Cut-out exterior layer in French bank [596]

The solar protection of the west facade of this bank in Toulouse is settled as a cut-out exterior layer. It is made of an aerated aluminium panel, coated on both sides with two sheets of aluminium, a lightweight and highly rigid material. Its operability is achieved by rotating two of these elements through a common vertical axis. The cut doesn’t follow a regular parallelogram geometry, but has some protrusions and gaps that fit when closed, achieving a total protection.

Operability trough vertical axis makes them very suitable for western façades with low sun. The view of the front facade can be perfect when the leaves are fully open. In certain moments, it might be an effective sunset light collector.

As we can see on the pictures, each sheet is perforated at random, drawing a lot of sparkle inside when the leaves are closed.

General view of the building: 
Place: 
Caisse d’Epargne Headquarters
42 rue du Languedoc
31000 Toulouse
France
Period: 
Observations: 
Photographer: 
BY: 
filt3rs.net