The Design of Ecological Buildings:

Shading

Traditional shading technology

New shading technology

1

What not to do - Beijing housing:

vegetation but not much shading

What not to do Balconies are

enclosed and no
longer provide
shading

What not to do
worst case
Which way is south?
Where is the window
shading?
Can occupants
possibly be
comfortable without
air conditioning?

Mediterranean Climate
Closest to the ideal climate - warm
but dry with mild winters. People
must protect themselves from the
intense heat of summer and extreme
light by shading and thermal mass.
Life slows down in summer, as
cooling is not always affordable.
Arcades and verandahs create
microclimates merging the bright
outside with the cold dark indoors

Marine West-coastal climate

Not too hot, not too cold the
oceans have a calming influence on
the temperature on land. The strong
winds and rain that come with the
cold winter make this a good
environment for people to work in,
as long as they have warmth and
protection
A balance is required between
daylight and insulation large
windows allow natural lighting and
ventilation.
The low embodied energy of
Georgian houses, using brick,
wood and glass, has proved very
sustainable for over 200 years

Subtropical Climate
A pleasant climate for most of the
year, but summers are humid so
ventilation is a necessity.
The Japanese and Chinese
developed systems of dynamic walls
to create buffer zones between
inside and outside, providing more
comfortable summer spaces.
Houses in the southern US use the
porch as a buffer zone. In Japan the
sliding screens allow maximum
cross ventilation. Chinese
roundhouses contain a protected
fully sustainable community

Solar Shading

Villa Shodhan, Ahmadabad

Unite Building, Marsailles, France

Shading devices and roof gardens provide excellent shade and comfort for
south facing walls
8

Window
shading in
Mumbai,
India

10

A school in Gujarat, India note the

depth of the facade

The Design of Ecological Buildings Lighting and Shading

International Seminar on Green Housing, Guangzhou, China, June
2002

11

Solar Shading

Protective shading in Brazil. Adjustable louvers between fixed vertical

concrete fins
12

Housing in Zimbabwe another

deep faade and a good use of precast concrete

13

New facade technologies

many new high rise buildings in Europe are experimenting using double
skin wall technology- allowing natural ventilation and adjusting to summer
and winter climate conditions
14

Shading Design
1. Determine
when shading is
needed

15

2. Determine
elevation and
azimuth of
sun when
shading is
needed

16

3. Choose a shading device

fixed .

17

 or movable

18

In hot
climates,
southfacing
windows
are best
because
they bring
in the least
heat
19

4. Determine
size of shading
device
Example:
movable
south-facing
shading
20