Louvers are more than HVAC equipment. Their role in protecting ventilation points from water damage is vital to the building’s health and safety, but louvers can do so much more. The design of a louver is simple, angled blades in a frame, but it can have many uses in your architectural designs.

Let’s look at a few ways louvers contribute to modern architecture.

Image of a modern building with architectural grilles — In this image, we see vision screens and sunshades on the same facade.

Sunshades

Sunshades are installed near windows and other areas that need shade. Shades can be installed horizontally along the top of the window, or vertically along the side of the window. Their louvered blades are angled to block direct sunlight when it is shining directly into the window. The exact angles will differ from project to project. Also, only certain windows will benefit the most from sunshades.

Direct sunlight generates radiant heat when it shines through a window. Windows facing the sun during the heat of the day should have sunshades. For more details, read our article on six simple considerations for choosing the ideal sunshades. Radiant heat warms up interior spaces. This makes it more difficult to cool the room during the summer months. In a way, sunshades can help contribute to energy efficiency by reducing this heat. Even better, it achieves this passively.

Illustration of sun shades at the University of Michigan's School of Nursing — Note how the shades curve with the building. Sunshades are versatile design tools.

Sunshades accent windows along the building’s envelope. Use them to draw attention to openings. When viewed from below, the louvered blades create straight lines that can captivate onlookers or draw their attention to other features of the building. For example, look at our sunshades at the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing.

Designers added shades to the first and second floors of the building, which provide shade to windows on both floors and add a layered look to the facade. We helped them keep this continuous line design across the U-bend with special curved shades, so that the lines remained unbroken throughout. The result gives a sheltered feeling, while providing shade to occupants both indoors and outside. This is just one of the many ways you can use sunshades in your designs.

Vision Screens

Vision screens block sightlines. They are built with angled blades that are closely spaced together. In this design, the blades will overlap over the free area of the screen, so that no one can look through the screen. These louvers use a thin line design, so that they can be installed. Many screen models are available with a continuous line look and frameless designs to match the aesthetic of the surrounding architecture.

These louvered screens are commonly placed around rooftop equipment, to hide heavy machinery from onlookers. HVAC equipment is important, but it can interrupt the look and feel of the building. With a screen, you can conceal this equipment and replace it with versatile straight lines. The louvered design allows passive airflow through the screen while maintaining a sight barrier between the equipment and passersby.

Photo of a building with vision screens — These grilles can obscure vision through the opening, but their main purpose is adding style to the building.

Vision screens can be installed anywhere, with the right support in place. Create a privacy fence around any area, on the roof or on the ground. You can wall off a garbage collection area with vision screens, so that onlookers only see the sleek lines. Establish outdoor break areas, or hide equipment, while maintaining the architectural aesthetic of the project.

Architectural Grilles and Finishes

Architectural grilles are lightweight louver assemblies that can be installed anywhere. You can add them to wall openings to add a simple feature to the envelope, or to help create divisions between spaces. With the right equipment, you can mount grilles along walls or over openings.

Like vision screens, these grilles can block sight lines into openings in the building envelope, but their main purpose is enhancing aesthetics. Grilles are versatile and highly customizable. They can be built with angled blades or flat blades. Choose from framed and frameless designs to achieve the right look for your project. Use them to add unique designs to any envelope or opening.

Finishes add color to louvers. Aluminum louver assemblies have the most finish options, since every finish type can easily adhere to the metal's surface. You can get the right shade you want with color matching and add a clear coat to the finish to keep the metal shine. Clear coats also help preserve the paint for a long-lasting color.

If you want to keep a metallic look, you can also choose to anodize the aluminum. Anodizing gives a dull sheen to the metal and adds a layer of protection against corrosion. An additional clear coat will give a shrine to the anodized finish. Finishes help louvers maintain the overall look and feel of the architecture.

Louvers, grilles, and screens can help provide a unique look to your project. Consider adding them to your designs and achieve that modern architectural aesthetic.

Architectural Products by AWV

Looking for architectural products for an upcoming project? Look no further. AWV has helped architects achieve their aesthetic goals with architectural grilles, sunshades, screens, and more. We also build louvers for meeting important requirements, like hurricane protection. Contact us today and start your next project with AWV.

Louvers in Modern Architecture