After the past few summers we've enjoyed (some more than others) here in the UK, it seems clear that we're all going to have to get used to living with higher temperatures – and for many of us, in order to remain comfortable while doing this, a few home upgrades to prevent overheating will be in order.
While summer might be fading away, now is actually the ideal time to be planning and putting in place some methods of solar shading – and one of the most architecturally stylish methods of shielding a house from the full force of the sun is a brise soleil. It commonly comprises a number of horizontal fins or louvres that project out from a building, usually over large expanses of glazing.
This feature comes in many forms and can be adapted to suit all kinds of different house styles – if you are still unsure if a brise soleil is right for your home, our round-up of some of the most beautiful examples around might just help you decide.
1. Mirror internal shading with your exterior design
The use of brise soleil is not restricted to outside as a means of solar shading – it can work well inside too when combined with areas of ceiling glazing.
The design of this extension to a 1930s property, by TiggColl, incorporates a triple barrel vaulted ceiling that has been mirrored in the Douglas fir canopy that extends from inside to out, shading the highly glazed rear.
The form of the brise soleil allows for plenty of natural light to enter the reception rooms within, yet prevents overheating or glare – all while adding plenty of architectural interest.
Architect David Tigg, director of TiggColl, explains more about the concept of brise soleil. "French for 'sun breaker', it significantly helps with overheating and glare for rooms the face onto the sun throughout the day – something that is particularly important in the summer months as our climate changes.
"Brise soleil is a great alternative (and far more environmentally sustainable) to energy-hungry air conditioning or other forms of mechanical cooling systems," he adds.
Before founding the practice in 2008, David worked at leading firms including Wilkinson Eyre and Marks Barfield Architects. At TiggColl, David leads the largest and most complex projects, including established residential, co-living, and high-end student accommodation developments. His design ethos emphasises excitement, energy, and humanity – seeking inspiration in everyday life.
2. Consider using brise soleil for your planting scheme
As well as providing shade and an additional layer of architectural interest, depending on the style of brise soleil you opt for, it can become a structure on which to train climbing plants.
In the case of this timber design, by Micah T Jones Architect, the aim was to shade the house from the high summer sun while allowing the low winter sun to seep through to help with warming the house during the colder months.
The plan is also to allow planting to grow up the brise soleil gradually with the aim of blurring the boundaries between inside and out.
3. Take a tailored approach to brise soleil design
Brise soleil is not a one-size-fits-all solution for every house and its design very much needs to take into account the exact needs of each individual property.
Within the overall design of this project, Pitched Passivhaus by RDA Architcture + Interiors, a brise soleil was incorporated and runs the entire width of the rear of the house, where it shades the expansive sliding doors.
Thanks to careful consideration of the orientation of the house, its interiors benefit from both solar gain when it is needed, as well as protection from the sun's heat during the summer.
4. Inject some industrial chic with a metal structure
In certain instances it is better to create shade not just over glazing, but also to either side of it in order to provide a solution that works no matter where the sun might hit.
The single storey extension to this terraced property, by Paul Archer Design, is shaded from the sun by a galvanised steel canopy, designed to mirror the form of the roofs of the houses.
Plenty of natural light is still able to penetrate through the grid formation of the structure, which also creates some interesting patterns thanks to the interplay between light and shade.
5. Get creative with a grid pattern
While the most common form brise soleil tends to take is that of a set of linear louvres, you shouldn't feel restricted here – there are other options to explore.
As part of TiggColl's design of this accessible home, a free-spanning timber canopy was designed, with a 'diagrid' roof which projects out over the extension with its large glazed doors.
The canopy not only shades the ground floor bedrooms that lie within, but also mean that play on the terrace need not grind to a halt should the weather take a turn for the worse.
6. Explore vertical brise soleil as well as horizontal
Depending on the form and orientation of your house, it might be that taking a vertical approach to your brise soleil could be a better option than something that projects out horizontally.
Vertical fins or louvres, either fixed or adjustable, can be the perfect way to let light in but keep unwanted heat out – plus they add a huge amount of character. Additionally, some really interesting light effects can be created internally as shadows play across the walls in response to the movement of the sun.
This two storey extension, by Paul Archer Design, features a structural glass box, designed with the intention of allowing sunlight to reach into the core of the interiors. To provide shading, as well as architectural interest, the upper floors have been clad with Douglas fir battens, which run both inside and out.
7. Use the concept of brise soleil for your pergola
While situated separately from the house, the structure of this pergola, designed by Hugo Campion Exteriors, mirrors the horizontal timber cladding used on the property it sits adjacent to, resulting in a pleasing sense of continuity.
Combining a laid-back palette of grey and white, the shade structure provides a dining area that not only keeps its occupants cool during al fresco lunches but also happens to heat and light up after dark.
Adding a brise soleil-style addition to your pergola ideas is a great way to ensure the space feels sheltered yet connected to the garden.
8. Provide shade to upgrade your balcony time
Balconies make perfect viewing points but they can, at certain times of the day, very much benefit from some form of solar shading, as can the spaces they lead off from.
Architect James Munro, of Pace Architecture, explains the approach he took to the design of this Art Deco coastal property. "On this project we used brise soleil across the new upper storey to control solar gain – it stops heat getting to the glass in the first place as opposed to just filtering solar gain once it's already inside.
"In general terms it is not simply a case of meeting building regulations, you need to take a more holistic approach to building physics, site orientation and the design itself," adds James. "The move towards ever increasing areas of glazing has created a challenge – ever-increasing specifications to reduce heat loss, but arguably the bigger issue now to overcome is controlling too much heat gain."
James is an Architect with over 20 years experience working on homes for clients. He has delivered many complex large scale renovations, including new basements, swimming pools and multi-unit mixed used developments for commercial clients. His expertise includes working on listed buildings and obtaining challenging planning consents across all London Boroughs and across the South-East. His ethos for a successful end result, is having a collaborative, customer-centric service with an emphasis on attention to detail, considered design solutions and high-quality materials and suppliers, as well as working with trusted partners in the construction industry.
9. Take your brise soleil across the width of your patio
If you require both patio shade, as well as a way of preventing solar gain within a heavily-glazed extension, a full-width brise soleil could provide the solution.
The extension added to this detached 1930s house, designed by Jeff Kahane + Associates, features slim-framed sliding doors set that sit within an opening spanning more than 12 metres.
The solar shading has been taken care of with customised louvres that are constructed from concealed stainless steel fins clad in Accoya timber.
10. Use a lightweight timber structure just where it's needed
There is no need for brise soleil to feel overwhelming or to completely steal the show – in some cases, keeping things simple can be the better option.
In order to prevent this kitchen extension, designed by Pace Architecture, from overheating, a stylish angled louvred timber structure has been fitted above the bifold doors.
Not only does the pergola-style brise soleil direct the sun's rays away from the kitchen, but it also mirrors the timber flooring used within, as well as sitting in pleasing visual contrast to the modern aluminium frames of the patio doors.
FAQs
Can you retrofit brise soleil?
While brise soleil is often designed into a structure from the off, there are cases where it later becomes apparent that it could be needed.
It is possible to buy off-the-shelf brise soleil, designed to be fitted to existing structures, but it is important to check that the wall can take the additional load. In most cases, brick and block houses will be fine, and lightweight aluminium brise soleil are a great way to ensure this.
That said, David Tigg points out that it is still worth checking that you won't be breaking any rules by adding it later down the line. "Brise soleil can certainly be retrofitted but be careful about local authority requirements, such as the need for planning permission."
While brise soleil is a great way of preventing overheating, you need to take a holistic approach and this includes looking into the best types of glass for your windows and architectural glazing.
