Brise-soleil: the perfect harmony of style and functionality
When it comes to external solar shading, functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand, creating a balance that influences both the performance and visual appeal of a building. While the primary purpose of solar shading is to regulate sunlight and improve indoor comfort, these solutions have become a key element of modern architectural design.
With thoughtful integration, brise-soleils can transform the façade of a building, offering infinite possibilities for creativity.
When it comes to external solar protection, functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand, creating a balance that influences both the performance and visual appeal of a building. While the primary purpose of solar shading is to regulate sunlight and improve indoor comfort, these solutions have become a key element of modern architectural design.
When carefully integrated, brise-soleil can transform the façade of a building, offering infinite possibilities for creativity.
Functional role of brise-soleil
Architectural solar shading is designed to reduce solar gain, control glare and improve energy efficiency. By blocking or redirecting sunlight, these systems help to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, minimising the need for air conditioning in the warmer months. This not only improves occupant comfort, but also helps to reduce a building's carbon footprint.
The different types of brise-soleil - such as fixed and orientable louvres - can be adapted to the specific needs of a building. For example, horizontal louvres are ideal for south-facing façades, providing optimum shade when the sun is at its zenith. Vertical louvres , on the other hand, are better suited to east and west-facing façades, where sunlight arrives at lower angles.
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.jpg "Blog - brise-soleil Style vs fonctionnalité part 3")
.jpg "Blog - brise-soleil Style vs fonctionnalité part 3")
Aesthetics: Solar shading as a design element
Beyond functionality, external solar shading plays an important role in the overall aesthetics of a building. Today, architects use brise-soleil not only as a technical feature, but also as a visual element that enhances the building's façade. These external shading solutions can be designed to blend harmoniously with the architectural style, or to stand out as bold, defining features.
For example, DucoSun Cubic Design blades, with their clean lines and customisable LED lighting, allow designers to integrate corporate logos or brand names into the solar shading itself. This creates a dynamic look, especially at night when the LEDs light up, offering both functional solar shading and powerful branding opportunities.
Customisation through colours, textures and finishes
One of the most interesting aspects of brise-soleil is the wide variety of customisation options available. From the shape and orientation of the louvres to the colour, texture and finish of the materials, the brise-soleil can be designed to complement or contrast with the building's façade materials, whether glass, wood or metal.
DUCO offers a range of customisation options, including:
- Horizontal, vertical, adjustable or projecting louvres
- Rectangular, oval and parallelogram blade shapes
- Choice of colours, from bright to subtle, depending on whether the shading should stand out or blend into the overall effect
- Finishes such as smooth, perforated or notched
- Integration of LED lighting to highlight specific elements of the façade
These options give architects the opportunity to design a shading system that reflects the character of the building, while retaining a high level of functionality.
.jpg "Blog - brise-soleil Style vs fonctionnalité part 1")
.jpg "Blog - brise-soleil Style vs fonctionnalité part 1")
Case studies: Creative integration of solar protection
Several projects demonstrate the versatility of brise-soleils when it comes to combining functionality and design. In some buildings, brise-soleils are integrated almost invisibly into the structure, aligning perfectly with the windows and façade materials to create a coherent appearance. In other cases, bold colours and shapes are used to make the external solar shading a focal point, transforming the exterior of the building into a work of art.
Faraday House - London
The eight storey building Faraday House in London is clad in hand-finished copper alloy, reflecting warm light into the spaces around it. But uncontrolled and excessive sunlight can seriously disrupt the experience of comfort. For this reason, the architect opted for structural solar shading. The DucoSlide panels ensure a drop in the average indoor temperature of up to 12% to combat overheating.
Watling Palace - London
Watling Place, situated in South Kilburn in London, contains 152 apartments. DUCO Ventilation & Sun Control provides residents with a pleasant indoor climate and the ultimate in living comfort via use of architectural solar shading.
Le Onze - Lyon
A key element of the architectural design of the ONZE building in Lyon is its double facade fitted with DucoSun Ellips vertical solar shading. These shading solutions not only provide effective solar shading, but also contribute to the aesthetic appeal and energy performance of the building.
Customised solutions tailored to architectural styles
At DUCO, we believe that every building is unique. That's why we offer fully customised external solar shading solutions.
We work closely with architects, contractors and owners to ensure that our solutions blend harmoniously with the architectural style while meeting the specific needs of each project.
The DucoSun range offers high-quality solar shading that is perfectly suited to different types of architecture. Architects and designers can easily integrate our solar shading solutions into their projects, whether they are looking for solutions to improve energy efficiency, comfort or visual impact. With its elegant and functional design, the DucoSun range is not just a technical solution, but a true statement of durability and architectural elegance.