Deployable shutters

Overview

This was an experiment directed by Professor Stephen Gage at the Bartlett School of Architecture in 2008-2009 to demonstrate the use of external insulating shutters on a pavilion building. The shutters serve different purposes depending upon the prevailing conditions. At night time they can be closed to insulate and reduce heat losses through windows, this can also apply during cold weather as well as when space is unoccupied. They may also be used to provide shade during summer periods when there is the risk of overheating. At other times the shutters are simply opened to admit daylight through the generously sized windows.

Professor Gage and his students from the 'Interactive Architecture Workshop' at the Bartlett designed and constructed the experiment by recycling a standard shipping container to form the pavilion's shell. One side was removed and refitted with nine full height single glazed timber framed windows. The remaining sides of the container were insulated and dry lined.

My involvement was to experiment with the use of heat-motors to operate the shutters by passively harvesting ambient and solar energy to open and close them in response to the prevailing conditions.

The demonstration pavilion served to raise the awareness for Architects and their Clients of the potential for improving the thermal performance of windows in new buildings as well as refurbishment projects using the principles of thermally insulated window shutters and operable mechanisms for their deployment.

[Historical examples]

[Exhibition]