Traditional Solutions, Modern Projects: Wooden Screens for Sun Protection and Ventilation

Throughout history, sunshades--light-weight screens typically made of interwoven wooden reeds--have been the go-to method of sun protection and temperature control for dwellings across civilizations, especially those located in tropical and Mediterranean climates. While offering protection from the sun's heat and rays, sunshades also allow air to permeate, making them an effective and economical cooling system for interior spaces. 

Thanks to the efficiency and simplicity of rolling sunshades, these traditional mechanisms have been revived in many contemporary architectural projects that look to cut costs and save energy without sacrificing aesthetics.

Sunshades have even been incorporated into interior spaces, serving as convertible barriers between spaces that increase a dwelling's adaptability and flexibility. 

In this article, we highlight a series of projects from throughout Spain that incorporates sunshades as a traditional means of inhabiting modern living spaces:

18 Social Housing Apartments / Emiliano López & Mónica Rivera Arquitectos

  • Location: Gavà, Barcelona (Spain)
  • Year: 2008

Traditional Solutions, Modern Projects: Wooden Screens for Sun Protection and Ventilation - Image 5 of 12
18 Social Housing Apartments / Emiliano López & Mónica Rivera Arquitectos. Image © José Hevia

House 1101 / H Arquitectes

  • Location: San Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona (Spain)
  • Year: 2013

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1101 House / H Arquitectes. Image © Adrià Goula

House and yoga studio / Emiliano López & Mónica Rivera Arquitectos

  • Location: Sant Cugat, Barcelona (Spain)
  • Year: 2015

Traditional Solutions, Modern Projects: Wooden Screens for Sun Protection and Ventilation - Image 4 of 12
House and Yoga Studio / Emiliano López & Mónica Rivera Arquitectos. Image © José Hevia

House in Barrio del Carmen / Hugo Mompó Architecture + Juan Grau

  • Location: Arneva, Alicante (Spain)
  • Year: 2015 

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House in Barrio del Carmen / Hugo Mompó Architecture + Juan Grau. Image © Mariela Apollonio

Can Picafort / TEd’A arquitectes

  • Location: Palma, Mallorca (Spain)
  • Year: 2017

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Can Picafort / TEd’A arquitectes. Image © Luis Díaz Díaz

La Borda / Lacol

  • Location: Sants-Montjuic, Barcelona (Spain)
  • Year: 2018

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La Borda / Lacol. Image © Lluc Miralles

El Cabanyal Residential Renovation / David Estal + Arturo Sanz

  • Location: Poblados Marítimos, Valencia (Spain)
  • Year: 2018

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El Cabanyal Renovation / David Estal + Arturo Sanz. Image © Mariela Apollonio

Henche House / Taller Abierto

  • Location: Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha (Spain)
  • Year: 2018

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Henche House / Taller Abierto. Image © Eduardo Mascagni Valero

Impluvium Minora House / CU4 Arquitectura

  • Location: Alboraya​​, Valencia (Spain)
  • Year: 2018

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Impluvium Minora House / CU4 Arquitectura. Image © Daniel Rueda

Renovation of a village house / unparelld’arquitectes

  • Location: San Esteban d'en Bas, Girona (Spain)
  • Year: 2019

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Renovation of a village house/ unparelld’arquitectes. Image © José Hevia

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Cite: Maiztegui, Belén. "Traditional Solutions, Modern Projects: Wooden Screens for Sun Protection and Ventilation" [Soluciones tradicionales en proyectos contemporáneos: Protección solar y ventilación mediante cerramientos enrollables de madera] 09 Jan 2021. ArchDaily. (Trans. Johnson, Maggie) Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/954288/traditional-solutions-modern-projects-wooden-screens-for-sun-protection-and-ventilation> ISSN 0719-8884

Renovation of a village house/ unparelld’arquitectes. Image © José Hevia

木质屏风,遮阳与通风的传统元素

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