Page 137 - AGC_EN_iBook

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tHe GLaSS LOuVReS
The louvres are made of laminated glass panels, with parallel white stripes screen-printed on both sides.These stripes on either side are offset with respect to each other, meaning that the glass can only be looked through obliquely, as with a Venetian blind whose slats are tilted.
A motorized mechanism ensures that the sun is kept at right angles to the louvres, while the offset stripes stop any direct sun- light. however, the diffusion along the edges of the stripes associ- ated with diffuse sunlight means that a lot of light is let in without a dazzling effect.This in turn provides natural lighting inside the building without any overheating.
The louvres on the north and south facades are installed vertically, while those on the east and west facades are horizontal. When in the east or west, the sun is relatively low and the vertical louvres are better able to track it, leaving the facade more open than would be the case with horizontal louvres. Conversely, with regard to the south facade, horizontal louvres are much more suitable for catch- ing the sunlight when the sun is higher.
The system is thus effective in all circumstances:
– When the sun is shining at a right angle to the facade, the louvres are shut completely, stopping direct sunlight, yet letting in diffuse light and enabling only limited oblique views. however, this situ- ation is rare and only applies to the east and west facades early
in the morning and late in the afternoon between 21 March and
21 September.
– When the facade is not subject to direct sunlight, the louvres are positioned at right angles to the facade, letting in diffuse light and enabling unobstructed views.
– In intermediate situations where sunlight falls obliquely on the facade, any direct sunlight is intercepted, while diffuse light is let in. Views are available at a right angle to the facade, between and through the louvres.
The horizontal louvres of the north and south facades are
17.52 mm thick and 290 mm wide.Their length is equal to
a facade module, i.e., 1.35 m.
The vertical louvres on the east and west facades are 25.52 mm thick and 327.5 mm wide. Each is divided into four sections of different lengths (from top to bottom: 2.730, 1.309, 2.291 and 1.385 m).
The detailed development of the louvres’ geometric and technical properties was the subject of rigorous studies and tests conducted both at the AGC Glass research centre and in the Daidalos Peutz laboratory in the Netherlands, and resulted in the ling of an application for a European patent.
ThE DOUBLE SkIN FaCaDE WITh ITS GLaSS LOUVRES