Members of the UK Green
Achilles Building Confidence
Diamond Synchrotron
Light Years Ahead - A totally bespoke Solution
Levolux has developed a new and totally bespoke system for use on the new Diamond Light Source, a new scientific facility currently being built in South Oxfordshire on the Harwell Chilton science campus.
efficient control of light and solar heat gain and easy maintenance access
The new brise soleil louvre system, that provides efficient control of light and solar heat gain within buildings, whilst offering safe and easy walk on access for maintenance, has been developed by Levolux.has helped to create the now famous ‘doughnut’ shape of the new building.
The Walk-on-Brise Soleil has been installed behind a set of 600mm and 450mm wide fabricated, perforated aluminium fins to allow cleaning and maintenance access to the exterior of the building. An alternative to extruded fins, the fabricated fins allow for finishes to be added; in the case of the Diamond Light Source, perforations. This provides a softness to the fins whilst also reducing their overall weight.
an aesthetically pleasing and distinctive curved look
The fins and Walk-on-Brise Soleil have been installed to provide an effective solar shading solution for the occupants of the building whilst creating an aesthetically pleasing and distinctive curved look to the building.
a rigid safe working platform for maintenance and window cleaning
The Walk-on-Brise Soleil system has been designed to perform as a rigid safe working platform for maintenance and window cleaning around the exterior of the facility whilst still performing its primary function as an effective and architecturally attractive solar shading solution.
The system comprises a series of ‘J’ tread elements, ingeniously spaced to provide effective shading of direct sunlight whilst creating a safe platform. Featuring non-slip tops, they are produced in lightweight extruded aluminium.
a simple pragmatic system
“We worked closely with Levolux to develop a simple pragmatic system that provides solar protection for the naturally ventilated perimeter offices and laboratories, and access for cleaning and maintenance, whilst creating the dramatic external form. The Louvres vary in number, pitch and size around the circumference of the 235 metre diameter building to optimise their shading performance for each orientation.” Crispin Wride – Design Director – Jacobs Architecture.
The system is designed to support a 1KN point load at 1,000mm centres with support arms spaced at 3,000mm – equivalent to maintenance use by one individual only. To ensure a totally safe environment, handrails or fall arrest systems can be incorporated into the design.
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| Architect: | Jacobs Architecture |
| Products used: | Aluminium Fins |
| Walk on Brise Soleil | |
| Bespoke Solution |