Boundary and skin
Louvered shutter
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A closure of angled slats, fixed or adjustable, that lets air through and controls light and view.
What it solves
It allows ventilation in strong sun because the slats deflect direct light and part of the rain. It is a classic answer of the humid tropics and hot climates.
Today
Choose adjustable slats, combine them with insect screens and shade them with an eave. In windy areas look for models with secure locking and a good seal.
Common mistake
Using glass louvers that do not seal, are easily removed from outside and let water in with wind-driven rain.
Tomorrow
Slatted shutters let you sleep with the window open, with air and without the street light. On hotter nights they are a simple tool for better rest.
Where it comes from
- 1France Europe, 18th century
That is where the name jalousie, jealousy, comes from for these slats that hide the interior. The Spanish persiana comes from the French persienne, from Persia. - 2Hot-climate shutters Mediterranean, Africa, tropical Australia and the southern United States, living tradition
Exterior shutters with wide slats that block strong sun and control light, view and air. - 3Louvered window United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, 20th century
After a 1901 patent, the crank-operated glass and aluminum version became common in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Latin America.
Masters
- Glenn Murcutt Magney House, Moruya, Australia, 1984
He opens large windows on the north facade and covers them with retractable louvers. He shows how to control sun and view according to the hour and the season with a simple piece.
See also
Also in Boundary and skin
Diagrams and texts by LDB Arquitectura. They are shared under the CC BY 4.0 license, which allows them to be used and adapted with credit to the source.