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case studies /

Long Span Solar Shading Fins Help Landmark Project Meet Its Goal

The world's largest single-piece extruded aluminium solar shading fin 700mm wide, spanning a massive 9 metres, together with a series of motorised fabricated, perforated fins measuring up to 10.5 metres long and 1 metre wide, has helped a state-of-the-art speculative office building to meet its objective of providing occupants with the perfect internal working environment.

The five-storey Building 5 at Chiswick Park, developed by Stanhope and designed by Richard Rogers Partnership, provides 140,000 sq ft of office space and 14,000 sq ft of retail space.

Now the seventh building to be completed at the development, Stanhope, Richard Rogers Partnership and Arups wanted to improve on the performance of previous buildings - and so enlisted the help of Levolux, market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of solar shading solutions.

In their commitment to sustainability, each of the previous buildings features a low energy displacement air system for cooling. To minimise solar heat gain within the building and provide control of light and glare, a variety of external solar shading had also been fitted.

Pushing Forward the Boundaries of External Solar Control

For the new building, the design team wanted to push forward the boundaries of external solar control by creating a solution to work with the low energy displacement air system and maximise its effectiveness at cooling the building in a sustainable way. The solution also had to be unobtrusive so that views from the building's interior across the landscaped gardens were not obscured.

Using its extensive knowledge of shading solutions, Levolux worked closely with the design team to design a new solution. As a result, the world's largest single piece extruded aluminium fin and a new motorised perforated, fabricated fin were born.

The single piece extruded fins, measuring 9 metres long and 700mm wide, dwarf the previous largest model at 500mm wide. These were fitted as a fixed canopy at roof level, providing protection to the south and east elevations.

an effective method of reducing solar heat gain whilst still allowing natural light

The motorised, perforated, 1 metre wide fabricated fins were fitted along the south and east elevations running from roof level to the first floor level. 12 bays 9 metres wide plus 1 bay 10.5 metres wide were fitted with a total of 191 fins, providing an effective method of reducing solar heat gain whilst still allowing natural light to penetrate the building through the perforated aluminium surface. 500mm wide perforated motorised fins were also fitted to the west elevation.

To enable the low energy displacement air system for cooling to meet its full potential, Levolux also installed a control system allowing the motorised fins on the south, east and west elevations to accurately stay ahead of the sun and shade the building during the day.

The control system, programmed with accurate details of the buildings position and orientation together with the sun's position and movements, gradually tilts the fins to provide precise solar control throughout the day. A stand alone system, it makes the best use of the varying weather conditions to create a comfortable interior environment without the need for integration to a Building Management System.

Uninterrupted Views From The Inside, Uncompromised Aesthetics from the Outside

With the ability to span such large distances, the 9 metre and 10.5 metre long fins significantly reduce the need for structural support and fixing elements. This ensures that the views from inside the building are uninterrupted and the external aesthetics of the building remain uncompromised and less cluttered.

Now complete, the new fins are helping Building 5 to offer occupants a truly comfortable, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing working environment; Building 4 is now under construction with a similar array of shading.

"We are very pleased with the finished article at Building 5," commented Benjamin Lesser of Stanhope. "The louvres are a great success. Levolux rose to the challenge well and we continue to work with them as partners on the Park."

 

Architect:	Richard Rogers Partnership
Products used:	Aluminium Fins
	Electronic Controls
	Bespoke Solution