a fixed solar shading is just the most appropriate solution. The simplest we could imagine was to add a sheet of reflective metal to the building facade. This sheet has multiple scientific-looking symbols cut by water jet and where possible these symbols are manually folded to create a spattering of light wells.

Such fold angles correspond with the facade’s orientation towards the sun’s azimuth with a certain weighting of whimsy. The result is a shimmering of reflected Sunrays, landscape, and surrounding context.

Of equal importance, the daylight that filters through to the program space is of an incredibly soft quality… perfect for a library.