Light and air
Atrium
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A multi-story central space, open or glazed over, onto which the levels of a building look. In the Hispanic tradition it is also the large forecourt in front of a church.
What it solves
It brings natural light into the heart of deep buildings and organizes circulation. Well designed, hot air rises and leaves at the top, which helps ventilate without machines in a hot climate.
Today
Cover it with low solar heat gain glass or with louvers that filter direct sun. Leave high air outlets that can be opened. Use it as an indoor plaza with plants and benches.
Common mistake
Closing it with a glass roof without protection or a hot air outlet, which forces it to be cooled with a lot of energy.
Tomorrow
In recycled buildings, opening an atrium in a deep plan brings back light, air and life. It is a way to reuse existing structures instead of demolishing them.
Where it comes from
- 1Roman domus Rome, Antiquity
A central courtyard with an opening in the roof (compluvium) and a pool (impluvium) that gave light, ventilation and coolness to the house. - 2Convents of New Spain Mexico, 16th century
Large forecourts in front of the church where crowds followed Mass celebrated in an open chapel. - 3Industrial architecture Europe, 19th century
Iron and glass made it possible to roof the courtyard and gave rise to the modern multi-story atrium.
Masters
- Frank Lloyd Wright Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, United States, 1959
He wraps an open atrium with a six-level spiral ramp under a glass dome. From any point the works on the other floors can be seen.
See also
Also in Light and air
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.