Overheating at home? Why a Brise Soleil could be the architectural feature you need in Bristol.

After such a hot summer and seemingly never ending heatwaves it didn't come as a surprise that a couple of my projects and enquiries in and around Bristol this year were for Pergola's or Sun Shades or if you prefer the more architectural term - Brise Soleil.

Somewhat more surprisingly was the fact that people even with triple glazing high performance composite aluminium and timber windows are still suffering with solar radiating heat from the glass.

I think the technical definition of a Brise Soleil is an "architectural feature of a building that reduces its heat gain by deflecting incoming sunlight. The system allows low-level sunlight to enter a building in the mornings, evenings and during winter but cuts out direct light during summer".

It has been all the rage for the last few decades to have more and more glass put in houses, even ones with south facing aspects. Many extensions, new builds and oak frames have almost entirely glazed elevations - stunning views of course! But future proofing with our warming climate? Time will tell I suppose.

If you visit traditional houses in Southern Europe you will often find very thick stone walls with very small windows, usually set right in to the interior side. Where they do have windows to the exterior in more urban settings you'll find exterior shutters. This is all to stop the sun hitting the glass which is the main gain to avoid over-heating.

In comes a Brise Soleil so single storey extensions or downstairs elevations with lots of glass. A beautiful multi functioning feature to the rear of the house that can deflect the sun and provide shade. If well designed they can also offer a really lovely cosy feeling space that brings the inside out - think evenings dining outside.

Also they can provide a structure to grow things like Wisteria or grapevines.. As well as offering a structure to hang a swinging bench from? Or possible some gymnastic rings?

Check out this one from earlier in the year we made in Bishopston, Bristol. The front frame is traditionally built using pegged mortice and tenon joinery with a scarf joint pinned with stainless steel bolts for a contemporary touch to match the stainless steel post shoes.

The main frame is built with Douglas Fir and the battens on top are Western Red Cedar, grown, felled and milled in Shropshire.

We installed this in the middle of a heatwave, before we arrived the clients had hung bed sheets all over the outside of the windows! After we left they said the difference it had made was huge and the impact was immediate.

If you would like to commission something similar check out my website here and get in touch.