Heat Wall

Due to site or conceptual constraints, it is not always possible to achieve optimum solar radiation orientation i.e. away from the hot east or west tropical sun. As the east facing front elevation of this house was required to be as light & transparent as possible, the solar radiation needed to be controlled for a few hours in the morning - depending on the time of year.

A double skin wall was custom designed with glass to the external facade (due to the ‘lightness’ required) and an internal adjustable HW louver skin that, when closed, traps heat from the solar gain which then exhausts by natural convection through openings to the steel structure at high level.

When the sun has moved around, both the glass walls & HW louvers can be opened for light, ventilation & view.