In the east, it's common for people to pull out parasols as shelters from the hot sun. The Madrid Pavilion by the 3Gatti Architecture Studio employs a similar technique, making use of umbrella-like elements to act as brise-soleils.
A skin of copper-colored Corten steel covers the big rectangular box. Rows of decagonal cutouts are all over this perforated cladding, capable of being contracted from central points in order to let in more light by preference. Because different parts of the building will require different levels of exposure throughout the day, these umbrellas can be operated individually by the occupants of the Madrid Pavilion by 3Gatti. This is a clever and contemporary solution to the bamboo shutters that used to envelop the Shanghai Expo structure.
What's Driving This Trend
- Umbrella-clad Architecture
- Using umbrella-like structures as a design element for shading and light control in buildings.
- Perforated Cladding
- Designing perforated cladding that can be contracted or expanded for customizable levels of light exposure.
- Individualized Control
- Integrating user-operated individual controls for shading and light exposure in building design.
Who This Affects Most
- Architecture and Design
- Opportunities for architects to incorporate innovative shading and light control elements into building designs.
- Construction
- Developing new techniques and materials for perforated cladding and user-controlled shading mechanisms in construction.
- Smart Home Technology
- Incorporating intelligent shading and light control systems in smart home technology through user customization and convenience.
